Newport

Perched on the tip of Aquidneck Island, Newport's sublime seaside landscape is home to a revered New England heritage, a sweeping set of Gilded Age architecture, and an unshakable passion for sailing that is realized in the annual regatta of America's Cup. Ringed by craggy cliffs that brave the endless crashing of sea waves, Newport was the largest of the four settlements of Rhode Island when it was first found. Then, it became famous as one of the settings for the American Revolutionary Era, and later, evolved into a favored escape for affluent summer planters whose stately mansions from the Gilded Age still dominate a large part of Newport's architecture. The most breathtaking mansion to grace Newport's romantic seascape is The Breakers, the erstwhile summer home of the Vanderbilt family. Apart from its Gilded Age grandeur, the city is also celebrated for its immense maritime heritage and vibrant culture, emphasized in a slew of festivals, regattas and museums that take root in the city.