big mansion tour

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A marvel of elegance and charm.

Experience America’s Largest Home®, as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basement of the luxurious family home of  George and Edith Vanderbilt . Explore the stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and employees through displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, furniture, and more.

Biltmore: A Vision Made Real

Take a closer look at how a beloved national treasure has evolved over the years, from a history of significant events and decisions that ensure George Vanderbilt’s legacy lives on to the collection of rare and priceless objects that fill his grand home.

A Rich History

A vast collection, virtual tour: biltmore house—america’s largest home.

Rooftop Tour

Enjoy breathtaking views from rooftops and balconies of Biltmore House and get a closer look at its design and construction with this 60-minute guided tour of areas not seen on the regular house visit.

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Luxury homes with 3D tours

Own a stunning second home for ⅛ the cost and none of the hassles. Tour homes with features you love and find your perfect fit.

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Touring a home is an exciting part of the home buying journey. It’s an opportunity to see what the home offers, discover what you’d like in a second home, involve your whole family, and get all the answers you need.

As the leader in second home co-ownership, Pacaso makes it easy and enjoyable for you to tour one of our homes and get all the confidence you need to move forward. You can choose to take a 3D tour on your own or schedule a guided tour with a Pacaso crew member who can answer any question you may have. Get a true-to-life view of your dream home and imagine yourself there.

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10 Best Home Estate Tours in the U.S.

Unlock the legacies of society’s most elite as you step through the threshold of their grand estates. The gilded past of America comes to life as you meander through the hallways and gardens of these ten breathtaking properties. From panoramic views and lavish gardens to rare art and rich history, these extravagant homes welcome all to enjoy the high life.

By Zachary Laks

WHERE: Lenox, MA

Edith Wharton's grand mansion, The Mount , built in 1902, overlooks vast acres of lush, curated gardens. Best known for writing  The Age of Innocence , Wharton was a Pulitzer Prize-winning fiction author who became a massive influence in modern American home design and gardening. Converted to a public landmark in 1980, The Mount has daily tours that bring visitors through the expansive 42-room estate. Separate tours are available through the formal gardens, and there's even a ghost tour in the fall, when spirits evoke the haunted nature of the aged grounds.

Insider Tip: Head down the street to the famed Red Lion Inn of Stockbridge, MA, for some peaceful relaxation on the porch, complete with rocking chairs.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Berkshires Travel Guide

The Biltmore Estate

WHERE: Asheville, NC

The sprawling, 8,000-acre grand estate of George Vanderbilt is a modern marvel. Completed in 1895 at the height of the Gilded Age, The Biltmore Estate' s four acres of square footage are outfitted with 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. Vanderbilt’s fortune was inherited from his grandfather, Cornelius, patriarch of one of the wealthiest families in the country, who amassed a fortune in railroads and shipping. The grounds are open to the public with the new Antler Hill Village and Winery, where shopping, exhibits, restaurants, and wine shops dot the manicured pathways and groomed gardens.

Insider Tip: Off-road like never before in the luxury of a Land Rover truck, which you can drive yourself at The Biltmore Estate. Steep ascents and rock crawls await!

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Asheville Travel Guide

Kykuit The Rockefeller Estate

WHERE: Sleepy Hollow, NY

Overlooking the Hudson River sits Kykuit , John D. Rockefeller’s historic stone house, built in 1913. Within its six stories and 40 rooms, Kykuit houses Picassos, Moores, and Calders, as well as a world-renowned 20th-century sculpture collection. Still an active residence for the Rockefeller families, the main grounds of Kykuit are private and only available to the public through guided tours. Each tour focuses on a different part of the grounds, including areas such as the Coach Barn, where a collection of classic cars and horse-drawn carriages are on display, as well as the Italian garden, home to the Adam and Eve fountain.

Insider Tip: After your tour, head to the Rockefeller State Park Preserve , where trails take you through lush forests perfect for bird watching.  

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Hudson Valley Travel Guide

WHERE: Rancho Mirage, CA

As a famed publisher, businessman, and philanthropist, Walter Annenberg and his flamboyant décor shine bright at Sunnylands , his and his wife's estate in Southern California. A distinct modern home, Sunnylands has a statement pink pyramid roof and a signature glass wall exterior, exposing guests to the panoramic mountainscape. A flagship golf course designed by Dick Wilson was a favorite of the Annenbergs, who played the course almost every day they were on site. With a new visitor center completed in 2011, Sunnylands welcomes guests for tours through the pristine estate, as well as into the life of the Annenberg family.

Insider Tip: Every other week or so, Sunnylands hosts a free movie night on the Great Lawn.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s California Travel Guide

Chalk Hill Estate

WHERE: Healdsburg, CA

About 40 years ago, Chalk Hill Estate was established on 1,300 acres of land at the base of the Mayacama Mountains, in Sonoma County, as a vineyard and residence for wine connoisseur Fred Furth. Having perfected its agricultural and fermentation processes, Chalk Hill is best known for its Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs. Book ahead for an estate tour that will take you behind the scenes of the winemaking process, which includes tastings of the current pours.

Insider Tip: The Chalk Hill Culinary Lunch Tour is a special excursion focusing on the organic garden that supplies the fine cuisine at the estate. After the tour, you can relax with wine tastings and small plates of the same fruits and vegetables you saw moments prior in the garden. Reservations are required.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor's Napa and Sonoma Travel Guide

Mount Vernon

WHERE: Mount Vernon, VA

In Fairfax County, VA, not far from Alexandria, sits the historic Mount Vernon , built in 1735, where George Washington lived for 45 years. The house’s 21 rooms display intricate details, with almost all design and construction overseen by Washington himself. A variety of tours bring guests through the halls of the mansion and focus on aspects of life in the 1700s, such as dining culture, canine life, and slave labor. The Signature Tour brings guests to private areas of the house, such as the third floor and basement, for an even more in-depth look at the lives of America’s first First Couple.

Insider Tip: For the best view of Mount Vernon, hop on board the sightseeing cruise. The 45-minute narrated boat ride on the Potomac is a great way to admire the majesty of the grounds.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Washington D.C. Travel Guide

The Breakers

WHERE: Newport, RI

Built in ornate glory by Cornelius Vanderbilt II in 1895, The Breakers is the ultimate summer home. This towering 70-room mansion on 13 acres provides unobstructed panoramic views of the Atlantic. The Great Hall dazzles visitors with its grand red carpet staircase, rare marble moldings, and walls overflowing with Italian art and sculptures. Step through to the library, where a fireplace from the 16th century remains in pristine condition, having been imported from Burgundy. The manor's style is grand and opulent, with manicured gardens and fountains.

Insider Tip: Take a hike on Newport’s Cliff Walk, a 3.5-mile long scenic hike along the Atlantic coast, which offers incredible views of the many summer estates, including a great view of The Breakers.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Rhode Island Travel Guide

Black Point Estate

WHERE: Lake Geneva, WI

Built in Queen Anne-style in 1888 by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp, Black Point Estate sits on Lake Geneva. Originally designed with 13 bedrooms and one bathroom, the house was built as an escape from the city. The property remained in the family for three generations, and in 2005, Seipp’s great-grandson gifted it to the state of Wisconsin for use as a historic site. The home is open for tours from May through October, and visitors still arrive to the grounds by boat, the same way the original visitors did.

Insider Tip: The Wisconsin Historical Society Passport gains entry to the Black Point Estate, along with 11 other historic landmarks throughout the Cheese State.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Wisconsin Travel Guide

The Inn at Shelburne Farms

WHERE: Shelburne, VT

Make your way through winding roads and you’ll see the mammoth Shelburne Farms  appear magnificently on the horizon. With a panoramic outlook of Lake Champlain, the grand Shelburne Estate, formerly a private estate but now a nonprofit with a mission to educate for a sustainable future, is a model of country living. Built in the 1880s by Dr. William Seward and Lila Vanderbilt Webb as a 3,800-acre farm and residence, Shelburne was once internationally known for hackney horse breeding. Restored in 1987, the estate has been converted to an inn with 24 guest rooms and four guest cottages, along with a public farm-to-table restaurant—and made Fodor’s list of Top 100 Hotels in 2012 .

Insider Tip: Stop by the Shelburne Farms store for their renowned fresh cheddar cheese, maple syrup, cured meats, and farm-made jams.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Vermont Travel Guide

WHERE: Charlottesville, VA

Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, built a sprawling plantation in 1772 with land he had inherited from his father and called it Monticello . He originally built the estate to grow tobacco, wheat, and other crops at the top of an 850-foot peak in the Southwest Mountains. Designed with Neoclassical influences and maintained in pristine condition, Monticello welcomes visitors to explore the house and gardens, as well as four exhibits examining Jefferson's legacy of liberty and public service. With its facade having once served as the main image on the back of the $2 bill, the house stands as a national treasure.

Insider Tip: Opt for the Monticello Neighborhood Pass so you can gain access to James Monroe’s house in addition to Jefferson’s Monticello.

PLAN YOUR TRIP : Visit Fodor’s Virigina Travel Guide

Virtual Open House

Mansion Global's virtual home tours allow for the viewing of our luxury houses from anywhere.

• Montecito, California
• $7.5 million Sotheby's International Realty
• Midtown Manhattan, N.Y.
• $29.5 million Douglas Elliman
• Bagpath, Gloucestershire, U.K.
• $4.45 million Knight Frank
• Clio, California
• $25 million Sierra Sotheby's International Realty
• Glanvilles Wootton, Dorset, U.K.
• Strutt & Parker
• Lyford Cay, Bahamas
• $12.5 million HG Christie
• Henderson, Nevada
• $13.75 million Luxury Estates International
• Southwest Harbor, Maine
• $5.95 million RE/MAX By the Bay / Knowles Co.
• Palm Beach, Florida
• $5.2 million Sotheby's International Realty
• Ballito, South Africa
• $3.7 million Seeff Zimbali

20 of the Most Remarkable American Mansions

Mansions are indeed fascinating, especially to most of us who are outsiders to the opulent lifestyle they represent.

But more than wealth and luxury, each of these mansions have their own unique stories and secrets; sometimes mundane and sometimes scandalous.

If the mansions’ stories don’t fascinate you, their size, grandeur, and design would.

In today’s blog post, take a visual journey through the most historic, famous, and iconic American mansions.

Plantation Homes

A plantation complex is composed of different buildings and structures that are commonly found on agricultural plantations in the southern states from the 17th century into the 20th century.

Typically, a plantation complex has the main house, often called plantation home, a slave quarters and other residential structures, a kitchen yard, ancillary structures (such as offices, schoolhouses, or churches) and agricultural structures (such as storage barns, stables, or cotton presses).

Historically, plantations are a huge part of American history, particularly African-American history. Large numbers of African-Americans were held as slaves in these plantations while their white owners got rich off their labor.

Many plantation houses standing today feature antebellum architecture, which is a neoclassical architectural style characterized by huge pillars, a wide balcony, and big center entrances to multiple-story, box-like mansions.

Below are some of the most notable plantation homes in America.

1. Evergreen Plantation (Edgard, Louisiana)

The Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South and one of the rare ones still operating as a sugarcane plantation.

The main house was built in 1790 and renovated in 1832 in the Greek Revival style with some Federal accents. Its most distinctive feature being the double staircase on the front of the house.

There’s also a double row of 22 slave cabins that have been maintained through the years and help tell the history of the African-Americans who were once enslaved here but were freed after the Civil War and continued to work in the plantation.

Though it’s a National Historic Landmark (the highest historical designation that can be bestowed on a place), the Evergreen Plantation is privately owned and fully functional, meaning people actually live and work in the grounds. However, the main house and the slave quarters are still available to tour.

Their tour touches on the family history of the owners, the architectural and historical significance of the buildings on the complex, the agricultural aspect of the plantation, and most importantly, the labor of the enslaved African-Americans that was crucial to operating such an enormous plantation.

Essential Information Address: 4677 LA-18, Edgard, LA | 985-497-3837 Hours: Mon-Sat 9:30am-11am; 11:15am-12:45pm; 1pm-2:30pm; 2:45pm-4:15pm Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Cost: $20 per head for adults; c Website: Evergreen Plantation Note: The plantation may be closed when there are no scheduled tours or for private events, so book in advance through their website or by calling.

2. Whitney Plantation (Garyville, Louisiana)

The Whitney Plantation Historic District is America’s first slavery museum and the only plantation museum in Louisiana to solely focus on the lives of enslaved people.

In 1990, John Cummings bought the plantation from a petrochemical company and spent millions of his own money and 14 years researching and developing the property into a museum and memorial dedicated to telling the tragic story of slavery in America from the eyes of the enslaved.

Working with famed historian Ibrahima Seck as the director of research, Cummings collected plenty of artifacts and research materials and formally opened the plantation to the public in December 2014.

Sixteen original structures remain on site. Visitors can view the French Creole-style Big House, two slave cabins, a steel jail, a Baptist church donated and moved from Paulina, Louisiana, and various memorials, including the Field of Angels, the Allées Gwendolyn Midlo Hall, and the Wall of Honor.

Essential Information Address: 5099 LA-18, Edgard, LA | 225-265-3300 Hours: Mon-Sun; first tour starts at 10am and the last tour starts at 3pm Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes Cost: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, seniors, and locals of the same parish Website: Whitney Plantation

3. Oak Alley Plantation (Vacherie, Louisiana)

Oak Alley Plantation is named for the double row of southern live oaks creating an alley from the Mississippi River up to the main house.

The main mansion was finished in 1839, done in Greek Revival-style architecture, with a distinct colonnade of Doric columns all around the exterior. The mansion itself has a square floor plan.

The first owners, Jacques Roman acquired the property in 1836 and had the mansion built.

During this time, the most noted slave in the plantation named Antoine developed the “paper shell” pecan through grafting. It was even entered in the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia where it won a prize. It thus became known as the Centennial variety.

Unfortunately, the plantation where the pecan trees were cultivated washed away in a river break in the 1990s and none of the original Centennial pecans survived.

After Jacques Roman passed away, he left it to his wife Celina. She didn’t know how to manage a sugar plantation, though, and it ended up in auction. The subsequent owners could not afford the upkeep and the buildings fell into disrepair.

In 1925, Andrew Stewart bought the plantation as a gift to his wife, Josephine Armstrong Stewart. The Stewarts commissioned architect Richard Koch to supervise extensive restoration and modernization of the buildings.

When Josephine Stewart died in 1972, she willed the historic house and grounds to the Oak Alley Foundation. Their mission is to educate the public about the history of the sugarcane plantation, its owners, and its place in a bygone era characterized by wealth but marred by slavery.

Places that are available to tour are the Big House, a formal garden, the Slavery Exhibit, the Sugarcane Exhibit and Theatre, the Blacksmith Shop, and the Civil War Tent.

A restaurant and inn are also available on the grounds, in case you want to dine and stay overnight in the plantation.

Essential Information Address: 3645 LA-18, Vacherie, LA | 225-265-2151 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-5pm Duration: 2 hours Cost: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, seniors, first responders, and teachers Website: Oak Alley Plantation

There are more plantations along LA-18, which we touch upon in our post about the best things to do in Louisiana .

4. Belle Grove Plantation (Shenandoah Valley, Virginia)

Belle Grove Plantation is known as the home of Major Isaac Hite, Jr. and as the headquarters of General Philip Sheridan during the Battle of Cedar Creek.

The history of the plantation dates back to when son Isaac Hite, Sr., the son of a German immigrant, bought 483 acres of land in the Shenandoah Valley, southwest of Middletown.

When his son Isaac Jr. got married to Nelly Conway Madison, President James Madison’s sister, Isaac Sr. gifted them the land. They developed the land into a grain and livestock plantation and had the Manor House built in 1797.

The Manor House features a grand portico with columns, glass transoms that bring natural light into the rooms, and a T-shaped hallway, allowing for ventilation from all four sides. President Thomas Jefferson contributed these design ideas, which he had actually used for his own home constructed earlier.

After Isaac Jr. died, it was occupied several times during the war, the most notable of whom is General Sheridan, who lived here in 1864. Another succession of owners lived in the house until 1929, when Francis Welles Hunnewell bought the property.

Hunnewell had the Manor House and the surrounding buildings restored in the 1930s and 1940s. When he died in 1964, he bequeathed the house, the surrounding 100 acres of land, and $100,000 to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Today, it is part of the Cedar Creek Battlefield and Belle Grove National Historical Park. The Manor House, the outbuildings, and the surrounding landscape are all available to tour since they were opened to the public in 1967.

Essential Information Address: 336 Belle Grove Road, Middletown, VA | 540-869-2028 Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-4pm (last tour at 3:15pm), Sun 1pm-5pm (last tour at 4:15pm) Cost: $12 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, military, and seniors Website: Belle Grove Plantation

5. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (Charleston, South Carolina)

The Magnolia Plantation dates back to 1676, when Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and a formal garden on the site. It grew and evolved through the years, but the plantation remains under the control of the Drayton family.

Magnolia began as a rice plantation but after the Civil War, its focus shifted to horticulture. In fact, it’s the oldest public garden, being open to visitors since 1870.

Today, the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is Charleston’s most visited plantation, offering tours of the plantation house, the expansive gardens, and an exhibit featuring African-American life in the plantation from their perspective.

Basic admission gets you access to the Historic Garden, Petting Zoo, The Conservatory, Orientation Theater, The Peacock Café, and the Gilliard Garden Center.

Additional guided tours are a separate cost each and include the Plantation House Tour, Nature Tram, Nature Boat, Audubon Swamp Garden, and Slavery to Freedom.

Essential Information Address: 3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC | 843-571-1266 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am–4pm Cost: Basic admission: $20 per head for adults; discounts available for children; Additional tour: $8 per additional tour per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens

6. Belle Meade Plantation (Nashville, Tennessee)

Belle Meade Plantation is a historic plantation that operated as a cotton and livestock farm. It dates way back to 1807, when John Harding bought Dunham’s Station log cabin and developed it into a plantation.

He named it Belle Meade, which means “beautiful meadow” in French. He began breeding and racing horses in the plantation. His son William inherited the property in 1839 and expanded it to the neighboring property.

The main house was first built in the 1820s as a red brick Federal-style house. When William took over, he had the house altered in a Greek-Revival style and applied stucco to cover the red bricks.

A two-story veranda was created with six limestone pillars, the left wing was removed, and the right wing was raised two stories.

A dairy, carriage house, stable, and a mausoleum were added to the plantation complex by the turn of the 20th century.

During the Civil War, Harding had to cease his breeding and racing operations. Confederate General James Chalmers occupied Belle Meade as his headquarters during the Battle of Nashville, and after the Civil War, Harding resumed his horse farming operations.

Belle Meade had many successful thoroughbred studs. In fact, a few of their bloodlines remain and dominate modern horse racing.

In 1953, after the plantation has turned over a few owners, the mansion, eight outbuildings, and the 30 remaining acres of the plantation were purchased by the State of Tennessee to ensure their preservation.

Nowadays, you can tour the mansion, the grounds, and the outbuildings. They also offer a Journey to Jubilee tour that educates visitors about the first African-Americans brought to Belle Meade and highlights their importance to the success of the plantation.

After touring, you can go for a free wine tasting at the winery on the grounds. If you want a more extensive wine tasting, you can also sample more wines and pair them with food for an additional fee.

Essential Information Address: 5025 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN | 615-356-0501 Hours: Mon-Sun 9am–5pm; last tour at 4pm Cost: Mansion-only tour: $24 per head for adults; discounts available for children and seniors; for other tours, see their list of tours Website: Belle Meade Plantation

7. Pebble Hill Plantation (Thomasville, Georgia)

Pebble Hill Plantation was built by Thomas Jefferson Johnson in 1825, first cultivating cotton, then rice. Upon his death, his daughter Julia Anne who managed the plantation with her husband John Mitchell.

In 1896, Melville Hanna acquired the property and eventually gave it to his daughter Kate in 1901, who then bequeathed the property to her daughter Elizabeth Ireland, known as Pansy.

She established and endowed the Pebble Hill Foundation in 1950 and willed that the entire estate be given to the foundation so it can be publicly opened as a museum and educate as many visitors as they can about life during that era.

The main house was first built in 1850 by architect John Wind, who was commissioned by the Johnsons. Eventually, in 1934, when the plantation was owned by Kate Benedict Hanna, the main house burned down.

Hanna then commissioned architect Abram Garfield to rebuild the house and he made it into the Neo-Georgian, Greek Revival style mansion that we know today.

The H-shaped configuration was retained, but the entire house was rebuilt in masonry to make it fire-resistant. The columns on the exterior are reminiscent of the Greek Revival style, while the plaster molding is reminiscent of Beaux-Arts architecture.

Today, the main house and the grounds are open to the public for tours.

Essential Information Address: 1251 US Highway 319 S, Thomasville, GA | 229-226-2344 Hours: Tue–Sat 10am–5pm, Sun 12pm–5pm; first tour starts at 10:30am, last tour starts at 4pm Cost: $16 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Pebble Hill Plantation

Gilded Age Mansions

The Gilded Age refers to the period between the Civil War and the turn of the twentieth century, when America experienced rapid economic growth.

The richest of the rich, such as the industrialists, bankers, and heirs to already-rich clans are the ones who most benefited from this economic growth, and they weren’t modest about it. They build lavish homes for themselves and vacation homes for the summer.

Gilded Age mansions usually feature European-inspired architecture and interiors, but what makes them uniquely American are the innovations that reflect the current technology at the time. These innovations include central heating, indoor plumbing, and showers.

The rich families also weren’t shy about displaying their wealth in their mansions; these would often have high ceilings, one or two sweeping staircases, marble floors, a separate reception room for receiving guests, and a huge ballroom, usually with crystal chandeliers and painted ceilings.

Here are some of the most famous Gilded Age mansions.

8. The Breakers (Newport, Rhode Island)

There’s no shortage of Gilded Age mansions in Newport, and The Breakers is the most popular of them all.

Cornelius Vanderbilt II bought a wooden house called The Breakers and commissioned architect Richard Morris Hunt to design a villa to replace the wooden-framed house. The result is an Italian Renaissance-style palazzo inspired by the 16th century palaces of Genoa and Turin.

Today, The Breakers is known to be the most lavish mansion in Newport and the signature symbol of the Gilded Age.

Essential Information Address: 44 Ochre Point Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $26 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: The Breakers

9. The Marble House (Newport, Rhode Island)

Marble House was built as a summer house (or “cottage,” as Newporters call them) and is largely credited as the summer house that begun the transformation of Newport from a sleepy town to a renowned district of stone mansions.

In short, it was the mansion that started it all.

Another Vanderbilt commissioned this mansion, namely, William K. Vanderbilt, Cornelius II’s younger brother. It was a gift for his wife, Alva, in honor of her 39th birthday.

Architect Richard Morris Hunt also worked on this mansion. Inspired by the Petit Trianon at the Palace of Versailles, Marble House is one of the earliest examples of Beaux-Arts architecture in America.

Its distinct façade features Corinthian pilasters that are two stories high, as well as arched windows and a monumental portico.

Essential Information Address: 596 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $18 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Marble House

10. Rosecliff (Newport, Rhode Island)

Rosecliff is named for the rose gardens along Cliff Walk that were planted by the original owner of the property, the historian, diplomat, and amateur horticulturist George Bancroft.

Theresa Fair Oelrichs, a silver heiress from Nevada, bought the Rosecliff property in 1891 and commissioned the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White to design a summer home suitable for throwing extravagant parties.

Stanford White, the principal architect, modeled Rosecliff after the Grand Trianon in Versailles. This is evident in the open-air colonnade at the center, the paired Ionic columns, pilasters on the second story, and the roofline balustrade concealing the staff quarters on the third floor.

The highlight of the mansion is the grand ballroom in the middle of the building. Measuring 40 feet by 80 feet, it was Newport’s largest ballroom where Theresa Fair Oelrichs threw the most memorable balls, securing her place as one of the greatest hostesses of Newport.

The magnificent ballroom has been featured in films such as True Lies and The Great Gatsby .

Essential Information Address: 548 Bellevue Avenue, Newport, RI | 401-847-1000 Hours: Vary depending on season; check this detailed, regularly updated calendar prior to your visit Cost: $18 per head for adults; discounts available for children Website: Rosecliff

Check out our article about Newport’s Gilded Age mansions to learn about more mansions you can tour in the area.

11. Lyndhurst (Tarrytown, New York)

First built in 1838, Lyndhurst was owned first by New York City mayor William Paulding, Jr. who hired architect Alexander Jackson Davis to design a mansion in the Gothic Revival style.

This architectural style is evident in the pointed roofs and windows, as well as the castle-like towers and parapets. At the time, this type of design wasn’t very common, and so critics called it Paulding’s Folly for a while.

It was then bought by George Merritt, who renamed it Lyndenhurst for the linden trees planted on the estate. He hired Davis again to double the size of the mansion.

Years after Merritt died, Jay Gould purchased Lyndenhurst as a summer home, shortened the name to Lyndhurst, and stayed there until he died in 1862. This is why Lyndhurst is also known as the Jay Gould estate.

Essential Information Address: 635 S Broadway, Tarrytown, NY | 914-631-4481 Hours: Thu–Mon 10am–4pm Cost: Apr to Sep: $20 per head for adults; discounts available for children, seniors, military, and students; Oct to Dec: $24 per head for adults; discounts available for children, seniors, military, and students Website: Lyndhurst Mansion

12. Vizcaya Museum And Gardens (Miami, Florida)

Formerly known as Villa Vizcaya, the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens is a sprawling estate developed to conserve the surrounding mangrove swamps and tropical forests.

James Deering, a known conservationist, developed the property from 1914 to 1922. Architect F. Burrall Hoffman designed the estate in the Mediterranean Revival style, influenced by Tuscan Italian Renaissance and Baroque architecture.

When Deering died in 1925, his descendants sold off the surrounding parcels of land one by one. Presently, the main house, formal gardens, and the village are now owned by Miami-Dade county, including the art, antiques, and furnishings.

Today, you can tour the museum and the lovely gardens outside.

Essential Information Address: 3251 South Miami Ave., Miami FL | 305-250-9133 Hours: Wed-Mon 9:30am-4:30pm; Tue closed Cost: $22 per head for adults; discounts available for seniors, children, students, wheelchair users; Free for military with ID and children 5 and under Website: Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

If you plan to spend a weekend in Miami to visit this mansion, try our Miami weekend itinerary .

13. Lynnewood Hall (Elkins Park, Pennsylvania)

Lynnewood Hall was built between 1897 and 1900 for Peter AB Widener, a well-known tycoon. Architect Horace Trumbauer designed this grand home for Widener and his children after he lost his wife.

Trumbauer designed the T-shaped mansion in the Neoclassical style of architecture, inspired by Prior Park in Bath, England, and Ballingarry in New Jersey.

The interiors were furnished with the most expensive materials: walnut and marble, silk and velvet, Persian rugs and Chinese pottery. Art by Raphael, Rembrandt, El Greco, and other notable artists adorned the walls.

Tragically, Peter Widener’s son George and grandson Harry lost their lives when the Titanic sank in 1912, followed by Peter Widener himself in 1915. Joseph, the only surviving son, took over the property and maintained the extensive art collection.

When Joseph Widener died in 1943, neither one of his children wanted to take on the responsibility of maintaining the mansion and the assets. It was abandoned until 1952, when a religious group bought it.

To raise funds, the religious group sold off the assets, such as the mantels, artwork, and even the landscape sculptures.

Subsequent property tax troubles with the next owners of the mansion resulted in the mansion to be in the market since 2014. At 70,000 square feet, it is the largest surviving Gilded Age mansion in the Philadelphia area, and currently the largest home for sale in the United States.

So if you have an extra $11 million lying around (and an extra $100,000 a year for taxes), you can buy this mansion and have a piece of history, albeit a tragic one.

Essential Information Address: 900-934 Spring Ave, Elkins Park, PA

Biggest Mansions

Megamansions never cease to amaze and intrigue us. Here are the biggest American mansions to date.

14. Biltmore Estate (Asheville, North Carolina)

At 178,000 square feet, the Biltmore Estate is the largest privately-owned home in the United States.

Technically a Gilded Age mansion, architect Richard Morris Hunt designed the Biltmore House Châteauesque-style, reminiscent of the French chateaus in the 16th century.

This is evident in the steep roofs, towers or turrets with conical roofs, the metal cresting on roof ridges, and the arched windows and doors.

George Washington Vanderbilt II and his wife Edith lived in their luxurious family home until his death in 1914. The massive estate remains under the control of the Vanderbilt’s descendants, with The Biltmore Company as the registered owner and family members serving as board members.

Presently, three floors of the Biltmore House, the surrounding gardens, and the winery are available to tour. You can choose among a variety of tours that take you to different parts of the house and the grounds, as well as self-guided, guided, or private tours.

Also, there are various outdoor activities you can do, such as hiking, biking, carriage rides, sporting clays, fly fishing, river rafting, horseback riding, and falconry. Kids can learn about farm animals or simply play on the huge playgrounds.

If you’re feeling tired from the tour, you might want to try out their luxurious spa treatments or even stay overnight in the Village Hotel, The Inn, or Cottage.

Essential Information Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC | 800-411-3812 Hours: Mon–Sun 9am–5pm Cost: Varies depending on the tours or activities you want to do; check out their list of available tours and activities Website: Biltmore

Planning a trip to Asheville, or planning to stop there for a night while on a road trip? Check out our article on what you can do with one day in Asheville .

15. Oheka Castle (West Hills, New York)

Oheka Castle is a Gilded Age, Châteauesque-style mansion that’s now a luxury hotel.

In 1914, financier and philanthropist Otto Hermann Kahn commissioned the architectural firm Delano & Aldrich to design a country home, specifically asking for the structure to be fireproof, as he lost his previous home in a fire some time ago.

The castle was completed in 1919 and from then on has been the second-largest private residence in America. Oheka Castle is named for the first syllables of O tto He rmann Ka hn’s name.

French influences are seen all over the house, from the steep roofs to the arched windows and doors. The grand staircase leading to the second floor was inspired by the Chateau de Fountainbleu in Paris, France.

The mansion sits atop the highest point in Cold Spring Harbor, providing residents a breathtaking view of Cold Spring Harbor and Cold Spring Hills.

The grounds were designed by the Olmsted Brothers and included a formal sunken garden, an 18-hole golf course, a greenhouse complex, tennis courts, an indoor swimming pool, orchards, stables, and even a landing strip.

After Kahn’s death in 1934, ownership of the estate turned over a few times before finally being bought by Gary Melius, who renovated the house and restored the gardens using the original plans by the Olmsted brothers.

Today, after the $40 million restoration project, Oheka Castle is now a luxury hotel, conference center, and a weddings and events venue. It’s also been the filming location for plenty of music videos, movies, and TV specials.

They offer a guided Historic Mansion Tour that offers limited access to the estate and gardens, followed by coffee, tea, and cookies.

Essential Information Address: 135 W Gate Dr, Huntington, NY | 631-659-1400 Hours: Mon-Su, 11am-12pm Cost: Historic Mansion Tour: $25 per head for adults; discounts available for children, students, seniors, and hotel guests Website: Oheka Castle

16. Arden House (Harriman, New York)

Arden House is a sprawling estate known as America’s first conference center.

It’s unique among the other Gilded Age mansions in that it’s an entirely American mansion—the carved wood, paintings, tapestries, marbles, stone, granite, and sculptures were all sourced from, and made, in the United States.

The Arden estate was first owned by Peter Pearse Parrott and was named after his wife, Mary Antoinette Arden. Edward Henry Harriman bought the property in 1886. Over the next several years, he bought up forty different parcels of land in the area, and increased the land area of his estate to 28,000 acres.

Harriman commissioned Carrère and Hastings to design what is now Arden House. Construction began in 1905 and was finished in 1909. Sadly, Harriman only lived in it for a few months before he died.

The house had a ton of rooms, including a grand ballroom, a library, a large formal dining room, a bar, as well as numerous bathrooms and bedrooms. The most elaborate and the most preserved of the rooms is the music room styled in Gothic-style architecture.

The Harriman family lived in the estate until 1933, after which they allowed the US Navy to use the Arden House as a convalescent hospital during the Second World War.

In 1950, the Harriman family donated the property to Columbia University, who used it as the “home of The American Assembly,” making it America’s first conference center.

Subsequent owners turned it into a public space, with the intent of eventually selling it to the State of New York, but the plan never materialized.

It is currently owned by the Research Center on Natural Conservation, a Chinese-backed nonprofit organization, who turned the mansion back into a conference center, just as it once was.

Essential Information Address: Harriman, NY Website: Arden House

Strange And Unusual Mansions

From creepy mansions with paranormal backstories to mansions that can withstand hurricanes, here are some of the most curious and odd American mansions.

17. Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, California)

In case you’re wondering, yes, this house belonged to a member of the Winchesters of firearms fame.

William Wirt Winchester was the treasurer of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. He was married to Sarah Winchester. They had an infant daughter who tragically died of marasmus, and William himself died of tuberculosis in 1881.

Legend has it that a Boston psychic convinced Sarah that her family was being haunted by ghosts of those who were killed by Winchester rifles.

The same psychic told her that the only way to appease these spirits is to move out of her home in New Haven, Connecticut, move west to California, and continuously build a home for herself and the spirits.

Sarah followed the psychic’s advice and bought a small eight-room farmhouse in San Jose, California.

After her husband’s death, Sarah Winchester inherited more than $20 million plus an almost 50% ownership of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, giving her an income of around $1,000 per day. This fortune kept the construction and renovation of her mansion going until her death in 1922.

By the time she was done, the Winchester was a modern marvel with indoor plumbing, hot showers, elevators, and central heating. From 8 rooms, she expanded the house to have 160 rooms, 40 bedrooms, and 2 basements.

More unusually, the mansion contained doors that lead nowhere, staircases that lead straight to ceilings, a Tiffany glass window in a wall where it’ll get no light, and numerous secret passages. A recurring theme in the house is the number 13 and spider web motifs.

After Sarah’s death, the house was auctioned off and then leased by John and Mayme Brown, who then bought the property for themselves after 10 years. They opened the house to the public in 1923, with Mayme Brown serving as the property’s first tour guide.

Today, the Winchester Mansion is owned by Winchester Investments LLC, a company representing the interests of the Browns’ descendants.

The story of Sarah Winchester and her eccentric house has intrigued millions of visitors all over the world, making the house one of the most popular American mansions to visit. Guided tours are available to see more than a hundred rooms in the house.

Essential Information Address: 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA | 408-247-2000 Hours: Mon-Sun open 9am; closing hours vary Cost: Varies depending on the tour you want to do; check out their list of their daily and seasonal tours Website: The Winchester Mystery House

18. Acqua Liana (Manalapan Beach, Florida)

Known as the largest, most opulent certified green mansion, Acqua Liana is a 15,000-square-foot mansion on 16 acres of oceanfront property in Manalapan, Florida, close to Palm Beach.

Designed by renowned real state artist Frank McKinney, Acqua Liana features waterfalls, water walls, water gardens, and water floors. A double helix glass staircase, a movie theater, and a 2,000 gallon aquarium bar are just some of the luxurious features of the mansion.

For all its unique features and enormous size, the mansion is certified “green” by three organizations: the US Green Building Council, the Florida Green Building Coalition and Energy Star for Homes. This makes this mansion the first ultra-luxury home to earn a triple certification.

The house was sold for $22.9 million a few years ago, but a brochure and a video tour are still available to provide a glimpse into this environment-friendly mansion.

Essential Information Address: 620 South Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan Beach, FL Website: Acqua Liana

19. Caveland (Festus, Missouri)

What is now known as Caveland started out as a mine on the side of a hill in the 1800s to the early 1900s and was converted into a roller skating rink and concert venue in 1958 by Sue Morris.

The venue closed in 1985 and was bought by the Sleeper family in 2003 from eBay, of all places.

They converted it into their family home, constructing a two-level, 5,000-square-foot house inside. The front chamber contains the living areas, the middle chamber has the laundry room and storage, and the back chamber still has the stage where performers entertained the roller skaters.

The house also features thirty-foot ceilings, large windows on the front to let in as much natural light as possible, and an indoor natural groundwater spring pool.

Its temperature is regulated naturally; no furnace or air conditioning was ever installed.

You can see photos of the construction and of the family on their official gallery .

It’s now listed for sale ; the Sleeper family is ready to downsize.

Essential Information Address: 215 Cave Dr, Festus, Missouri Website: Caveland

20. Eye of the Storm (Charleston, South Carolina)

The “Eye of the Storm” on Sullivan’s Island in Charleston is 230 feet from the beach, with a design that’s quite different from the other houses in Charleston.

Built in 1992, this dome-shaped house is energy-efficient and hurricane-proof. George Paul designed the house for his parents after they lost their house to a hurricane in 1989.

The side of the shell that faces the beach features large windows that provides a view of the beach and a maritime forest.

The dome and the interior design are inspired by the curves of seashells. It has 3 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, an elevator, a wet bar, a skylight, an 889-square-foot deck, and even a bank vault room.

It was renovated in 2018 and put up for sale for $5 million. You can view the photos of the mansion as well as the surrounding areas in their website.

Essential Information Address: 2851 Marshall Blvd, Sullivan’s Island, Charleston, SC Website: Eye of the Storm

Visit one of these American mansions soon!

Plan your next trip to gawk and tour one of these mansions! Or better yet, save up a few hundred thousand dollars and live in one.

Which of these American mansions intrigued you? Know of any mansions that we skipped? Tell us in the comments!

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New Orleans  >  Plantation Mansion Tours Near New Orleans

‎ New Orleans Tourist Tips ‎ |  Suggested Itineraries For New Orleans

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Plantation Mansion Tours Near New Orleans:

The best collection of large Antebellum Mansions in the United States lies in Plantation Alley along the Mississippi River just outside of New Orleans.  During your guided tours, you’ll get an amazing history lesson on Southern plantation life from the grand mansions to the tiny slave quarters.  While the slavery side of a visit can be emotional and somber, it is extremely important to highlight the real-life conditions of the time to contrast the romanticized Gone With the Wind-style part of the experience.  Overall, the plantation tours from New Orleans are very educational and are one of those things like Bourbon Street or a swamp tour that you simply must do to fully experience the Big Easy.

Group Tour -or- Car Rental:

There are a bunch of tour bus companies in New Orleans that will take you to various plantations, but you are better off renting a car.  You’ll save money with your own transportation and get to be on your own schedule.  With a car, you can better pick and choose which mansions to visit and will have extra time to explore the grounds or even stay overnight.  Having a car also opens up the option of visiting the drive-through safari North of New Orleans and will save you $20 a person on most of the swamp tours.

Prioritizing Your Time:

With 10 worthwhile plantation tours near New Orleans, it can be hard to prioritize.  We have the top 3 mansions all rated equally as high as each other, but for different reasons.  The  Laura Plantation  has the best tours, an amazing story, and a unique Creole viewpoint.   Nottoway Plantation  has the largest Antebellum mansion in the American South, the most beautiful interior, and is the only one you can stay overnight inside the main house.  And finally,  Oak Alley Plantation  has the most activities to do, a great tour with costumed guides, and storybook rows of oak trees.  To see it all, we suggest seeing Evergreen, Laura, & Oak Alley all in one day, then  stay overnight  at Nottoway, and on day two tour Nottoway, San Francisco and whatever else you can on the way back to New Orleans.

Top 10 Plantation Mansions Tours:

1. nottoway plantation :.

About Nottoway Plantation :  Built in 1859 for John Randolph, this  53,000 square foot  massive mansion is the youngest property on our list.  The Goliath size of Nottoway makes it the  largest Antebellum mansion still standing in the American South.  There is a lot of cool symbolism that attentive Randolph added including 365 openings ( 200 windows, 165 doors ) to match the days in a year.  The exterior of the home is a mash-up of an antebellum mansion and the White House with 22 columns surrounding tons of balconies that look amazing from any angle.  The inside of the 64 room Nottoway Mansion also impressive as the 3 story monster has  15 1/2 foot high ceilings , 11-foot-high exterior doors, and 12 hand-carved Italian marble fireplaces.   The mansion is large enough that it is actually divided into a boys’ wing and a girls’ wing for Randolph’s 11 kids.  Every single bedroom looks like it is straight out of a movie  and the magnificent White Ball Room, where 6 out of Randolph’s 7 daughters were married, will blow your mind.

Being built so close to the Civil War, it is amazing the masterpiece of a home only suffered a single bullet hole of damage while other mansions were trashed.  A Union gunboat almost did blow up Nottoway during the war, but at the last second the captain realized he had been a guest at the home before and spared it.  John Randolph had often had large parties at the house and was really lucky he had once invited that boat captain.  We are glad that everything is intact as today Nottoway is  our favorite place to stay in Louisiana  and simply a magical place.  While there are a series of cottages on the property you can also stay directly in the old overseer’s house and the bedrooms of the main mansion itself.  You can see the house from the road but it would be a shame to not tour the mansion or grounds.

General Hours :  Opens Daily at 9am.   Tours :  Daily every hour 9am-4pm; Thursday-Sunday 11am-4pm tours can add a traditional meal for only $2.99 extra.   Admission Cost :  $8 for grounds only; grounds plus Mansion tour is $20 for Adults & $6 for Children.   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  10 out of 10.

2. The Laura Plantation :

About The Laura Plantation : Known for its award-winning tours, the Laura Plantation has a unique Creole twist and a rich history.  In 1804, just 1 year after the Louisiana Purchase, US President Thomas Jefferson “gave” Frenchman Guillaume Duparc the land for this plantation in exchange for the help he gave America in the Revolutionary War.  The only issue was there was a hundred-year-old Native American village  already located here when Duparc arrived.  Instead of just kicking the Natives out, as other plantation settlers did, Duparc paid them for moving and let them live on the back end of the  6,000-acre  property which they did until 1915.

The bright yellow main house, nicknamed The Big House, was built in the traditional  raised Creole style  making it different than other area plantations.  The first floor of the home is elevated on brick columns, not to protect against the nearby Mississippi River flooding, but to help regulate the temperature of the home and created cool dry good storage space below the home.  It was from this home that  4 generations of women  ran the family plantation after Duparc’s death in 1808 starting with his wife Nannette.  As Nannette later built a retirement mansion next to the main house, the younger generations expanded the property until it needed  69 slave cabins  housing 2 families each.   Even after the emancipation of slaves in Louisiana in 1866 many of the families continued to live and work on the grounds for over 100 more years as free men.   In 1870 one of the neighbors and author Alcée Fortier interviewed many workers to get a better idea feeling for the Creole lifestyle.  He later used his experiences to record the tales of Compair Lapin, known as  Br’er Rabbit  which was a hit story and was featured in Disney’s 1946 movie Song of the South.  The parents of American musician  Fats Domino , known for his song Blueberry Hill, had lived on the plantation for a time.

In 1891, Duparc’s great-granddaughter Laura, whom the family plantation had been renamed after, sold the property and moved to Saint Louis Missouri with her husband.  The socialite Laura, who lived to be 102, later wrote a book about her 1st hand experiences living on and running the plantation.  The book was published in 1936 and is the basis for much of the information covered in the Laura Plantation’s guided tours today.  Workers continued to live in the old slave cabins until 1977 and four years later the plantation operations closed.  Today the property is 13 acres, has 27 buildings including 12 original slave cabins, is surrounded by 1500 acres of active sugar cane farm, and is a delight to visit.

V isiting Hours :  Available by tour only.   Guided Tours :  Depart Daily every 40 minutes from 10am-4pm and take between 70 & 90 minutes to complete.  French tours added at 11am, 1pm, & 3pm.   Cost :  $20 for Adults; $6 Children; Under 5 free ( Cost Includes Tour ).   Plantation Website : ( HERE ).

3. Oak Alley Plantation :

About Oak Alley Plantation : An amazing alley of 300-year-old mega-sized oak trees leads the way to a true Southern belle, the Oak Alley Plantation.  If this beautiful estate looks familiar it’s because you may have seen it  in the prized films  Interview With a Vampire, Primary Colors, plus many others.  The  huge gnarly oaks  were mysteriously planted around 1725, over 100 years before the plantation was even established.  Perfectly framed by the alley, the beautiful Greek Revival mansion was built with 28 columns to match the number of mighty oaks.  With how perfect Oak Alley is, it is no wonder the family of Jacques Roman first called the mansion  Bon Séjour , or good living, when it was completed in 1837.

Touring the picture-perfect estate is tons of fun as the guides are all dress in  proper period clothing .   We love that Oak Alley also lets you free-roam parts of the grounds with a paid admission making taking the perfect photo even easier.  While exploring the grounds, make sure to check out the 20 re-constructed salve cabins sitting behind the mansion.  Even more famous than any of the plantation owners, we love the stories of a slave named Antoine.  He was a gardener who came up with and grafted the award-winning paper shell style of pecans still sold today.

If you really want to feel at home, Oak Alley has overnight cottages  from the 1800’s so you can stay right at the plantation.  There is also a very interesting Civil War Encampment, Blacksmith Shop, and 15 other exhibits on the ground to give you the full old-world experience.  If you are hungry, check out the restaurant for lunch or dinner which offers both Cajun and Creole cuisine.  You can see the oak alley leading up to the house from the road, but to truly see the property or walk among the amazing trees you’ll need to pay admission.

Grounds Hours :  March-October Daily 9am-5pm; Closes 30 minutes early on weekdays in Winter.  Colonial Tent on Monday and Fridays.   Guided Tours :  Depart every 30 minutes.   Cost :  $20 for Adults, youth $7.50, children $4.50 ( Cost Includes Tour ).   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

4. Evergreen Plantation :

About Evergreen Plantation : The front of the Evergreen Plantation mansion is visible from the road if you are in a hurry, but we really like their historic tour including the old slave quarters.  Built in 1790, the grounds of the Evergreen Plantation still hold 37 original buildings, making it one of the most completely preserved plantations in the country.  While the most iconic feature may be the elegant dual staircase  on the front of the Antebellum mansion, but the rest of the property will really put your visit over the top.  Behind the main house,  oak-lined alleyways  covered in hanging Spanish moss form tunnels leading to 22 former slave quarters.  Even after the slaves were freed in Louisiana in 1866, Evergreen kept free men of color on staff and worked their sugar farming all the way until 1930.  Because the Evergreen Plantation was kept in operation as a working farm for so long, it really helped to keep the buildings  extremely well preserved .

The grounds almost feel frozen in time which has led Evergreen Plantation to be part of numerous Hollywood films.  The plantation’s most noticeable exposure on the big screen came in 2013 when was featured in Quentin Tarantino’s smash hit movie  Django Unchained  starring Jamie Foxx and Leonardo Dicaprio.  In the film, the exterior of the mansion served as Bennett Manor which was home to the character Big Daddy.  The slave quarters on the back of the property were also heavily featured in numerous scenes in Django Unchained.  Although the owners do not tote the Hollywood connections much on the tours, fans of Django will love visiting, especially since the other main plantation mansion featured in the movie called Candie Land wasn’t a real place.

Visiting Hours :  Monday-Saturday 8:30am-2pm; Closed Sundays.   Guided Tours :  Depart at 9:30am, 11:30am, & 2pm.   Admission Cost :  $20 for Adults; Kids $6 ( Cost Includes Guided Tour ).   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  9 out of 10.

5. San Francisco Plantation :

About The San Francisco Plantation :  The beautiful San Francisco Plantation was first started in 1822 by a  free man of color Elisée Rillieux who bought a bunch of land around the St. John neighborhood.  After just 3 years he sold the estate to Edmond Marmillion for $100,000 which was a huge amount of money back then.  Edmond spent the next couple of decades expanding the plantation’s growing operations to ensure his kids would be set for life.  As growing became more successful, the family built the colorful main house you see today.

From its  bright blue silos to the detailed woodwork on all sides of the house, the San Francisco is by far the most playful mansion in Plantation Alley.  If being the funkiest looking plantation building in the area wasn’t cool enough, San Francisco’s excellent guided tours are conducted in  classical Southern dress .  Highlights of a tour include 14 beautiful rooms in the main house and a couple of former slave quarters nearby.  Touring the mansion is easy and quick even if you pressed on time as it is right on the main road.  You can see the outside of the house from the road but it’s worth paying for the tour.

Visiting Hours :  Daily 9:30am-5pm ( 4pm in Winter ).   Guided Tours :  Departs every 20 minutes and lasts 45 minutes.   Cost :  $14 for Adults ( Cost Includes Guided Tour ).   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  7.5 out of 10.

6. Houmas House Plantation :

About Houmas House Plantation : General Wade Hampton bought the land for the plantation and moved here from Virginia in 1810.  It took 15 years until his daughter Caroline and her husband took over for work to begin on the plantation’s Houmas House.  The result was a beautiful mansion with columns on all four sides complete with excellent gardens.  Caroline also greatly expanded the land holdings and built the plantation up to  over 300,000 acres .  It was so much land that she was able to sell the property for $1 million in 1857 to John Burnside.  Burnside quickly built up a train line called the Sugar Line to get his good to market while many competitors only relied on the Mississippi River Boats.  With the rail in place, the plantation worked 98,000 acres at a time and pushed the Houmas House as the  largest producer of sugar cane in the United States  by the Civil War.

The first time we went to the Houmas House there was a movie being filmed there which was quite cool.  It has been featured on many projects including a 2010 episode of the hit show Top Chef.  The outdoor gardens and grounds are worth a stop even if you don’t have time for the mansion tour.  To stay overnight, they have a collection of 4 room cottage houses on the grounds as well.

Visiting Hours :  Open Daily 9am-7pm.  Cost :  $20 for tour, gardens, & grounds; $10 for grounds & gardens only.   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  7 out of 10.

7. Destrehan Plantation :

About Destrehan Plantation :  Built in 1787, the Destrehan Mansion is the  oldest major home on our Plantation Alley tour.  Jean Noel Destrehan’s family came to New Orleans from France in the early 1700s and got very wealthy growing sugar cane.  Noel was also very popular as he became the first Deputy Mayor of New Orleans in 1803.  It probably didn’t hurt that his brother-in-law was the acting Mayor at the time of his appointment.

Inside the large Destrehan Mansion, they have a display showing the  Jefferson Document .  The decree is from 1804, is actually signed by Thomas Jefferson, and was used to appoint Destrehan to the New Orleans Council.  In addition to the home, there are also former slave houses you get to tour.  Because of its 6 days a week live Carpentry exhibits, this plantation is one of the top ones visited by school groups.

Visiting Hours :  $18 for Adults; $7 for Kids.   Live Demonstrations :  Once a day they have costumed artisans performing carpentry or blacksmith methods from 1780 as educational exhibits.   Plantation Website :  ( HERE )

8. Malus Beauregard Mansion & Battlefield :

About Malus Beauregard Mansion & Battlefield : The Malus Beauregard Plantation Mansion is the closest one to New Orleans and part of the Chalmette Battlefield National Park.  It isn’t as impressive and the main gems on Plantation Alley, but history buffs will like the battlefield displays.  It was here that in 1815 one of the last battles of the War of 1812 took place called the Battle of New Orleans.  As an added bonus The Mississippi River paddleboat  Creole Queen  travels from New Orleans’ French Quarter to the battlefield in just 25 minutes; visit the  Creole Queen website  for sailing times and ticket information

Visiting Hours :  Open Tuesday-Saturday; Closed Sunday & Mondays.   Admission Cost :  Free.   Creole Queen Paddle Boat Rides Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  6.5 out of 10.

9. Whitney Plantation :

About Whitney Plantation : While many of the local plantation tours take time to cover the lives of the slaves on their properties, the Whitney Plantation solely focuses on the slave side of the story.  Originally called the Habitation Haydel, there has been a plantation on the property since the German Haydel started their business in 1752.  After WW1 the property was bought by Bradish Johnson who renamed it after his grandson.  If you have taken our Garden District Walking Tour , you may remember the beautiful home that Bradish built with his plantation profit which is now part of the Louise S. McGehee School of Girls.

Hours :  Wednesday-Monday 9:30am-4:30pm; Closed Tuesdays.   Cost :  Adults $22; kids 12 and under free.   Mansion Website :  ( HERE ).

10. Saint Joseph & Felicity Plantations :

About Saint Joseph & Felicity Plantations :  The Saint Joseph Mansion was built in 1830 as part of a 1,000-acre property.  While the grounds and mansion are not as grand as the others in Plantation Alley, the tours consistently get high reviews from guests.  On the edge of the property, the family also owns a sister mansion that was once part of the Felicity Plantation and seems to always have a film crew at it shooting various movies.

Hours :  Thursday-Tuesday with hourly tours 10am-3pm; Closed Wednesdays.   Cost :  Adults $18; Discounts for seniors, veterans, students, and kids.   Mansion Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  6 out of 10.

11. Bocage Plantation :

About Bocage Plantation :  The Bocage Mansion was a gift to Fanny Bringier from her dad in 1801 in celebration of her  marriage at only age 14 .  She married a guy named Christophe Colomb from France who claimed to be related to the sailor Christopher Colombus.  Living in a mansion was nothing new for Franny as she was born in the family White Hall Plantation Mansion and had always known wealth.  While the Bocage Mansion is a little smaller than others and a little plain on the outside, it is light on the tourist crowds and is very pretty inside.  Young Franny’s attention to detail is easy to see on the interior including the furniture, gold reliefs, and rich wood accents.  In 2016 the owners decided to  close the mansion  for tours and now are a venue for events and weddings.

Mansion Website :  ( HERE ).

Rating :  N/A.

Plantation Mansions Near Baton Rouge:

1.  Rose Down Plantation :  North of Baton Rouge in St Francisville is a 374-acre property that once covered 3,455 acres.  It is by far the most secluded of the Plantation Mansions you can visit in the area and is managed by the National Park Service.   Plantation Website : ( HERE ).

2.  Greenwood Plantation :  Roman Columns on all four sides is a recreation of the original mid-1800s Mansion that stood here but was burned in a lightning fire in 1960.  North to South was filmed here.   Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

3.  Poplar Grove Plantation :  This beautiful mansion was built as the Bankers’ Pavilion at the World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition of 1884 in New Orleans.  Two years later it was bought and moved by barge to the Plantation to serve as a home for sugar planter Horace Wilkinson and his wife, Julia.    Plantation Website :  ( HERE ).

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Disclaimer: Information on this page and in our walking tours were deemed accurate when published, however, details such as opening hours, rates, transportation, visa requirements, and safety can change without notice. Please check with any destinations directly before traveling.

The Best Home Tours in America

Take a trip back in time on these tours of historic homes throughout the country.

Gorgeous mansions from the Rhode Island shore to the California coast.

Thomas Jefferson's Virginia plantation continues to draw visitors to Charlottesville with its  extensive room tour and programming spotlighting the Hemings family . Green thumbs should check out the center for historic plants and garden tasting, while architecture buffs might enjoy the Making Monticello exhibition on the home's planning and construction . 

The Elms is the first of two Rhode Island mansions on this list. Built to resemble the mid-18th century French chateau d'Asnieres  outside of Paris, the home cost over a million dollars to build, and was completed in 1901. 

Visitors to the property can expect to see gorgeous landscaped grounds peppered with fountains, and a window into the Gilded Age through the  eyes of coal magnate Edward Julius Berwind (the house served as his family's summer retreat).  Or, take the Servant Life tour for a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to run the house.

Tickets are available on newportmansions.org .

The Whitney Plantation

One of the few Southern plantations to focus on the slave experience, The Whitney Plantation uses hundreds of first-person narratives to paint a picture of what life was really like for Louisiana's enslaved population. 

A guided tour of the property takes visitors through the historic Antioch Baptist Church, the slave quarters, and the Big House, focusing on the lives of the men and women who lived and worked there.

For more information, visit whitneyplantation.com . 

Once described as "the grandest house west of Chicago," the Brucemore in Cedar Rapids Iowa offers visitors a glimpse back into early twentieth century life . Take a tour of the estate, noting the collection's antique electronics like a 1930s-era film projector and an Edison Phonograph , or wander the grounds, stopping in the flower shop, and admiring the 1910 landscape design. 

The site also features theatrical performances, art festivals, and other community events throughout the year. For more information , head to  brucemore.com .

The Biltmore

George Vanderbilt's Asheville manse is a favorite of travelers in North Carolina. Known for its manicured gardens, a heated, indoor swimming pool, and a bowling alley (one of the first of its kind) , the Biltmore is a prime example of late 19th-century American opulence .  

Plan your trip around the holidays to see the house decked out for Christmas, and stay at the nearby Inn on  Biltmore Estate for easy access to the historic site and the nearby winery.

Find out how at biltmore.com .

This 1917 mansion-turned site of the Natural Trust for Historic Preservation in Woodside, California is known for both  its 16-acre English Renaissance garden ( above ) and more than 654-acre property . Come for the traditional docent-guided home tour, but stay for orchard walks, nature hikes, and urban beekeeping classes.

For more information, visit filoli.org .

J.P Morgan Library

Most people know the Morgan name for its connection to the financial world, but J.P. Morgan, Jr. was also an avid art and literature collector, a passion made obvious by the contents of his New York City residence . 

He donated the home to the public in 1924, and now it serves as a museum, showcasing his extensive collections— which include works such as Gutenberg Bible, manuscripts by Mozart, Jane Austen, and George Washington, and the largest collection of Rembrandt etchings in the United States — as well as traveling exhibits. 

Visit themorgan.org  to learn more.

Hearst Castle

Set atop a hill overlooking the ocean, media magnate William Randolph Hearst's famous San Simeon estate — Hearst founded the company that owns  Town & Country — gives tourists the chance to step inside the inspiration behind  Citizen Kane 's Xanadu . 

Visitors can explore the grand rooms of the mansion, and the upstairs suites, or take the evening tour, complete with docents dressed in period clothes, to see the estate come alive at night.

Earlier this summer, the Chimney Fire in California threatened the property, but so far, it has remained unharmed.

Head to hearstcastle.org for more information.

Edith Wharton's Lenox, Massachusetts home is notable for its turn-of-the-century architecture, its 2,700-volume library , and its phantom inhabitants. Check out the latter on the estate's ghost tour, a popular attraction, or opt to attend their weekly literary roundtable for a lively discussion of Wharton's literary legacy.

For more information on the house as well as the estate's lecture series and other cultural events, visit edithwharton.org .

The Breakers

The second Rhode Island house tour on this list is a grand one: the Vanderbilt family's summer "cottage" (possibly the understatement of the year) was designed in the style of the Italian Renaissance, and to say it is impressive is an understatement. 

Clearly, the Vanderbilt family knew how to celebrate the holidays. Tour the Gilded Age mansion at Christmas time for live music, visits with Santa, and all things decorated in silver-and-gold.

Learn more on newportmansions.org .

Sleepy Hollow, New York is famous for two things: Ichabod Crane, and Kykuit, the 40-room estate of John D. Rockefeller . Take a tour of the six-story stone house, then stroll through the terraced gardens, which are filled with sculptures by artists like Pablo Picasso, David Smith, and Henry Moore.

Visit hudsonvalley.org for more information.

Mount Vernon

George Washington's former residence pays homage to America's foremost founding father with tours of the 21-room mansion,  its beautiful gardens, and a fully functioning distillery and gristmill.

Those looking to learn about this history of slavery should take a custom tour of the estate, while music buffs can join property's resident fifer for a musical demonstration. Dog lovers , on the other hand, might enjoy the "All the President's Pups" walking tour, which lets you and your furry friend explore the history canine life at Mount Vernon.

For more details, visit mountvernon.org .

As the digital director for Town & Country, Caroline Hallemann covers culture, entertainment, and a range of other subjects 

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Busch Mansion Estate Tour at Grant’s Farm

There’s no doubt that Grant’s Farm is one of St. Louis’ favorite family attractions . For a mere $12 a carload, you can experience a deer park safari, pet a few goats, feed a sheep, watch animal shows and hang out with the world famous Budweiser Clydesdales. And since the whole shebang is hosted by Anheuser-Busch, you can also count on a few free samples of the brewery’s latest refreshments when you visit.

(FYI: I received a complimentary Estate Tour at Grant’s Farm. My opinions are my own, because you know I was just dying to visit here!)

Actually…Grant had nothing to do with beer. It’s just a coincidence that General Grant once owned the land that August A. Busch Sr. would purchase for his country getaway in 1903. He kept the “Grant’s Farm” nickname and made the property into a rustic retreat with an old world deer preserve and, just for kicks, cattle and a couple of elephants.  With a nod to his German roots, August A. built the Bauernhof, styled after old German farmsteads. It had space for 20 horses and 18 dairy cows. You’ve been to the Bauernhof, it’s the beer garden at Grant’s Farm where the kids eat ice cream while mom and dad have a few…samples.

But back to the story.

So, Gussie is the man we need to thank for Grant’s Farm. The only thing he loved more than horses and baseball was entertaining. And in 1954 he opened his gates to the public and millions of families have enjoyed his hospitality ever since.

Gussie and his family still lived on the farm at the time, so he held back 22 acres surrounding the family home. Just enough of a buffer to keep “The Big House” away from prying eyes. And so it remained, until long after Gussie passed away in 1989.

Gussie had many children, and he didn’t want to split up the farm that he so fondly shared with St. Louis families. It was put into a trust for his heirs and Grant’s Farm is still operated by his business, Anheuser-Busch. Just the way he wanted it.

Grant’s Farm now offers a walking tour of the Busch Estate, a.k.a. The Big House. It’s a small private tour–no more than 20 people at a time. It’s only offered in the mornings, and it’s not handicap accessible so strap on your good walking shoes.

The tour takes you up to The Big House and starts at cute little playhouse made for the Busch children. It has running water and a real fireplace. The family kept it decorated just as it was when Gussie’s children played there…with the exception of an Easy Bake Oven some modern grandkids play with when they drop by.

You’ll get to stroll around the lawn and check out the lawn ornaments–life sized bronze moose and baby elephants! There’s also several Bevo Fox statues hiding in trees–the fox was a mascot for a non-alcoholic brew Anheuser-Busch made during prohibition.

Next you’ll stop at little Swiss style chapel built in the 1960’s for Trudy Busch, Gussie’s third wife. If you’ve ever visited Grant’s Farm around noon and heard bells, it was probably from this tiny chapel.

There’s a couple neat photo ops in front of the house, and your guides are happy to help you get a photo. So please, leave the selfie stick at home. Here’s a fun bit of trivia: The front of house has no driveway or sidewalk, just a grand staircase leading to a big green lawn.

You’ll visit the pool house, added in the 1960s for entertaining. Our tour guides pointed out fun facts, like how the pool, no bigger than what any well off suburbanite might install, was quite a big deal in the 1960s. Of course, your pool never had Elvis drop by, I’m sure. We chatted about Gussie’s wild parties while our tour guide brought out ice cold Budweiser for the grown-ups and chilled water for the kids.

We also got to see a couple beech wood trees planted the Busch family, in honor their brewery’s famed beech wood aging process. The tour ends at the back door of The Big House, which looks for all the world like a grand hotel entrance. Which is fitting, since this is the only place cars can pull up to the house and drop off friends, family and invited guests.

The tour doesn’t go inside the house, so I’ll leave you with a link to a Life Magazine article from 1955. I wonder if they still have all the deer heads in there?

If you’d like to arrange your own private grounds tour, RSVP online here at Grant’s Farm . It’s $25 dollar a person, which includes a complimentary beverage and a private tram ride around the deer park. The tour is mostly over mulched paths, so it’s not exactly stroller friendly. My husband and I loved having a tour guide practically to ourselves, but the kids were eager to move on to the Bauernhof and a big bowl of Dippin’ Dots. The tour lasts 90 minutes, so it’s best for kids with a lot of patience.

Protect Your Trip »

6 top-rated newport mansion tours + tips from a local.

Newport's famed mansions are a must-see in the City by the Sea.

Top-Rated Newport Mansion Tours

Gavin Ashworth | Courtesy of Newport Mansions

Experience peak luxury and elegance at these stunning properties.

More than a century ago, America's wealthiest families commissioned their "summer cottages" to be built in the coastal enclave of Newport, Rhode Island , along the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The era's most renowned architects outdid one another in size and scale as well as opulence and grandeur. Today, Newport is synonymous with its exquisite Gilded Age mansions, and experiencing them in person is an absolute must.

The majority of the Gilded Age mansions in Newport – but not all – are owned and operated by the Preservation Society of Newport County, and many of the most popular are open to the public year-round. Get ready to explore the Bellevue Avenue Historic District as you tour Newport's best mansions.

The Breakers

Courtesy of Andrea McHugh

Price: From $29 for adults; $10 for youths 6 to 12

Standout perk: The Breakers offers an audio Family Tour that engages young visitors with stories about the lives of the children who summered there, the staff who ran the home and interesting things to see in the mansion, such as the playful dolphin sculpture beneath the grand staircase.

Considered the grande dame of all the Newport mansions, The Breakers was no doubt built to impress. The summertime escape of Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family was designed by the Gilded Age's preeminent architect, Richard Morris Hunt, and boasts a classic Italian palazzo design with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Visitors can explore the mansion at their own pace via the self-guided audio tour available in nearly a dozen languages on the Newport Mansions free app, which will come in especially handy if you plan to explore more than one mansion. Take some time to explore the beauty of the 13-acre grounds as well, and be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes .

Those with a curiosity of how a mansion of this magnitude worked – after all, The Breakers was considered a modern marvel when completed in 1895 – will enjoy the Beneath The Breakers Tour. This guide-led tour takes you through the boiler room, tunnel and basement. Guests will learn how the home was outfitted with electricity, still considered a novelty during the Gilded Age. This tour requires a separate ticket from The Breakers' audio tour and is best suited for visitors 13 years and older. Advance reservations are recommended.

Local tip: As The Breakers is the most visited mansion in Newport, a good time to visit is either when it opens or toward the end of the day, especially in the busiest summer months. The early evening light can be ideal for photos, but plan accordingly as the house and grounds close one hour after the last tour admission. Before you visit, save time by downloading the free Newport Mansions tour app.

View & Book Tickets: The Breakers | Viator | GetYourGuide

Marble House

Price: From $25 for adults; $10 for youths 6 to 12

Standout perk: While it's hard to rival the splendor of Marble House, the Chinese Tea House on the end of the mansion's lawn parallel to Cliff Walk is an unexpected visual delight. For $35 extra, tour ticket holders to Marble House can enjoy sandwiches and refreshments at the cafe at the Chinese Tea House or make a reservation for brunch and afternoon tea service, offered on weekends May through December. The service is operated by Stoneacre Restaurants, which owns two popular restaurants in downtown Newport.

From the moment visitors walk under the four towering Corinthian columns fronting this mansion, they know they are in for a treat. Like other Newport Mansions audio tours, Marble House has a self-guided tour available via the organization's free app, allowing visitors to peruse the property at their own pace.

Inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles , Marble House is an architectural masterpiece. Made from 500,000 cubic square feet of marble, the mansion was a 39th birthday present from businessman and philanthropist William K. Vanderbilt to his wife Alva. He spared no expense for their summer escape. Later in life, Alva Vanderbilt Belmont became a suffragist and hosted events at Marble House in support of women's right to vote. Viewers of the popular HBO series "The Gilded Age" may recognize rooms in the mansion as it was used for filming on location and also inspired sets.

Local tip: Don't miss the ballroom on the first floor – while it's not the largest in Newport, it's widely considered the most ornate, with gilt details from floor to ceiling.

View & Book Tickets: Marble House | Viator | GetYourGuide

Standout perk: While The Elms is spectacular, its formal gardens – 10 acres' worth – are extraordinary, complete with nearly 40 species of trees plus terraces, gazebos, fountains and colorful blooms, depending on the time of year.

Fashioned after an 18th-century French chateau, The Elms is a must-visit mansion, from the sun-soaked conservatory and the drawing room to the handsome library and the breakfast room bearing Chinese-style lacquered wall panels. A self-guided audio tour is available in nearly a dozen languages, but any fan of "Downton Abbey" or those curious about life behind the scenes of Newport's mansions will appreciate the Servant Life Tour at The Elms.

On this newly updated, guide-led tour, visitors start in the basement, where you'll see the operations of the house such as the kitchen and butler's pantry, all the way up to the domestic staff's living quarters on the third floor. Along the way, travelers will learn more about the personal lives of staff, and see rare photographs of servants at work and in their free time. You'll even get to learn about topics like immigration and labor disputes on this tour.

Local tip: The Servant Life Tour is not only fascinating, but you'll get the rare opportunity to go on The Elms' rooftop and be rewarded with an amazing and unexpected view of Newport Harbor.

View & Book Tickets: The Elms | GetYourGuide

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Rough Point

Price: From $20; free for children 12 and younger

Standout perk: Rough Point sits at the southern end of Bellevue Avenue, so getting here allows you to enjoy views of both private mansions and those open to the public along the way. The mansion's oceanfront perch offers an uninterrupted view of the beautiful Cliff Walk Bridge, a stone arch bridge across the rocky inlet where Doris Duke would swim regularly.

Though a Gilded Age mansion through and through, Rough Point is perhaps best loved not for its grandeur but for its most famous resident: Doris Duke. The late heiress, collector and philanthropist – dubbed the "richest little girl in the world" when she was born – spent considerable time at Rough Point until her death in 1993. A self-guided audio tour leads visitors here through the art-filled home room by room, highlighting eclectic sculpture, family portraits, centuries-old tapestries, renowned furnishings and many pieces Duke collected as an avid world traveler.

While the formal rooms such as the Yellow Room and jaw-dropping Music Room are a sight, the ocean-facing Solarium affords the best views. Whether before or after your tour, visit the house tour on the website for footage of Doris Duke at the home as well as behind-the-scenes videos. Note that Rough Point is typically open seasonally from spring through mid-November.

Local tip: On Rough Point's grounds, you'll find a pair of life-size topiary camels inspired by Doris' pet Bactrian camels, Princess and Baby. Both enjoyed the summer months with the tobacco heiress at Rough Point and have become the unofficial mascots of the mansion. The Newport Restoration Foundation encourages taking a #camelgram photo with the Princess and Baby topiary to share on social media.

View & Book Tickets: Rough Point | GetYourGuide

Dave Hansen | Courtesy of Newport Mansions

Standout perk: Rosecliff's signature feature – despite being home to Newport's largest ballroom, which hosted lavish society events throughout the Gilded Age – is its celebrated heart-shaped grand staircase.

Following a multimillion-dollar renovation, Rosecliff resumed tours in September 2023, much to the delight of Newport's visitors. Architect Stanford White, who was the mastermind behind Newport's historic Casino Theatre and myriad other important buildings, modeled the mansion after the Grand Trianon at Versailles for silver heiress Theresa Fair Oelrichs. Its European influence is felt throughout.

Explore the mansion at your own pace via the self-guided audio tour on the free Newport Mansions app. Don't forget to look up in the ballroom, where the trompe l'oeil ceiling creates an air of whimsy and romance, making it the ideal setting for the filming parts of "The Great Gatsby" with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, as well as the more recent "27 Dresses."

Local tip: Rosecliff hosts many amazing events, including the annual Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, which features dinners, events and seminars with wines and other libations from around the world.

View & Book Tickets: Rosecliff | Viator

Chateau-sur-Mer

Standout perk: A new audio tour is your guide to this National Historic Landmark, considered Newport's first true mansion. Learn about the lives of the Wetmore family members who lived there for more than a century.

Until the arrival of the Vanderbilt houses in Newport in the 1890s, Chateau-sur-Mer was considered the seaside city's most palatial residence. Today, visitors can explore the home, an Italianate-style villa built for wealthy China trade merchant William Shepard Wetmore, who did quite a bit of entertaining at this summer cottage.

Local tip: While Chateau-sur-Mer is essentially a Victorian Era time capsule, the mansion's grounds are home to amazing tree specimens, shrubs and more, including a striking weeping beech tree. If you explore deeper into the grounds, you'll find a cool circular maze made from mounds of grass; this earthwork by artist Richard Fleischner is known as the "Sod Maze" and makes for a relaxing place to meditate.

View & Book Tickets: Chateau-sur-Mer | GetYourGuide

What to do nearby

In addition to the historic mansions, Newport offers a variety of historic attractions, walking trails and museums. To help you fully explore the area, here are some recommendations for things to see and where to eat.

Things to do:

• Wander along the Cliff Walk
• Visit the International Tennis Hall of Fame
• Explore the historic Fort Adams
• Discover automotive history at Audrain Automobile Museum
• Explore The Sailing Museum
• Visit the Redwood Library and Athenæum
• Discover the oldest synagogue in the U.S.
• Browse the private collection at the Newport Car Museum

Nearby restaurant recommendations: 

• Breakfast: Annie's, Lucy's Cafe & Bakery or Corner Cafe
• Lunch: Cru Cafe, Belle's Café or The Mooring Seafood Kitchen & Bar
• Dinner: White Horse Tavern, Clarke Cooke House or Castle Hill Inn
• Drinks: Midtown Oyster Bar, The Roofdeck at the Vanderbilt or The Lounge at The Chanler

Why Trust U.S. News Travel 

Andrea McHugh is a travel and lifestyle writer based in Newport, Rhode Island, where the famed mansions of the Gilded Age are common sights along her daily run in the City by the Sea. Though she regularly visits the mansions as they play host to local business and social events, such as the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Newport Classical Music Festival and Newport Film, she spent a recent "staycation" touring these turn-of-the-century behemoths to write this article.

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Things to Do in Rhode Island
• The Top Things to Do in New Hampshire
• The Top Things to Do in Maine
• The Top Things to Do in Vermont

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Big House Tours

Want to experience the thrill of running onto the field of Michigan Stadium? Now you can, because we have the keys to the Big House.

Each Big House Tour takes you behind the scenes of the largest stadium in the Western Hemisphere. During your tour, you will get a chance to explore the Michigan locker room, visit the Jack Roth Stadium Club, and run (or walk) down the tunnel onto the field, where you can catch a pass in the end zone, kick a field goal, and take your picture on the 50-yard line.

Additionally, gain insight into the history of Michigan Stadium with a presentation by Dr. Robert Soderstrom, author of “The Big House, Fielding H. Yost and the Building of Michigan Stadium.”

2024 Tour Dates

All of our 2023 Big House Tours have taken place. Check back next summer for tour dates for the 2024 season.

Interested in a tour of Michigan Stadium on a weekday? Please contact Michigan Athletics for more information.

Hours of Operation:

Thursday - Saturday: 11am - 6pm Sunday: 11am - 4pm Gates are shut at 5:15pm.

Regular - $20 Senior / Military / Student - $15 Child 10 and under - $10 *ADMISSION PURCHASED UPON ENTRY TO THE MUSEUM*

NEW MERCH RELEASE

CHECK OUT THE NEW MERCH AT OUR MERCH MOUNTAIN GIFT SHOP

BIG HOUSE NEWS

Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts December 12, 1943 – April 18, 2024

Manley Field House, Syracuse University – Available on CD & Digital January 2024

Limited Edition 2-LP “Yellow Rose of Texas”

Big House Golf Tournament Photo Album

Exclusive 2-LP Limited Run “Orange Sunshine” Vinyl

GABBA fest on Saturday

The allman brothers band.

In 1969 a revolution was launched from the streets of Macon, consisting of guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, and a uniquely spirited brotherhood. The revolutionaries of record were the Allman Brothers Band, who, as the founders of what became known as Southern rock, changed the course of popular American music and turned Macon into the recording hot bed of the 1970s.

The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brother Duane Allman (slide guitar and lead guitar) with Gregg Allman (vocals, organ, songwriting), Dickey Betts (lead guitar, vocals, songwriting), Berry Oakley (bass guitar), Butch Trucks (drums), and Jaimoe (drums). While the band has been called the principal architects of Southern rock, they also incorporate elements of blues, jazz, and country music, and their live shows have jam band-style improvisation and instrumentals.

Click here to learn more about the history of the band.

The Big House Museum

The Big House is located at 2321 Vineville Avenue, Macon, GA. In 1969 it was for rent, and by January 1970, it became the house where members of the band, their roadies, friends and families lived until 1973. It was the focal point of gathering in those early years when the magic that is the Allman Brothers Band was just taking shape and radiating from this historic Southern town.

Schedule Your Event Today

Browse merchandise from our gift shop, find out how you can volunteer, new exhibits.

Here is the latest item we have on display. Check out the other featured items we have on display as well as the various parts of the tour!

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Welcome to Our House

Michigan Stadium, affectionately known as "The Big House" by University of Michigan students, alumni, and fans across the world, is one of the largest and most iconic athletic venues. It is the largest stadium in the United States and the third largest stadium in the world. The stadium exemplifies the Wolverine enthusiasm that surrounds the iconic phrases coined by Bo Shembechler in his legendary locker room speeches, “The team, The team, The team” and "Those who stay will be champions." 

Ready for the fall football season?  

• Get your U-M Football Tickets here
• Plan your FootballRide Shuttle route
• Purchase FootballRide Tickets in different mobile ticketing apps, such as Uber, EZFare, Moovit, and Transit.
• Tips from a U-M Super Fan: Your Game Day Guide to the Big House
• Game Day Q & A: Insider Tips from a U-M Super Fan
• Michigan Football Tailgating 101
• Beyond Game Day: Your U-M Football Weekend Itinerary

Just How Big is "The Big House?" 

The Big House boasts a seating capacity of 107,601, but it has hosted crowds in excess of 115,000. The Big House’s largest attendance record was 115,109, set on Sept. 7, 2013 in Michigan’s 41-30 night-game victory over Notre Dame.

Keith Jackson, the retired, legendary broadcaster for ABC Sports, is credited with popularizing the term “Big House." 

What can I bring into the U-M Stadium?

It is important to know what items you can and cannot bring inside of Michigan Stadium. Fans are encouraged to bring ONLY  necessary  items to football games at Michigan Stadium. All subjects and items are subject to search. Learn more about what is allowed inside of U-M Stadium  

Is the Stadium Used for Things Other Than Football? 

The stadium isn’t just home to the U-M football team – the International Champions Cup (ICC) soccer tournament has come to town four times, including the 2014 match between Real Madrid and Manchester United that set an American attendance record with over 109,318 people!

Michigan Stadium has even broken records for ice hockey attendance. The stadium hosted the NHL's 2014 Winter Classic , where a crowd of 105,491 saw the host Detroit Red Wings fall to the Toronto Maple Leafs in a shootout.

Michigan Stadium is also home to U-M’s spring commencement, special events, and movie nights throughout the summer. There’s even yoga in the Big House each year, which is an incredible experience, and uniquely Michigan. You can even rent Michigan Stadium for your wedding!

Can I Tour the Big House?

If you want to check it out for yourself, you’re in luck! The Big House has tours available , for an insider's view of the field, the locker room the press box and more. Make sure you schedule in advance so you don’t miss out on your chance to kick a field goal. Go Blue! 

How Do I Get to Michigan Stadium?

Michigan Stadium  1201 S. Main St. Ann Arbor, MI 48104-3722

From Detroit Metro Airport and points east:  Take I-94 west to Ann Arbor-Saline Road (exit 175). Turn right and follow Ann Arbor-Saline Road as it turns into Main Street, going north for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Michigan Stadium is on the northeast corner of Main Street and Stadium Boulevard.

From Chicago and points west:  Take I-94 east to Ann Arbor-Saline Road (exit 175). Turn left and follow Ann Arbor-Saline Road as it turns into Main Street, going north for approximately 1 1/2 miles. Michigan Stadium is on the northeast corner of Main Street and Stadium Boulevard.

From Toledo and points south:  Take U.S. 23 north to I-94 west. Follow directions from Detroit Metro Airport.

From Flint and points north:  Take U.S. 23 south to I-94 west. Follow directions from Detroit Metro Airport.

It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine! 

You will never experience anything like game day inside of The Big House. Prepare to have you mind blown.   Find out more about Michigan Stadium

• 315 W. Huron St. Suite 340,
• Ann Arbor, MI 48103

Phone: 734-995-7281   Toll Free: 800-888-9487

Email:  [email protected]

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Detailed Oak Alley Plantation Guide: Exhibits, Tours & More

A s someone who enjoys learning about history while traveling — from war history to cultural history — I knew I would love spending a weekend in New Orleans . New Orleans is steeped in interesting history and culture, and one of the places you can learn more about the city’s history, though sobering, is at one of the plantations along the Mississippi River. 

There are several plantations you can visit just outside New Orleans, including Laura Plantation and Whitney Plantation. However, if you only have time to visit one plantation in New Orleans, I highly recommend paying a visit to Oak Alley Plantation. 

If you want to visit Oak Alley Plantation during your trip to New Orleans, keep reading to learn more about this historic plantation — including its history, exhibits, how to get there, popular tours, and more! 

Disclosure: Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links, meaning that I earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase at no additional cost to you. This helps me keep the content on my website free for you to enjoy!

What Is the History of Oak Alley Plantation?  

Oak Alley Plantation is a public nonprofit organization and a National Historic Landmark with 200+ years of history that has been open to the public since 1976.  

The property of Oak Alley Plantation was purchased in 1820, and the mansion was built in 1836 by Jacques and Celina Roman. The Roman Family owned and operated Oak Alley Plantation for several decades. Oak Alley Plantation operated primarily as a sugarcane plantation in the 1800s, which is what you’ll learn about during your time at Oak Alley Plantation. 

However, after a virus wiped out the sugarcane crops in the early 1900s, the property was turned into a cattle ranch by Andrew and Josephine Armstrong — the couple responsible for the restoration of the “Big House” and the creation of Oak Alley Foundation. 

You can learn more about the history of Oak Alley Plantation on the foundation’s website — but don’t worry. You will learn plenty during your tour of the plantation. 

What Is the Best Way to Get to Oak Alley Plantation?  

Oak Alley Plantation is in Vacherie, Louisiana , which is a one-hour drive west of Downtown New Orleans. If you have a car, driving to Oak Alley Plantation is the easiest way to get there. However, if you don’t have a car, that doesn’t mean you can’t visit Oak Alley Plantaiton. 

Uber, Lyft, and other rideshare services are unreliable in Vacherie and the countryside, so even if you can snag a ride from New Orleans, we don’t recommend getting to Oak Alley Plantation via rideshare. Instead, we recommend booking a tour that includes round-trip transportation to and from New Orleans.

How Much Does It Cost to Visit Oak Alley Plantation?  

The cost of visiting Oak Alley Plantation depends on whether you book a tour or drive yourself. Guided tours generally run anywhere from $70–$150 per person , depending on what else is included, from hotel pickup to airboat tours (more on this in the tours section below). 

If you drive yourself to Oak Alley Plantation, you can purchase tickets directly from the foundation’s website ahead of time, or at the ticket booth upon arrival. There are two ticket options — Historic Site without “Big House” Exhibit ( $25.01 for adults and $7.41 for children) and Historic Site with “Big House” Exhibit ( $27.79 for adults and $9.27 for children). There are additional discounts for seniors and military. Children under the age of five are free. 

It’s definitely worth paying a few extra dollars for the “Big House” Exhibit. You’ll be allowed access inside the house on an informative tour led by a knowledgeable staff member, and you’ll get to learn a lot about the families who have lived on the property. Tours are held every 30 minutes from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. 

Tip: The time you choose when purchasing your tickets is the time you should be ready for your “Big House” Tour — not the time to arrive at the property. Plan to arrive at Oak Alley Plantation at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time in case you run into any delays, so you don’t miss your tour. So, if you choose an 11 AM ticket, plan to leave New Orleans no later than 9:30 AM (if traffic conditions are normal — check Google Maps ahead of time!). 

How Long Does It Take to Visit Oak Alley Plantation?  

Oak Alley Plantation is open daily from 8:30 AM – 5 PM. The property is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day, and Mardi Gras (of course — you are basically in New Orleans, after all). All the exhibits stay open until 5 PM, when the property closes. 

We recommend spending 2–3 hours at Oak Alley Plantation if you want to see all the exhibits (including the Big House). Remember, you’ll want to factor in an hour’s drive to and from New Orleans, so the entire excursion should be about a half-day endeavor — anywhere from 4–5 hours. 

Exhibits at Oak Alley Plantation  

Now that you know more about the logistics of visiting Oak Alley Plantation, here is an overview of the notable exhibits you can see at the property: 

Slavery at Oak Alley Exhibit  

Oak Alley Plantation has an entire exhibit devoted to the 220 people who were enslaved at the plantation. This exhibit was so informative and took a deep dive into slavery as a whole, slavery at Oak Alley, and the individual lives of enslaved people who lived on the property, like Pognon, the seamstress and hairdresser, and Zephyr, the only slave freed by Jacques Roman. 

Slavery at Oak Alley explains the difference between “house slaves” and “field slaves,” the day-to-day life of a slave, and what life looked like for enslaved people after emancipation. Oak Alley also has a database where you can learn more about the those who were enslaved at the plantation. 

It’s difficult to accept that slavery actually happened, and it can feel more comfortable to ignore the topic altogether. However, learning about slavery is important to understanding the full picture of our country’s history — even the terrible parts. I appreciated that Oak Alley Plantation had put so much time and research into this exhibit — it’s informative but doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of slavery. It also highlights the individual lives of people who lived on the property — their names, stories, origins, and relationships.

Big House Exhibit  

The “Big House” is the house on Oak Alley Plantation where the family lived — it gets its name from being larger than the other structures on the property. 

The Big House is the only exhibit at Oak Alley that requires an extra fee to visit, however, it does include a 30-minute guided tour of the first and second floors of the home. If you’re going to make the trip to Oak Alley Plantation, it is worth the additional cost for this tour. You’ll be able to see how the home was decorated during different time periods, learn more about the families who lived inside the home, see original furniture, décor, and artefacts, and more. We were also surprised to learn that several movies and video games had been filmed here! 

Photos are not permitted inside the home, but you can take photos of the famous “oak alley” from the balcony. You can also take photos of the exterior of the home. 

Tip: Right after the tour, you’ll exit on the “back” of the home. There is a cart here selling drinks — including bourbon lemonade, mint juleps, and more! I recommend grabbing a drink to keep yourself cool while exploring the rest of the property. Aside from the Big House, the rest of the exhibits are outside and/or inside with no air conditioning. 

Oak Alley  

Remember the famous alleyway of oak trees you just saw during your tour from the balcony? 

I recommend swinging around to take a photo here after the tour. You don’t drive through the trees when entering Oak Alley (this is different than Boone Hall Plantation, one of the best day trips from Charleston and another informative plantation tour) — so you need to make an effort to see the alleyway during your time on the property. After all — it is the property’s namesake! 

East & West Gardens  

Oak Alley Plantation has two gardens — the “East Gardens” on the east side of the home, and the “West Gardens” on the west side of the home. 

The West Garden is modeled after how the garden would have looked from 1840–1860, when Jacques and Celina Roman lived on the property, and The East Garden is modeled after how the garden would have looked in the 1900s, when Josephine Stewart owned the property. Both are beautiful and worth visiting during your time on the property, but the hedges, azaleas, and roses in The East Garden were my favorite. The West Garden is pictured below.

Sugarcane Theater  

After learning that sugarcane was the primary crop grown at Oak Alley Plantation, I became immediately interested (and curious) about how sugarcane becomes sugar. Fortunately, there is a whole exhibit at Oak Alley Plantaiton dedicated to who sugarcane is grown, harvested, manufactured, and ultimately, turned into sugar! 

This is a great exhibit to visit when you’re ready to get off your feet for a few minutes — there are several benches inside a wooden building that you can sit on while watching a 5–10 minutes film about the history of sugarcane and modern sugar production. Apparently, turning sugarcane into granulated sugar is a pretty long process — it must be harvested and washed, the juices must be extracted, then it must be crystallized and centrifuged before the sugar is packaged. 

You don’t want to skip this exhibit. If you arrive in the middle of the film, just stick around until it starts over again — you won’t have to wait long between showings. 

People of Oak Alley Exhibit  

People of Oak Alley Exhibit shares information about the people who lived at Oak Alley Plantation from the 1860s until the 1920s, when the property was purchased by the final owners and turned into the Oak Alley Foundation. 

The exhibit is completely outdoors (located near the West Garden) and includes a series of plaques with a chronological timeline attached. You’ll learn a lot of this information during The Big House Tour, so you might not need to spend much time at this exhibit. 

Blacksmith Shop  

The Blacksmith Shop is a forge that shares the history of forging metal on plantations. It’s located behind the restaurant, gift shop, and inn — so you will miss it if you aren’t looking for it. 

Amenities at Oak Alley Plantation  

In addition to the exhibits, Oak Alley Plantation offers some additional amenities, including the following. These are all located south of the Slavery at Oak Alley Exhibit. 

Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant & Inn  

Did you know you can actually stay at Oak Alley Plantation? 

Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant & Inn offers several one-bedroom and two-bedroom cottages where guests can stay overnight. Each reservation includes a full breakfast, and you can also add dinner room service to your reservation. Tours and admission to Oak Alley Plantation are not included with each reservation. 

Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant is open to all visitors at the plantation — both tourists and overnight guests — and serves breakfast from 8:30 AM to 10 AM and lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM. The menu focuses on traditional Creole and Cajun cuisine, so you’ll be able to enjoy items like beignets, shrimp and grits, gumbo, po boys, fried fish, smoked sausage, and more! 

The Plantation Cafe & Ice Cream Parlor  

If you’re craving a quick bite or a sweet treat, The Plantation Cafe and Ice Cream Parlor serves salads, wraps, and sandwiches, as well as sweet treats, like ice cream! 

Gift Shop  

Oak Alley Plantation has a great gift shop that has much more than memorabilia from the plantation itself — the shop is filled with tons of other Louisiana-themed goodies and souvenirs, including home décor, kitchen items, food and drinks, and more. 

Oak Alley Plantation Tours  

If you’d like to visit Oak Alley Plantation on a tour that includes round-trip transportation to and from New Orleans, check out some of these top-rated tours:

• Oak Alley Plantation & Airboat Swamp Combo Tour — This full-day tour includes pickup and drop-off from your hotel in New Orleans, and in addition to touring the grounds at Oak Alley Plantation, you’ll be able to take an airboat tour through the bayou swamplands, where you’ll see alligators, birds, and other animals. Over 450 travelers have rated this tour 4.7/5 stars!
• Oak Alley Plantation Half-Day Tour — If you’d only like to visit Oak Alley Plantation, this half-day tour with transportation to and from New Orleans is perfect for you. This tour includes a guided tour of the Big House and a self-guided tour of the grounds at Oak Alley Plantation.
• Oak Alley Plantation & Swamp Cruise Day Trip — Get picked up from your hotel in New Orleans and embark on an adventure at Oak Alley Plantation and in the bayou. This seven-hour tour includes hotel pickup, entry to and a guided tour of Oak Alley Plantation, and a narrated swamp cruise. Over 700 travelers have rated this tour 4.7/5 stars!

Tips for Visiting Oak Alley Plantation  

After visiting Oak Alley Plantation, here are some of my personal tips: 

• Stay hydrated — Bring plenty of water. It gets hot in Louisiana (especially if you visit in June, like us!), and most exhibits at Oak Alley Plantation are at least partially outside. 
• Arrive early — If you’re going on the Big House Tour, arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled tour time. This will give you plenty of time to check in, walk from the ticket counter to the entrance of the house, and get in line. 
• Purchase tickets in advance — Oak Alley Plantation is a popular tourist attraction from New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and tickets book up quickly, especially on weekends. Buy tickets (or book a tour!) in advance to ensure tickets don’t sell out. 
• Prioritize these exhibits — If you only have time for a few exhibits, I recommend The Big House, Slavery at Oak Alley, and the Sugarcane Theater. I found these exhibits to be the most informative and interesting. 
• Snap photos between tours — If you want a photo in front of The Big House from the “Oak Alley” without a bunch of people in the background, wait until the tour group enters the house at the beginning of each half hour (10 AM, 10:30 AM, 11 AM, etc.) and snap a picture before the next tour group begins lining up. 
• Don’t skip the gift shop — The gift shop at Oak Alley Plantation actually has some really fun finds if you have time to peruse before heading home. 

FAQs: Oak Alley Plantation  

How many slaves were at oak alley plantation.

There were 220 enslaved people who lived at and worked at Oak Alley Plantation. You can learn more about the day-to-day life of slaves, as well as their names, origins, and relationships, in the Slavery at Oak Alley exhibit at Oak Alley Plantation

Can you sleep at Oak Alley Plantation?

You can stay overnight at Oak Alley Plantation at the Oak Alley Plantation Restaurant & Inn. There are one-bedroom and two-bedroom cottages you can choose from during your stay — and complimentary breakfast is provided as well! 

How long is the Big House tour at Oak Alley Plantation?

The Big House tour at Oak Alley Plantation generally lasts 30–40 minutes. Tours start at the beginning of each hour and each half hour.

Explore Oak Alley Plantation for a Deep Dive into Louisiana History  

If you have time while you’re in New Orleans — plan to spend a day exploring Oak Alley Plantation!

After reading through the exhibits, you will walk away with so much knowledge about the history of Louisiana and the United States — both the good and the bad. Plus, you’ll be able to see a whole new side of the state outside the big city.

Save This Post About Oak Alley Plantation for Later

Things to Do in Bologoye, Russia - Bologoye Attractions

Things to do in bologoye.

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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Monument-Locomotive Eu 706-10

2. Statue of Vysotskiy

3. Holy Trinity Church in Bologom

4. Bologoye Lake

5. Obelisk in the Memory of Those Who Died in the Years of the Great Patriotic War

6. Obelisk to Railway Employees of Bologoye Junction

7. Water Tower

8. Steam Train Bologoye-Ostashkov

• Monument-Locomotive Eu 706-10
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• Statue of Vysotskiy
• Bologoye Lake
• Holy Trinity Church in Bologom

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Retro trains that can transport you back in time (PHOTOS)

A retro train at the Rizhsky railway station, Moscow.

1. Sokolniki, Moscow

Left: Sokolniki retro train in the style of the first metro train. Right: The first train of the Moscow metro, 1935.

The Sokolniki retro train runs on the red line of the Moscow Metro, along with regular trains. In fact, it was actually built in 2010 to mark the 75th anniversary of the metro, but is stylized to look like a 1930s train. Inside, it has soft seats made of faux leather, as well as lamps and handrails of that era. And no advertising on the walls, especially since the walls are covered with lincrusta and nothing will stick to its deeply embossed surface anyway. Incidentally, this is the only train in the Moscow Metro that does not have Wi-Fi. That is because passengers in the 1930s read books, not blogs!

2. Retro train, St. Petersburg

Retro train in St. Petersburg metro.

The St. Petersburg metro has its own retro train, too, but it can only be ridden on with a guided tour. It consists of four restored 1960s train cars, which, in addition to the usual seats, also house an exhibition about the history of the subway. The train was launched in 2015 to mark the 60th anniversary of the St. Petersburg Metro. At first, it ran on weekends between Avtovo and Ploshchad Vosstaniya stations; however, now this train can only be seen a few times a year, and only on a guided tour (in Russian, English and Chinese), where passengers are even allowed to take a peek inside the driver’s cabin. The tour can be booked on the St. Petersburg Metro website.  

3. The Ruskeala Express, Karelia

Ruskeala express train.

You can take this retro train that takes you to one of the most beautiful national parks in Russia. Starting from June 2019, the Ruskeala Express runs daily between Sortavala station (250 km west of Petrozavodsk, the capital of Karelia) and the park. It departs Sortavala at 10:40 AM and leaves the park at 530 PM. This is the only daily steam-powered passenger train left in Russia. It consists of five train cars (four with passenger compartments and a restaurant car), whose interiors are fashioned to the late-19th century look. It also runs with a locomotive built in 1949: with coal, smoke and steam.

The journey to the park takes about an hour. Tickets can be bought at any Russian Railways ticket office or on their website (sales open 45 days in advance, and a single ticket costs about 300 rubles, roughly $5). A ticket to the national park can be bought on board the train (that will also set you back 300 rubles). The route became so popular that in the first month after its launch it carried more than 3,500 passengers! Previously, the Ruskeala park was only accessible by car.

4. Bologoye-Ostashkov, Tver Region

There is a regular commuter train leaving the Bologoye station (175 km north of Tver) every Saturday at 9.25 that is pulled by an L series steam locomotive from the late 1940s. Its engine drivers and train attendants are all dressed in 1940s uniforms and sell old-style tickets. However, the seats in the cars are modern (the original wooden benches have been replaced with new cushioned seats, for passengers' comfort. The train arrives in Ostashkov at 1:07 PM, and departs on its return journey exactly two hours later, at 3:07 PM. Along the way, it makes a 25-minute stop at the old Kuzhenkino station, which is now a museum. In Ostashkov, there is enough time to check out Lake Seliger, as well as the old city. Tickets can be bought at Bologoye or Ostashkov, and onboard the train . A single ticket costs 300 rubles (ca. $5).

5. To Lake Baikal

A steam engine of a tour train rides on the Circum-Baikal railway, a part of the East Siberian Railway along the shores of Lake Baikal.

The world's deepest lake can be reached in many ways, but perhaps the most romantic one is on a vintage train, with a 1940s steam locomotive and new train cars. It departs from the Irkutsk railway station at 8.00 AM and travels along the Circum-Baikal Railway, making several stops where you can admire picturesque views of the lake. The train arrives at its final destination, Baikal port, at 7.30 PM, and passengers then return to Irkutsk by bus. The round tour costs 4,000 rubles (around $60) per person and can be purchased either on the website of the Russian Railways travel agency or in its offices in Moscow or St. Petersburg.  

6. From St. Petersburg to Tsarskoye Selo

A vintage steam train at Detskoselskaya station.

Every other Sunday, you can take a vintage train from St. Petersburg's Vitebsky railway station to Tsarskoye Selo. The train uses an L series 1940s locomotive with new train cars. During the two-hour journey, passengers are presented with an interesting presentation about the history of railways in Russia, while being dined with hot tea in traditional iron cup holders and various sweets and pastries. Unfortunately, the return journey is by coach, however! Tickets cost 1,300 rubles (ca. $22) per person and are available on the Russian Railways travel agency’s website . 

7. From Moscow to Vladivostok

Yes, one can even take a trip across the whole of Russia in a retro train. There are several options for trips from Moscow to Vladivostok, that usually last up to two weeks and make stops (with excursions in different languages) in Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Baikal, Ulan-Ude and Khabarovsk. Passengers can either return to Moscow by plane or continue their journey further into Asia. The trains consist of an L or P36 series steam locomotive from the 1950s and new train cars, with the interior fashioned to look like pre-1917 revolution Russia.

The “cheapest” option can be purchased from the Russian Railways travel agency (prices start from $6,000), while the most expensive option, on the Golden Eagle train , will cost over $31,000(!!). Not surprisingly, this is the most expensive train in Russia. 

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Here’s Where to Buy Little Big Town and Sugarland ‘Take Me Home’ Tour Tickets Online

By John Lonsdale

John Lonsdale

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission.

Quick Answer: Fans can buy Little Big Town and Sugarland tour tickets online on Ticketmaster , and StubHub or Vivid Seats if passes sell out.

“We got the gang back together!” Little Big Town ‘s Karen Fairchild wrote online as the country icons announced their upcoming tour with Sugarland.

Dubbed the Take Me Home tour, tickets for the North American trek are now on sale — and it’s bound to be one of the hottest tours of the year. The Take Me Home shows kick off in October at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, with dates scheduled all over the country including Pittsburgh, Austin, and wrapping up in Music City.

“25 years of music and we can’t wait to celebrate it with you,” Little Big Town wrote online to announce the Take Me Home tour, which the groups promoted following their cover performance of Phil Collins’ 1985 track of the same name during the CMT Awards in April.

The bands haven’t revealed a set list for the tour dates, but there’s no doubt fans will get to hear their new collab “Take Me Home” in person. Here’s what you need to know about scoring Little Big Town and Sugarland tickets (before they sell out).

Where to Buy Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets Online

If you’re hoping to see the country groups on the road this fall, here’s where you can find available tickets:

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on Ticketmaster

General admission tickets for the Take Me Home tour are now officially on sale over on Ticketmaster . The site is a legitimate and reliable spot to score passes to see Little Big Town and Sugarland in concert, and it’s easy to order and view your tickets directly in the app on your smartphone, or save them to your iPhone Wallet for easier access on show-day.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on StubHub

With a joint tour this highly anticipated, there’s a good chance tickets might sell out after the public on-sale date. If that happens, fans can always try looking for a tickets via a reliable ticket reseller. StubHub currently has Take Me Home tour tickets listed, with prices starting around $52 a piece for the opening night. Editor’s note: Keep in mind you may pay higher than face value for tickets on resale sites.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on Vivid Seats

So, you know every word to “Wine, Beer, and Whiskey,” and do a CMT-worthy rendition of “Better Man” and “Babe” in the car. But if you miss out on tickets during the initial sale to see your go-to groups, you’re not completely out of luck to sing ’em in a stadium near you. You can try looking for passes over on Vivid Seats , which offers trustworthy resale passes online. Better yet, readers can get a $20 discount on first-time ticket purchases of $200+ with the exclusive promo code RS2024 at checkout. Pro tip: We still recommend checking Ticketmaster to see if verified resale tickets are available for the dates you’re looking at to make sure you’re getting the best price.

Find Little Big Town + Sugarland Tickets on SeatGeek

Still looking for tickets to the Sugarland and Little Big Town concerts this fall? You can also shop for Take Me Home tour passes on SeatGeek . And if you’re trying to save a little bit of cash at the same time, you can use our promo code ROLLINGSTONE10 to get an extra $10 off eligible first orders over $250. It’s not a huge discount, but it’s at least enough to go towards merch.

“Last night felt like a real homecoming for us and a full circle moment,” Little Big Town said in statement following the CMT Awards. “When we toured with Sugarland last, we would all be backstage harmonizing different cover songs to try and surprise the audience every night. There’s something about this song that feels so nostalgic of that time. It really is like coming home. The Take Me Home tour feels like a celebration of being a band for 25 years and we’re so excited to throw this party with our great friends Sugarland. We’ll both be playing all our biggest hits and then some.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Little Big Town (@littlebigtown)

Little Big Town + Sugarland Tour Dates 2024

From the opener in Greenville to the final stop in Nashville, here’s the complete fall schedule for the groups’ upcoming tour.

Oct. 24  – Greenville, SC @ Bon Secours Wellness Arena Oct. 25 – Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena Oct. 26 – Columbus, OH  @ Nationwide Arena Oct. 31 – Boston, MA @ TD Garden Nov. 1 – Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena Nov. 2 – Buffalo, NY @ KeyBank Center Nov. 7 – Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center Nov. 8 – Milwaukee, WI @ Fiserv Forum Nov. 9 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Van Andel Arena Nov. 14 – Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center Nov. 15 – Sioux Falls, SD  @ Denny Sanford PREMIER Center Nov. 16 – Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena at The MARK Nov. 21 – Austin, TX @ Moody Center Nov. 22 – Fort Worth, TX  @ Dickies Arena Nov. 23 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center Dec. 11 – Biloxi, MS @ Mississippi Coast Coliseum Dec. 12 – Duluth, GA @ Gas South Arena Dec. 13 – Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena

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