Newport

Newport, Rhode Island, built its reputation on money. The Gilded Age mansions along Bellevue Avenue, including The Breakers and Marble House, were summer "cottages" for families like the Vanderbilts. Most are now museums, and the interiors feel more like European palaces than American houses. Ships anchor offshore, and tenders bring passengers to Perotti Park in the centre of downtown. The Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile path along the eastern shore, passes behind several of the mansions while hugging the rocky coastline. Sections near the south end are rough and unmarked, so decent shoes help. Thames Street and the surrounding wharves have seafood restaurants, sail lofts, and ice cream shops. Newport is also a major sailing town, and the harbour is usually packed with boats. Parking is limited, but the town is walkable, and the RIPTA trolley connects the main sights in season.