By Abby Bielagus By Abby Bielagus | August 1, 2023 | Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Feature, Travel,
For the most stunning beaches and off-the-boat fresh seafood, head to where the farmland meets the sea. Nestled between the Cape and the shores of Rhode Island lies the Farm Coast, a scenic gem that can easily be explored on a summer’s day.
As any Bostonian knows, the key to a good day trip is getting out of the city ahead of the Cape Cod traffic. If you leave around 8:30am, it should only take you about an hour on 93 south to get to the Farm & Coast Market (farmandcoastmarket.com) in Padanaram, a village in Dartmouth. Early birds will be happy to know that the market opens at 7am if you want to hit the road when the sun comes up. If you haven’t had coffee yet, first stop is the barista for a caffeine fix and next is the smoothie bar for a snack while you shop. The grocery aisles are stocked with culinary treats from local farms, the cheese section showcases the best in local cheesemakers and the deli cases have everything from sandwiches to entrees to sides. Don’t leave without grabbing a homemade pastry for the ride.
With your cooler packed, it’s time to head to the beach. You could easily spend the rest of the afternoon in Dartmouth, strolling at Demarest Lloyd State Park (mass.gov/locations/demarest-lloyd-state-park) and eating an early dinner at chic bistro Little Moss (littlemoss.com).
But we’ve got exploring to do and the next stop Horseneck Beach (mass.gov/locations/horseneck-beach-state-reservation) in Westport, about twenty minutes up the road. You’re sure to pass many a farm stand, if you want to pull over. Once you make it to Horseneck, find a spot on the two-mile stretch of sand on Rhode Island sound, unpack that picnic and relax.
After sunning, snacks and maybe some wave riding, it’s time for oysters. Westport Sea Farms (westportseafarms.com) is right across from Horseneck Beach - if you could swim. Although roundabout, the drive is only about five minutes. The slight detour is worth it for fresh, farm-raised oysters. Start with just six or go big and get a tray of 48. If the beach picnic wasn’t enough, there’s also lobster rolls and chowder on the menu.
Little Compton adds some time onto the journey, but the scenery is well worth the extra time in the car. There’s something special about this little seaside town. It feels untouched, preserved somehow. If you have time, step inside the 100-year old Wilbur’s General Store (wilbursgeneralstore.com) and truly be transported. They sell everything from specialty foods to hardware. This is the heart of the town where the locals frequent and the place to pick up a Farm Coast souvenir.
A glass of wine awaits just five minutes down the road at Carol’s Sakonnet Vineyard (sakonnetwine.com). Sample white, red, rose? and desert wines at New England’s oldest vineyard. Just be warne that the outdoor tasting bar has last call at 3:30pm.
Before dinner, take a quick stroll around Tiverton’s historic four corners. Inside the 18th and 19th-century buildings are shops and artist studios. In fact, the area hosts an open studio tour (southcoastartists.org) twice in the summer where you can visit more than 50 galleries. If you make it before the 4pm close, pop into Groundswell Garden and Home (groundswellcafegarden.com) for a curated selection of items for your house, inside and out.
Now your waterfront table awaits at the Red Dory (reddoryrestaurant.com). At the helm is chef Steve Johnson whose Mediterrean-inspired farm-to-table menu showcases the Farm Coast’s bounty of produce and seafood. Sit back and enjoy as the sun dips behind the Sakonnet River, ending your perfect New England summer day.
Photography by: Courtesy of Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism
