Newport RI Mansions Scenic Trolley Tour (Ages 8+ only)
Description
For ages 8+ only, this approx 90-min tour is an overview of scenic Newport. Please arrive 10 minutes before tour start time for boarding. Tours leave on time . After boarding our luxurious and comfortable trolley at platform #2 of the Hamilton Aquarium Transit Center, your driver starts the tour with a brief history of Colonial-era downtown and explains the Gilded Age 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., Hocus Pocus 2, The Great Gatsby, andf more. 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 approximately 70-90 minutes depending on traffic conditions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
(For ages 5 & up only). Park in the public lot at 23 America's Cup Ave (Newport Transit Center) and locate the white trolley at Platform #2 outside. Show your cell phone or printed ticket to driver.
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). Riders will see the 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
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- *MINIMUM AGE TO EXPERIENCE THIS TOUR IS 8 YEARS OLD AND UP*
- 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.
- This tour departs promptly at the scheduled time.
- The duration of this tour is 70-90 minutes, depending on traffic conditions
- This enclosed trolley tour operates rain or shine except during and after winter weather events which involve snow or ice
- Our drivers have updated manifests on their devices. Cancelled tickets are not accepted for admission
- Youth under 17 must be accompanied by an adult
- 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's physical needs
Reviews(656)
Great experience and Troy was very knowledgeable and very polite
A nice tour guide. Lovely personality. Enjoyed New Port. If in Providence RI take the bus or ferry to New Port.
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
The perfect way to see what Newport has to offer! We drove by the Cliff Walk, Mansions, Salve Regina, and countless other places. Our tour guide, Trolley Rob did a great job bringing the history of Newport to life. The 90 minutes we had at the Breakers was a perfect amount of time!
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Trolley was very clean and comfortable. Great way to see and get the highlights of the Newport mansions.
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
It was so much fun! The trolley was very confronting and it was so great to learn about Newports rich history! Our tour guy Troy was amazing!
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
This was a good overview of the Mansions in Newport. Trolley Rob (out driver and guide) was safe, knowledgeable and entertaining. I would definitely recommend this tour with To as your driver.
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
I wanted to thank Carlos, who was our tour guide on the Newport Tours trolley. He was very entertaining, and we were able to learn about Newport and all the mansions at the very end of our trip before we had to go to the airport. His enthusiasm and knowledge made the tour both enjoyable and informative, and it was a wonderful way to wrap up our visit. Carlos shared lots of information about the city of Newport, RI, including its history, and landmarks. He also told us interesting stories about some of the notable residents who have lived in the area, as well as several TV shows that were filmed or take place there. We enjoyed hearing these stories, and thanks to his recommendations, we plan to watch some of those shows to stay connected to the memories of our trip.
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
Truly enjoyed this tour. Trolley Rob was our guide, and he was very entertaining, engaging, and knowledgeable of the area. He also provided money saving travel tips to the group. I also liked that he requested all phones be shut off and conversations be kept to a minimum so you could actually hear the tour and the information being presented to you. The tour bus was very comfortable with clear view large windows making it easy to see everything. My only regret is that I did not purchase the correct tour. My intention was to purchase the tour with the Breakers tour included and I inadvertently purchased just the tour on the trolley. I would do this tour again but I would include the stop at the Breakers Mansion in my ticket.
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
We took a trolley car ride with the family to see the sites and learn more about Newport. The driver, Troy, was engaging, knowledgeable and funny. We thoroughly enjoyed the trip!
An enjoyable and informative tour of Newport and the many beautiful mansions. Troy was an outstanding guide, very personable, friendly, and entertaining. Highly recommend this tour, and a great value for the money!
Thank you for choosing the Newport Gilded Age Tour operated by Newport Travel Trolley Tours. We truly appreciate your business and are delighted to hear that you enjoyed our driver’s performance. We hope to welcome you again soon!
