New England Travel and Vacation Gazette and Other Wicked Good Content

Belcourt Castle, Newport, R.I. (photo by Eric) Touring the Newport mansions in Newport, R.I., might seem like an obvious New England travel attraction, but it's definitely a "rich"  experience worthy of a visit. Once "summer cottages" to the rich and famous from the Gilded Age (beginning in the mid-19th century), many of the Newport mansions  remain in great shape and available for tours. The Preservation Society of Newport County offers the majority of house tours, including The Breakers, Chateau-sur-Mer, The Elms, Marble House and Rosecliff. The tours can take up to 90 minutes, given the size, details and nuances of each home. My recommendation would be to see no more than two homes a day, as the experience can eventually become overkill.  By purchasing a multi-house ticket, you can spread out the visits on different days. Speaking of tickets, you can order online or on site at any participating house. Log onto the Preservation Society of Newport County ...

Article and photo by Eric H. If you're in a knot trying to figure out where to tie the knot in New England, consider the Belcourt Castle in Newport, R.I., as grand and surprisingly affordable place for a wedding and reception. This spectacular late 1800s, 60-room 17th century King Louis VIII hunting lodge replica surely impresses with its old-world, French-style charm and Norman, Elizabethan English and country German design. With a simply beautiful chapel with stained glass and high arched ceilings and the elegant by friendly main reception room's Gilded Age "king" and "queen" chairs and spectacular chandeliers, the Belcourt Castle resonates with character, uniqueness and charm. What a perfect place for a wedding and reception! When attending a recent wedding and reception at the Belcourt, a friend told us that the total cost of the wedding and reception cost less than many other sites in the area -- amazing, given the famous, historic presence of the Bel...