Print: Heart of Newport.

Artist: Margaret McCrea (My talented mother-in-law!)


Newport has a special place in this Squall Girl’s heart. While I had sporadic visits in my younger years, I didn’t really get immersed in it until I met my husband. My in-laws lived there for many years, so frequent visits were made. When we bought our first boat, we were there on most weekends as it was just 15 nautical miles away and took us about three hours. This also holds a special place in my heart because it was where my love asked me to marry him and start this voyage together.


Newport, RI, is a seaside community on Aquidneck Island. It has an illustrious history dating back to the Gilded Age of mansions and yachting. You can read about the Breakers Mansion or how President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline were married there. Present-day Newport is for everyone. With a charming, downtown community for exploring shops while taking in the view, short trips to the beaches and nearby Jamestown, RI, and the culinary scene which I will definitely be going on and on about in Ports of Call, as it really has something for everyone. As a cruiser, you have plenty of docking options. For more in-depth information on what to do, please visit www.discovernewport.com, but for now, here is my quick take…



Harbor entrance- You will not find any challenging obstacles entering Newport Harbor. The water depth ranges from 6-100 ft. The harbor is well-marked and easy to get around. There are numerous options for boat accommodations.




Anchoring is allowed in a small, designated area off of Ida Lewis YC. 

Moorings-Old Port Marine on Channel 68.

Slips-Newport Yachting Center is the most popular and located downtown.
Goat Island Marina also has slips.

Newport Yacht Club offers dockage and moorings for reciprocal yacht clubs.


All of the above are on DOCKWA and can be reserved online.



To explore the culinary beauty of this seaside town, I enlisted two pros who were hungry for the opportunity. Just kidding, it was my son and his girlfriend, who, as college students nearby, were just hungry! I set them off for the day armed with a list of my favorite establishments, a budget, and a gentle nod to the dishes I love and let them take it all in before graduation. I had one realization. If my son’s Marine Affairs career doesn’t take off, he has a future as a restaurant reviewer. Here is what they had to say….

Breakfast- Franklin Spa


The only correct way to fully enjoy a place like Newport is to make sure you fuel up in the morning, and Franklin Spa is a great way to start off. There are two ways to enjoy Franklin Spa: either sitting down in their comforting diner or taking your sandwich on the walk with you. If you’re keener on option one, you’ll want to get their renowned crow’s nest eggs Benedict, only delete  the perfect combination of hollandaise and corned beef you’ll ever taste. As for their sandwich situation, Franklin Spa offers some undeniably killer options. My favorite of all is the Azorean sandwich, which fill your cravings for chorizo and peppers like no other. In my opinion, Franklin Spa is one of those breakfast joints that you tell friends and family about.


Lunch- Diego’s


If you catch yourself hungry and wandering around downtown on an afternoon shopping spree, Diego’s is the surefire place to be. The most striking aspect of Diego’s is their atmosphere, where the dive bar meets pirate-punk rock. Great service and charismatic staff, so much so that you won’t want to leave! That being said, the tacos are what really kept me coming back. My personal go-to is the pan-seared, cod fish tacos, topped with pineapple slaw and house-made aioli, some of the best I’ve tried, hands down. The Ahi tuna poke tacos are a close second place; the fish is very fresh, which is always a plus! Don’t miss the chance to visit here if you have it.


Dinner The Mooring

The Mooring is one of Newport’s poster girls of restaurants, and for good reason. If you’re looking to spend the extra dollar on something special, this is the spot. First and foremost, their famous “bag of donuts” is a must. I know it might sound unconventional but once you try them you won’t want to stop. If you have room for an entree after all that, a stellar option is the sole Milanese. Beautifully pan-fried topped sole with tomato confit and a lemon butter sauce? What’s not to like? You won’t leave this place hungry or dissatisfied.

If you need to walk off some of that food, take a stroll on the Cliff Walk. With stunning views of the water and fabulous homes, you will want your camera ready for this one! The distance is 3.5 miles one way.

cliffwalk.com


discovernewport.com


mooringrestaurant.com


diegosnewport.com

franklinspari.com

newportmansions.org

One of our favorite summer destinations is Block Island – a northeast jewel often referred to as the Bermuda of the north. Block (as it is referred to by those who frequent her regularly) is an Island around 15 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. It is a fairly small island running five miles or so in length, but boy, do they pack a lot into it. Day trippers can catch a ferry from New London, CT, or Point Judith, RI, or hop on a plane at the Westerly airport, and in under an hour, you can be basking in the sun at the main beach, taking a scenic walk, or enjoying one of the tremendous eateries. Since it has been a while since we navigated our way over, I asked our friends, Michael and Lisa, to be your tour guide as they can hop over with ease on their power boat instead of us trudging along under sail. So let’s get started!

This week’s Port of Call is submitted by our friends, Michael and Lisa Payne, on their travels to Block on their boat, Mrs Payne.

Payne’s Dock

Payne’s Dock has two places we like to visit when staying on our boat at the dock. “Lobster Craft,” which serves lunch and dinner, has seafood favorites to go or eat at one of their covered tables or at the bar. Food is always fresh and properly seasoned. We even get sandwiches made to go and bring them to eat at Coast Guard Beach. For breakfast, “The Cracked Mug” has an array of pastries, egg dishes, bacon, sausage, and an awesome smoothie bar, all custom-made. Coffee is self-serve, and there are usually several different flavors. Both places have walk-up counter service with very friendly staff.

For a view of the Great Salt Pond:

“The Oar,” a short walk from Payne’s Dock, has indoor and outdoor seating plus the bar. Lunch and dinner are served daily, including fresh sushi and many traditional New England dishes. And you have to have one of the mudslides with a rum floater. If the sun is out, there are a bunch of corn hole boards to use while enjoying a refreshment.

Another fun place, that is a short walk, is Dead Eye Dick’s, they start serving dinner on the early side, and we can usually get a few seats at the bar, or if not too busy, we can get a table on the deck overlooking the Southeast area of the Great Salt Pond. We always love their food, and the view is excellent.”

Paynes Dock

The Oar

Deadeye Dicks

The Atlantic

Ferry

Fly

Note:

• This is a predominantly seasonal destination. Please check for hours of operation before exploring. 

• Refer to your cruising guides before entering the harbor. There are numerous rental moorings available, but hard to get on weekends. Payne’s Dock, Champlin’s, and The Oar all have dock space. Great Salt Pond has a large area for anchoring but is deep near the entrance channel, and when the wind pipes up, the action in the mooring field can get quite entertaining with boats dragging. We carry 100 feet of chain and will use all of it in the deeper part of the harbor. A lot of boats will go further toward Dinghy Beach for shallower holding grounds.

• Go to The Oar and rent a bike for the day, well worth it!

• Some boaters will go around the backside to Old Harbor. It is where the ferries come in and where the bustling downtown action occurs. It is loud and lively. There are a small number of moorings that will sometimes have a dozen or so boats rafted to them. There are lots of great restaurants and bars within walking distance. Block Island has the largest collection of Victorian Inns on the eastern seaboard. One of our favorites is the Atlantic Inn where you can sit outside in Adirondack chairs on a hill.

If you are looking for me during the boating season, you might find me here. It is our summer home away from home. The first reason why, to be quite frank about it, is it is an easy getaway for us. A quick poke past Stonington Borough gets us to a beautiful seaside getaway. Watch Hill is a village in the town of Westerly, RI and has a quiet decadence about it that is special. You can get a fabulous dinner or take your kiddos on the flying horse carousel, which dates back to the late 1800s when a traveling circus left it behind. My traveling circus of friends likes to take advantage of our favorite places when we need nourishment after a hard day of basking in the sun. Check out our favorites….

Where to eat

Breakfast- The Cooked Goose

While this is not in downtown Watch Hill, it is worth the short travel to get there. I have chosen it for breakfast because the Lobster Eggs Benedict is something I could eat every weekend and be perfectly content with. They also offer other breakfast items ranging from pancakes to truffled eggs. Lunch is also available, but there are too many options to mention here. Do you want to grab something to go? They have a wide array of prepared meals you can take with you to enjoy on the boat, at the beach, or in your own home.

Lunch- Ten Sandwiches

Ten Sandwiches sounds like a small takeout joint, right? While they do highlight ten amazing sandwich combinations, they also have dinner options and a very nice cocktail selection. My go-to lunch is # 6: the roasted herb chicken with avocado, bacon, and chipotle mayo. What else could you ask for? Please stop by and try it out yourself. You will not be disappointed!

Dinner- Olympia Tea Room

Hands down, I had one of my favorite meals here on our last visit. I even tried to recreate it at home but could not come close. It was the Lime Chipotle Shrimp with Julienne Vegetables and Saffron Rice. Everyone in our group loved their selections as well, and the meal was topped off with wonderful service and atmosphere.

www.thecookedgoose.com
www.tensandwiches.com
www.Olympiatearoom.com
www.merrygoroundbeach.com

Note:

• This is a predominantly seasonal destination. Please check for hours of operation before exploring.
• Refer to your cruising guides before entering the harbor. The entrance channel is dependent on the tide and if you are a sailboat pay close attention to the channel as it tends to shoal.
• Amazing anchorage and holding ground off of Napatree Beach. Dinghy in and walk over the dunes to the ocean side for great waves. Moorings are also available for rent from Watch Hill Yacht Club.

If you have never heard of this sweet gem, then you must check it out now! It is tucked away in the town of Stonington, CT, and is home to the last commercial fishing fleet in Connecticut and pays homage to those who have died at sea. For having such a small footprint, the Borough (as the locals call it) packs a lot of punch for those travelers who want to day trip it, bring their boat in, or stay at a luxury waterfront Inn. If you want to look at it on the big screen, the movie Great Hope Springs and many parts of Mystic Pizza were filmed there. While I would love to eat my way through this town to share it with you, the Stonington Borough Merchants Association has graciously allowed me to share their site for this post. They have done a fabulous job of highlighting all the hits. Here are a few mentions of my favorites, but please peruse their site for an in-depth look.

Breakfast- Noah’s

You will see that I am a savory breakfast girl, so the avocado toast with a perfectly cooked egg is where I land here, but they are known for their pancakes! Try them and let me know what you think.

Lunch- Dog Watch Cafe

We always seem to get the same thing when we go, but the whole menu is fantastic. My favorite sandwich is grilled chicken with avocado and chili mayo. Hubby goes for either the Ahi tuna plate or the flat iron steak open-faced sandwich, which they top with onion rings to go with your french fries side.

Dinner- Breakwater

This establishment is owned by the same group as Go Fish. They know to put the secret sauce into the dining experience. You can go by boat and tie up to their generous dock. Sit outside for a beautiful sunset and treat yourself to the Portuguese monkfish stew! They also have smaller plates and classic coastal cuisine and sandwiches. You really can’t go wrong with anything, and it is a big plus. They are gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly!

*** If you want to make your own seafood feast, please visit Seawell Self-Serve fish Market for Bombster Scallops and the many local fishing vessels like LADY LYNN (below) at Stonington Fresh. You will not have anything fresher or better!

stoningtonboroughct.com

stoningtonfresh.com/grimshaw (LADY LYNN)

facebook.com/seawellseafood

My first port of call is a stop in Mystic, CT. Mystic is a historic coastal town in southeastern CT. Mystic was a significant Connecticut seaport with more than 600 ships built over 135 years starting in 1784. There are many dining experiences and things to do!

Located on the coast in Southeastern New England, Mystic has a storied past in maritime history and has been a top tourist destination for ages. It is located 2 1/2 hours from New York City and Boston, Massachusetts and has something for everyone. Are you a history buff? Go explore the Mystic Seaport. Want to visit the beluga whales? The Mystic Aquarium is there and waiting for you. Hungry after all that exploring? I cannot even explain – with justice – the culinary scene in this charming town from simple New England fare to meals created by a James Beard–nominated chefs to desserts from a Food Network 2017 Spring Baking finalist. Now do you need to work off all that food? Take a stroll through scenic downtown and explore the eclectic stores or take a ride over to the Olde Mistick Village for more shopping (and eating if you have room for it!)

Here are some of my favorites…

Breakfast ~

For a quick, but decadent, breakfast visit Sift Bakery or Young Buns Donuts. Both of these establishments are the creation of Adam Young. At Sift, you will have a selection of breakfast pastries from sweet and savory croissants to quiches. Young Buns (Sift’s sister eatery) offers a wide array of daily–made donuts.

If you’re off the water a little later than expected, you’re looking for brunch. Sunday brunch is a must at The Engine Room. The specialty cocktail list goes beyond your traditional bloodys and mimosas (although I got the Bloody Mary and it was fantastic and perfectly balanced). While my better half went for his favorite of chicken and waffles, I believe that my dish hit it out of the park. You have to get The Engine Room Eggs Benedict. My photo does not do it justice. A thick slice of bbq brisket that is topped with perfectly poached eggs and a cilantro hollandaise.

Lunch ~

There are not many things I crave but a great burger is in my top three. That being said, I am extremely picky about my burger. You have to grab some wings and a burger at Friar Tucks Tavern.

I always go for the Swiss, mushroom burger but the overall consensus, in my family, is that the Friar Tuck burger is the way to go. Layer a perfect blend of meat, add bacon, fried onion straws, and a stout beer cheese and what else can you ask for? Oh, I guess the wings! Let me just say, these are not your scrawny wings you get out in most places. They are a meal on their own. Friar Tuck’s is also is pup friendly on the outside patio when in season.

Dinner ~

If you want fantastic sushi you have to Go Fish! I am not talking about the card game but the restaurant which features dishes inspired by the Pacific Rim. I could eat there a few times a week and still think about it on the off days. Let’s start this love fest with the miso soup. The deep umami flavor of the miso and mushrooms is out of this world. Once you are comforted by that warm bath of flavor please order the Sansei Roll. It is my favorite. It is spicy crab with a Thai Chili sauce. Add the spicy tuna roll, the Alaska roll and don’t leave without the Bang Bang Shrimp.