Rhode Island(s)

Rhode Island is a small state, packed with history and beauty. And the state name is misleading. Did you know Rhode Island consists of 108 islands? Seriously! I found this interactive map online. Of course some of those islands are very small and not inhabited. If you don't like going over bridges, this is not the part of the country for you. Personally, I'm giddy; love bridges.

Today we focus on Newport, Rhode Island. This city is filled with so much history and extensive wealth. There are numerous Gilded Age mansions, colorful, large yachts at the harbor. I cannot image Martha's Vineyard looking any more prestigious than Newport. 

Today in Newport, Papa and I checked out three of these famous summer mansions: The Chanler at Cliff Walk, The Breakers and The Vanderbilt Grace. Lifestyles of the rich and famous here we come, la-di-da!

New York Congressman, John Winthrop Chanler, built a grand summer home in 1873. Set on five-acres of beautiful gardens overlooking the ocean, this stately mansion along the picturesque Cliff Walk has changed hands over the years. It is currently the five-star boutique hotel called The Chanler at Cliff Walk. It features 20 individually decorated rooms and villas. Stunning! 
The Chanler at Cliff Walk is the only mansion with direct access to the Cliff Walk. The Cliff Walk is a 3.5 mile recreational trail along the ocean.The major thoroughfare through Newport is Bellevue Avenue, two-and-a-half miles of pure history and elegance. Many of America's elite families during the Gilded Age made their summer homes along Bellevue in Newport. Names like the Astors, Vanderbilts, Morgans, and many members of "the Four Hundred," New York's premier social list, vacationed here.

(Note the long hangers in the bottom left photo to accommodate the huge gowns of the period) Likely the most famous mansion is The Breakers. The original Breakers was built in 1878 and referred to as "unquestionably the most magnificent estate in Newport." It remains the largest mansion in Newport to this day. Vanderbilt purchased the property 1885 and the home was destroyed by fire in 1892. 

(Note the call board for the butlers, similar to Downton Abbey) The Vanderbilt's rebuilt The Breakers with the current structure completed in 1895. It consists of 70 rooms, 48 of which are guest rooms, on 13 acres of land. Mrs. Vanderbilt and the children were afraid after the fire, so the new construction consisted of steel, brick and concrete vs. wood. The boilers to heat the mansion were housed underground, connected by a tunnel to provide heat to the mansion while being a safe distance away. After construction, it is rumored Vanderbilt ordered the blueprints for the boiler setup to be destroyed so no one could copy his innovative design. 

We toured The Breakers. The rooms in this mansion are massive! We could fit two of our home in most of the bedrooms. The larger entertaining rooms dwarfed the White House ones. Absolutely incredible. Multiple staircases. The kitchen had three huge sinks plus another in the Butlers quarters. The cooking area was a long bank able to prepare food for hundreds. Remember, these summer mansions were their vacation homes. Most of them lived in New York. 

There is one more stately mansion to see: The Vanderbilt Grace (upper right). After touring The Breakers, the Vanderbilt seemed small. The city hall in Newport seemed grander. That said, I am also thinking we see more on a second or third visit to an area than the first. There is so much to take in. Still the drive around Newport, the marina areas were beautiful. And we see more blue sky!

One last stop for the day. Around 2000, there was a Friday night television show called Providence. It was a quirky show with a female doctor as the lead who saw visions of her dead mother. We watched the show faithfully, I think the scenery of the Providence, Rhode Island area was more a draw than the show content. Oh how I dream of being on a sailboat and smoothly gliding over the ocean waters. Nope, not happening today. It was fun seeing the rowers from Brown University on the river while we ate dinner. After dinner, a quick trip by the state capitol building in Providence, through Brown University and a few neighborhoods before packing it in. Busy day and now it's time to hit-the-sack.

Magnolia World

Today we enter the Magnolia World and officially become tourists. For one day, we are submersed in Waco, Texas and the Magnolia environment. Although it is after Labor Day and children are back in school, it was surprising how many people descended on Waco. 

Our tourist day starts with lunch at the original Magnolia Table location. Yes, there's a second now in the Silos area. Papa and I split their avocado toast. The avocado topping was excellent. Very well prepared. The restaurant itself is classy, even the restroom.

After a leisurely lunch, we checked out the Waco Suspension Bridge. This bridge, completed in 1870, was the first built over the Brazos River in Waco. At 475 feet, it was the longest suspension bridge west of the Mississippi River. Its purpose was to provide safe passage for cattle along the Chisholm Trail. After the Civiil War, millions of cattle were driven from Texas to Kansas where they were sold. It is estimated that up to 20% of the cattle did not make it across the river. Even with a nickle-per-head toll charge to cross the new bridge, ranchers embraced it. Today, there are large statues (27 cattle and 3 cowboys on horses) in the park at the bridge to commemorate the historic cattle drives. 

In the afternoon, Papa and I joined a small tour group. We covered over 30 miles of Waco, learning about the F5 tornado of 1953, several neighborhoods, parks and how the city has worked together to rebuild after natural disasters and economic downturns. Of course we drove by a few fixer-upper homes, too. After the two-hour tour, Papa and I strolled through the silos area on our way back to our motel for the night. 

Today, we finished the first-half of the first leg of Road Trip #4. So far, we still have energy and drive to continue. It's been a remarkable trip so far.

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