3rd Annual Labor Day Weekend of Culture Get-away
Art, History & Architecture in Newport, RI
September 2nd - 5th, 2022
Imagine sea breezes, sunset sails, Gilded Age splendor, delicious seafood and plenty of girl bonding time, all rolled into one fabulously unforgettable weekend….
Join us this Labor Day weekend for a culture-full girl’s getaway to the beautiful shores of Newport, Rhode Island! We had so much fun exploring the history, architecture, shopping, seafood and sailing of the ‘Gold Coast’ during our trip in 2019, and this trip will be even better!
We will take the train together on Friday at 2pm from Penn station to Kingston, RI followed by a short uber trip to our lodging at the beautiful Yankee Peddler Inn, within walking distance of downtown and Newport harbor, and less than a 10 minute drive from Newport’s beautiful beaches!
After a welcome dinner on Friday night, Saturday will start with a private, guided visit of the Newport museum of art, including their new Georgia O’keeffe exhibit, followed by brunch overlooking Easton Bay and the option to take the cliff walk for self-guided visits of the Breakers and/or Rosecliff, followed by sunset dinner on the lawn at the Castle Hill Inn .
On Sunday, we will have a self-guided visit to the Marble House, followed by brunch at the Chinese Tea House and free time to hit the beach and/or go shopping, depending on your preference. Then, we will meet for a sunset sail aboard the Schooner Adirondack, followed by dinner on Bowen’s Wharf.
Monday will start with ‘the Servants Life’ guided tour at the Elms, followed by a farewell brunch before catching the 4:22pm train back to NYC, arriving at 7:28pm.
If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, you must fill out the form here in order to be invited to book, in order to make sure the experience is a good fit for you.
PLEASE NOTE TRIP IS OPEN TO FULLY VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS ONLY (min. of 2 shots + a booster).
You can reach out to me directly with any questions at alex@womenofculture.org
Tentative Schedule:
(all items with a star are included in trip price)
Friday Sept 2nd
1:30pm: Meet at Penn station for 2pm train
5:10pm: Arrive in Kingston, uber to Newport - arrive by 6pm
7pm: Welcome dinner
*
Saturday Sept 3rd
Continental breakfast at hotel
10:30am: guided tour at Newport museum of art*
12:30pm:| Brunch at the Cafe at Chanler
2pm: cliff-walk to the Breakers and/or Rosewood* (or go to Easton beach)
(depending on how much time you want to spend at each - they are a 10 minute walk from each other)
7:30pm: Dinner at Castle Hill Inn (TBC)
*
Sunday Sept 4th
Continental breakfast at the hotel
10:30am: Self-guided visit of Marble House*
12pm | Tea at the Chinese tea house
Afternoon: Free time to go to Gooseberry beach, shopping on Thames St/Bowen’s Wharf or Rough Point (not included in ticket price)
5pm: Sunset cruise on the Schooner Adirondack*
7pm: Dinner at the grill at Clarke Cooke House (TBC)
*
Monday Sept 5th
Continental breakfast at the hotel. Check-out by 11am
10:30am: ‘the Servants Life’ guided tour + self-guided visit to the Elms*
1pm: Farewell brunch at 41 North
3:30pm: depart for 4:22pm train
7:28pm: Arrival in NYC
*
The schedule is subject to change at the leader's discretion and also according to the weather. It has been designed to address the varied needs and interests of the group while also giving all the optimal amount of time to enjoy a mix of the activities available, though it’s not set in stone and all activities are optional (though no refunds will be provided for any included activities that aren’t attended).
Car services are readily available in Newport, so there will be opportunity to deviate from the itinerary if desired, though individuals will be responsible for paying for any taxi/uber fees incurred by not staying with the group. If you have any issues with the schedule or prefer to deviate from the itinerary, please kindly inform the trip leader in advance.
More about our accommodation at the Yankee Peddler Inn:
The Yankee Peddler Inn is an oasis of calm, comfortable, casual charm in an ideal in-town location. Tucked into Newport's "Historic Hill" neighborhood, they are just a few blocks from both the waterfront and Bellevue Avenue. Dozens of restaurants, shops and attractions are within easy walking distance. Built in the 1800s for a Boston mariner and naval officer, this early Victorian home offers 19 guestrooms, all with private baths. Reservations include free parking, free continental breakfast, free wifi — and the rooftop deck is a nice plus!
Recent reviews:
“Absolutely love this Inn and the people who run it which is why we come back every year. Charming, vintage accommodations, super comfortable bed, a lovely flower-filled deck with harbor view… convenient walking distance to town, mansions, beaches, Cliff Walk, more-than-continental breakfast (oatmeal, cereal, breads, fruit, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, etc)., fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies, wine and cheese hour, and staff who feel like family.This is our hands-down favorite Newport place to stay. Truly one of a kind.”
“I can't recommend this place enough. The location is absolutely perfect to walk to virtually everything and also to access public transportation... Everyone we interacted with was informative, personable, and friendly, too.”
“My mom and I booked a pretty impromptu trip and were SO pleased with our experience. We have visited Newport several times before, but wanted to opt for a more historical setting this time. We were not disappointed! We will definitely stay here again!”
“We couldn't have been happier with this B&B. Friendly staff, clean room, comfortable bed, and a great self-serve breakfast spread. The location is also ideal, within walking distance of dozens of places to eat and things to do, but far enough away from the nightlife scene to allow for quiet evenings and restful sleep.”
Tickets & Cost
This amazing experience is currently only open to 10 women and includes the following activities:
Three-house pass to any three of the Newport Mansions
(we plan to see the Breakers, the Marble House & the Elms but you can opt to visit other houses instead)‘The Servants Life’ tour at Elms
Private guided tour of the Newport art museum
Sunset sail on the Schooner Adirondack
AND all free/optional activities (the beach, shopping, cliff walk, etc)
Full experience tickets ALSO include round-trip transport on Amtrak to/from Kingston, RI + the shared uber to/from the train. Please note Amtrak doesn't go directly to Newport, but to Newport, RI which is an approximately 30 minute uber ride from our hotel/ downtown Newport.
All prices are exclusive of any food, drink or on-site transportation. Many activities are within walking distance of the hotel, but we will need to share the cost of Ubers to/from many of the historic homes and some of the restaurants.
If you’ve never been on a weekend of culture trip before, you must fill out the short questionnaire here to make sure the group and trip are a good fit before booking.
***
Art-full Member Price Options
(All prices are per person)
1 Queen bed in a PRIVATE, Standard Queen room:
With train/uber to/from NYC: $1550 early bird through 8/2; $1650 full price
NO TRANSPORT option: $1350 early bird through 8/2; $1450 full price
1 Queen bed in a SHARED Superior 2 Queen room shared with 1 other person
With train/uber to/from NYC: $1050 early bird through 8/2; $1150 full price (per person)
NO TRANSPORT option: $850 early bird through 8/2; $950 full price (per person)
Activities only (no hotel or transport):
$200 per person through 8/2; $250 thereafter
Non-members can learn more & book here.
***
Please note that all payments are FINAL and non-refundable, though you MUST cancel if you are sick or learn you have been exposed to COVID within 7 days of the departure date. You may transfer your ticket to someone else, but the substitute must be approved by trip leader. A refund for the hotel & train only (no refunds for the activities) may be possible with a MINIMUM of 10 days notice.
If you’ve never been on a Women of Culture trip before, please fill out the questionnaire here before booking.
FAQ's
1. Can I arrange my own travel?
Yes, you can also take Amtrak to Kingston, RI and uber from there (approx. 30 minutes) away, or let me know if you will be driving your own car and might be willing to take people with you!
2. What is NOT included in the cost of the trip?
All meals and any additional activities or ride services are separate and must be paid individually. Wine tasting at Greenvale Vineyard is $25 per person, and you should estimate at least $60+ per day to spend on food/drinks.
3. What if I don’t know anyone — do I need to come with a friend?
No! Most women attend out Weekend of Culture trips on their own, and the idea is that we will all get to know one another over the course of the weekend. However, please do let me know if you are coming with a friend with whom you would like to share a room.
4. Do I have to stay with the group/attend all pre-planned activities on the itinerary?
No, you are welcome to pick and choose though there will be no refunds for included activities that weren’t attended, and you will have to arrange your own transport/taxi if you would like to go somewhere separately from the group that involves driving (keep in mind that our house is a 5 minute drive from downtown, etc).
5. I’ve already been on another Weekend of Culture trip, how can I purchase?
Great, can’t wait to have you join us again! Please go ahead and reserve your spot here.