Local resident Augustus Van Wickle bought a 72ft Herreshoff yacht for his wife Bessie in 1895, but having nowhere suitable to moor it, he then had to build Blithewold Mansion. The arts-and-crafts mansion sits in a peerless position on Narragansett Bay and is particularly lovely in spring, when daffodils line the shore.
Blithewold Mansion
East Bay
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
13.88 MILES
While the peerless position and splendor of the grounds alone are worth the price of admission, this faux-English manor house also contains heiress and…
12.82 MILES
A 70-room Italian Renaissance megapalace inspired by 16th-century Genoese palazzi, the Breakers is the most magnificent of Newport's grandiose mansions…
12.36 MILES
Designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1901, the Elms is a replica of Château d'Asnières, built near Paris in 1750. Here you can take a 'behind-the-scenes' tour…
14.41 MILES
Designed by McKim, Mead and White in 1904, the Rhode Island State House rises above the Providence skyline, easily visible from miles around. Modeled in…
13.1 MILES
Fort Adams is America's largest coastal fortification and the centerpiece of this gorgeous state park, which juts out into Narragansett Bay. It's the…
13.91 MILES
One of the most prominent buildings on Benefit St, the Greek Revival Providence Athenaeum was designed by William Strickland and completed in 1838. This…
National Museum of American Illustration
12.9 MILES
This acclaimed museum features an impressive collection of 'the most American of American Art' including Maxfield Parrish's impossibly luminous works in…
5.94 MILES
Located in Portsmouth, 6 miles north of Newport, on the site of a former missile manufacturing plant, this fantastic, new-in-2017 museum showcases more…
Nearby East Bay attractions
0.75 MILES
The world-class Herreshoff Marine Museum showcases some of the country's finest yachts, including eight built for the America’s Cup. Featuring the America…
1.29 MILES
Built by General George DeWolf, this beautiful Federal-style historic home houses a small local history museum and is a popular spot for weddings. It…
1.92 MILES
Bristol’s Colt State Park is Rhode Island’s most scenic park, with its entire western border fronting Narragansett Bay. The parks is fringed by 4 miles of…
4.07 MILES
This idyllic island sits in the middle of Narragansett Bay, an easy 25-minute ferry ride (adult/child $5.40/1.90) from Bristol. Originally used for…
5.94 MILES
Located in Portsmouth, 6 miles north of Newport, on the site of a former missile manufacturing plant, this fantastic, new-in-2017 museum showcases more…
6.45 MILES
‘You sank my battleship!’ This cry was ne’er heard aboard the mighty USS Massachusetts, a hulk of a craft that survived 35 battles in WWII, gunning down…
8.75 MILES
Tours of the vineyards aren't the only reason to stop by this pleasant winery in Middletown 4 miles north of Newport: there's also a marketplace, a…
8. Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard
9.33 MILES
This popular vineyard has free guided tours, a seasonal cafe and daily tastings for $14: great value for sampling seven local wines.