Part of our Arts Culture guide.
Newport's Gilded Age ballrooms were built to impress, and they still do—these are the spaces where America's wealthiest families staged their most extravagant parties. The Breakers and Marble House, both open to visitors, let you walk through the same rooms where Vanderbilts and Astors once mingled under crystal chandeliers. You can see the original dance floors, gilded moldings, and the servants' quarters that made those soirées run smoothly.
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Miami Beach
Beyond the sun and nightlife, Miami Beach's Art Deco bathhouses are the real draw for architecture fans. Built during the 1920s and 1930s, these structures feature the bold geometric patterns and vibrant colors that define the neighborhood's style. Unlike the famous hotels on Ocean Drive, these bathhouses remain largely overlooked, making them a quiet spot to appreciate the era's design up close. Look for the original tile work and porthole windows that survive from the period.
Holy Cross Cathedral, A Relic Of Colonial Times, In Lagos Island
Holy Cross Cathedral on Lagos Island stands as a working church and a colonial-era landmark. The building's architecture blends European styles with local materials, a mix you won't find elsewhere in the city. Visitors can attend services or simply walk through the nave to see the stained glass and carved wooden pews. The cathedral remains an active parish, so check service times before visiting to avoid interrupting worship.
California's Channel Islands Cave Paintings
The Chumash people left behind more than a thousand painted images in the Channel Islands' sea caves, with some sites dating back over a thousand years. Red, black, and white figures depict animals, shamans, and celestial events, offering a rare window into pre-contact life. Access is limited: you'll need a boat or kayak to reach most caves, and some require a permit from the National Park Service. The most famous site, Painted Cave on Santa Cruz Island, is one of the largest sea caves in the world, with a ceiling covered in ochre figures that remain vivid despite centuries of exposure.
Hawaii's Secret Hula Schools And Ancient Island Rhythms
Traditional hula schools, called hālau hula, still operate across the islands, but they don't advertise. These schools teach hula as a living history—each chant and gesture encodes genealogies, weather patterns, and land divisions. Unlike the tourist luaus, where performances last an hour, a hālau's training can take years before a student is allowed to perform in public. If you want to see the real thing, look for public performances at community events or ask at local cultural centers; many hālau hold free showcases during Hawaiian cultural festivals.
Rhode Island's Secret Museum Of Work And Culture
In Woonsocket, the Museum of Work and Culture tells the story of French-Canadian immigrants who powered the Blackstone Valley's textile mills. The museum occupies a former mill complex, and you can walk through recreated mill floors, a schoolroom, and a union hall exactly as they would have looked in the early 1900s. Artifacts include pay stubs, looms, and personal letters from workers. It's a working-class counterpoint to Newport's mansions, showing how the other half lived—and labored.
Art Basel Miami Beach - Contemporary Art Extravaganza
Art Basel Miami Beach runs each December, bringing over 250 galleries to the convention center for a single long weekend. The main fair is only the start—satellite shows pop up in warehouses, hotels, and parking garages across the city, many free and open to the public. If you're going for the art rather than the parties, arrive early on Thursday or Friday; weekend afternoons get crowded. The fair also partners with local museums, which often open special exhibitions timed to coincide with the event.
Rhode Island's Secret: America's First Lending Library
The Redwood Library and Athenaeum in Newport, founded in 1730, holds the title of America's oldest lending library. Unlike a typical public library, its collection focuses on history, art, and architecture, with rare volumes dating back to the 18th century. The building itself is a National Historic Landmark, and the interior retains its original woodwork and reading rooms. You can browse the stacks, but ask for the locked case if you want to see the library's oldest books, including a 16th-century Bible.
Mackinac Island's Secret Art Museum And Its History
Mackinac Island's art museum sits in a former summer cottage, a short walk from the main ferry dock. The collection focuses on Great Lakes artists, with paintings of the island's limestone bluffs and Victorian hotels from the late 1800s. What surprises most visitors is the photography archive—glass plate negatives showing island life before cars were banned. The museum is small, so plan for an hour at most, then continue on to the island's other historic buildings.
