Travel Guide

Admiral Dewey Inn Matunuck, PointBreakCottages.com

Hammetts Hotel Newport, HammettsHotel.com

The Beatrice Pro v idence, TheBeatrice.com

The Chanler at Cliff Walk Newport, TheChanler.com

The Graduate Pro v idence, GraduateHotels.com

Ocean House Watch Hill, OceanHouseRI.com

1661 Inn New Shoreham, BlockIslandResorts.com

The Stone House Little Compton, NewportExperience.com

Weekapaug Inn Westerly, WeekapaugInn.com

Weekapaug Inn

Aside from the swimming pool being closed, you might not realize it’s the off season at Weekapaug Inn. As soon as the property reopens in mid-February from a brief winter pause for refurbishments, the award-winning Five-Star historic inn is bustling with guests and staff – indoors and out. The Weekapaug has had many lives, originating in 1899 as a summer B&B for neighbors; it was rebuilt, suffered hurricanes, and ultimately closed until it was reimagined in 2010 as a year-round resort by the same visionaries behind the Ocean House’s epic transformation. Amenities and thoughtful touches are everywhere, from the Hunter boots borrowing closet for sandy jaunts along the Q uonochontaug, to a Stickley desk (from the original inn) ready with postcards and pens, to chocolate patties from Cranston-based Seacoast Sweets on pillows for turn-down service – but without pretensions. The term “barefoot elegance” is echoed in conversations with staff, all of whom appear to have a genuine pride of ownership in an atmosphere that could be described as LL Bean-meets-luxury. The inn has a dedicated naturalist ready to take guests on walks and shoreline Jeep rides to explore, learn, and appreciate the area. After a meal at the fine dining restaurant, weather permitting, guests can find a roaring blaze at the fire pit with all the fixings for s’mores, including house-made marshmallows. Bring your winter gear because you don’t want to miss stargazing at night: with barely any light pollution, the dark sky is an enchanting screen of sparkling stars.

Stone House Inn

Sitting on 2.7 acres near the tip of Sakonnet Point, the Stone House Inn is a four-story building built in 1854 as a private residence and converted to an inn during the 1920s. Named to the National Register of Historic Places, it recently underwent an estimated $12 million renovation where many green technologies were implemented. Each of the 16 guest rooms and suites – most with fireplaces and soaking tubs – have interiors as different as their names. The Staycation Package offers Rhode Island residents 30 percent off the inn’s best available rate March through Memorial Day weekend and includes a bottle of wine upon arrival, lite bites in the evening, and s’mores by the fire pit.