Lion's mane jellyfish spotted off New England coast. What jellyfish might you see in RI?
Today, 2,000 species of jellyfish have been discovered around the world, including an 'immortal jellyfish' that can rejuvenate itself and ones that can grow to be bigger than humans.
While you're not likely to run into a human-size jellyfish while taking a dip off the Rhode Island shoreline, there are plenty of jellyfish to be found. Particularly, in the summer months when warmer waters create prime conditions for jellyfish blooms.
While certain jellyfish are more common, sometimes a stray shows up. For example, recently lion's mane jellyfish, which pack a painful sting, have been surging in the Gulf of Maine. They are sometimes spotted in Rhode Island in the spring and summer.
But, here are five species of jellyfish you might encounter in Rhode Island.
The moon jelly is the most common jellyfish in Rhode Island and is found floating in open water near the surface. These jellyfish are white with a dome shape and 4 horseshoe-shaped gonads, that can be orange or pink in appearance, visible from the top.
The good news about these guys is, according to Mystic Aquarium, their sting is mild.
One jellyfish that does pack a powerful sting is the Atlantic Sea Nettle, with long, thin, twining tentacles trailing behind it.
This jellyfish is more often found in the South County salt ponds, such as Ninigret and Green Hill Ponds rather than the open ocean. Some years there are enough of them that The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) issue a warning to be careful, as their sting can cause 'moderate discomfort and itching welts.'
If stung, it's recommended to wash the area with vinegar, not fresh water.
More advice: What to do if you're stung by a sea nettle
Small but mighty, this isn't a jellyfish you want to come across.
The clinging jellyfish is about the size of a dime and are most recognizable by an orange-brown cross on their transparent body. They pack a powerful sting that has sent several Rhode Island beachgoers to the hospital.
Their preferred habitat is clinging to vegetation like eelgrass, so you're not likely to have a run-in with one while on R.I.'s sandy beaches.
Advice: How to protect yourself from clinging jellyfish
Technically not a jellyfish, the Man O'War is a group of organisms acting as one to survive. They're named for the way their top resembles a warship at full sail. The sail, which can be blue, violet or pink, can float up to 6 inches above the water. Below are tentacles that can grow up to 100 feet.
While they aren't typically found in abundance off of Rhode Island's ocean beaches, sightings are reported nearly every year. If you see something that resembles a balloon floating on top of the water, stay away.
The Man O'War packs a powerful sting, capable of sending someone to the hospital. The tentacles are harmful even when they have detached from the body.
A deep dive: More to know about Portuguese men o' war
Often called a jellyfish because of its gelatinous body, the comb jellyfish is technically a ctenophore. These creatures – which grow to be 4 or 5 inches long – have no sting.
Recent studies have found the comb jellies are present in Narragansett Bay for a longer season as water temperatures have risen.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island jellyfish can pack a sting. Here are 5 to be aware of
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Washington Post
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Walk the scenes of ‘The Gilded Age' in Newport's preserved mansions
Visiting Newport, Rhode Island, can feel like stepping onto a film set because many scenes from HBO's hit show 'The Gilded Age' were filmed in the town's gigantic 19th-century mansions. Even beyond the shiny veneer of a TV, Newport is remarkably well preserved, a living monument to an era of extreme opulence and ambition. The town swung into social significance in the late 19th century, when America's wealthiest industrial families built extravagant summer homes — which they dubbed 'cottages' — by the sea. Families including the Vanderbilts and Astors transformed the town's landscape, commissioning architects such as Richard Morris Hunt and Stanford White to design sweeping, European-inspired estates replete with marble and crystal. Though the Gilded Age was relatively brief, its legacy endures through architecture in the town of Newport. Guided experiences, such as those from Newport Jaguar Tours ($406 for two on a three-hour tour) and the Preservation Society of Newport County's 'Inside the Gilded Age Tour,' ($250 per nonmember for a nearly four-hour tour; $200 for members) allow fans to explore the show's filming locations, but visitors can also stroll the Cliff Walk and tour the mansions on their own. Here's where to go, what to see and where to stay when you want to go a little deeper into the intriguing and decidedly gilded world of the Russells and the Van Rhijns. These enormous, extravagantly built and decorated homes are as large as they are impractical — and they're basically required viewing. Many of these mansions sit within walking distance (or a short drive) from one another on Bellevue Avenue and the surrounding streets, so you can wander down the water-facing street and stop at one wedding-cake-like estate after another. The majority of Newport's mansions are managed and maintained by the Preservation Society of Newport County and are $25 per person to visit. Fans of 'The Gilded Age' will recognize various rooms and vistas at the Breakers, the Elms, Rosecliff, Marble House and Chateau-sur-Mer, all of which were used in the show. The Breakers: Undoubtedly the grandest of the Newport mansions (and the town's most visited), the Breakers was built for Cornelius Vanderbilt II by Hunt. Styled after an Italian palazzo, the 70-room enormity was outfitted with electricity (still a novelty when the home was completed in 1895), 27 fireplaces, a hall with a 50-foot ceiling, mosaics hand-set by artisans brought over from Europe, and numerous Baccarat crystal pieces. The Breakers commands a higher ticket price at $32 per person, or for a $57 ticket that also allows access to two other mansions. Fans of the HBO show may recognize the mansion's space that stood in for George Russell's billiard room in New York. The Elms: Completed in 1901 for Edward Julius Berwind, a coal magnate, the Elms offers one of the most compelling tours in Newport, the belowstairs Servant Life Tour. The guided tour (roughly 75 minutes, $25) is a deep dive into the round-the-clock labor that kept these mansions and their occupants' busy social calendars functioning. The Elms's sprawling kitchens were used as the set of the Russells' kitchen in the HBO show. Rosecliff: Built in 1902 for Theresa Fair Oelrichs — a silver heiress and Gilded Age society hostess who threw legendary parties including with magician Harry Houdini as the guest of honor — the brick and white terra-cotta-tile-clad mansion was designed by White, one of the era's well-known architects. It was styled after the Grand Trianon of Versailles. The 1974 film version of 'The Great Gatsby' was filmed here. Other mansions: Don't limit yourself to just scene-touring. The Isaac Bell House is a relatively modest home compared to its marble neighbors. However, the 1883 home is one of the country's best surviving examples of shingle-style architecture. Rough Point, built in 1892 for Frederick William Vanderbilt, is best known as one of the residences of Doris Duke and is preserved as if the tobacco heiress just stepped out for a swim in the ocean. Founded in 1912, the Newport Art Museum holds a collection of over 3,000 works, with a hearty 19th-century collection. For the $15 entry fee, you can check out a retrospective of the work of a Gilded Age painter and longtime Newport resident whose family's summer 'cottage,' the Ledges, is not far away. 'Howard Gardiner Cushing: A Harmony of Line and Color,' on display through the end of the year, features many of the artist's works that have not been exhibited in over 50 years or have been in private collections. Cushing's legacy in Newport remains strong, and last year the artist's great-grandson Howard Cushing opened a new waterfront hotel in town, Gardiner House. Constructed on what was a parking lot, Cushing's 21-room boutique hotel draws its inspiration from the Ledges, which remains in the family as a private home. Newport's stunning Cliff Walk is a 3½ mile public path that winds its way between the Atlantic Ocean and the town's Gilded Age mansions. Fans of 'The Gilded Age' will recognize the walk as the location of one of Peggy and Dr. Kirkland's tête-à-tête. A stone staircase leading from the cliffs down to the ocean, known as the 40 Steps, was a popular Gilded Age gathering spot for servants working in the oceanfront mansions. Today the Cliff Walk is an entirely free way to experience Newport's dramatic coast and admire the architectural grandeur of the ocean-facing mansions. About a mile away, at the Newport International Tennis Hall of Fame, visitors can check out the grass courts from Season 2 of the HBO show. A few of Newport's mansions have been turned into hotels, allowing guests the opportunity to sleep within the town's gilded past. Castle Hill Inn, the onetime home of Alexander Agassiz, who made a fortune in copper mining, is now one of Newport's most sought-after hotels. Located about a 20-minute drive from some Bellevue Avenue mansions, the inn is on a sweeping parcel of 40 acres overlooking the sea. The sprawling lawn, dotted with Adirondack chairs, is something of an institution in the town, open for drinks to guests and nonguests alike. Overnight guests will find wood-paneled interiors and antiquities Agassiz collected on his scientific explorations in Asia. Closer to Newport's downtown is the Chanler at Cliff Walk. Built in 1873, the home was originally the summer estate of Rep. John Winthrop Chanler (D-New York) and was among the first of the summer cottages to be built atop Newport's cliffs. Today Chanler's home is a 20-room boutique hotel with a distinctly Gilded Age aesthetic.
Condé Nast Traveler
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9 Best Lighthouse Airbnbs in the US
Some of the most unique and charming stays across the US are Airbnbs inside of real lighthouses—each with its own blend of history, character, and sweeping views. From the windswept coastlines of Rhode Island and the tranquil Berkshires to the woodsy and mountainous landscapes of Utah, these quirky yet tasteful properties allow you to step into a world very different from your own. Whether overlooking glimmering lakes or alongside crashing sea waves, each lighthouse Airbnb on this list offers a chance to connect with nature and history. Lighthouses have always been essential to the nation's maritime history and sea exploration—guiding sailors through often treacherous waters and marking key points along the coast. Today, they stand as symbols of both resilience and adventure, and offer up a chance to embrace both the past and the present in a setting that's as much about reflection as it is about escape. While some are ideal for family getaways and others for romantic retreats, what our picks all have in common is their intimate sense of place. Below, read on for nine of the best lighthouse Airbnb rentals to choose from all across the US. We've vetted these listings based on Superhost or Guest Favorite status, ratings, amenities, location, previous guest reviews, and decor.
Forbes
21-07-2025
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Here's Where To Find The Gilded Age Across The United States
The Rhode Island destination of Newport is directly linked to the Gilded Age, as wealthy families ... More built summer estates there. Fans of the HBO Max series, 'The Gilded Age,' are given glimpses into what New York looked like during this extravagant and innovative era. However, other parts of the United States have their respective ties to the Gilded Age and remaining buildings dating from this area. Here is where to find The Gilded Age across the United States. The Marble House was used in the filming of the HBO Max series, "The Gilded Age." Show is the home's ... More Gold Room. Newport Mansions, Rhode Island Newport is heavily associated with the Gilded Age, as wealthy families owned summer retreats in this coastal community. Various scenes from the HBO Max show were filmed throughout the Newport Mansions, a collection of timeless estates where notably wealthy families headed to. This collection of mansions turned museums include The Breakers, Marble House, The Elms, Rosecliff, Chateau-sur-Mer and Hunter House. At the Marble House, the bedroom of real-life Consuelo Vanderbilt was used as the one for the fictional George Russell, and the bedroom of the real-life Alva Vanderbilt was used for his wife, Bertha Russell. In its current season, Peggy Scott and Dr. William Kirkland are depicted strolling on the Cliff Walk, a popular Newport location. The International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport is also featured in "The Gilded Age." Other Newport spots include the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is situated within the Newport Casino and was shown in the HBO Max TV series. The casino was first opened in 1880 as a social club for Newport's Gilded Age summer elite. Learn more about this legacy through Inside 'The Gilded Age' Tours, which is offered of The Mansions on Fridays and Tuesdays from August 15 through September 30. Purchase tickets in advance. Feel like a Vanderbilt at Hotel Viking, once a hotspot for wealthy guests. Also, The Vanderbilt (Auberge Resorts Collection) is a Gilded Age estate converted into a hotel still conveying the "gilded" vibe. Chicago, Illinois The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel was originally built extravagant wedding gift from Hotelier Potter ... More Palmer to his wife, Bertha Honoré Palmer. The Windy City made its architectural mark amid the Gilded Age. The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel initially began as an extravagant wedding gift from Hotelier Potter Palmer to his wife, Bertha Honoré Palmer. The property was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire 13 days after its grand opening, and Palmer spent the next several years rebuilding the hotel. It reopened on November 8, 1873. The Palmer House had hospitality 'firsts' of the time –incorporating an elevator and lightbulbs and telephones in guestrooms. Now a National Historic Landmark, the John J. Glessner House was a radical departure from traditional Victorian architecture. It served as a source of inspiration for some of the greatest architects of all time, including Louis Sullivan, Mies van der Rohe and a young Frank Lloyd Wright. You can tour the Glessner House from coach house to courtyard and more than 16 family and servant spaces. The Richard H. Driehaus Museum refers to the Chicago philanthropist who converted this former ... More mansion into a museum. The Richard H. Driehaus Museum is named for the Chicago philanthropist who restored the mansion to its Gilded Age splendor and converted it into a museum to preserve its legacy. Originally completed in 1883, for banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson, the house turned museum explores the art, architecture and design of the Gilded Age period and is open for guided tours and special exhibits. The Rookery Building was once one of the tallest buildings in the world. Designed by the firm of Burnham and Root, it was an engineering marvel at the time. Architect John Wellborn Root devised a 'grillage foundation'—iron rails laid in a crisscross pattern and encased in concrete that supported the building's immense weight.) The building's Light Court lobby is open to the public or book a tour with The Frank Lloyd Wright Trust. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Nebraska City The Arbor Lodge Mansion at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park in Nebraska City is where Arbor Day was ... More created. The centerpiece of this 72-acre park is the Arbor Lodge Mansion, the Morton family's original home. In the late 19th century, Nebraska's largely treeless grasslands inspired Morton Salt Company founder J. Sterling Morton to advocate for mass afforestation, an effort that led to the first Arbor Day in 1872. With 52 rooms and a vast collection of period artifacts, the mansion tells the story of how one family's vision helped spark a nationwide conservation movement. The surrounding grounds feature an arboretum, Italian terraced garden, walking trails, a whispering bench, over 200 varieties of lilacs, a historic log cabin and a carriage house. The Arcade and other venues, Cleveland, Ohio The Arcade in Cleveland was America's first indoor shopping center. Cleveland was quietly forging its own empire of industry, innovation and wealth during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The city emerged as a powerhouse of steel, oil, shipping and finance - home to tycoons like John D. Rockefeller, Marcus Hanna, Amasa Stone and Samuel Mather. Opened in 1890, at a cost of about $875,000, The Arcade was America's first indoor shopping center, modeled after Milan's Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. After its conversion into a boutique hotel and shops, it remains a lavish Gilded Age landmark open to the public. Founded in 1872 by 81 Cleveland leaders, The Union Club of Cleveland became a hub for social, cultural and civic life. It boasted members like Presidents Grant, Hayes, Garfield, McKinley and Taft. It remains active today and periodically opens its historic Euclid Avenue quarters for events and tours. Cleveland's Euclid Avenue was known as Millionaires' Row—the 'Showplace of America'—lined with grand mansions of industrial titans. Rising taxes and development in the early 20th century pushed these families to the suburbs, and many homes were demolished by the 1950s. Today, only a few survive, including the Brush mansion at Cleveland State University, with markers helping visitors imagine the original boulevard. The interior of the Wade Memorial Chapel at the Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland was designed by ... More Louis Comfort Tiffany. Established in 1869, Lake View Cemetery is one of the finest remaining examples of a Victorian garden cemetery in the United States. Its winding roadways, landscaped settings and ornate mausoleums complement its role as the final resting place of figures like Rockefeller, Garrett Morgan and Leonard Hanna. Its centerpiece is the James A. Garfield Memorial, in addition to the Wade Memorial Chapel. Built in 1901 to honor Jeptha H. Wade, philanthropist and founder of the Western Union Telegraph Company, the chapel's interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany. Lake Geneva, Wisconsin The Black Point Estate and Gardens is a reminder of Lake Geneva's relation to the Gilded Age. This resort town in southern Wisconsin rose to prominence in the late 19th century as a Gilded Age lakeside retreat for magnates of business and industry in Chicago. The Wrigleys, Wackers, Chapins, Drakes and Schwinns are among many wealthy families who built lavish summer mansions on the lake. More than 100 of these homes still remain and can be viewed on boat tours. A 21-mile walking path circles the lake, providing a closeup look these historic estates. Another way to experience this period in Lake Geneva is at Black Point Estate and Gardens, built by Chicago beer baron Conrad Seipp in 1888 as a family getaway. Today's guests arrive at Black Point by boat, just as the family did in a bygone era. Jekyll Island, Georgia The Jekyll Island Club Resort in Georgia is where wealthy families came during winter months. Jekyll Island's connection to the Gilded Age is as the location of the Jekyll Island Club, a winter retreat for some of America's wealthiest families. Up until World War II, the island served as a haven for the likes of the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Pulitzers, who built lavish "cottages" there. Today, the property is known as the Jekyll Island Club Resort, which still holds these cottages. Walk around the National Landmark Historic District or go on a Landmark Trolley Tour of this district that includes entry into a historic cottage. Henry Morrison Flagler Museum, Palm Beach, Florida The Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Florida was the winter residence of the man who modernized ... More Florida. Henry Morrison Flagler, an industrialist and a founding partner of Standard Oil, is credited as 'Father of Modern Florida' with making the Sunshine State a major destination. In the late 19th century, Flagler built resort hotels from Jacksonville to Miami and the Florida Keys, linked by his Florida East Coast Railway. His namesake museum was originally built as Whitehall, a winter home for him and his wife, Mary Lily Kenan Flagler. The couple resided here from 1902 until Henry's death in 1913. Flagler's influence can still be felt in downtown St. Augustine. A free Flagler's Gilded Age Tour, led by period costumed figures, tells stories of when the city became a playground for the rich and famous. St. Augustine is the location for his final resting place, the Flagler Mausoleum. Other related sights include the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, now Flagler College, and the former Alcazar Hotel that's now Lightner Museum and St. Augustine City Hall. Learn more through Flagler College Legacy Tours. Frick Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Clayton, the home of Henry Clay Frick, is included in the Frick Pittsburgh complex. Pittsburgh during the Gilded Age was fueled by the industries of steel, coal and oil and the rise of industrialists Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick. Frick Pittsburgh is a five-acre complex of museums and landscaped grounds, which includes Clayton, the home of Henry Clay Frick. Frick lived here from 1882 to 1905 and be sure to go on the museum tour, "Gilded, Not Golden," Additionally, the Mansions on Fifth hotel and the Omni William Penn offer accommodations that serve as a testament to Gilded Age elegance. Bramwell, West Virginia The West Virginia town of Bramwell was once an enclave of coal barons who built elaborate mansions. At the height of the coal boom, Bramwell was home to more than a dozen millionaires who constructed turreted Victorians, English brick manors and sprawling estates with ballrooms, leaded stained-glass windows, copper roofing and even early indoor vacuum systems. Bramwell's entire downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its brick-lined streets are a living museum, where preserved landmarks include the 1893 Bank of Bramwell, the 1889 Town Hall, and the old Bryant Pharmacy, now The Corner Shop, a beloved soda fountain serving milkshakes amid antique charm. While many homes remain privately owned, guided mansion tours are offered twice yearly during the town's spring and Christmas Heritage events. Bramwell is a stop along the National Coal Heritage Trail and includes an interpretive center sharing real stories of the region's coal barons, company towns, and industrial legacy. Other Gilded Age Sites In The U.S. The Winchester Mystery House in San Jose was constructed for Sarah Pardee Winchester, heiress of the ... More Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Other noteworthy Gilded Age mansions include Bellosguardo in Santa Barbara, a 24-acre Italianate villa that was the summer retreat of the reclusive heiress Huguette Clark, subject of the New York Times bestseller, 'Empty Mansions.' The Hayes Mansion San Jose, Curio Collection by Hilton was originally the Mission Revival estate of the Hayes family, prominent figures in the city's agricultural, political, media and social circles. Also in San Jose, the Winchester Mystery House is the beautiful but bizarre Victorian-style mansion built by Sarah Pardee Winchester, heiress of the Winchester Repeating Arms fortune. Construction began in 1884, and didn't stop for 38 years until her death in 1922. Said to be tormented by the guilt of victims lost to the Winchester Rifle, Winchester built the dizzying structure with many odd and mysterious features. Daily guided tours of the estate are offered.
