How we took our 2-Year-Old to the Newport Mansions

To many friends and family members, it may have sounded a little insane. Here we were, planning a trip to Newport, RI, a destination known for its beautiful mansions full of priceless antiques and nothing but velvet rope to protect them. And we were bringing our 2.5-year-old. I won’t lie, I did have a few concerns that we’d end up on the local news, “Toddler breaks vase worth millions during tantrum.” But we not only managed to leave everything intact, we really enjoyed our visit, as did Arielle. This is how we took our two-year-old to the Newport Mansions.

Scenic Drives = Naptime

During both of the full days we were in Newport we would take a drive around the city and then over the Newport Bridge after the mansions closed for the day. Not only was it a great way to see the sites, it was also a perfect way to coax Arielle into a nap. By the time we were ready to head back to the hotel to change for our evening plans, she was refreshed and ready for her next adventure.

Looking for Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Advance

We specifically booked our hotel because it had a kitchen so we could bring a half-gallon of milk for Arielle and heat up a bowl of Annie’s Mac and Cheese if she wasn’t up for going out. But we did find kid-friendly restaurants in town like The Red Parrot. And if you end up somewhere and they don’t have a kids menu, it never hurts to ask for something simple like a grilled cheese or a bowl of pasta and sauce or butter. That’s what we did at The Black Pearl and Arielle loved her grilled cheese!

Treating her and her Feelings with Respect

When you can’t fully vocalize what is going on, it’s easy for people to discount you. And I have been guilty of this with Arielle. We’ll go and go and go and she is so good about it, and then all of a sudden she’s having a full-on tantrum because she’s overtired and hungry. We took breaks so she could rest (there were no strollers allowed in the mansions), brought small toys, and made sure we had a water bottle and snacks with us so we could keep those tantrums at bay. Luckily she only got out of hand once but after removing her from the excitement she calmed down and we were able to finish our tour. 

And When All Else Fails, Bribery

M&Ms are a fan favorite in our house. And I will admit that I will pay her in those colorful chocolate candies to behave if nothing else works. In fact, you’ll always find a mini bag or two of them in my purse. It’s saved our lives more than once. My advice with this – use it sparingly!

Every child is different and while this worked for us, it may not work for everyone. Arielle is a great little traveler who really requires very little when we’re on the road. She makes it very easy to see the sights so we get to enjoy it with her, not despite her, and that’s what makes the difference. So while many will say, “I can’t believe you did that with a 2-year-old in tow!” I get to say, “We’re so lucky to be able to do things with her.” You have children to enjoy life with them, not leave them behind after all!

If you’re looking for more on what to do in Newport, make sure to check out my top 6 things to do in Newport, cute cafes in Newport, what to do in Newport at Christmastime, the Newport Mansions at Christmastime, and Festive New England Destinations. 

*A Note on COVID: Since Arielle is too young to be vaccinated, we always are extremely cautious about keeping her safe. Masks are required in the mansions, regardless of vaccination status (and since our visit they are requiring proof of vaccines for anyone over 5) and we are lucky that Arielle is very good about wearing her mask. We also made sure that we wore masks at all times indoors except of course when we were actively eating and drinking.