Newport's Famous Scenic Narrated Trolley Tour

Overview

Newport's Famous Scenic Ten Mile Drive(approximately 1.5 hrs.)

Soak in the beauty of the Ten-Mile Ocean Drive and the Summer residences of many prominent people, take a look at the Seventeenth century buildings and the marvelous mansions along Bellevue Avenue. Enjoy our tour details along with live narration..and free parking for customers!

City: Rhode Island

Wed 25 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $29.00

Make a reservation

Wed 25 Dec

Starting at $29.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Driver/guide, and free parking while you are on tour

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
If you are fully vaccinated, no mask required.

What To Expect

Historic Tours of Newport Boutique Visitor Center

Enjoy this fully narrated bus tour with details on residences of prominent people such as the Watts Sherman House, Kingscote, McCauley Hall and Belcourt Castle. Learn about: Architectural History 1640-1915: Richard Morris Hunt, Richard Munday, McKim, Mead & White Colony House where the death of King George II was announced Wanton-Lyman-Hazard House: oldest house in Newport Touro Synagogue: oldest surviving synagogue in North America Redwood Library: the first public library in America The Tennis Hall of Fame Newport Naval Academy Hammersmith Farm built for John W. Auchincloss (1887): the unofficial Summer White House of John F. Kennedy We’ll also catch a glimpse of Newport’s Famous Trees such as Beech Trees, – Copper Beech, Weeping Beech and Turkey Oak trees, and hear legendary stories like how Mr. Gordon Bennet, New York Herald publisher, and Augustus Candy made an interesting wager that got them kicked out of The Reading Room! 10 minutes stopover for pictures ..

The Breakers

Coming up on your left is none other than the famous Breakers. It was constructed in 1895 by Richard Morris Hunt for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, who made his fortune in the railroad and steamship industries. It is the largest house in Newport. Cornelius’s brother built Biltmore, the largest home in America in Ashville, South Carolina. Vanderbilt’s summer home was used for entertaining his business clients, friends and the home of many summer parties. The Vanderbilts also owned one city block in New York on 5th Avenue, a four story building which was destroyed by redevelopment. Mr. Vanderbilt also built the Grand Central Station in New York City and ran his train line from New York to Chicago.

Rosecliff

Coming up on your left, this lovely mansion in white is Rosecliff. Nevada silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs commissioned Rosecliff in 1899. During a summer in Newport, Theresa met Hermann Oelrichs playing tennis at the Newport Casino. They were married in 1890. A year later, they purchased the property known as Rosecliff from the estate of historian and diplomat George Bancroft. She hired architect Stanford White, who modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon, the garden retreat of French kings at Versailles.

Marble House

Right next to Astor’s Beechwood is The Marble House, built in 1892. The Marble House was designed by Richard Morris Hunt for William K. Vanderbilt. He then gave it to his wife Alva for her 39th birthday. This palace used 500,000 cubic ft. of stone. White Marble came from Hudson River quarry, New York. The Vanderbilts chose it because they loved the gold and large mica chips in the stone, which makes it glimmer under light.

Rough Point Museum

Coming up on your left is Rough Point. It was owned by James Buchannan Duke and his second wife. They had one daughter named Doris Duke. The Dukes lived in New York City on Fifth Avenue. Mr. Duke died in 1925 when Doris was 12 years old. Mr. Duke was a benefactor of Duke University named for his father. He made his fortune in tobacco industry, Camel cigarettes. He left half of his fortune to the Duke endowment and the other half $ 100 million dollars to Doris. Doris at 12 years old summered in Newport with her mother and lived in New York City and attended school in her a chauffeured limo. The maids who took care of her maintained a picture album of her clothes so she could plan her wardrobe. She also had guards to protect her from being kidnapped (after the Limburg Baby) for ransom. In 1966, Doris Duke and her interior designer Eduardo Tirello were leaving Rough Point in her car when Doris accidentally puts the car into gear running Eduardo into a tree, killing him.

Hammersmith Farm

As you probably know, Jacky Kennedy’s maiden name was Jacqueline Bouvier. Jacky started coming to Newport to spend time with her mother Janet Lee Bouvier and step father Hugh Dudley Auchincloss. Hugh Auchincloss was a native Newporter. Jacqueline Bouvier spent most of her teenage life here, learning to horse ride while working on the farm. As you know, Jackie married John F. Kennedy in 1953. What you may not know is that they actually got married here in Newport at St. Mary’s Catholic Church downtown and had their wedding reception here at Hammersmith, Jackie’s childhood home. During JFK’s presidency, Hammersmith was the Summer White House.

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Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (65)

Holly_V

Sep 2022

Our trip was very nice. Our tour guide was friendly, informative and answered questions. My sons and I really enjoyed the tour.

Response from Host

Sep 2022

Thank you for joining us this summer, we look forward to seeing you again next Summer!

Eddie C

Sep 2022

We had a wonderful trolley tour around Newport. We were taken to ocean drive and saw all the wonderful mansions and views of the ocean. The meeting location had plenty of parking and local businesses to pick up a snack. Everyone was friendly and professional. The trolley was comfortable and we'll maintained. A wonderful small business.

Response from Host

Sep 2022

Thank you very much for your support to small business in RI and for taking time to write a great review! We appreciate your patronage ..we hope to see you again during the holidays..

Meryl_C

Aug 2022

The direction where you were supposed to meet was not advertised well. It would have been helpful for clearer directions and a sign. Tour started 25 minutes late. It was hard to hear the operator and hard to see sights.

Response from Host

Aug 2022

Dear Meryl, All tours originate from Historic Tours of Newport Boutique Visitor Center located at 850 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown RI. It has free parking and AC waiting room for the convenience of our guest. The second pick up is at 39 America's Cup, Newport, RI. This is the cruise port downtown. The trolley arrives here 15 minutes past the hour. This pick up is convenient for our guest coming off a cruise ship, however it takes at least 15 min to get here from the original departure point. Most days we are here within the set time, unless the traffic gets tight in town. . The trolley has very good PA system and large clear windows. The goal here is to accommodate guests coming on a cruise ship ,ensure everyone enjoys Trolley tour as well as safety Thank you for choosing Historic Tours of Newport. We continue to showcase Newport to the world.