The Breakers: Guilded Excess

Don't You Wish You Had a Marble Bathtub?

This past week, I went with about half of my graduating class to Newport, RI for a "Seniors Weekend" - it was so fun! We left NYC on Friday and stayed in town till Sunday afternoon. On Saturday morning, a small group went to visit The Breakers (http://www.newportmansions.org/explore/the-breakers). Even though I was tired, I'm glad I woke up to visit this insanely lavish summer "cottage".

We purchased the self-guided audio tour for $19.95. You can visit more mansions but we had to keep to a schedule and wanted to manage costs. Unfortunately, the photography rules at the mansion are very strict (more likely to motivate you to purchase from the gift shop than to actually protect the house), but I managed to snap some photos for you!

Dining Room

Everything at The Breakers is completely over-the-top. A dining room isn't just a dining room - it is a testament to opulence.

Marble on marble on marble

I am ready to jump in this tub! It is made out of marble and modeled after a sarcophagus - how regal! Throughout the self-guided tour, there were options to listen to additional vignettes about the Vanderbilt family, the servants and the cultural climate "back in the day".  

I need a Cake Closet

In the kitchen, there was a Cake Closet - can you even handle it? THIS is what my life is missing!

Check out that BACK!

How beautiful is the back of the property? Some of the rooms are a bit too grand, so the outside is a nice contrast to all the gold leaf. Also, the gift shop has a ton of items you can buy - all of the things I was interested in had nothing to do with Newport or the mansions, so I didn't purchase anything.

If you're in Newport - check this out! I would have liked to have seen the Green Animals Topiary Garden and Marble House. If you are here and have more time, these are worth a visit.

Cheers,

Liz