Christmas in Newport, Rhode Island

Depart Michigan to begin your Rhode Island adventure. Check into the Fairfield Inn & Suites, Hazleton, PA. Dinner is included tonight at Damon’s Grill - an American restaurant with amazing food, drinks and atmosphere. (D)

After an included breakfast at the hotel, depart for Newport Vineyards for a tour and tasting. Experience a touch of Napa Valley in Rhode Island. With over 60-acres of vines, spread across 100-acres of historically preserved farmland, Newport Vineyards prides itself on a robust portfolio of estate-grown wines perfected for over 25 years. Check into the Wyndham Newport Hotel which offers modern accommodations, exceptional amenities, and spectacular water views. Tonight, dinner and entertainment is included at Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant. Enjoy a great buffet that offers a large variety of hot & cold foods, main entrees, side dishes, beverages & homemade desserts. Take a short stroll from the dining room and into the theater where professional actors will delight you with a Broadway worthy, Cabaret style performance. (B,D)

Breakfast is included at the hotel. Meet your local guide for a driving tour of Newport’s Mansions and travel back in time to the Gilded Age. Your guide, Mrs. Astor, was a prominent American socialite and the Grand Dame of Newport Society. Enjoy a driving tour of Ten Mile Ocean Drive where the most famous of the “American Aristocracy” has built their splendid summer palaces. See Bellevue Avenue, where the Vanderbilts and the top 400 of U.S. society and wealth congregated during the summer months. Take a tour of the Marble House - built by William Vanderbilt as a birthday present to his wife, Alva. It was a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport’s subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary opulent mansions. Visit Bowen’s Wharf and Bannister’s Wharf for free time to explore and an independent lunch. Bowen’s and Bannister’s Wharves are the pinnacle of holiday shopping. Find cobblestone paths lined with a mix of local boutiques and artisans. Late this afternoon, tour Breakers Mansion, the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages”. It is a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial pre-eminence in turn-of-the-century America. See how the well-to-do celebrated the holidays. Nearly 30 Christmas trees are exquisitely decorated to complement the decor and theme of each room. Hundreds of poinsettias, garlands, wreaths and fresh floral arrangements add color, warmth and life. The 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree, made up of 150 plants, provides a perfect holiday photo opportunity. Step outside and experience Sparkling Lights at the Breakers. See over 40,000 lights as you stroll along the historic serpentine walk. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. (B,D)

After an included breakfast at the hotel, check out and get ready for a tour of the Blithewold Mansion. Blithewold, a 33-acre summer estate with grand views of Narragansett Bay, is significant in American history as one of the most fully developed and authentic examples of the Country Place era. The property features a 45-room mansion filled with family heirlooms. Blithewold features a unique holiday theme that transforms the mansion into a dazzling display celebrating the magic of Christmas. Each room is filled with elaborate holiday decor and the gardens become a glimmer wonderland. Depart for Lock Haven, PA for overight lodging and an independent dinner. (B)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your way back to Michigan filled with wonderful memories of Christmas in Rhode Island. (B)