Newport Gilded Age Mansions Trolley Tour w/ Breakers Ticket (8+)
Description
******FOR AGES 8+ ONLY****** This approx 3-hour tour is our scenic overview trolley tour PLUS a 90-minute visit inside the Vanderbilt Breaker's Mansion. After boarding our luxurious and comfortable trolley at Bus Platform #2 of the Newport Transit Center, your driver starts the tour with a brief history of Colonial-era downtown and explains the Gilded Era history and events that occurred over the centuries. Then you will experience breath-taking views of scenic Ocean Drive prior to seeing the strip of mansions lining Bellevue Ave. Along the route, movie and TV sets will come to life, such as HBOs The Gilded Ages. Today's happenings are also thoroughly covered such as the best dining spots, boat tours, and other fun activities. Your tour guide will detail the best way to navigate this bustling city as well as explain the Cliff Walk attractions. This tour is 160-180 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
(For ages 5 & up only). Park at the Newport Transit Center public lot and locate the white trolley at Bus Platform #2 outside. Show your cell phone or printed ticket to driver. The driver will provide your Breaker's Mansion pass if you purchased that option.
The trolley tour will enter Fort Adams, a historic 1799 landmark and home of today's annual Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival. The fort is also home to President Eisenhower's summer home called the Eisenhower House. The Welcome Center features a snack bar, clean restrooms, and ticket sales counter to take a tour inside of the fort. There are also 2 water taxi stops and free public parking at Fort Adams State Park. The Bennington Overlook section of Fort Adams offers breathtaking sunsets over Narragansett Bay with free parking as well.
The trolley tour passes by Brenton Point State Park, former estate of RI's 2nd governor William Brenton (elected 1665). Brenton Point State Park is a free public park offering pristine views of the Atlantic Ocean on 2 sides of the park plus free sunsets over the water 12 months per year. Seasonal restrooms are available in the stone building
The trolley tour travels through the Ocean Drive Historic District. Visitors will begin to see Newport's Gilded Age Mansions lining the Atlantic Ocean with breathtaking scenery. Mansions on Ocean Drive include Mavis and Jay Leno's Seafair, and several filming locations of HBO's TV series "The Gilded Age" including Indian Spring Castle, The Ledges and Crossways mansions.
Once the trolley tour enters the Newport Cliff Walk area of the Bellevue Ave Historic District, riders will begin to learn about the Gilded Age mansions along the Cliff Walk, which are on the ocean side of the mansions for 3.5 miles between Reject's Beach and Newport Beach. Your guide will explain how to best access the Cliff Walk and areas where parking is free to enjoy the Cliff Walk and the best areas for viewing.
The trolley tour stops in front of the 2nd of the 3 Newport Vanderbilt mansions "The Marble House". This small palace built in 1892 was instrumental in the passage of the women's suffrage movement, as Alva Vanderbilt hosted fundraisers in her pagoda (Chinese Tea House on the Cliff Walk) whereby she raised a great deal of money to pass the 19th amendment. Both the Marble House and Chinese Tea House were the Asian wedding set in the Katherine Heigel classic movie "27 Dresses" Free parking for Marble House tour visitors is available across the street at 585 Bellevue Ave.
The trolley tour stops in front of the Rosecliff Mansion, a 1902 'summer cottage" of Tessie Fair-Oelrichs. The most famous movie filmed here was The Great Gatsby (Robert Redford, Mia Farrow, Sam Waterston). Tours are available at the Rosecliff mansion on a seasonal basis.
The trolley tour stops at The Breakers Newport, the 3rd Vanderbilt Mansion in Newport and discharges passengers who purchased this interior tour option. This 1895 'summer cottage' is the largest mansion in the region and is RIs most visited tourist attraction. It sits on the Newport Cliff Walk facing SE towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The trolley tour continues along Bellevue Ave and passes by The Elms Newport, a Gilded Age mansion of Edward and Sarah Berwind. The guide explains the 2 tours that are available inside the Elms Mansion.
The trolley tour passes by the front door of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, the 1881 site of the old Newport Casino (shopping district of the Gilded Age millionaires). The guide explains the free and for-fee tours available inside the ITHOF.
The trolley tour continues into Downtown Newport's bustling waterfront district anchored by Bowen's Wharf. The guide explains the shopping, dining, boating excursions, and other waterfront attractions along America's Cup Ave.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Service animals allowed
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- *MINIMUM AGE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOUR IS 8 YEARS OLD*
- Departure point is the Hamilton Aquarium Transit Center, 23 America's Cup Ave, Newport RI, platform #2. Parking is available on site for a fee.
- The duration of this tour is 160-180 minutes depending on traffic conditions
- All tours depart promptly at their scheduled times
- This enclosed trolley tour operates rain or shine except during and after winter weather events which involve snow or ice
- Please do not meet directly at the Breakers mansion. You will visit the attraction during the trolley tour
- Youth under 17 must be accompanied by an adult
- Our drivers have updated manifests on their devices. Cancelled tickets are not accepted for admission
- These tours are NOT handicapped accessible. Folding walkers and wheelchairs are limited to 30 lbs. We cannot accommodate battery powered scooters and chairs.
- The trolley is not handicapped accessible.. Driver may assign seating based on customer needs
Reviews(4,050)
This tour was just fine. Trolley Rob was great but he talked entirely too fast. Its like he was trying to cram every piece of information every known about the route we took. At some point, I quite literally mentally checked out because I simply couldn't process any more information so I couldn't tell you what was said. This is couple with him pointing out areas, houses etc and basically saying if you look here you will see x, y,z but I would often not see what he was talking about and then we are moving on to the next one. This tour was packed by the way every seat was full so perhaps thats why I missed so much as I simply couldnt see over others. Tour etiquette is also not adhered too as this was the only tour where we got off at an attraction and came back and someone had taken the seats we were in. Every other tour we took everyone returned to there same seats. This tour was also strange in comparison to other tours I have taken in the past, in that we were asked to be back to the trolley at 2pm. We got back at 1:55 pm and by no means did we think we were going to be first but we were last getting back on the bus and everyone was settled in like they'd been back. At any rate, I realize this could possibly be a me issue in not being able to handle so much information but wanted to let others know in case you are like me.
Troy, our guide, was informative, lively and had a great sense of humor. He made the trip worthwhile.
I booked this tour for myself, my husband, and my parents. I am so glad I did! It was something all of us enjoyed, especially thanks to our driver, Trolley Rob (he is the most informative and funniest tour guide!). It was the perfect way to see all of Newport. Absolutely recommend the Breakers stop. Would even go again!
Rob was a gem. An informative and engaging guide. Funny! Super friendly and clear with instructions. My teens (who were apprehensive about a 3 hour tour ended up LOVING it. Book this!
Troy was fun and gave great information during the drive. My 10 year old and 13 year old were fully engaged. It was a nice way to experience the Breakers.
The guide was good The fumes on the bus weren't
Firstly, we have researched your info and you are on our manifest. Secondly, we are an enclosed trolley not a bus Finally, a competitor in Newport does in fact use a small bus for Tours. Bottomline, it appears you have posted to the wrong company.
The tour and breakers were great! Trolley Car Troy was very knowledgeable about the viewing points as well as local eateries and other attractions. We also learned that you have the opportunity not to reboard after completing the breakers tour. Would highly recommend!
Troy the tour operator was vert friendly and knowledgeable. We toured the Breakers which was unbelievable. Wish we had more time to tour the other mansions.
This was a timely, organized, and informative tour. Trolley Rob did a great job getting everyone seated and starting the tour right on time. He told us a lot of interesting facts about the Gilded Age mansions and Newport in general. After the trolley tour, we had 90 minutes to explore the Breakers, which was a wonderful experience. This is a must-do!
It’s a bit of a whistle stop tour of the mansions , but trolley Rob showed us all we could handle with great information about them. Definitely recommend staying and going around the Breakers.
