SO Summer 2020

Jamestown

A laid-back island getaway

Posted

DINE

For an island with a little over 5,000 residents, Jamestown has a lot of impressive dining options. Simpatico Jamestown (13 Narragansett Ave.) serves an eclectic menu that blends classic Rhode Island foods with worldly flavors. J22 Tap & Table (22 Narragansett Ave.) is a great example of keeping things small and doing them right. The restaurant is cozy, and the small menu changes often. Every ingredient is local and at the peak of freshness, and everything – down to the cocktail sauce – is housemade.

If you’re looking for something a bit more casual, Slice of Heaven (32 Narragansett Ave.) is a European-style bakery that serves breakfast and lunch, plus coffee, pastries, and cocktails. Wood-fired artisan bread and pizza are made from scratch and baked on-site at Village Hearth Bakery (2 Watson Ave.). The rustic and cozy bakery cafe only accepts cash, so be sure to stop at the ATM before you visit. IslandDish Fresh Market To Go (40 Narragansett Ave.) will be a brand-new “groceraunt,” bar, and cafe starting in August. East Ferry Deli (47 Conanicus Ave.), open for breakfast and lunch daily, is known for their specialty sandwiches and sweeping waterfront views.

The Narragansett Cafe (25 Narragansett Ave.), aka The Ganny, is known for some of the area’s best live music every night during the summer. Bands range from jazz and blues to rock, and are always danceable. On Sunday afternoons, head there for Blues, Bloodies and Brunch, featuring live blues and swing, creative Bloody Marys and mimosas, and their signature Benedict varieties.

 

EXPLORE

Beavertail State Park (Beavertail Rd.) is notably one of the most beautiful pieces of scenery in New England. The rocky coastline offers views of Newport and the Atlantic Ocean from any of its four overlooks and from the hiking trails throughout. Beavertail is also home to a lighthouse and a small aquarium with exhibits on local sea life. Director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) was so taken with Beavertail that he filmed scenes from Moonrise Kingdom there. Spend an afternoon exploring, or enjoy their environmental interpretive program with guided excursions.

Jamestown is only nine miles long and one mile wide, but there’s a lot of history on the island. Fort Wetherill (3 Fort Wetherill Rd.), an abandoned military fort, is a must-see destination. Besides the fort itself, which has become something of a graffiti art museum, the views from the cliffs of this 100-foot vantage are stunning. It’s also a popular spot for scuba divers.

Conanicut Battery National Historic Park (Battery Ln.) is home to several earthen fortifications dating back to the Revolutionary War, built by both colonists and the British. Explore the trails, which have information on the park’s history. Fort Getty Park (1050 Fort Getty Rd.), another piece of Jamestown’s military history, has fishing areas and a campground.

Watson Farm (455 North Rd.) has been in operation since 1796, and offers self-guided tours of livestock, wildlife, and farm history. The Jamestown Historical Society (92 Narragansett Ave.) is a hub for all of the island’s historic preservation, including the Jamestown Museum,
Meetinghouse, and Jamestown Philomenian Library; the planned Summer 2020 exhibit is The Art of Jamestown. Be sure to see the windmill, located on North Road near Weeden Land. Due to COVID-19 the windmill is open in 2020 by appointment only. Plus, be on the lookout for the Jamestown Arts Centers special Outdoor Arts installations across the island!

 

PLAY

Skip the Newport traffic by parking in Jamestown and then taking the Jamestown Newport Ferry (1 East Ferry Wharf) across the harbor. Jamestown Outdoors offers a variety of unique kayak tours such as the Full Moon Wine and Cheese Tasting Tour, Sunset Tours, and Eco Tours. 

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