Travel with Sarah: Newport Mansions (part 1)

I am SO, SO excited for my upcoming visit to Newport, Rhode Island with my mom, and sister next week. Last year we decided that we would take a “Girl’s Only – History Geek Trip” every year and road trip to somewhere historical, with lots of sightseeing opportunities. Last year we went to Washington, DC, visiting all of the Smithsonian Museums, Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery. We also took a double decker sightseeing tour, shopped and dined at fabulous restaurants. It was such a fun trip full of laughs and great memories, that I can’t wait to do it all over again this year.

I picked the destination for “Girl’s Only – History Geek Trip” this year. It was super easy to choose where I (um, we) should visit.

I am obsessed with the Vanderbilt Family. Shannon and I visited Biltmore House in Asheville, NC a few years ago and it was during that visit that I fell in love with the Gilded Age and all things Vanderbilt (including Anderson Cooper..love him! ). I have read dozens of books written about the Vanderbilt family members, so many that I am sure I will drive my mom and sister crazy with random Vanderbilt facts during the trip.

If you didn’t get the Anderson Cooper/Vanderbilt reference – The ever so handsome CNN News Anchor, Anderson Cooper, is the son of famous fashion designer, Gloria Vanderbilt. See, told you, I am FULL of Vanderbilt facts.

In addition to my Vanderbilt obsession I also watch the Travel Channel, A & E and HGTV pretty much all night long while I work, blog and catch up on email. I love to watch shows about houses! Big houses, eclectic houses, log houses, historical houses, super small houses, beach houses, mountain cabins houses, houses, houses… I can’t get enough of them! I love architecture. I love interior design. I love the creative design that goes into making a house a home. Love it all! One of these days, when my house isn’t covered in toys and my son is done ramming his trucks into my walls and jumping off of my furniture, I WILL have one of THOSE houses. Someday! Until then I will make nice with Magic Erasers and touch up paint.

SO… combining my love of houses and my love of all things Vanderbilt, I decided that we should visit The Newport Mansions in Rhode Island. I just had to sell my mom and sister on a 5 hour road trip.

Once my mom and sister visited The Preservation Society of Newport County, website they were sold! The Mansions in Newport consist of 11 historic properties and landscapes – seven of which are National Historic Landmarks – trace America’s architectural and social development from the Colonial era through the Gilded Age.

The grandest of all of the Mansions is The Breakers . Built by….? Yep, you guessed it The Vanderbilt Family. Marble House is another Vanderbilt Family home that is on my “must see” list.

Tonight my mom, sister and I are having dinner to plan what Mansions we want to see, make dinner rezzies and plan evening activities. If you have ever visited Newport and have any suggestions on places we should go or activities we should do, please let me know. Leave a comment below or click here to email me.

I leave this Sunday, July 31st, – Follow along with me on Twitter as I road trip and post pictures. I am tweeting from @PhillyBurbMom #NewportMansions

This trip is the beginning of my quest to visit all of “America’s Castles”. Stay tuned for many more Mansion trips.