Watch Hill, Rhode Island
Sometimes you just happen upon a place. You really do. On our long weekend trip to New England a fellow traveler suggested we visit Watch Hill, Rhode Island on our way back to Boston. We had nothing planned for the day so we drove about an hour to the small village of Watch Hill. Small and charming. I love the classic shingle-style architecture with the window boxes of geraniums.
Main Street
The day was drizzly and humid - very humid - but we managed to eat some homemade ice cream and do a little window shopping. I fell in love with this cottage resort - would love to stay here sometime!
Chocolate cookies n cream - sooo good!
One of Watch Hill's claim to fame is it's National Historic Landmark Flying Horse Carousel. It is the oldest operating carousel in which the horses are suspended from chains. We watched kids riding it and grabbing for the brass ring (which is actually silver!) - and one little girl who cried because she couldn't do it.
Hand out to grab the ring
real hair
got it!
There was a woman manning the gate for a private beach and we asked her where the public beach was. She gave us directions - just a short walk up the hill - and we were at East Beach. And that's when we saw Watch Hill's other claim to fame - Taylor Swift's house. Amazingly, it is located right next to the public beach access. So that means her adoring public can see her house - and backyard. In fact, there were some teenage girls - and their moms - climbing the rocks to see more of the house when a security guard came over and scolded them to get down.
Taylor's house
In fact, I knew so little about Watch Hill when we stumbled upon it, that I didn't know that the yellow building below is the famed Ocean House - a Relais and Chateau resort dating back to 1868. It's one of only eight Forbes triple-star resorts in the world and rated in the top three resorts in the United States! I bet it would've been fun to see - even if only from the beach!
It had started to sprinkle, the ocean was churning and the waves were breaking hard at East Beach by now. We made a detour on the way back to the car though as we saw a path out to the lighthouse. We passed classic, multi-million dollar New England style homes on the walk. There were beautiful gardens and another view of Taylor's house.
Now it was time. Time to head back to Boston for some dinner before our flight. So we waved good-bye to Taylor's house and the Flying Horse Carousel. I hope to be back someday when the sun is shining - and to try another flavor of that homemade ice cream - and who knows? Maybe we'll even stay at one of those cottages.
Watch Hill is a village located within the town of Westerly, Rhode Island about 2 hours south of Boston on I-95.
This post is a part of a link-up with: Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond, Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections Enroute and Weekend Wanderlust at A Brit and A Southerner!
One of Watch Hill's claim to fame is it's National Historic Landmark Flying Horse Carousel. It is the oldest operating carousel in which the horses are suspended from chains. We watched kids riding it and grabbing for the brass ring (which is actually silver!) - and one little girl who cried because she couldn't do it.
There was a woman manning the gate for a private beach and we asked her where the public beach was. She gave us directions - just a short walk up the hill - and we were at East Beach. And that's when we saw Watch Hill's other claim to fame - Taylor Swift's house. Amazingly, it is located right next to the public beach access. So that means her adoring public can see her house - and backyard. In fact, there were some teenage girls - and their moms - climbing the rocks to see more of the house when a security guard came over and scolded them to get down.
In fact, I knew so little about Watch Hill when we stumbled upon it, that I didn't know that the yellow building below is the famed Ocean House - a Relais and Chateau resort dating back to 1868. It's one of only eight Forbes triple-star resorts in the world and rated in the top three resorts in the United States! I bet it would've been fun to see - even if only from the beach!
It had started to sprinkle, the ocean was churning and the waves were breaking hard at East Beach by now. We made a detour on the way back to the car though as we saw a path out to the lighthouse. We passed classic, multi-million dollar New England style homes on the walk. There were beautiful gardens and another view of Taylor's house.
Now it was time. Time to head back to Boston for some dinner before our flight. So we waved good-bye to Taylor's house and the Flying Horse Carousel. I hope to be back someday when the sun is shining - and to try another flavor of that homemade ice cream - and who knows? Maybe we'll even stay at one of those cottages.
Watch Hill is a village located within the town of Westerly, Rhode Island about 2 hours south of Boston on I-95.
This post is a part of a link-up with: Travel Photo Thursday at Budget Travelers Sandbox, The Weekly Postcard at Travel Notes and Beyond, Weekend Travel Inspiration at Reflections Enroute and Weekend Wanderlust at A Brit and A Southerner!
Wow, what a find. It is unfortunate for Taylor that her home is in such a public place! I love a lot of things about this post. The carousel horses with real hair - i've never heard of such a thing and the cottage resort are two stand-outs.
ReplyDeleteI really liked little Watch Hill - and don't you just love when you get a recommendation and it turns out to be someplace that you enjoy?! I need to do more research on the cottage resort - would like to see the inside. Thanks for visiting, Jan!
DeleteWatch Hill looks so—well, New England-like. I've only been to New England once, and then we just passed through on our way to Nova Scotia. I so want to go back. That carousel alone would be worth the trip, but it all looks beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNew England is a very beautiful area of the US - and Watch Hill is definitely classic New England! Thanks so much for visiting!
DeleteI am really craving homemade ice cream now! I'm from New England and haven't been here- so much to explore locally still!
ReplyDeleteLucky you to live in such a beautiful area - there's so much of New England I haven't seen either. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWhat an absolutely beautiful place Watch Hill is! Would love a turn on that gorgeous old carousel :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't that carousel a beauty? Thanks for visiting!
DeleteIt is great to stumble upon a place you know very little about - we love to do this as well! The carousel & ice cream sound great and what a surprise to discover such a wealthy community!
ReplyDeleteIt was such a nice surprise - thank goodness someone told us about it! And I could really go for some of that ice cream right now! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteIsn't New England beautiful? The little village of Watch Hill looks so authentic, so colorful. It reminds me somewhat of Nantucket Island. Thank you for joining #TheWeeklyPostcard.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been to Nantucket but if it's like Watch Hill I would love it! Thanks for visiting!
DeleteOk, I have to admit real hair on the horse kind of puts me off, but I do love Rhode Island. It's all so pretty and put together, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteGood way of putting it - pretty and put together! Definitely. Thanks for visiting, Corinne!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a great summer destination. Sometimes I like beach areas off season. you get the charm and flavor and have the sand and views all to yourself! It looks like it's a bit more laid back then Newport.
ReplyDeleteI like beach areas off season, too - and Watch Hill is definitely more laid-back than Newport. Really charming - and small. Thanks for visiting!
DeleteVery pretty! It could be in Nova Scotia :) Taylor Swift's house looks lovely. I'm sure that there is a constant flow of fans walking by.
ReplyDeleteI think the security guards at Taylor's house are really kept on their toes from all the fans! Thanks - and thanks for visiting!
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