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Signature City Newport: From Maritime to Mansions

Program Number: 19549RJ
Start and End Dates:
4/21/2013 - 4/26/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Newport, Rhode Island
Price starting at: $1,198.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Signature Cities Activity Level: t (see description)
Meals: 14; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 4 Dinners    
Meal Options: Vegetarian    

From mansions and their wealthy inhabitants to a diverse religious landscape to the tennis and yachting that are part of the local culture, get a profoundly intimate view of the seaside city of Newport. Through lectures by local scholars and expert-led field trips, discover more than 300 years of history in this quintessential harbor town.




Highlights

• Go inside Newport’s famed summer “cottages” and uncover the unique culture of the Gilded Age.
• Explore some of the oldest places of worship in the country and explore the waterfront for an in-depth look into life before the mansions.
• Discover the International Tennis Hall of Fame and the International Yacht Restoration School.



Activity Particulars

Walking up to two miles a day, standing 60-90 minutes on field trips; stairs in historic sites.



Coordinated by Road Scholar.




Newport (Rhode Island)

Lavish mansions, billowing sails, and a plethora of culinary and scenic delights characterize this world-famous seaport, beloved by the East Coast elite during the 19th century. The Gilded Age lives on in Newport, as does the earlier Colonial period, as dozens of historic homes and buildings recall bygone eras of seafaring and socializing.
Accommodations
Recently restored Historic Hotel of America, the Hotel Viking is located on Bellevue Avenue, in the heart of the Newport Historic District.
Meals and Lodgings
   Hotel Viking Newport
  Newport, RI 5 nights
 Hotel Viking Newport
Type: Hotel
  Contact info: One Bellevue Avenue
Newport, RI 02840 USA
phone: 401-847-3300
  Room amenities: •Nonsmoking as a courtesy to all guests •Flat screen LCD TVs in all guestrooms •Gourmet honor baskets •Irons/ironing boards •In Room Safes •Movie Rental •Renovated baths with rain head shower heads, terry robes on request •Air Conditioning •High-speed internet in all guestrooms is complimentary
  Facility amenities: •Fitness Center •Afternoon Tea •Spa •Indoor pool and whirlpool •One Bellevue Restaurant
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior: contact the hotel Additional nights are based on availibility. Please contact the hotel at your earliest convenience.
  Check in time: 4:00 PM
  Additional nights after: contact the hotel Additional nights are based on availibility. Please contact the hotel at your earliest convenience.
  Check out time: 11:00 AM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
3 pm at the hotel You will be staying at Hotel Viking Newport that night.
  End of Program:
12 noon at the hotel You will be staying at Hotel Viking Newport the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking is available: $15 daily
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Newport, RI
  From End of Program
  Location: Newport, RI
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

TF Green International Airport

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Commercial Van/Shuttle
Cozy Cab
phone: 401-846-2500

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$25.00
Prices are subject to change.
   

Call Cozy Cab to make a reservation. They will take you from the airport to the Hotel Viking in Newport.
 
Driving Directions
  From Boston Follow Route 93 South to Route 24 South which merges and becomes Route 114 South (West Main Rd). Follow 114 South for approximately 6 miles until you enter Newport. Route 114 South then becomes Broadway. Follow Broadway past the Newport Hospital (on the left). After a few blocks, you will see a Dunkin Donuts on the left. The first left hand turn after that is Ayrault St. Take your first left on Ayrault street and follow to the 1st stop sign and turn right onto Kay St. Follow Kay St. to the traffic light and Hotel Viking is located straight through the intersection.
  From New York Follow I-95 North to Rhode Island. Take Exit 3A (Route 138 East), and follow until you come to the junction joining Route 1. Take a left at that junction and stay on Route 1 North for about a mile. Youll then take the right-hand exit that will put you back onto Route 138 East. At that point, follow signs for Jamestown/Verrazano Bridge and Newport/Claiborne Pell Bridge. ($4.00 toll to cross the Pell Bridge each way). Take the first exit off the Pell Bridge (sign says Scenic Newport.). At the base of the exit ramp, turn right onto Farewell Street. Follow to the second traffic light, and bear left. At the stop sign, bear right onto Thames Street. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Touro Street. Follow up the hill to the second traffic light. Turn right into the Hotel Vikings driveway at One Bellevue Avenue.
  From Providence Area Take I-95 South to Route 4 (Exit 9 is a left-lane exit). Follow Route 4 South, which becomes Route 1 South. Take exit marked Route 138 East to the Jamestown/Verrazano Bridge. Cross over the bridge & youll come to the Newport Claiborne Pell Bridge ($4.00 toll each way to cross). Take the first exit off the Pell Bridge (sign says Scenic Newport.). At the base of the exit ramp, turn right onto Farewell Street. Follow to the second traffic light, and bear left. At the stop sign, bear right onto Thames Street. At the first traffic light, turn left onto Touro Street. Follow up the hill to the second traffic light. Turn right into the Hotel Vikings driveway at One Bellevue Avenue.
  From T.F. Green Airport Take I-95 South to Route 4 (Exit 9). Follow Route 4 South, which becomes Route 1 South, to Route 138 East. Cross the Jamestown and Newport bridges. Take the first exit off Newport Bridge toward Scenic Newport. At the base of the exit, turn right. Follow to the second light, and turn left. At the stop sign, turn slightly right onto Thames Street. Follow to the first stoplight, and turn left onto Touro Street. Follow to the second stoplight. The hotel is on the right-hand side.
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Registration/Welcome Dinner/ Overview Lecture
(Sunday, April 21)
   
 Arrive To: Arrive at the Hotel Viking between 3 and 4 pm. Register with the Group Leader in the lobby.
 Dinner: Orientation at 5:00 PM and Dinner at 6:00 PM at the Hotel Viking in the Touro Room.
 Evening: Enjoy an introductory Newport lecture by local expert Anita Rafael in the Touro Room.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Trolley Tour of Ocean Drive/Newport Mansions/Guided Age Lecture
(Monday, April 22)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Begin your exploration of Newport with a trolley tour of Ocean Drive, followed by a guided tour of our first mansion, Chateau Sur Mer.
 Lunch: Lunch at the Hotel Viking.
 Afternoon: Enjoy a self-guided audio tour of the Elms Mansion where you will explore the summer residence of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Julius Berwind of Philadelphia and New York.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel Viking.
 Evening: This evening we will enjoy a lecture on Newport in the Gilded Age given by Anita Rafael.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Redwood Library/Religious Heritage Walking Tour
(Tuesday, April 23)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: We will begin the morning with a field trip to the Redwood Library, the oldest lending library in America.
 Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.
 Afternoon: Religious heritage tour of Newport featuring a guided tour of the Touro Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in the United States, and the Great Friends Quaker Meeting House, which was built in 1699 and is the oldest surviving house of worship in Rhode Island. Following the tour you will have free time.
 Dinner: Dinner at the Hotel Viking.
 Evening: Free evening.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Newport Mansions/Harbor Cruise/Free Time to explore Newport
(Wednesday, April 24)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Enjoy a guided tour of Rosecliff, the mansion that became the setting for many of Newport's most lavish parties and was the location of many films including, The Great Gatsby, True Lies and Amistad. Then, take a field trip to the Breakers Mansion where you learn about the Vanderbilt family and their summer cottage with a self-guided audio tour.
 Lunch: Lunch at a nearby restaurant.
 Afternoon: This afternoon we visit Marble House, the mansion that set the pace for Newport's subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent stone palaces. Following this visit, we will take a guided luxury harbor cruise to view the beauty of Newport by water!
 Dinner: Dinner on your own.
 Evening: Free time to the explore the area on your own.
   
Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 5: International Tennis Hall of Fame/Guided exploration of the International Yacht Restoration School
(Thursday, April 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel
 Morning: Delve into Newport's sporting culture on a field trip to the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
 Lunch: Lunch at the Hotel Viking
 Afternoon: Field trip to the International Yacht Restoration School. Focoused on preparing students to enter and excel in all aspects of modern boatbuilding, the IYRS is home to important restoration projects and accompanying exhibitions that draw visitors from around the world.
 Dinner: Farewell Dinner at the Hotel Viking
 Evening: Return to the hotel
   
Accommodations: Hotel Viking Newport
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Free Morning/Program Departures
(Friday, April 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast at the hotel.
 Morning: Free Morning
 Lunch: Boxed lunch to go.
   
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.

Suggested Reading List


Wicked Newport: Sordid Stories from the City By the Sea


Author: Larry Stanford and J. Bailey


Gilded: How Newport Became America's Richest Resort


Author: Deborah Davis




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