Visiting the historic mansions of Newport, RI, gives you a glimpse into the unimaginable wealth that some families had amassed in the late 19th Century. Well, dining on the dock at The Grill at Forty 1 North gives you a glimpse into the unimaginable wealth that exists right now — if you get to sit within cocktail-flinging [...]

The mansions are what make Newport, RI, such a special vacation destination. I don’t mean the huge homes on Ocean Drive, although staying in one of those would certainly make for a memorable getaway. I’m talking about the Newport Mansions, 10 magnificent “cottages” held in public trust by The Preservation Society of Newport County. These [...]

When it’s a nice summer day in Newport, RI, the historical attractions face serious competition: the beaches. Many a visitor has come to the City on the Sea with the best intentions to learn about the Gilded Age and ended up relaxing on one of Newport’s five beaches. My favorite beach (pictured top, middle and [...]

My first sightseeing stop in Newport, RI, where I spent last week, was the International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum. There’s a lot to see and do in Newport (which is why I chose it for our week-long getaway with the baby) and it can be difficult to decide where to start. But this [...]

I love New York City. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. (Except for maybe Barcelona, London or Rome.) But as much as I love New York, there are plenty of weekends when I just want to get away. All New Yorkers do — getting out of town is a sport we take seriously. I’ve [...]

(photo by Amanda Lobell) As I wrote in an earlier post, Venice feels magical on a summer night. On certain Saturday nights, Providence, R.I., channels Venice but put its own spin on the theme with WaterFire. At the core of WaterFire is, well, fire on the Providence River (pictured above) although there is also fire [...]