Our family took full advantage of all the amenities of the house...games,indoor & out,private beach more than adequate cooking facilities. The only downside was the lack of air conditioning & it was a very hot week. Thankfully there were many fans & windows to open. The house is beautiful & we enjoyed being there.

The home was in pristine shape. Very clean. A very comfortable home in which to spend a week. Ideal home for large family gathering. The beach had no waves, making it perfect for young children. A children's room with plenty of toys enthralled the young children. The property owner put soap and shampoo in every bath/shower.

The house is indeed historic with beautiful gardens and a fabulous view to boot. The online photos were accurate. Everyone was comfortable. There was plenty to do from tennis to croquet to napping in the hammock. We had a chef prepare dinners all week. That made dinner time extra enjoyable. We challenged our family to present an interesting thing about the namesake of the room they were assigned. They all did a great, imaginative job. Wow, was it fun!

My extended family (ages 15 through 85) rented this wonderful house for a week. It has a very large kitchen and dining room suitable for large family gatherings. The house also boasts a large living room, large study/game room, and a library. All are full of interesting books, furniture, games and family heirlooms. The property is extensive and includes a tennis court, ping pong table, croquet and a path leading to the bay. (Bring sandals that you can wear while swimming because the beach has many shells and small rocks.) The owner is a gracious host and a pleasure to interact with. There is much to do in the area too.

The property is magical! There was so much to do, we hardly left the property.

The photographs do not do this historical house justice. The furniture, books, and historic objects of the author who built the house, as well as the ancestors who were signers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution create a beautiful and magical atmosphere. The house was ingeniously designed to bring 18 to 21 people together very comfortably, with plenty of space for everyone. There are spaces all over in which everyone can gather together as a group for dining, talking, and engaging in various sports, as well as more spaces for gatherings of smaller groups. It is dignified, but not cold. It is appealing, sunny, and cozy. The numerous serious tennis players in our group found the tennis court excellent; everyone played some tennis just about every day. The house is hidden in a beautiful, quiet pocket, with its own private beach, yet it is close to Newport and the major beaches of southern Rhode Island. And somehow the grocery stores know how to find the house to make deliveries. We chose to spend most of our time at the house because there was so much to do in it.

Our family of 18, ranging in age from 2yrs to 67yrs, spent a wonderful week at Wister House. From the spacious, incredible house to the magnificent, extremely large grounds, this was a fantastic vacation property. The walk to the private beach was fun, and adventurous. Some really enjoyed exploring the property, following the paths, spending time at the revolutionary war cemetery, and just being lazy in the hammock. A favorite for the 5yr old was the swing hanging from a tree near the porch, the first thing she did when she got up in the morning was rush downstairs, out the door, and onto the swing. One of our favorite things was the very large dining room with a table that seated 12, and another table that seated all the kids. We could all eat together, and in the evening it was a great place to play board games. There are great places to just sit and read a book, or spend time together playing games, running around outside, a play structure for the kids, a tennis court, a croquet lawn, and we had plenty of lawn for our family vacation corn hole game tournaments. The house is perfect if you want a little time to yourself, or if you want to join in fun and games with others. I would highly recommend a vacation at Wister House, it has something for everyone. Alice is a wonderful person, she explained everything we needed to know, walked with us to the beach to show the way, and told us the history of the house and property. We had a wonderful time, and the only thing someone might need is more time for more exploring. Thank you Alice for sharing this treasure. The McHugh family

Our family of 16 had an amazing, memorable and happy time. Our children loved played with the toys provided as well as the jungle gym and enormous lawn and field for soccer, baseball, slip and slide etc. And the adults loved escaping to Newport! This historic home is close to so many summer activities. A terrific time by all. We can't wait to return to this special home and to the RI shore.