Rhode Island
My Favorite Airbnb: A Beachy Rhode Island Bungalow
As a lot of my spontaneous weekend journeys do lately, it began with a textual content message: “Out of curiosity, whatcha as much as the weekend of October 21…” Two days later, my pal and I had booked an Airbnb.
Despite the fact that we deliberate this journey on the fly, it had a really deliberate intent: celebrating Taylor Swift’s latest album drop. And we could not consider a greater place to ring in Midnights than close to the singer’s storied seaside dwelling in Watch Hill, a coastal neighborhood on the most-southwestern level of Rhode Island (cue The Final Nice American Dynasty). We deliberate to stroll alongside the seaside, wander round city, and eat solely at eating places we might or might not have present in a ‘Taylor Swift information to Rhode Island’ article. And conveniently, our ladies’ weekend vacation spot was situated between New York and Boston, the place we dwell.
After a good quantity of looking out Airbnb for one thing that was cozy, cute, and straightforward to get to, we settled on an lovable bungalow in Westerly, a brief drive from Watch Hill. From Penn Station, I may take a three-hour practice trip on the Amtrak North East Regional. My pal was ready to select me up, having pushed in. (We have been glad to have a automobile that weekend, however there have been Ubers obtainable on the town had we wanted to seize one.)
From the practice station, it was a five-minute drive to the home, which felt prefer it may’ve been designed as a visitor dwelling, however had greater than sufficient room for 2. We every had our personal bed room with a queen mattress coated in a colorblocked quilt. In between, there was one lavatory and a big, open residing and kitchen space. One other large professional for metropolis house dwellers like me: The kitchen housed a washer and dryer, and the hosts left detergent to make use of.
As soon as we arrived on the Rhode Island Airbnb, we arrange store on the sofa beneath the comfy Woolrich blanket, chatting and watching YouTube movies on the good TV.
The house, inbuilt 1918, was stuffed with allure and quirks, and arrange with the whole lot we might want for our weekend keep—towels, further pillows, blankets. The renovated lavatory and kitchen had trendy home equipment and fixtures, and the area was very clear after we arrived, with decor that appears like an Residence Remedy function. I cherished the wallpapered washroom, farmhouse-style sink, and chopping block kitchen island and counter tops, and appreciated considerate touches just like the native soaps from Newport and plastic-free shampoo and conditioner bottles. (My one qualm within the lavatory—the water strain left one thing to be desired.)
Whereas we didn’t cook dinner on the home, there was loads of kitchenware and fundamental cooking provides within the cupboards (spices, oils). Because it was a fairly fast journey, we sadly didn’t benefit from the yard, both, however there have been idyllic porches in the back and front of the home, each with chairs and rugs, and a grassy fenced-in space out again with a loveseat and hammock when you fancy a night drink or morning espresso exterior. (A espresso maker and tea kettle have been within the kitchen.)
The hosts have taken care to make the area really feel homey however not cluttered, with beachy decor—California and Rhode Island-centric prints on the partitions, a buoy on the closet doorways within the bed room. There’s a document participant in the lounge and a bin stuffed with vinyls, plus design and structure espresso desk books. They left a bottle of wine for us within the fridge and a hand-written pocket book of the most effective issues to do, see, and eat within the space. They communicated with us effectively, making it recognized they have been there to reply questions or provide suggestions, with out overloading us with messages. (They have been additionally type sufficient to mail again a jacket we left behind.)
We solely had one full day in Rhode Island and a packed to-do record. All over the place we wished to go was not more than a 15-minute drive away. We began on the Cooked Goose for breakfast, then visited Napatree and Watch Hill Seashores, and at last spent a day in downtown Westerly’s espresso outlets, bookstores, and vintage outlets. For dinner, we ate the Olympia Tea Room, which has been open since 1916. Earlier than catching the practice the subsequent morning, we stopped into Knead Doughnuts for chai lattes and, duh, doughnuts, which have been scrumptious.
This Rhode Island Airbnb was the right dwelling base for our ladies’ weekend. The brilliant, sunny area provided loads of room for 2, however you may simply match 4 right here, as previous company have famous. One of the best half, although, was the benefit of getting there—it makes an excellent weekend escape for New Yorkers and New Englanders seeking to decelerate for a number of days.