The plan is to meet at the boathouse. Dressed nicely for dinner, I head to my room to change into jeans, a hoodie, and waterproof shoes. It’s a damp and misty September day, and the golden hour hits just right, skirting the landscape along the pond in a gleaming saffron hue like nothing I’ve ever seen. When I arrive at the boathouse, I encounter other guests ready for our shared adventure. The resident naturalist outfits each of us with a head-lamp, life jacket, and paddle, and helps us into our kayaks. Once everyone is ready and steady, he takes the lead and we follow him like ducklings, paddling in a row. Clouds hide the Corn Moon, but it glows from behind the cover, resulting in a swath of periwinkle brightening the grape popsicle-colored sky. The water is glassy and still between our unsynchronized swooshes. Once we land at the beach, we assemble to toast the shy full moon. Our guide pops the cork to wild applause and laughter, and fills chilled stemless glasses from his cooler with champagne for each champion. We shoegaze the shoreline, seeking little bubbles and creatures as we chat and sip. Before long we’re all back aboard our narrow vessels paddling toward our beacon – the inn – illuminated by its many windows. I’m not in Norway or Spain, I’m in Westerly, Rhode Island, at the Weekapaug Inn.
Whenever I have experiences like this, I think of this line from the 1944 musical set in 1904, Meet Me in St. Louis. It’s spoken by Esther Smith, played by Judy Garland, as she looks over the Grand Lagoon at the opening of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, or the St. Louis World’s Fair. This actual spectacle was like an analog World Wide Web with exhibits of objects from around the country and globe. The fair lasted for seven months, saw 19 million visitors, with 1500 buildings across 1200 acres (for scale the Magic Kingdom is 107 acres). It truly was a big deal to have it, “right here where we live.”
More than ever my own wanderlust is satisfied sans renewed passport. From a gondola ride with prosecco to being steps from the shoreline, there’s so much to discover. Using the State House as the starting point, find some destinations in neighboring states that are no more than a three-hour drive away. What you’ll save on airfare, you can use to splurge at small shops or luxe accommodations (although check for seasonal offers). Stop and smell the salt air, look up at the starry sky, and you’ll be saying Esther’s line, too.
Each time I turn onto Westminster Street, I’m dazzled by The Beatrice and Bellini, the luxury boutique hotel and restaurant respectively, that in less than five years have become a go-to for special nights – and celeb sightings. The hotel boasts year-round programming designed to showcase the city’s attributes, like my package that included a prosecco-driven picnic aboard a private gondola, dinner, and overnight stay. At the landing, longtime gondolier Rosario helped my husband and me aboard, then regaled us with history as he rowed the waterways; the early-evening reservation meant being serenaded during sunset – something we’ll never forget. Next, it was off to Bellini, home of its namesake peach cocktail. From the crudo tasting plate to grass-fed filet mignon to chocolate cake, each course delighted. Upstairs, a contemporary room awaited with the many luxe amenities that keep The Beatrice topping national hotel rankings. 90 Westminster Street, Providence; TheBeatrice.com
Divided by a causeway from any hustle and bustle, Newport Harbor Island Resort feels worlds away. Drive along Gladys Carr Bolhouse Road to suddenly cross Narragansett Bay and be met with the titanic pale-yellow property once known as Gurney’s. Much more than a name change, the resort was treated to a $50 million property-wide renovation that leans into its locale with interior design features, fiber art, and elevated New England fare on the menus of its two restaurants. I stayed at the property’s Cozy Earth Suite, named for the luxury brand of super-soft bamboo textiles which outfit the room. Stocked with hot cocoa, sweets, and complimentary in-room movie rentals, this suite was designed for relaxing, so take advantage of any amenities and get in a walk to the lighthouse before slipping into that thick robe, because once you do, you ain’t going nowhere. 1 Goat Island, Newport; NewportHarborIsland.com
When I stayed at A Shore Thing at Charlestown Beach, it felt like visiting family: safe and doting. The hosts – two crafty pals living their inn- and shopkeeping dreams – are happy as clams as they show me around the restored 1830’s farmhouse-turned B&B. I’m in the Art Room on the second floor, one of three guest rooms with en suite bathrooms. Each morning, I saunter downstairs in pajamas for breakfasts that are served with care: a first course of yogurt parfait, blueberry pancakes with warm real maple syrup, eggs, bacon, and a twisted orange slice garnish. The two-acre property has park-like grounds dotted with pretty installations that lead to a barn gift shop, a trove filled to the brim with coastal treasures. The location is ideal for jaunts to the beach and breachway, the Fantastic Umbrella Factory, Ninigret Park, and after dinner and a show at Theatre By The Sea. 2183 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, Charlestown; AShoreThingRI.com
It’s a brisk November evening when I arrive at Mount Hope Farm. I’ve been invited to stay at the country estate’s Governor Bradford House, one of two buildings that host guests. It’s a Georgian-style house circa 1745, with five ensuite guest rooms, two living rooms, a dining room, and full kitchen; in a word, it’s huge! I’ve brought along two friends, and we explore – walking up and down and back up staircases – discovering bathrooms and choosing our bedrooms. The peaceful farm is abuzz with a Sip and Shop event inside the barn, and we learn that a film crew is afoot, working on an Amish thriller. A self-serve continental breakfast of bagels and cream cheese from farmers market vendors is at the ready, along with coffee, tea, and juice. The next morning, we stroll the grounds, looking at farm animals, admiring the playhouse, all while trying to spot actress Mischa Barton. 250 Metacom Avenue, Bristol; MountHopeFarm.org
I have been lucky enough to have visited
Margin Street Inn in winter for a craft workshop inside the carriage house, and spring and fall for overnights at The Beech House, the second of the two stately homes comprising 10 well-appointed guest rooms, each with living, dining, sitting rooms, and fireplaces. No matter the season, a morning walk along the landscaped path to breakfast at the Main House is as much of a treat as the scratch-made meal that awaits. Rooms throughout both properties are like House Beautiful covers come to life, rich with restored architectural details, wide doors and windows, and unexpected nooks, all decorated uniquely with skillful pairings of patterns, colors, and textures. This is a place for adults to dream by the fire. The flourishing downtown Westerly dining and arts scene is a heartbeat away, and Watch Hill, just 10 minutes. 4 Margin Street, Westerly; MarginStreetInn.com
Over the course of a two-night visit to Poland Spring Resort, days started with a chef-made buffet breakfast and ended with a slice of fresh layer cake. In between I received a golf-pro lesson on an 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course, visited the original source at the Poland Spring Bottling Museum (which includes an excellent hands-on exhibit for kids); toured the Maine State Building museum (built in Chicago for the 1893 Worlds Fair); savored the best lobster rolls (yes, plural) at Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant; had a scoop of Maine Wild Blueberry at the ice cream parlor; traversed the storybook trail installed to tell the story of Togo, the heroic sleddog; passed by an outdoor wedding reception, and browsed the library. On an afternoon too rainy for a dip in the pool, tennis, or pickleball, nearby places like Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, and homemade fudge and shopping in South Paris fit the bill. 640 Main Street, Poland, ME; PolandSpringResort.com
One month before my birthday, I was invited to spend two nights at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club in Brewster, to partake in their wellness retreat series and have a spa treatment. The timing couldn’t have been better as I’d been reflecting on my life – and skin. A bonus was that my family was invited to accompany me – with group activities that included a soup-making class, dinner at Bayzo’s Pub, and bikes for riding the Cape Cod Rail Trail. What followed was a meaningful weekend of a positivity workshop with Maria Sirois, PsyD.; a plumping natural Northern Lights Age Defying Facial; and our first family bike ride in years. The first evening, we drove to Nauset Beach to explore the lighthouses, and on the final night, my oldest son and I walked the illuminated path to the beach to look up at the night sky, where I counted my lucky stars. 2907 Main Street, Brewster, MA; OceanEdge.com
When I enter the main lobby at The Lake
Estate on Winnisquam, I’m awestruck. The photos on the website are no match for the stunning sights and smells. Recently built, the interior of the 114-room year-round resort and spa is still scented by the white oak timber visible at every turn. “It’s my love letter to New Hampshire,” the architect mentions during dinner, a special multi-course event helmed by Executive Chef Chris Viaud, with Kendall-Jackson wine pairings. After a tour with owners Ed and Patti Rocco, it’s clear this is their love letter, too. State pride abounds, from the quilt on my bed (a nod to local hospitality) to the farm-to-table menu. Emphasis is placed on comfort, style, and satisfaction; classic movies are screened nightly at the theater, and there’s a floral studio. The spa itself is breathtaking, and my facial leaves me as serene as the snow-covered lakeview from the banks of windows. 725 Laconia Road, Tilton, NH; TheLakeEstateNH.com
In February, Aloft Providence Downtown relaunched its rooftop bar, Blu Violet. The swanky space named for the state flower has been redesigned to complement the dramatic skyline. Look for hotel specials like March’s Santino Lil Rhody Laugh Riot. 191 Dorrance Street, Providence; Marriott.com
Admirers of Martha Stewart can enjoy some of her favorite dishes and signature cocktails in surroundings inspired by her New York home. A hotel stay means sampling breakfast, lunch, and dinner! Opens mid-March. The Bedford by Martha Stewart at Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT; Foxwoods.com
Whether you want to roll out of bed and put on a bathing suit or dance the night away at a beach bar, the Admiral Dewey Inn simplifies shoreline adventures year-round. Continental breakfast and good coffee each morning. 668 Matunuck Beach Road, Matunuck: AdmiralDeweyInn.com
Feel like a character in a Brontë novel as breezes from the Atlantic lure you inside to your enormous room, which may have a soaking tub, fireplace, or spiral staircase. Built in 1854, a $12 million restoration ensures all the modern comforts at Stone House Inn. 122 Sakonnet Point Road, Little Compton; NewportExperience.com
A stay at The General Stanton Inn is like imagining what it was like to live during the Revolutionary War, but with today’s amenities, think: Martha Washington, but with a blow dryer and nice bath products. The food at the onsite tavern is scrumptious, and there’s frequently live entertainment. 4115 Old Post Road, Charlestown; TheGeneralStantonInn.com
Travelers seeking luxury experiences look for the fleur-de-lis indicating membership with Relais & Châteaux, an association known for strict admission standards of individually owned and operated hotels and restaurants. Weekapaug Inn is among the few in Rhode Island. 25 Spray Rock Road, Westerly; WeekapaugInn.com
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