Page 90 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guide - New England

88 ❯❯ New England Area by Area

deep-water seaport on the east
side of Narragansett Bay. The village
is home to the Herreshoff yacht-
building firm, whose museum also
traces the history of the America’s
Cup, the most prestigious prize in
yacht-racing. Visit the house and
gardens of the Blithewold estate,
where Rhode Island brides flock
to wed with spectacular vistas of
Narragansett Bay as a backdrop.
Block Island
Sakonnet Vineyards, Little Compton 7
MAP E6 • Block Island
Tiverton/Little Compton
4 Ferry: Pt Judith; 401 783 7996;
MAP F4, F5 • Carolyn’s
www.blockislandferry.com
Sakonnet Vineyards: 162 W Main Rd, Just 15 miles (24 km) off the coast,
Little Compton; 800 919 4637; open Block Island has long been a summer
late May–mid-Oct: 11am–6pm daily vacation haven for New Englanders. A
(to 8pm Thu–Sat); mid-Oct–late May: quarter of its land is protected against
11am–5pm daily (to 6pm Fri–Sat); development (zoning prohibits modern
www.sakonnetwine.com structures), and 30 miles (48 km) of
Occupying their own little peninsula nature trails crisscross the pear-
between Narragansett Bay and the shaped island. Crescent Beach, just
Massachusetts border, Tiverton (see north of the Victorian resort village of
p48) and Little Compton are insu lated Old Harbor, has fabulous swimming
from the modern world by woods and and – when the wind is right – good
rolling farmland. Watch for road side surfing. Deep-sea fishing excursions
stands selling seasonal strawberries are popular day-trips from Old Harbor.
and sweet corn. Wine grapes also
Narragansett/Point
flourish. Visit Carolyn’s Sakonnet 8
Vineyards for tours and tastings. Judith
MAP E5
Watch Hill
5 In 1900, a fire destroyed the hotels
and casino that made Narragansett
MAP E5
The glorious beaches of South Beach a high-society resort. Today,
County, the Rhode Island shore west families and sunbathers rule the
of Point Judith, reach their apogee at
Watch Hill, an old-fashioned seaside
community of the town of Westerly. WHAT A SPAN!
The village also boasts the charming Constructed 1966–9, Newport’s
Flying Horse Carousel (see p63). Claiborne Pell Bridge is the longest
bridge in Rhode Island and the largest
Bristol
6 suspension bridge in New England. With
MAP F4 • Herreshoff Marine
a main span of 1,601 ft (488 m) and an
Museum: 1 Burnside St; 401 253 overall length of 11,247 ft (3,428 m), the
5000; open Apr–mid-Dec: 10am–5pm bridge arcs over Narragansett Bay to
daily; adm; www.herreshoff.org connect Jamestown and Newport.
• Blithewold Mansion & Gardens: 101
Ferry Rd; 401 253 2707; open Apr–
May: 11am–5pm Tue–Sun; Jun–mid-
Oct: 10am–4pm Tue–Sat (to 3pm
Sun); adm; www.blithewold.org
Renowned for jubilant Independence
Day celebrations that date from
1785 (see p72), Bristol is a charming

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