It's up! Be sure to check out my full, all encompassing travel guide to Newport, Rhode Island with all of the Type A tips you need to plan a perfect vacation. If you've got questions or need some help with your travel plans, be sure to let me know. Happy Traveling!
New Hampshire's Family Run, Local Farms
If you know what dirt roads to take, you can find everything you need to eat fresh, local and delicious in middle New Hampshire. You can't find these places on a visitors map or a quick Google search, it was only through talking with New Hampshire locals that we found these hidden gems. Some of the nicest people we met were the local farmers who run the places that provide the incredible produce, maple and dairy to the people of New England and around the world.
Riverview Farm
If you're looking for sprawling acres to pick fresh berries, apples and wildflowers, Riverview Farm is your spot! We were amazed to find that just 20 minutes from our lake house lay a fun family afternoon that we would never forget. All you have to do is grab a basket or a bag and follow the signs for picking all of the farm fresh fruits you can get your fingers on. This 30 year-old family run farm provides you with everything you need to make memories with the ones you love - including a corn maze, carriage rides, a pumpkin patch and home-made doughnuts on the weekends. As a family, we picked over 5 pounds of raspberries that we took home and made cobbler with - it was oh-so-good!
McNamara Dairy Farm
Just down the road from Riverview Farm is a family run creamery, its origins going back to 1950. Visiting here takes you back to a place mostly forgotten, where you can buy fresh milk in glass bottles and butter churned just the other day. In their self serve shop at the front of the working farm - you grab what you want, leave money in the unmanned register, take your own change and go. There are few places left in the US where trust and community are strong enough that a business can establish an honor system storefront, and I'm so thankful that it is actually possible. I have to admit that I was a little unnerved seeing an open cash register in an empty store... we literally had to ask a delivery guy what to do before we figured it out! And if you're wondering how the cows are treated, just take a walk behind the store and check it out for yourself - maybe you'll even get a glimpse of some of their newborn calves like we did.
We took home as much as we could of their hormone and preservative free dairy products, including flying home with a cooler and a few pounds of butter! And I'm not kidding when I tell you that it was the best chocolate milk we've ever had, EVER. I can't wait to go back, just so I can have a bowl of cereal and a slice of buttery toast!
Edgewater Farmstand
If you don't have time to visit each farm for all of your cooking needs, just stop by Edgewater Farmstand where they carry all of their own locally grown produce as well as local products from other neighboring farms. You can find jam, cheese, milk, pastries and plants all in one quaint shop so skip the major grocery stores and buy local!
Valley View Maple Farm
Talk about local. The owner and maple-maker Ben Keger, along with his adorable little bug (beagle/pug mix), creates intoxicatingly good maple products right in his little shop just a few minutes drive off of the freeway. His shop has been around since 1937, originally established by his father where he learned the art of maple as a child. I just fell in love with his hospitality and his story - he does not own a cell phone or a single credit card - how many people can say that!?! You can buy all things maple like maple butter, maple candies, syrup (obviously) and maple mustard and he even finds time to hand craft gift boxes out of wood found right on the farm. He ships his products all over the world, but you can buy everything directly from the farm at surprisingly cheap prices for such great quality. We were lucky because on the afternoon that we showed up, his wife had just finished making the maple candies and they had just bottled the dozen plus bottles of grade A syrup we took home. Yes, friends and family can expect to be getting maple gifts for Christmas this year!
These are just a handful of places we visited during our time in New Hampshire. Check back for my full Travel Guide to New Hampshire that should be up in the coming weeks. If you have a favorite farm in the area that you'd like to share or you have a question about any of these awesome locations, leave a comment below!
Castle Hill Inn | Newport, Rhode Island
View from the Beach Cottage
During our fall tour of New England, we spent two perfect nights at the Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island. We made this an absolute priority on our travel list because last January we ate at the James Beard House in New York City where guest chef, Karsten Hart, served us one of the most incredible meals of our life and it left us wanting more. My husband and I knew at that point that we were going to make the pilgrimage to the Castle Hill Inn, where Chef Hart works as the Executive Chef and we are so thankful we finally did. The Castle Hill Inn is one of the most picturesque, luxurious and overall delicious locations we've ever visited (seriously) and here's an overview of why.
The Hotel Itself is Magnificent
Every aspect of this historic Relais & Chateaux property is visually stunning. From the panoramic views of the Atlantic as you watch sailboats float by from adirondack chairs on the sprawling lawn, to the intricately preserved Victorian mansion built in 1875, The Castle Hill Inn is the gem of Newport and attracts world travelers and local elite to its beauty.
The Rooms
There are various accommodation options available, including rooms in the mansion, beach cottages and beach houses - all tastefully decorated to match. We stayed in one of the beach cottages, located on a private beach just a few minutes walk from the main house. The rooms have everything you need to be comfortable like sherpa blankets, organic toiletries from a local shop, rocking chairs on the porch and a quiet, secluded beachfront with full food and beverage service. There is not a luxury spared when staying at The Castle Hill Inn, ensuring you feel like royalty no matter what room you're in.
It's a Food Paradise
When breakfast includes lobster hash, afternoon tea is served with freshly made pastries and dinner is inventively created by Chef Hart, there is absolutely no reason to eat anywhere else in Newport. For forty-eight hours we ate breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks at The Inn and while we had the option to leave the resort we honestly didn't want to. This is arguably the best all around foodie spot we've ever visited, which is probably surprising considering it's a historic inn. But I'm not kidding when I tell you that every delicious detail of every meal is on point and will leave you craving more once you're gone. We never had a single dish that didn't scream AMAZING and we haven't stopped talking about each and every perfect bite. Oh and did I mention that Chef Hart is brilliant and is one of the best chefs we've ever encountered? Let me repeat for good measure - his flavor profiles and creativity are mind blowing and we overheard table after table praise his work as simply the best meal they've ever had. Overall - his food is damn good!