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degggendorf t1_ivgq1w0 wrote

TBF, the mansions are all pretty similar and I get my fill of "expensive stuff someone wasted money on" after seeing like 2 or maybe 3 in a day. Your mileage may vary, of course. Fortunately/unfortunately, there are only two mansions open when you'll be here if I'm reading the site right. Only The Breakers, The Elms, and Marble House open this season, and Marble House will be closed Nov 8-18.

That said, there are a couple "special" tours that are cool: "Servant Life" at The Elms, and "Beneath the Breakers" at The Breakers. I'd say start with one of those, then do the full self-guided audio tour of that house afterwards, then see if you feel up for another one. The in-person ticket people can upgrade your single pass to a discounted multi-house ticket (although now that I consider it, my info is like 4 years old now, hopefully it hasn't changed).

On your way from NYC after the first bridge from the mainland, swing down to the southeast corner of Jamestown to Fort Wetherill to walk around a bit along the abandoned fort structures (bright a flashlight if you're bold), and the craggy shoreline with views of Newport.

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Giuseppe_Lombardo007 OP t1_ivgvtyi wrote

thanks this is some great info!!

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degggendorf t1_ivhcjtq wrote

As for food, I am too jaded against Newport touristy food, and/or too inexperienced in it because of that jadedness. Basically any restaurant will be good, but I don't think the best restaurant in the state is in Newport. That said, my wife recommends The Mooring for something slightly upscale, or Brick Alley Pub for normal pub food.

For beer, Newport Craft Brewing is good but kind of unremarkable and maybe a little big for their britches now? They've definitely rounded the corner into being a regional distributing player. Good, well-made beer, but they've kind of lost that spark of a newer/smaller brewery if you know what I mean? Then in my experience, Rejects Beer Co beers are kind of hit or miss, but the setting is nice from the back balcony (as long as you don't look left to the gas station lol). If you want excellent beer, Tilted Barn back on the mainland is brewing the best beers in the state.

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