Arts Travel: Historic Sites Decked Out for the Holidays

Old-fashioned hospitality and delicious desserts await visitors to the Wickwood Inn. Courtesy of the Wickwood Inn

’Tis the season to be … indulged? This December, why not let somebody else do the decorating? Historic sites around the country are celebrating with lavish decorations and fabulous art.

In Rhode Island, three Newport Mansions are dressing up in their holiday best. Hundreds of yards of garland and thousands of seasonal flowers will deck the halls at The Breakers, The Elms and Marble House. The mansions, once the homes of magnates and millionaires, are showcases for late 19th- and early 20th-century art and antiques. On Dec. 31, from 6-8 p.m., The Breakers will open for a Holiday Evening. Tour the resplendent 1895 house and enjoy live music, desserts and eggnog. After you’ve seen the grand homes, shop for art and crafts in downtown Newport.

Pittock Mansion, a 1909 chateau overlooking Portland, Ore., will be transformed into a winter wonderland. More than 100 volunteer decorators will adorn the mansion with trimmings celebrating “Christmas Around the World.” A free shuttle carries visitors to the site, perched 1,000 feet above the city’s skyline, through Jan. 1. And while you’re in town, check out the galleries in the Pearl District or any of the city’s artsy neighborhoods.

If you want to experience luxury firsthand, the staff at the Wickwood Inn in historic Saugatuck, Mich., is ready to pamper you. The inn is owned by legendary cook and food writer Julee Rosso (of Silver Palate fame), and she welcomes guests with champagne brunches and mouth-wathering delights. Every room is decorated with fine art and, through Jan. 2, will have a Christmas tree of its own. Relax and wander Saugatuck’s shopping streets–the town was voted No. 4 on AmericanStyle’s 2011 list of Top 25 Small Cities for Art.