HPS/MAG Domestic Trip to the Newport, Rhode Island – Mansions, “Cottage Gardens,” and Much More!

Monday, June 17, 2024 to Friday, June 21, 2024

Join us for a fun-filled five-day trip exploring the mansions of Newport, RI. Time travel to the Gilded Age of the late 19th century when Newport, Rhode Island was the summer playground of America’s wealthiest leaders of finance and industry from New York and elsewhere. Here they built ever-larger “summer cottages” to support their lavish lifestyle.

Of course, no “summer cottage” would be complete if not surrounded by a beautiful “cottage garden” with an ocean vista. These are definitely not your typical cottage gardens!

But this trip is more than just mansions and “cottage” gardens! The itinerary will include visits to:

• Rough Point Museum – the Newport home of heiress, collector, and philanthropist Doris Duke (1912-1993).
• The Elms – modeled after an 18th-century French chateau but featured the latest technology of the Gilded Age.
• The Breakers – the grandest of Newport's summer "cottages" and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial pre-eminence in the Gilded Age.

While at The Breakers you will have time to explore the Cliff Walk, a scenic path along the coast with beautiful views of the ocean, beaches, and a great view of the back of The Breakers.

• Marble House – built by William Vanderbilt as a 39th birthday present for his wife Alva Vanderbilt. It was a social and architectural landmark that set the stage for Newport’s transformation from a quiet summer colony to the legendary resort of Gilded Age mansions.
• The Blue Garden – created in the early 1900s for Arthur Curtiss and Harriet James.  After their death in the 40’s and the mansion’s fire in 1967, the garden was neglected until 2012 when Dorrance Hamilton started to have it restored using the original plans. In 2015 it was reopened as The Blue Garden.
• Blithewold – a 33-acre estate with grand views of Narragansett Bay. It is nationally significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place Era. 

We can’t go on a garden trip without also going to some unique private and public gardens. We will be visiting:

• Sakonnet Garden – in Little Compton. Garden owners John Gwynn and Mikel Folcarelli are the garden owners and they have created a secret garden with multiple paths leading into many different garden rooms.
• Green Animals Topiary Garden – home to more than 80 topiary animals. Overlooking the Narragansett Bay, it is a beautiful garden to explore.

To end our week, we will have a late Thursday afternoon boat cruise on Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay with great views of the historic waterfront.

An HPS trip wouldn’t be complete without a garden nursery stop or two and this trip is no exception. We will be stopping at:

• Issima – where they focus on the under-cultivated and garden-worthy, and specialize in unusual hardy plants.
• The Farmer’s Daughter – here they specialize in unique and unusual plant material, pottery, and garden decor.

We will be staying at The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina conveniently located for shopping and dining at night.  You will be able to enjoy the harbor a few feet away from the hotel. https://www.newporthotel.com/ 

The cost of this trip will be $1375.00 shared occupancy or $1845.00 single occupancy. Cost of the trip covers round trip transportation to Newport, five days of local travel via motor coach, a trolley service on Thursday, four nights’ accommodation at The Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina, all breakfasts and lunches, mansions and gardens admissions, a boat cruise on the harbor, and bus driver gratuity. You will be responsible for your own dinners and shopping.

Members are responsible for assuring that they are physically and mentally able to participate in the trip. Members will be asked if they have a mobility issue and if they will need ADA restrooms and/or accommodations. Our best efforts will be made to accommodate these needs where possible.

Trip is full.  Please contact Janice Thomas at [email protected] to be placed on the waitlist. Registration will only be available on the website; no paper registration forms will be available. To join HPS/MAG before the trip registration opens, click here for the membership form.

To further pique your interest, check out these websites:

https://www.newportrestoration.org/roughpoint/

https://www.newportmansions.org/mansions-and-gardens/the-elms/

https://www.newportmansions.org/mansions-and-gardens/the-breakers/

https://www.newportmansions.org/mansions-and-gardens/marble-house/

https://thebluegarden.org/

https://www.blithewold.org/

https://www.sakonnetgarden.net/

https://www.newportmansions.org/mansions-and-gardens/green-animals-topiary-garden/

https://www.issimaworks.com/

https://www.thefarmersdaughterri.com/home