Tour was incredible! Very informative and a lot of fun. Enjoyed learning the history of all the…read morefamilies who lived in the mansions.

We had an amazing time with Troy ! Very knowledgeable and it was a really fun experience - highly…read morerecommend !

I highly recommend a trolley tour through Newport. There is so much history here that you might…read moremiss if you don't take a formal tour to get the details. Our tour guide and driver was quite funny and very informative. Getting tickets online was easy and meeting at the pick up spot was also very easy. Our ticket included The Breakers-also recommend.

Booked this tour through go city app. Enjoyed our trip and guide. Learned alot of great history of…read morethe area.

Many years ago, well before the pandemic, visitors to Providence couldn't help but notice the…read morebrightly painted green line throughout downtown, dotted with colorful emblems. Dubbed the Independence Trail, this 2.5-mile path was designed by Robert Burke, owner of Pot Au Feu restaurant on Custom House Street and founder of the nonprofit Independence Trail Education Foundation. Managed, promoted, and maintained by Burke's foundation, the self-paced tour showcased 4 centuries of Providence history, architecture and culture, highlighting 133 notable sites altogether. It told the story of Rhode Island from its founding by Roger Williams through the first shot in the Revolution, and pointed to places where Lincoln spoke and Washington slept. The trail started at the State House, continued across the river to Benefit Street and South Main, crossed the Crawford Street Bridge and zigzaged throughout the Financial District. Of course, since the tour was self-guided, you could start and end your walk at any points, and take as much time as you wish. Within the Downtown Improvement District (DID) boundaries, you'd find a variety of highlights from the Arcade to the Spanish American War Memorial. You'd learn about the city's hurricane marks, the Turks Head building, Haven Bros. diner, Burnside Park, and so much more. Each destination was labeled with an emblem showing a unique location number and general phone number: (401) 441-6401 (disconnected for a while now). When you called and listen to the welcome message. Unfortunately, that project has been in disrepair for years and many of the emblems are now gone or ripped off. Too bad that a project with such a potential did not have any follow through.

The green line has faded and construction has replaced sidewalk that previously had it, but I still…read morerecommend downloading the map and walking it yourself to get a feel for all of the different locations and sites to see in Providence.

We had the best day! We had 4 different guides (Bunker, Breezy, C) and all of them were lively and…read moreinformative! We got such great tips on places we might want to visit- all treasures! We had initially thought we would do a walking tour, and we're so glad we decided on Old Town Trolley tours. We got to see so much more than we would ever have seen. And as a local, traveling with an out of towner, you think you have seen or heard it all, but you haven't! Thank you all for a truly enjoyable day!!

Good drivers with lots of knowledge and stories. The trolleys don't come around enough to actually…read moreget off and see several things tho. So you have to choose a few strategic things to get off and visit. Also the trolley should take you all the way up to Bunker Hill, it does not. You have to trek there from the USS Const then the BH monument is 294 steps to the top and 294 steps down which is a lot when the trolley doesn't drop you off right there. Ok experience for the cost.

We grabbed the last two seats on the Viking Newport Trolley tour and lucked out with Ray as our…read moreguide -- what a gem! Ray's storytelling made the city come alive, weaving in personal memories, local legends, and insider tidbits you'd never get from a guidebook. He clearly loves Newport and knows every corner of it, from Gilded Age mansions to hidden seaside gems. It felt like a friend showing us around his hometown rather than a scripted tour. Highly recommend -- just hope you're lucky enough to get Ray too!

Troy created a fabulous experience! Newport has SO many treasures!…read moreLearned so much and so much more about the area. The mansions and all the opulence was breathtaking. Wish I could have been a fly on the wall back in that time.

They never showed at meeting point on the map provided to pick us up. I called that day prior to…read morethe tour and there was no answer. I had to purchase new tour tickets and Mansion entrances. After numerous phone calls spanning a week I've finally made contact with the business operator. The confusion is associated with the fact they have a "Visitor Center" at a different location but when asking around town where THE Visitor Center is, everyone local expects that to be the Newport Visitor Center on America's Cup. HNT Visitor Center is not in Newport but in Middleton.

I had never visited Newport RI and it was on my list of things to do. When I found a deal for a…read moretour with Historic Tours of Newport, I decided that was my sign. I bought the deal and planned the trip with the BF. I called ahead and made my reservation without a hitch. We arrived at the bus terminal and had to ask around for Historic Tours of Newport. We were advised that the driver was out on a tour but if we waited outside, we would see him when he got back. When he got back, it turns out it was just us and one other couple waiting for the next tour. Our driver was a very nice older gentleman who knew the area well. We were booked for the 1.5 hour tour. It was mostly conducted from the bus with one stop at about midpoint. The other tour is about 3 hours and you could visit one mansion (your choice). Since the bus just kept driving it wasn't like we could just stop in traffic to discuss certain highlights. The mini-bus was very well kept and clean but unfortunately not made for tall people. Since my BF is 6'4", it wasn't the most comfortable ride. I'm no jolly giant but legroom was tight for me too. The other issue with the bus was that it was really difficult to see everything the driver/guide was pointing out on the window opposite of the side you were on. Having never been on a bus tour before, I think I've now decided that walking tours are my preferred type. As stated, our driver was a nice older gentleman. We did manage to hear quite a few stories about him and his wife during the tour interspersed with talk about the homes we were driving by. All in all it wasn't the worst 1 1/2 hours I've ever spent but I was really glad I got discounted tickets. If you were staying in Newport, it would be a nice introduction to give you an idea of they lay of the land and some ideas of what else you might want to focus on. PS One bonus is that the tour drove right past a cheese shop that we ended up stopping at after the tour ended. Best cheese plate I've ever had at le petit gourmet.

The Preservation Society of Newport County is a non-profit organization based in Newport, Rhode…read moreIsland and its top priority is the preservation and conservation of its historic houses and their collections. This work includes restoration of roofs and windows, conservation of fragile textiles, cleaning and restoration of valuable paintings and much more. At any given time, dozens of projects are underway. A visit to the Newport Mansions is a donation to The Preservation Society of Newport County. During the holiday season, The Breakers, Marble House, and The Elms welcome visitors with spectacular holiday displays so it was a great opportunity to visit. In addition to the house holiday display, there is an outdoor holiday display called Sparkling Lights at The Breakers from November 22 to December 29, 2024 on select evenings. Admission is only at 4 pm, 4:30 pm, 5 pm, 5:30 pm and 6 pm. Gates close at 6:30 pm and the house and grounds close at 8 pm. Timed admissions tickets can be purchased online at https://www.newportmansions.org/. Tickets include access to the lavishly decorated rooms inside the house during the same visit. About a week prior, I bought 2 tickets for December 20, 2024 at 6:00PM ($40.00 each) and I was really looking forward to it. However, there was a winter advisory and it was snowing on the day of. Driving conditions were unsafe. I was worried I was going to lose my money since the website indicated tickets may not be resold, non-transferrable, non-refundable, and cannot be used for a different date. I tried calling the Preservation Society of Newport County, but there were just prompts and I couldn't talk to a live person. I sent a direct message to @newport.mansions through Instagram and they responded promptly that I could receive a refund by emailing info@newportmansions.org. Gary Ruff, Associate Communications Manager, responded and instructed me with what information he needed to provide the refund. I was so appreciative. Thankfully, the snow cleared and temperature warmed up a bit so I bought 2 tickets for December 29, 2024 at 4:00PM ($40.00 each). All the decorated Christmas trees, the 15-foot-tall poinsettia tree, poinsettias, garlands, wreaths and fresh floral in the interior of The Breakers were beautiful and then walking through the lights and illuminated displays of the outdoor 13-acre landscape was just a cherry on the top. The Preservation Society of Newport County also partnered with Stoneacre Brasserie to offer holiday treats and adult beverages. Thank you to The Preservation Society of Newport County for everything you are doing to protect, preserve, and present an exceptional collection of house museums and landscapes.

The family (wife, 10 y/o son, 2 y/o daughter) were visiting Newport and looking fo some activities…read moreto do. I noticed that the Newport mansions were on every to-do list, with the Breakers being the top choice of many. I looked at their website as well as other reviews and saw that this may not be the best place for younger ones. I saw that no strollers were allowed and I didn't think a tour of an old mansion is something my 10 y/o would be interested in. So I decided to take a solo trip on a nice Friday morning while the rest of the family slept in late at the hotel. The Breakers opens at 10 AM. The visitors parking lot is on the corner of Ochre Point Avenue and Victoria Avenue. There are other lots nearby but read the signs as they are for other buildings...The parking lot had adequate space when I arrived at 10:15 or so, but by the time I was leaving at about 11:45 is was pretty packed with visitors having to park in the rear overflow lot. Once you reach the front gate of the Breakers mansion, there are COVID restriction and general rule signs. As you proceed you can go to the left to buy tickets, use the bathroom or enter their cafe. Tickets are about $26 for adults and $8 for children 6-17 years old. The cafe has a bunch of premade food items, drinks, snacks, premade sandwiches... and few seats with tables. There are some more seats and table just outside of the cafe. Before you enter the mansion, there are signs showing you how to use their self tour audio app. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND DOING THIS...AND BRING HEADPHONES. You download the Newport Mansions app from the App Store onto your Apple or Google device, select the mansion you are visiting and begin the tour. The audio tour was excellent and follows you through the tour route of the mansion. I enjoyed listening to all the interesting facts about each room via bluetooth earbuds while my hands were free to take photos with my camera. You only thing you will need to do is to advance (click the play button) the tour to the next room before entering. There are some interesting facts about the mansion as a whole and each individual room. You can also stay around longer in each area for additional facts, essentially lengthening the tour. Without the audio tour, you will have to fread the printed information sheet. You go through the main floor, upper floor and back down into the service area where the kitchen is. You then exit through the gift shop. The gift shop has lots of interesting items, which includes typical magnets, mugs and prints, but they also have some luxury items like platters and wine stoppers as well as a small jewelry section. You finally exit out onto the side of the mansion and are able to walk back around outside to the front where you entered. Before sure to walk through the opened gate to the right of the mansion which takes you through a small garden to the back. Here you can see the Cliff Walk path and the ocean. Overall, I had a great time...It was a lot more interesting than I thought it would be. The entire tour took just over an hour without listening to the extra information about each room. (During the tour, there are a few instances where you have to ascend/descend steps - I did NOT see any elevators - so you may want to call ahead to check if you cannot climb steps) Again, I highly recommend downloading the app and listening to the audio tour via headphones. It allows your eyes to focus on the beauty of the mansion instead of reading. Lastly, the mansion is right off of the Cliff Walk path...so be sure to make the short ride (or walk) north to Narragansett Avenue and visit the Forty Steps.

I had a wonderful time on this tour! I attended this tour in late March or early April 2024. Our…read moretour guide's name is Kelly. I liked that she was dressed up in a costume and was a wonderful presenter. I've been on ghost tours before and this was my favorite! The tour starts in a park dedicated to the founder of Providence, Roger Williams. The park offers wonderful views of Providence. Especially at night! The tour will take you to several places in old town Providence. Some of the stops are the Athenaeum, AnnMary Brown memorial, a famous street in Providence that Edgar Allen Poe walked on and where some have seen his ghost. There are many more stops. You will do a good amount of walking and stopping. Dress weather permitting and be prepared to take plenty of photos! You may have the opportunity to capture a ghost like I did. I recommend reviewing your photos after you get back home and if you capture any ghosts in your pics, email Providence Ghost Tours. They will be happy to hear from you! Looking back on all the pics I took, it brought back a lot of memories from this tour. I was so happy that I attended this. Also, they offer a souvenir flashlight to purchase in addition to your ticket. The tour itself is so worth the money. Again, Kelly was great! Don't forget to tip your guide. They also offer Venmo. Happy ghost hunting and don't get too spooked! Have fun and be safe!

This was mostly an alternative history of Providence/storytelling tour, but that was fine by us…read more We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience & wish Carson, our tour guide, the best of luck! It was only their third time hosting the tour, & they did a wonderful job. Their outfit, especially the dashing tailcoat, was one of my favorite parts of the tour. I hope they stay with the company & continue to host tours. The tour was about 90-minutes, starting & ending at the Roger Williams statue in Prospect Terrace Park. The College Hill streets are so marvelous to meander. On a crisp, October evening, with the wind blowing & leaves tumbling around our feet, it was extra marvelous. The coolest thing we learned was that THE Edgar Allen Poe spent quite some time in Providence with his lover, back in the day. I had no idea. Providence Ghost Tour is coming up on their 20-year anniversary! Very impressive. I wish them continued success.

Coming from California, I had thought we were going to go duck watching. Another thought we were…read morepaddling around in a kind of swan boat. Turns out the Duck Tours were tours in semi-aquatic buses that mix history, jokes, and sightseeing. We also got to go into the water and folks took turns driving the duck boat. What was delightful about our tour was our captain who entertained us with magic tricks, punny jokes, dad jokes, and history. We quacked at passerbys, other duck tours, recent graduates, kids in hi-vis vests. He pointed out the marines organized in a park with the Osprey and other planes. I left my knowledge of American history in elementary school, so everything was super fascinating to me. I thought my honey would enjoy this being a historian and all but he didn't care for the jokes, which I thought were the best part. Oh well. Worth a tour when you're in the Boston area!

My fiancé and I took a duck boat tour leaving from the aquarium location on Saturday afternoon…read more These tours are so dependent on getting a good tour guide, and I can't help but feel like maybe a little regulation is needed to make the experiences more evenly enjoyable no matter who your guide is. Our host boasted over 4000 duck boat tours, and I certainly didn't question his knowledge of Boston's history. However, I wish we heard more of the history he was clearly an expert on. Most of what I remember from the tour is him going on with personal anecdotes, telling stories that sounded made up, and interacting with a large family on board. I'm sure that family had a memorable and special experience, but for everyone on the other end of the many, many times he stopped to talk and joke with that group, we felt like outsiders. We felt downright ignored a couple times- once he asked if anyone was celebrating anything, I raised my hand to say it was my fiancé's birthday, but he once again fixated on the group he had a report with. The same thing happened when he allowed a group to drive the boat on the river, we volunteered but no use. For the steep price, I just think there are better ways to learn the history and see the city. However, the sunset view of the river is pretty.

Overall this was a terrible experience…read more This place advertises buying tickets online for their trolleys everywhere- on the side of their buses, on their brochures and stands. If you navigate through their website it will tell you that not only do you save a little money purchasing tickets online, but you have the ease of using e-tickets from your phone. The website is very unclear about the fact that you MUST "check-in" in person at stop #1. The confusion is compounded when reading through their FAQ's and come across this: "Can I start my tour at any Stop?" "Yes if you purchase your tickets from this website, you will have the convenience of starting your tour anytime at any stop". How does that work if the very annoyed driver is telling me I have to have my e-tickets scanned at the first stop to receive physical tickets? We started at stop #3, stayed on until stop #7 where we de-boarded. We did not ride to the first stop to get the tickets scanned immediately because I had planned our time-sensitive day around the idea that we would be able to begin at any stop. While at Boston Commons I was attempting to use the GPS tour they so proudly advertise as part of their tour. I ended up having to download 2 separate apps to find it, and then to realize it was completely unusable because it needed a password to log in. The password it was prompting me for needed to be 8 numbers long. I discovered later that we were supposed to be given a code when we got our tickets but as we didn't have the physical tickets at the time that did not help us. I am including a picture of the ticket we received (without the harbor cruise ticket portion) to show that there was absolutely no code or password for the GPS tour printed on it. There is a separate audio tour that I was able to download but was unnecessary since the trolleys have audio anyway. We re-boarded the bus at stop #8, were again told to get our tickets scanned at the first stop which we did. We purchased the "Ultimate Boston" tour meaning we also added the Harbor Cruise in addition to our trolley tickets. The people scanning our tickets seemed confused or put off that we had those tickets and it took them a hot minute to get our tickets to us. They explained that the left side of the ticket- which was perforated- served as our cruise tickets. The ticket itself was marked with the month and day that it is usable, and no further information about the cruise. When we received our tickets I asked, very clearly, if we needed to make a reservation for the harbor tour. They stated that they were running at 12 pm, 1 pm, etc. to 4 pm. Another employee who was standing a bit away pointed out to them, and us, that the boats were doing a 5:30 run as well. We thanked him and them, asked again if we needed a reservation and were told by him that "you just need to be there 10-15 minutes before to board". We thanked him and went on our way. Later in the afternoon we returned to find where we needed to catch the cruise boat. At this point it was 3:45 PM, and I wasn't expecting to catch the 4 PM boat but thought it was worth a try. We approached staff who were boarding the boat at 3:50 PM and they were very confused about the tickets. It seemed like they had never had to deal with those tickets before and directed us to talk to the City View staff at the stand. We rushed over there to find a group of other tourists speaking with the employee there. As we approached the guy asked if we needed something and we replied that we needed our boat tickets. He waved us off and said okay follow me, then proceeded to attempt to sell us and the other tourists "ice cold water" for only $2- cash only. He was extremely persistent until one of the other tourists caved and bought a few bottles. We said multiple times "no we just want our boat tickets". He then locked up the stall and instructed us to follow him. We, and the other tourists, followed him across the street away from the harbor, which seemed odd but we figured maybe they have a separate boat and he is leading us there. We get to another stand of theirs, the guys hands the other employee there some cash- that is the same employee who told us earlier in the day that there was a 5:30 boat cruise. He said " Oh you must have done well today!" to the first employee, who laughed. We found that......shady. After all that the first guy turns to us all and points to the trolley and says oh so joyfully that it's right there. We replied back that we needed our boat tickets. He looked confused. The other guy picked up that I was upset and frustrated and he finally understood OH THEY WANT THEIR CRUISE TICKETS REDEEMED and told us to go to the blue building back across the street WHERE WE JUST CAME FROM. We totally missed the 4 PM boat. The first guy finally got it and spewed out a very insincere apology. Absolutely ridiculous! We repeated multiple times we were looking to get our boat tickets. Waste of money.

Complete incompetence. Website is useless. Employees even worse. Do not use this tour company…read more Waste of time and money. Will ruin your vacation.