Escapes: Opulent Outing
Bring back the Gilded Age with a stay at a historic Newport mansion
The well-heeled and fabulous have been flocking to Newport, Rhode Island, since the late 19th century. So what’s keeping you? You can plan a getaway around a visit to Castle Hill Inn, one of the city’s most elegant historic retreats. Built in 1874 as a summer residence by Alexander Agassiz—a prominent marine biologist who made his fortune in mining— Castle Hill lies at the end of Ocean Drive on a spectacular 40-acre peninsula where Narragansett Bay meets the Atlantic.
With waterfront views from nearly every window, the main inn boasts nine traditional but elegant rooms, all with antique furniture, marble baths and downy beds outfitted in crisp Frette linens. With its panoramic vistas of the bay and ocean, the Turret Suite is among the property’s loveliest offerings. In addition to William Morris wallpaper, mahogany wood details and a king-size four-poster, the suite has a clubby second-floor sitting area and a glorious soaking tub that’s got to be one of the few places on the planet where you can take a bubble bath while watching a sailboat regatta. Visitors can also opt to stay in one of the 10 beach cottages that are a short walk from the inn, or in the beach house, a separate building featuring eight private rooms with tidy kitchenettes, gas fireplaces, luxurious rain-head showers and private oceanfront decks that double as personal planetariums on starry nights.
In spring and summer, enjoy breakfast, included in the room rate, on the mansion’s waterfront deck. For dinner, chef Karsten Hart works his magic with local ingredients, offering a three-course tasting menu that, depending on the season, may include pan-seared scallops, Hudson Valley foie gras or grilled filet with dauphine potato and carrot-brown butter sabayon. And drink up, of course. The restaurant’s extensive wine list earned a prestigious Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence last year.
Want to check out the sights? Motor along Ocean Drive, a beautiful 10-mile driving loop that traces Newport’s shoreline; visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame; or take an afternoon sail on the sleek Weatherly, the legendary 1962 America’s Cup winner. And don’t miss Newport’s famous Cliff Walk, a gorgeous 3.5-mile-long trail that hugs the rocky coast, rising in some spots to 70 feet above sea level. On the walk, you’ll pass many of the Gilded Age mansions that made Newport famous, including the Breakers, railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt’s grand 70- room Italianate “summer cottage.” For a more in-depth peek at the lifestyles of the rich and famous, the Preservation Society of Newport County offers self-guided audio tours of several estates.
Those who’d rather not stray too far from their cozy digs can sun on the property’s private beach or take a nap in an Adirondack chair on the grassy lawn. Need a little pampering? Ring the front desk and schedule an in-room massage, facial or manicure. Quite simply, everyone should feel well-heeled and fabulous at Castle Hill Inn—at least for the day.
Getting There:
CASTLE HILL INN
590 Ocean Dr., Newport, R.I.
888.466.1355
castlehillinn.com
Driving time: about 4 hours
Related Read: National, Natural Beauty
