These four getaways provide the quintessential Americana-by-the-sea experience
Gurney’s, a famed Montauk, Long Island resort in New York, now has a sibling in Newport, RI. Management has taken over the former Hyatt Regency on Goat Island, and it’s jazzing up the scene to provide a modern New England experience. Consider the new partnership with Porsche, which provides house car services to guests and the liaison with the company, Blade, which runs seaplane flights between Manhattan and Newport, landing right on property, which fronts both the Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor.
Joyce, the hotel’s concierge, can provide assistance booking that seaplane, or with setting up a private clambake overlooking the water. She can also arrange sunset sailing excursions with food provided by Scarpetta, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, and with boat trips to the private Rose Island with picnic lunch or dinner.
Note: David Bodette  is the general manager of Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina and welcomes direct contact with luxury travel advisors.
There are plenty of vacation- style activities available on property; the pool has nine cabanas and 10 daybeds for lounging. Fancy some sunset gazing? A three-tiered deck has 11 fire pits with views overlooking Narragansett Bay and Pell Bridge for the best sunsets in Newport.
For the top digs at Gurneys, book the two-story, two-bedroom Liberty Suite, which also has two bathrooms, a large living room and dining area. Best part? The 1,250-square-foot suite has two balconies with direct views of the lighthouse and Narragansetts Bay. The Premier Suite is also a great option; with 1,320 square feet, it’s located at the top levels of the hotels Tower building and has panoramic views of the Narragansetts Bay and Newport Harbor. If these two suites are taken, there are several one-bedroom accommodations, which range in size from 750 to 1,000 square feet.
What we love: There are 30 bi-level suites here, which work well for families; there are also 100 rooms that connect. Nearly every room at Gurneys has water views. The Tower rooms face Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay. The Lighthouse Wing overlooks the hotels new marina on Newport Harbor, which now has slips for up to 125-foot yachts.
For assistance sorting through it all, contact Lisa Herzog, the reservations manager.
Arriving by air? Providence Airport (T.F. Green Airport) is about a 35- to 40-minute drive to the resort. Private jets can land at Newport State Airport.
Gurneys has a nine-room spa, which should be booked at least a week out for treatments. The spa senior supervisor, Andrea Giacomozzi can provide personal assistance in booking treatments, including a couples massage.
Tip: The hotel is pet friendly; a fee is charged and doggy amenities are provided.
There is an array of special events in Newport year-round that draw crowds, including The Hall of Fame Tennis Championships, the Newport Jazz Festival, the Newport International Polo Series and the Newport
Folk Festival.
Those still on the docket for 2017 include the Newport International Boat Show (September 14 — 17) and the Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival (September 21 — 24). We say its worth heading north for the Bowens Wharf 27th Annual Seafood Festival (October 14 — 15) in downtown Newport, RI. For a New England holiday experience, save the date for November 24 for the City of Newport’s Illuminated Boat Parade. The Bowen’s Wharf 47th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting will be held December 2.
Just nearby, clambakes, bonfires, and perhaps a spot of croquet on the lawn are just some of the activities to be had at Castle Hill Inn, a coastal resort overlooking Narragansett Bay, RI. There’s a strong historic vibe at this Relais & Chateaux resort, which is set on a 40-acre peninsula with views of the coast. There’s a series of guestrooms and suites in the original 19th-century Agassiz
Mansion, and 26 waterfront accommodations in the Harbor House, Chalet, Cottages and Beach Houses, which have just been renovated. The Mansions Turret Suite (the bath area is set in the turret!), which serves up 270-degree views of Narragansett Bay and the Long Island Sound, has also been renovated.
Want to try your hand at some local activities? They come with a luxury spin, such as a hot-air bal-loon ride, skydiving and visits to local vineyards and farms. Then  there’s always the option of a cruise on Casde Hill Inns private yacht during the warmer months, or a ride in the resorts water taxi, which can cruise you right into Newport Harbour.
Good news for those seeking some added pampering; the spa, a.k.a. the Retreat at Casde Hill by Farmaesthetics, has a new relaxation area outside of its two treatment rooms, giving guests the option to linger in luxury.
Andy Smith is the general manager of the resort. For assistance with booking, contact Lew Gordon, the revenue and reservations manager.
On Cape Cod in Massachusetts, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club is set on a bluff overlooking the bay. It’s located just outside of Brewster, a quaint New England village with bay beaches, antique shops, sea captains’ homes and tree-lined streets, all just 90-minute drive from Boston and Providence and a one-hour flight from New York.
The summer months are the most popular at the resort, with most weekends selling out in advance. The Presidential Bay Collection and Mansion guestrooms are the first to sell out. The resort is open year-round, with seasonal activities including museum and gallery tours, cranberry bog tours, dining, hiking and biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
