Murray On Travel

The historic Castle Hill Inn and Resort in Rhode Island, one of Newport's most beautiful landmarks, symbolizes luxury and exclusivity and remains the choice of travelers and food lovers. Built in 1874 for the renowned explorer Alexander Agassiz, this Relais & Chateaux member is located on a 40-acre peninsula with magnificent views of the surrounding bay. The New York Times called Castle Hill “a gem of a hotel,” and the accolade is well deserved with its promise of romance and seclusion.

The main building of Castle Hill Inn is a beautiful Victorian structure called the Agassiz Mansion. The summer house of Agassiz, who was also a marine biologist in Harvard, it had undergone several renovations in the 20th century, with a major one in 2003 when the outbuildings were also restored.

There are only nine guestrooms in the Mansion, including the famed and highly luxurious Turret Suite. The Suite offers a 360-degree view of Narragansett Bay, which can be enjoyed while soaking in a bathtub. Mahogany-paneled walls, a canopied bed, and a functional fireplace complete a luxurious stay in the Inn.

Castle Hill Inn has a total of 35 suites and guest rooms. These are located in the beach houses, chalet, and cottages located along the coastline. All room rates include a gourmet breakfast and afternoon tea. The Inn’s dining experience has been highly lauded not only for the freshness of their seafood and the taste, but for the location of the dining area as well. Meals can be had on the lawn which offers a breathtaking view of the bay. Visit the Inns website.

Guests are offered a variety of services too, including a menu of massage and beautifying treatments.

For those who are looking for a perfect wedding by-the-sea, Castle Hill Inn offers a 350-guest wedding and reception package. The ceremony will be held on the lawn with a view of Narragansett Bay while the reception can take place in either the Chalet or the Terrace, depending on the time of the year.

There are meeting rooms and facilities, too, for a variety of business functions, fundraising events, seminars, and cocktail parties.  There are a number of things to do in Newport, from antique shopping, to sports activities like hiking, biking, boating, fishing, playing golf, and sailing.

There are a lot of beautifully-preserved mansions and gardens in Belleview Avenue, but the best structures are the eleven Newport Mansions that are open to the public. Seven of these are National Historic Landmarks, the best examples of US architecture from the Colonial era to the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilt-commissioned “summer cottage,” the Breakers, is the grandest, with its 70 rooms inspired by Italian Renaissance-style palazzo.

For the nature lover, the Norman Bird Sanctuary is the perfect place to commune with the wildlife. Comprising 325 acres, the Sanctuary has hiking trails and offers opportunities to see a variety of birds, from herons and hawks, to woodpeckers, chickadees, and goldfinches. Another wildlife refuge is the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, with trails that offer a view of the open sea.

Consistently included in the top food, travel and wine lists every year, Castle Hill Inn and Resort is perfect for those who need to just rest and recharge. Photos provided by the Inn.