Part 1 of 3: The Cliff Walk: Susie, her husband Steve, and I ventured onto the Cliff Walk which hugs the shoreline behind Newport’s “summer cottages,” affording us an exquisite view of the backyards of the Gilded Age’s rich and famous. About two miles into the 4.5 miles trek, Susie put on her chauffeur’s hat, so she could get the car and meet Steve and me at the end of the trail.

The Cliff Walk

Ochre Court, now part of Salve Regina University.

Vinland Estate, also now part of SRU.

The Breakers: see part 2!

Beechwood, previously owned by the Astors and now owned by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. He bought it in 2010 for $10.5 million.

Pretty beach :-).

Rough Point, built by Frederick Vanderbilt and purchased by Doris Duke, a tobacco heiress.

I don’t remember the name of this cottage!

Lands’s End, the former home of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edith Wharton.

The Waves, through various family relationships, connected to Pell of Pell Grant fame.