My partner and I are hoping to tour New England early October and wondered if anyone could recommend somewhere in Rhode Island area where we could stay for a couple of days as a base that would allow us to explore the surrounding villages/harbours etc. We are also hoping to head up to Bar Harbour and would welcome suggestions for that area too. We would prefer to stay close to the coast most of the time!
A good base to explore from
Yes, Westerly, RI is my (biased) suggestion. Westerly itself is wonderful, with the Watch Hill section as a place to gawk at the large expenseive properties and shop section (it doesn%26#39;t totally close down in the fall). From Westerly, it%26#39;s a 20 minute ride south to Mystic (Mystic Seaport, downtown Mystic, and Mystic Village) and Stonington (Sonington Borough) CT and a 45 minute ride to Newport, RI. Also a 30 minute drive to Narragansett with its port of Galilee.
A good base to explore from
Thanks for the feedback - will check Westerly. Any recommendations for B+B%26#39;s, places to eat etc? We have never been to New England so welcome your advice as we don%26#39;t want to miss anything! We are starting off in Boston for three days then want to head south down to the coast - we have about ten days but as I said want to be able to head up to Bar Harbour area for the last part of our holiday.
The Villa is one of the better B%26amp;Bs in Westerly. Other B%26amp;Bs close by are the Grandview and Langworthy Farm. All are close to the shore, on Shore Road.
Restaurants in Westerly that you might want to try are the Up River Cafe, Billia%26#39;s Mediterranean Grill, Primetime Cafe. One small, interesting place to have breakfast is Van Ghent%26#39;s (Belgian waffles, yum). All are in downtown Westerly. We also have some chain restaurants on Route 1 for something quick, reasonably priced, as long as you%26#39;re not looking for anything extraordinary.
If you go to Narragansett, try George%26#39;s in Galilee for seafood. In Mystic there%26#39;s a great place called the Mystic Market that has excellent sandwiches, salads, pastries. In Stonington borough, Noah%26#39;s is great. For something special in Newport (read more expensive), Castle Hill Inn or the White Horse Tavern. Also Puerini%26#39;s (Italian food). There are a host of others in all the towns, so these are just a few suggestions.
If you%26#39;re so inclined when you%26#39;re in Mystic (and this is the season for it), you may want to go to Clydes Cider Mill just north of the seaport for a real New England experience. They have a great farm stand, and you can go into the mill and see the cider being pressed. Just the smell of the pressed apples is heavenly.
FYI, most towns have their own web sites and Chamber of Commerce web sites that will provide more information.
Brilliant! I feel so much more confident about our holiday now thanks to your great info! You really do know your stuff. The Cider Mill sounds fun. I certainly will check the websites for towns in the surrounding area and hopefully from that plan our itinerary. We don%26#39;t want to waste a minute.
Thanks again for your help - we owe you a cup of coffee (or glass of cider) when we get there!
Narragansett is also a great central spot. It is about 20 min. northeast of Westerly which makes it closer to Newport and Providence but still close enough to all the attractions the Westerly post mentioned. Heck, it is such a small state you%26#39;ll feel right at home no matter where you stay. And no matter where you are, check out Wickford Village for its mellow atmosphere and nifty shops. A lot depends on if you want traditional attractions (mansions, museums, harbor cruises) or more outdoor activities (beaches, hiking, kayaking) or shopping until you drop. (No sales tax on clothing or shoes in RI either.) October is a popular month for travelers with weekend events, foliage every bit as good as that found in Northern New England, and weddings. Have a great time on the trip.
As for Bar Harbor- the ride up the coast in Maine is wonderful. We go up every summer and drive many of the coastal roads down the various peninsulas just to see what we find. My favorite town is Rockland, in the area called ';Mid-Coast.'; The Farnsworth Museum is great , filled with traditional art, seafaring art and visiting exhibits. Also, the Andrew Wyeth Museum is across the street. Camden is a bit smaller and, in summer, is busy with tourists, but it%26#39;s charming.
In summer, we tend to stay away from Boothbay Harbor and Kennebunkport because, as more southern Maine towns, they%26#39;re more filled with tourists. But, if you have time, at least drive through- and do explore Wiscasset, which has many old homes, antique shops, etc.
Bar Harbor %26#39;s #1 attraction is the view from the top of the mount- a spectacular view of the water . Not to be missed.
In RI, Westerly and Wickford are charming, but do also see Newport. (It%26#39;s across the bay from Wickford and the views from the bridges are great.) There are the Newport masions (if you don%26#39;t know, these are the old summer ';cottages'; of the very wealthy.) Worth seeing! Some have tours. Good dining all around.. Stay in a B%26amp;B in a quaint old colonial house.
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