A one-day blitz through Rhode Island over Columbus Day Weekend.
NEWPORT
An out of season visit to Newport still provided a glimpse at the city's exclusiveness. Over a beer at the pier I heard tales of the wealthy hiring private jets to send their pets to Florida. Grey heads stumbled along the main street and bar area not unlike twenty somethings after last call in New York City. On a Sunday morning the town was late to rise and the stillness could be seen from the streets to the bay.
CLICK OR TAP PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
An out of season visit to Newport still provided a glimpse at the city's exclusiveness. Over a beer at the pier I heard tales of the wealthy hiring private jets to send their pets to Florida. Grey heads stumbled along the main street and bar area not unlike twenty somethings after last call in New York City. On a Sunday morning the town was late to rise and the stillness could be seen from the streets to the bay.
CLICK OR TAP PHOTOS TO ENLARGE
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With parking at a premium its essential to find a space for the car then walk through town. A walk along Bellevue Avenue passes home after impressive home. While a few are part of The Preservation Society of Newport County and open to the public, most remain private providing glimpse of wealth that may never be attained.
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The jewel of the Newport mansions is The Breakers sitting a block off of Bellevue on the Atlantic Coast. Completed in 1895 it was the summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II, the grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, who made his fortune constructing the New York Railroad. What I've always marveled at is Cornelius II was just one of the grandsons and three brothers who built ridiculous mansions - the other two being William Vanderbilt, who built nearby Marble House, and George Vanderbilt, who built Biltmore, the largest home in the United States in Asheville, NC. No photos are allowed inside any of the Newport Mansions. The interior of The Breakers is a bit gaudy as if Cornelius II was trying to prove something to Europeans by imitating their style instead of more confidently creating a style of his own.
There are various ticketing options available. I purchased a "Breakers and One" ticket that allowed access to The Breakers and an additional mansion. A single entry ticket and a five-mansion pass are also available.
There are various ticketing options available. I purchased a "Breakers and One" ticket that allowed access to The Breakers and an additional mansion. A single entry ticket and a five-mansion pass are also available.
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Marble House, the summer home of William Vanderbilt, is a short way further down Bellevue Avenue. The interior is a much simpler design than The Breakers with the openness of the main hallway making for a striking entrance.
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I did not follow this "order" of visiting Marble House after The Breakers. Instead I went to The Cliff Walk after The Breakers and walked up to Beach #1 which is about two miles away. I then went back to my car, drove the Ocean Road, then went to Marble House, before heading out of town.
The Cliff Walk hugs the edge of the high cliffs on the backside of the Newport Mansions. It's a steep drop into the ocean below with one of the only safe access points being The Forty Steps (middle photo below), located near the backside of The Breakers. The Forty Steps was the area that the mansion staff would gather on their time off to enjoy the Rhode Island waterfront.
The Cliff Walk hugs the edge of the high cliffs on the backside of the Newport Mansions. It's a steep drop into the ocean below with one of the only safe access points being The Forty Steps (middle photo below), located near the backside of The Breakers. The Forty Steps was the area that the mansion staff would gather on their time off to enjoy the Rhode Island waterfront.
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The Ocean Road is an iconic drive around the south end of Newport. With a map, it's relatively easy to find the start of the drive off either Bellevue Avenue or Thames Avenue. There's a park on the southern end of the road yet its the man made attractions, more mansions, that had me stopping the car to take photos.
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PROVIDENCE
Providence is less than an hour north of Newport. Brown University is on the east side of town and once you've reached the University area it's easy to navigate to the schools main campus area. On a sunny, Fall Sunday afternoon it seems like the ideal college environment. A mile west from Brown University is the Federal Hill neighborhood, a blue collar, working class area home to a number of the city's best restaurants and bars. Broadway is the main thoroughfare, however, Atwells Avenue, two blocks over is home to the city's Little Italy area. On the Sunday before Columbus Day the streets were closed and filled with locals celebrating the most famous Italian. The carnival like atmosphere was rocking with live bands, rides, and food trucks. The restaurants in the area set up tables to quickly serve their house specialties of meatball sandwiches, raviolis, and eggplant.
Providence is less than an hour north of Newport. Brown University is on the east side of town and once you've reached the University area it's easy to navigate to the schools main campus area. On a sunny, Fall Sunday afternoon it seems like the ideal college environment. A mile west from Brown University is the Federal Hill neighborhood, a blue collar, working class area home to a number of the city's best restaurants and bars. Broadway is the main thoroughfare, however, Atwells Avenue, two blocks over is home to the city's Little Italy area. On the Sunday before Columbus Day the streets were closed and filled with locals celebrating the most famous Italian. The carnival like atmosphere was rocking with live bands, rides, and food trucks. The restaurants in the area set up tables to quickly serve their house specialties of meatball sandwiches, raviolis, and eggplant.
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ROLLER DERBY
Between the glitz of Newport and the academics of Providence lies the true grit of the New England spirit. On a Saturday night the place to be is at Team Works in Warwick, RI. New Englanders trade in their business attire for soccer and volleyball uniforms to compete with one another. I've come to catch a glimpse of the New England Roller Derby Championship. Roller Derby was a bit difficult to figure out but it's easy to enjoy the experience in the middle of a bunch of rowdy fans rooting on their friends to elbow people to the ground. |
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I spent the night at the Newport International Hostel.
For additional Rhode Island photos see FLICKR ALBUM.
For additional Rhode Island photos see FLICKR ALBUM.