KINGDOM BY THE SEA
6/3/2008 12:40:20 PM by Clint Brownfield
Accompany us on a tour of Newport, Rhode Island, a tranquil place where the ultra-wealthy and the über famous meet for drinks and yachting shoreside.
Photos courtesy of Newport, Rhode Island, Visitors Bureau
Newport started out as an island in Narragansett Bay before it became a bustling colonial port second only to Boston in those days. In the mid and late-19th century, it evolved into one of the most spectacular resorts the world has ever known. To this day, one would be hard put to come up with a better place to enjoy the water — and many other delights.
Families with the names Astor, Vanderbilt and Belmont built “cottages,” a reverse-chic name for some of the most lavish homes ever built on the face of the planet, where they would reside for only a few weeks or months each year, during the season. A number of these remaining cottages are maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County (NewportMansions.org), and are today Newport’s main tourist attractions. They simply don’t build them like this anymore — making today’s “McMansions” look like those little houses on a Monopoly board.
The largest, most famous and most visited of the Newport mansions is The Breakers (1895), one of the Vanderbilt mansions. Another, Marble House (1892), was built for William and Alva Vanderbilt, whose youngest son, Harold Sterling Vanderbilt, went on to be a great yachtsman, successfully winning the America’s Cup three times — in 1930, 1934 and 1937.
And, of course, The America’s Cup and Newport are virtually synonymous. Here’s how the story goes: By the late 19th century, several yacht clubs had been established in Newport by society’s “400,” the number of people who could fit into Mrs. William Astor’s ballroom. It was this same group who also, while in Newport, held America’s first U.S. Open and amateur golf tournaments on a nine-hole course laid out on Brenton Point. Tennis, as we know it, also owes much of its development to Newport. But it was yachting that would capture the hearts and souls of this elite group of people who really put the “leisure” into pastimes.
From 1930 to 1983, the city hosted the celebrated America’s Cup races. These races are an international competition among the most sophisticated sailing yachts in the world and date back to 1851, when the New York Yacht Club sent the schooner America to compete against the British for the prestigious Hundred Guinea Cup. America was victorious and came back with the trophy — actually an elaborate silver pitcher — which was from then on called the America’s Cup. Held off-and-on since 1851 because of the enormous expense, the race was consistently won by the U.S. until 1983, when the Cup was captured by Australia.
The U.S. was again victorious in 1987 with the yacht Stars and Stripes, but New Zealand took the prize in 1995. The trophy now rests in Geneva, after the Swiss team Alinghi captured the prize in Valencia, Spain, last year. Valencia will once again host the Cup — the 33rd — in 2009, when world yachting enthusiasts will devote their collective attention to this sunny Spanish clime on the Mediterranean. The America’s Cup is believed to be the oldest prize in sport. Book your rooms now! For information, visit AmericasCup.com.
But whether you’re an America’s cup competitor or just trying to learn about the sport for the first time, anyone can enjoy a visit to the Museum of Yachting at its waterfront home at Fort Adams Park in Newport. Here one can learn from exhibits about the America’s Cup, the sport’s compelling (and rich) personalities and historic happenings in yachting. In 2007, the museum converged with the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) and among other amenities boasts a library with an extensive collection of books and materials about yachting. Together, these two Newport organizations are creating a rich educational living-heritage experience by coordinating exhibits, events and classic boat restoration projects.
This summer, the museum’s 29th Annual Classic Yacht Regatta will again transform the waters off Newport into a panorama of majestic classic yachts. For more information on the regatta and other museum and IYRS activities and events, go to MOY.org.
Further insight into the rich history of the area can be gained by a visit to the Newport Historical society’s website at NewportHistorical.org. One can also take self-guiding historical walking tours of Newport that will help put the town’s heritage into perspective, with such stops as: Brick Market, Old Colony House, the Friends Meeting House, Touro Synagogue, Trinity Church, the Newport Art Museum and the like.
After all of this touring and learning, you’ll need a place to rest your weary head. If you’re not staying on your own yacht, or that of a friend, don’t despair: Newport has many wonderful and elegant places to stay.
Among the best is The Chanler at Cliff Walk (TheChanler.com), a luxurious seaside mansion overlooking the ocean and boasting an amazing restaurant called The Spiced Pear. For those looking for cozier accommodations, Castle Hill Inn & Resort (CastleHillInn.com) is situated on a 40-acre peninsula and has just been named a Relais & Chateaux property. Its restaurant was also just featured by Giada De Laurentis on the Food Network. Just yonder, The Francis Malbone House (Malbone.com) is a luxurious bed and breakfast, where attention to guests’ needs is unparalleled in Newport. It’s the only five-star/Diamond award-winning property in Newport. Even more exclusive is The Carnegie Abby Club, in nearby Portsmouth. This private enclave offers golf, equestrian facilities, yachting, tennis and a variety of luxury waterfront homes. To see if you qualify, go to CarnegieNewport.com.
Additionally, the august organization Historic Hotels of America offers three properties in Newport: The Hotel Viking, which also boasts an incredible SpaTerre; The Inn at Newport Beach, Newport’s only beachfront hotel; and the Vanderbilt Residence Club and Hotel, which offers a glimpse into a former gentlemen’s club. To reserve your spot, go to HistoricHotels.org.
To help you plan your trip, the folks at the Newport County Convention & Visitors Bureau have just put up a dazzling new website that should answer just about any question you might have to make your Newport visit memorable. For all the details, visit GoNewport.com. Happy sailing!