Sag Harbor straddles Southampton and East Hampton in New York. This old whaling town is edged with pristine beaches, breathtaking ocean views, historic homes, fine gourmet restaurants and antique shops in a truly unique setting of century old streets. By the Waterfront Marina is a windmill commemorating former mayor and author John Steinbeck who spent his last years here. Being towards the end of Long Island, there is no end to the amount of entertainment available if you berth in Sag Harbor. 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. If you want to stay local, you have a choice of ice cream shop, burger joints, and Italian to satisfy the stomach. For entertainment, there is the beach, a nature reserve for hiking, theatre and cinema. The Big Apple is right on your doorstep, though.
For anyone on the Hamptons yacht circuit, Montauk is a must for those who crave a laid back antidote to the high society soirees. Montauk is known for its refreshing independent spirit, its darling down to earth vibes, and its eclectic population made up of surfers, fishermen, sailors, and New Yorkers looking to escape the city and immerse themselves in nature. Charter guests can surf the famous rollers, dine on lobster rolls, rejuvenate at luxury spas, hang out at the yacht club, and hike the Montauk Point State Park. See the oldest lighthouse in the state of New York dating commissioned by George Washington in 1860, and play a round of golf. Charter guests seeking pure summer vibes in easy access of both New York and the ritz of the Hamptons will love Montauk.
Block Island, known as 'Bermuda of the North', is a conservation paradise with 40% of the island set aside for that purpose. On top of this there are about 25 kilometres of white sandy beaches, laid back vibe and island-time mentality. With waves crashing below and sailboats gliding by, the Southeast Light is undoubtedly the best place on the island to watch the sunset. 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. The island hosts a number of restaurants and foodies have a wide choice of cuisines. As you would expect on an Atlantic island, seafood has pride of place on most menus. Most of them open during the holiday season only. There are many types of entertainment on the island, including a full 18 hole golf course attached to the Brenton Hotel, cycling, horse riding, hiking, nature reserve walks, sailing, surfing and fishing. It is essential to book a round of golf in advance. A visit to Block Island is not complete without a stop for a bowl of New England Clam Chowder at the National Hotel. This is a place to visit if outdoor and natural entertainment are what you are after.
A picture-postcard quintessential New England treasure that oozes class, style and authentic historic charm with cobbles, cedar shingles and golden sands. Fabulous trails to walk or cycle by day, fine dining and great bars by night and a stunning sunset in between. Nantucket is also famous for its springtime daffodils and its film and wine festivals and 4th of July fireworks celebrations, making the island one of the most unique, and visually stunning places in the world.The island’s wealth was founded on the whaling industry which was established in the seventeenth century and lasted until the 1830s when it was destroyed by fire. The Nantucket Whaling Museum is one of the notable points of interest which also include other noted museums and galleries. The island is not renowned for having a hectic nightlife and may be described as typical New England. It is home to several beaches and lighthouses which are necessary considering the shipwrecks and maritime collisions which have occurred in the past. Restaurants on the island cater for all tastes. For those who enjoy locally made drinks, Nantucket has its own winery and a craft brewery which creates brews from locally sourced ingredients, both traditional and fruit based. Take a refreshing dip in the Atlantic Ocean from one of the many beautiful wild beaches that dot the island's coastline. In the early evening berth in the Nantucket Boat Basin and visit the galleries and boutiques ashore.
Located at the very tip of Cape Cod, where the Pilgrims landed, Provincetown is billed as an Oasis on The Cape. Ptown, as it is often known, is unique in the eastern Seaboard beach towns and one of the country's oldest artist colonies with galleries, theatres and boutiques. It's great for whale watching from spring to early autumn too and its beaches and dunes are blissful. With about a hundred food shops - restaurants, takeaways, pubs and bakeries – at your disposal, you are spoiled for choice. Being on the Atlantic coast, seafood is of course a local speciality. The choice of food does not end there, though, with a specialist Portuguese bakery supplying food made with generations-old recipes probably being the most unexpected. In addition, the cuisine of many other foody nations is available. Bars close at 1 am and revelry often continues outside pizzerias on Commercial Street. With the Mayflower making landfall at Provincetown more than 400 years ago, the town started its existence as a place of tolerance and this continues to this day. A mixture of Protestants, Catholic Portuguese, fisherman, artists and members of the LBGT+ community have all called it home. During peak season, the population swells twenty-fold as thousands make their way to the perfect beaches and myriad eateries. Discover the Outer Cape cycling along the scenic biking trails, and be sure to taste the internationally-acclaimed lobster that's caught locally.
Nicknamed as the heart of cape cod, Hyannis captures everything there is to love about the famed holiday hideaway that ensnared the hearts of the Kennedys among other countless celebrities and society folk over the years. The city boasts sweeping sandy beaches and a charming waterfront district of historic buildings, shady parks, cute boutiques, well-orchestrated museums, hip restaurants, craft beer brews, and artistic vibes. History lovers can head to the John F Kennedy Museum and be inspired by how the president and his clan spent their days sailing and dreaming around Hyannis. Visit the art district and stroll around the harbour to catch sight of some of the bright creative shanties housing work as part of the Hyannis HyArts cultural district. Take your pick of beaches including Veterans Beach with its tribute to JFK or Kalmus Beach for a spot of windsurfing. 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.
Martha’s Vineyard, better known as The Vineyard, is an island summer destination south of Cape Cod and is best known as the location of the film Jaws. It is one of only five place names in the USA to contain an apostrophe. Expect wide-eyed day-trippers, celebrity second-home owners, urbanites seeking a restful getaway, artists and back-to-nature types. Visitors love the informality of its six main towns, from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, each with its own character. 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. The islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick are permitted to produce wines with names classified by the American Viticulture Association’s wine-of-origin nomenclature as Martha’s Vineyard AVA wines. The island is also known for the craft beer brewed by Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery in Edgartown where one can also share platters of mainly locally sourced food in the Tap Room. The island has six towns which can all be reached by bicycle, cab or bus. Film festivals devoted to arthouse, independent, international and African-American films are held at various times each year on the island. The islands are not renowned for wild nightlife and are best visited for outdoor activities like walking, cycling, picnicking, beach activities, visits to oyster farms and the annual film festivals. Cruise to the vibrant fishing village at Menemsha Harbour, where you'll find a harbour adorned with lobster pots, nets, work boats and the bustle of every-day-life. The cliffs of Gay Head are close by and worth the walk. It is also fun to browse the shops and restaurants ashore, as well as take in the unique and pretty gothic cottages.
Newport, Rhode Island is a prime yachting destination located on the historic Narragansett Bay 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. With its picturesque shorelines, bustling harbors, and hidden beaches, it is a perfect place for sailing and exploring the area. Boaters can take part in the Newport Harbor Boat Parade, an annual tradition spanning over a hundred years that features creative and elaborate decorations from each vessel. Marinas in Newport range from small to large, with every amenity a boater could need. Sailors can stop at many ports of call, from the lively anchorages at Brenton Cove and Coddington Cove to more isolated and intimate settings like Sakonnet Point and Potter Cove. A great alternative to marinas are moorings, which offer safe, affordable overnight accommodations. Take in sweeping views of the bay during a stroll or bike ride down the delightful 3.5-mile Cliff Walk offering endless ocean views on one side and palatial late 19th century mansions on the other, a bracing ocean breeze and a soundtrack of Atlantic waves crashing on the shore. Catch a game of polo or a jazz festival during the summer months, or stroll through streets of picturesque colourful houses, charming shops, galleries and restaurants of Newport's historic downtown. Newport truly is an oasis for yachting enthusiasts of all levels. 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.