Newport

One day in class, we got to discussing the first group of American millionaires; the robber Barron's of the late 19th century. They were families like the Rockefellers, the Carnegies, the Vanderbilts, and the Astors, all of whom most of us are indebted to for some of the luxuries we enjoy in our day-to-day lives.

We spoke about how extravagant and over-the-top these families were with their extensive art collections, elite dinner parties, and ginormous summer 'cottages.' Then I remembered that I actually visited a few of those cottages last October on my trip to Newport. 

Newport Rhode Island is a beautiful island about 4 hours drive from the city. The Newport Mansions are beautifully kept and maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County, and everything is exceptionally breathtaking there.

The first mansion we visited was The Breakers. It's Italian Renaissance- style palazzo designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt for the Vanderbilts, the transportation tycoons of the 1800's. It was their summer vacation home and party house.

Let me tell you, the Vanderbilts spared no expense on this house. The 70 room mansion has rooms for dancing and dining, a library encrusted in gold, coffered ceilings, fireplaces taller than I am, an indoor fountain, extensive balconies with awe-inspiring views, a very large kitchen, servants' quarters, and the most spectacular backyard I've ever laid eyes on.

 After that, I visited Marble House, another home owned by the Vanderbilt family because no, one giant extravagant home wasn't enough. 

 Marble House was built by the Grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt as a 39th birthday present for his wife. She used the house to store all of her art and treasures and her expensive taste is epitomized in the 500,000 cubic feet of marble used in the house's construction. 

Marble house is a lot smaller than The Breakers, but it is just as glamorous. The rooms utilize a lot of wallpapers, textures, and patterns. It showcases the culture of the couple and even the appreciation for the water, as the husband was a sailor. There's also a Chinese Tea House in the backyard! 

I can't say enough how much a trip to Newport will change your life. It's so peaceful and scenic there that I didn't want to leave. Just take a day in the springtime when the flowers are blooming and drive up. You won't regret it. The food up there is pretty good and you'll make lots of new friends like I did :)

~ Lisa Lou