• Belcourt of Newport - A striking fusion of Gothic romance and unique ambition, Belcourt stands apart from other Newport mansions. It is a bold display of wealth, creativity, and personal vision, crafted as a medieval-style fortress for a nonconformist heir.
• Chateau-sur-Mer - Among the first truly grand summer residences, Chateau-sur-Mer highlights pre-Gilded Age luxury with its Victorian interiors and expansive grounds. It narrates the transformation of a city from a merchant port to a playground for millionaires.
• Chepstow - Chepstow provides an intimate glimpse into the refined Newport lifestyle, featuring preserved furnishings and family heirlooms from generations of New York’s elite. It’s a serene treasure where history feels tangible and close.
• Chinese Tea House at Marble House - The Chinese Tea House is a whimsical pavilion that served as a playground for East-meets-West luxury, dramatically perched on the cliffs near Marble House. It captures the theatrical essence of Newport’s social scene with its striking architecture and panoramic views.
• Isaac Bell House - The Isaac Bell House merges modern innovation with artistic restraint, exemplifying Shingle Style architecture. Its clean lines and natural materials showcase a different aspect of Newport—where design, not just wealth, influenced the future.
• Kingscote - As one of Newport’s earliest summer cottages, Kingscote combines Gothic Revival charm with Gilded Age ambition. Its distinctive architecture and exotic interiors reflect the tastes of an emerging American elite eager to impress.
• Marble House - Constructed as a monument to wealth, Marble House impresses with over 500,000 cubic feet of imported stone and Versailles-like grandeur. Created by Alva Vanderbilt, it is more than a mansion—it is a bold statement of power, taste, and defiance.
• Ochre Court - Grand, romantic, and intricately detailed, Ochre Court evokes the drama of a French château overlooking the sea. Once a summer palace, it now serves Salve Regina University—demonstrating that old-world glamour can still fulfill a modern role.
• Rosecliff - Inspired by the Grand Trianon at Versailles, Rosecliff represents Newport at its most theatrical. Designed for extravagant parties and glittering social events, it is a place where imagination and opulence still resonate off marble floors.
• Rough Point Museum - The oceanfront estate of heiress Doris Duke, Rough Point combines European treasures with a surprisingly cozy warmth. With its art-filled rooms and quirky personal touches, it offers an intimate glimpse into the life of one of America’s most enigmatic millionaires.
• Salve Regina University - Nestled among Newport’s most iconic mansions, Salve Regina’s campus is a breathtaking blend of academia and architectural heritage. Ivy-covered halls and ocean breezes create a truly unique setting for higher education.
• The Breakers - The pinnacle of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions, The Breakers was built by the Vanderbilts to impress—and it continues to do so. With its Italian palazzo design and commanding ocean views, it represents luxury on an unimaginable scale.
• The Elms - Modeled after a French château, The Elms is elegance with an edge—where formal gardens, lavish interiors, and the advanced technology of the era reveal a world of wealth, ambition, and meticulous design.
• Sheep Point - A tranquil stretch of coastline between the mansions and the sea, Sheep Point offers sweeping views and a touch of pastoral serenity. Once used for grazing, it is now a scenic pause along Newport’s dramatic shoreline.
• Bailey’s Beach - At the southern end of the Cliff Walk, Land’s End once hosted novelist Edith Wharton, while exclusive Bailey’s Beach remains a summer haven for Newport’s elite. This windswept stretch blends literary history with high-society lore.
• Miramar - Miramar feels more private than palatial with its understated French classicism and expansive lawn cascading to the sea. Yet it serves as a stunning reminder that Newport’s most influential families often favored quiet grandeur over ostentatious excess.
• Bellevue Avenue - Known as The Avenue of the Mansions, Bellevue is Newport’s historic display of wealth, architecture, and ambition. Lined with palatial estates and grand entrances, it is a journey through America’s most opulent era.
• The Preservation Society of Newport County - The Preservation Society is the guardian of Newport’s historic legacy—they have preserved, restored, and opened to the public many of the city’s most iconic estates. Their efforts ensure that the Gilded Age and its stories endure.

• Flexible Usage (unlimited access)
• Audio Guide
• App and Tour Download

• Smartphone (bring your own)

Embark on a journey filled with stunning ocean vistas, architectural marvels, and high-society intrigue with this engaging self-guided audio tour along Newport’s renowned Cliff Walk. Delve into the tales of a city where traditional wealth met new aspirations, and where sophistication concealed scandal, defiance, and transformation.

Explore the core of America’s Gilded Age. Learn how self-made magnates and social elites used architecture as a battleground for supremacy, and how the lives of servants, socialites, and outsiders shaped the creation of these magnificent estates. This tour unveils a world that is both glamorous and profoundly human, revealing behind-the-scenes secrets and unheard stories.

Proceed at your own pace, enjoying breathtaking views while listening to captivating narratives rooted in historical research and local knowledge. Experience Newport in a new light, whether you’re a history enthusiast, an architecture admirer, or an inquisitive explorer.

• Works entirely offline once downloaded—no cell service required
• GPS-triggered audio plays automatically based on your location
• Flexible — Buy once, use any day/time—access never expires
• Get the Drives & Detours app download the tour ahead of time

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