Five Reasons You Should Visit Rough Point Mansion in Newport
One of my favorite mansions we visited of the two we visited was definitely Rough Point. While Rosecliff was definitely just as beautiful and extravagant, we spent the most time walking around and inside of Rough Point mansion. If you are trying to narrow down what Newport mansions you should visit, I would definitely encourage you to visit this one.
It’s a Guided Tour
While I like that some mansions have recorded audio that you can use to help guide you through the different rooms in the mansions, I really appreciated that Rough Point had tour guides and people situated in just about every room of the mansion so that we could ask questions. As we walked through the mansion learning information about it’s and it’s owner’s history, we got to ask questions and hear responses to the questions some of the other people in the group had. I feel that it helped provide us with a lot more information about the owners, ensuring that we got the full picture of the mansion during its heyday.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL INSIDE:
Something I often recall people saying during our tour as we walked from room to room was just how beautiful it was. Every room was beautifully decorated and curated to the point where it seemed like every room flowed together. While all of the mansions are absolutely stunning, I think this was one of the prettiest mansions I’ve been to.
IT’S A NICELY SIZED MANSION:
We got to see pretty much all of the mansion during our visit to Rough Point. While there were some areas that were closed off for various reasons, there was still a lot of rooms we could peak into, exhibits that showed things such as Doris’ impeccable style and philanthropy and even a room with books that had more information about the mansion and it’s owners. I felt that although we paid more to get into Rough Point, after leaving, we felt the price was worth the experience we got.
THE GARDENS:
When we went during the month of July, there were so many beautiful blooms in the garden near the mansion. Plus you can see the two topiary camels that were created in honor of the two camels she once owned. If you are visiting on a nice day, I would definitely recommend heading to the gardens. It’s included with admission, so you do not have to pay extra to see it.
THE VIEW:
Since Rough Point is at one of the roughest points (hence the name) in Newport, it has one of the prettiest views of all of the mansions. It’s right at one of the tips of Newport and is therefore facing the Atlantic Ocean rather than the Bay. It’s absolutely beautiful and it was so nice to be able to see the ocean through the windows and outside while walking the property. Can you imagine getting to wake up, grab a cup of coffee and look out the window to see a view of the ocean?
Honestly, all of the mansions we have had the opportunity to visit both in Newport and outside of it are beautiful. There are definitely similarities in the types of style each of the mansion owners went for during the Gilded Age. For example, you can definitely tell that chinoiserie was popular (and still is). However, each one has it’s flair and personality because each owner had their own different vision for what the mansion should look like.
Rough Point is a mansion that is not only unique in its own right, but it’s a unique experience that allows you to truly get an idea of what life was like during the time that Doris Duke lived there.
