In June, I made not one, but two trips to Newport, Rhode Island!

Both visits were dedicated to researching and planning a Travel & Culture Salon-hosted journey for next year. One trip gave me the chance to spend a few days exploring with my mom, while the other was shared with a good friend. Between the two visits, I met with local partners, toured hotels, sampled restaurants, revisited historic sites, and walked countless miles to map out what I hope will become a memorable itinerary.

There's still plenty of work ahead before next year's hosted journey is finalized, but I couldn't wait to start sharing a few highlights and photos from my trips.

Stay tuned for a Newport guide, along with deeper dives into the city's history, architecture, landscapes, and the people who shaped it.

June in Newport

Over the course of two visits, I experienced many different sides of Newport. My first trip came just as the season was beginning, while my second found the city in full swing, with sailboats filling the harbor, weddings around every corner, and Bellevue Avenue buzzing with summer visitors. Some moments were spent touring grand Gilded Age estates; others wandering colonial streets, walking the Cliff Walk, or simply lingering over a good meal.

Morning along the Cliff Walk. Originally established in the 19th century, the Cliff Walk is a a 3.5-mile public path that winds between Newport's grand Gilded Age estates and the rocky Atlantic shoreline.

Colonial Newport

Newport's colonial streets were among my favorite places to explore. Home to one of the country's highest concentrations of preserved colonial buildings, the city offers a remarkable window into 18th-century America. During the Revolutionary War, Newport became the headquarters of the French army under General Rochambeau, whose troops later marched from the city to join George Washington in the campaign that culminated in the decisive victory at Yorktown. It's also home to the White Horse Tavern, believed to be the oldest continuously operating tavern in the United States.

The Gilded Age

Although Newport's history stretches back to the 17th century, it's the Gilded Age that put the city on the map. Beginning in the 1870s, America's wealthiest families built extravagant summer "cottages" along Bellevue Avenue, creating one of the country's greatest collections of Gilded Age architecture.

I spent time touring many of these estates, each with its own story, architecture, and personality. I'll be sharing much more about them in future posts. The Breakers is the most popular mansion (it’s the number one tourist attraction in the state), but The Elms was my personal favorite. One detail I especially enjoyed: the fresh floral displays throughout all the mansions, which are grown and arranged by the horticultural team at the historic greenhouse behind The Breakers.

The grand entry marble staircase at Marble House, Newport, Rhode Island with painted ceiling. — The Grand Staircase at Marble House, commissioned by Alva Vanderbilt, was inspired by the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles. More than 500,000 cubic feet of marble were used in the construction of Marble House—one of the grandest of Newport's Gilded Age estates.

A Taste of Newport

No scouting trip is complete without restaurant research. Between the two visits, there was plenty of fresh seafood, more than one bowl of clam chowder, and several memorable meals along the way. I'll be sharing some of my favorites in my upcoming Newport guide.

Two trips, countless miles walked, pages of notes, and more ideas than I could fit into a single blog post. I'd call that a successful scouting trip.

Newport has been a joy to research, and I'm looking forward to shaping everything I learned into a memorable Travel & Culture Salon journey. Along the way, I'll continue sharing the places and stories that make this city so special.