Stirring Skylines

A contemporary city with a rich yachting heritage, Newport has something for almost everyone - from interesting shops and restaurants, museums, art and jazz festivals, to beautiful beaches, ideal sailing conditions, historic mansions, and the world famous “Cliff Walk.” Visit the Breakers, the grandest of Newport’s summer “cottages” and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s social and financial preeminence in the turn-of-the-century America.

Sag Harbor offers pristine beaches, breathtaking ocean views, historic homes, antique shops, hideaway inns and gourmet eateries in a truly unique setting of century old streets. Lunch or dinner at Sunset Beach Hotel and Restaurant feels more like St. Tropez than Eastern Long Island, making Sag Harbor an excellent place to start your New England cruising.

Known for excellent cycling, hiking, sailing, fishing, surfing, and beaches, Block Island was named by The Nature Conservancy as one of the twelve sites in the list of “Last Great Places” in the Western Hemisphere. Approximately 20 percent of the island is set aside for conservation. Visit the Mohegan Bluffs, just walking distance from the Southeast Lighthouse. A long staircase of over one hundred steps leads to the bottom of these clay cliffs and looks out over the Atlantic. A visit to Block Island is not complete without a stop for a bowl of New England Clam Chowder at the National Hotel.

This relaxed, picturesque seaside town on Cape Cod’s southern shore mostly draws visitors passing through en route to and from Martha’s Vineyard, but if you stay long enough to explore its beautiful waterfront and historic streets, you’ll understand why many visitors often come back to stay year-round. Wander around the traditional, historic Main Street area, with its cute boutiques, trendy restaurants, and classically New England village green, and slow down to the Falmouth pace of life. Visit the colonial churches, hike out to the old lighthouse, and sail along the shore to get a glimpse of the rugged coastline and typical New England coastal architecture. Spend an afternoon lounging on its endless soft beaches, making sure to catch the sunset before heading in to the marina for dinner at a classic clam shack.

Predominantly visited for its port and ferry, this small town in Barnstable, on the southern coast of Cape Cod, boasts a charming waterfront district of historic buildings, shady parks, and cute boutiques. The Kennedys are known longtime Cape-goers, and President John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech here, so you can now visit a memorial to him on the Lewis Bay waterfront as well as a museum in the Old Town Hall that focuses on his time spent in Hyannis. Wander down to Craigsville Beach, the main shoreline in town, enjoy freshly-shucked oysters at the Naked Oyster downtown, and take in the gorgeous views of the cape as you sail nearby.

The beautiful island of Martha’s Vineyard is a world apart, offering a vacation ambiance unlike any other. The seaside villages attract year round visitors to their stunning beaches, gingerbread houses, bountiful recreational activities and unique New England Charm. Martha’s Vineyard boasts the oldest working carousel in the country, complete with 22 wooden horses with real horsehair manes. If traveling with kids, you might also consider taking a tour of the Farm Institute, where you’ll see Milk Goats, explore lush vegetable and flower gardens, and see lambs, piglets, and calves. And no trip to the Vineyard is complete without stopping for some Murdick’s fudge.

An island of class, culture, and undeniable style, Nantucket is located 30 miles out at sea off the coast of southern Cape Cod, MA. Known for its pristine beaches and cobblestone streets lined with historic homes, Nantucket offers a glimpse into yesteryear. Famous for its film and wine festivals and 4th of July fireworks celebrations, Nantucket is one of the most unique, and visually stunning places in the world. Originally a booming whaling port, Nantucket has been named a National Historic District and little has changed architecturally since the 17th century, with seaside cottages and old fashioned lamps still lining the streets.

A yacht filled Harbour in the New England state of Rhode Island, Newport is a prestigious destination known for hosting many years of the America’s Cup, a renowned sailing regatta. Visitors travel from all over to this historic city by the sea with dramatic coastal cliffs, and Gilded Age and Colonial architecture. Catch a game of polo or a jazz festival during the summer months, or stroll through streets of picturesque colourful houses.