5 Great Narragansett Bay Day Trips

Home5 Great Narragansett Bay Day Trips

THINGS TO SEE
PLACES TO EAT
PLACES TO STAY
WHERE TO DOCK

Narragansett Bay serves as a vast aquatic playground for cruisers, anglers, sailors,
paddlers and other water lovers. Photo New England Boating, Gene Allen.

BOATERS ON NARRAGANSETT BAY HAVE IT PRETTY GOOD. THE BAY’S ISLANDS, RIVERS AND COVES PROVIDE PADDLERS AND POWERBOATERS WITH PROTECTION FROM THE WIND, WHILE THE CONSISTENT SUMMER BREEZES ARE BELOVED BY SAILORS IN VESSELS RANGING FROM SUNFISH TO OCEAN-GOING CATAMARANS. THEN THERE’S THE FISHING, FOR STRIPED BASS, BLUEFISH, FLUKE, SEA BASS, TAUTOG AND SCUP. AND WHEN IT’S TIME TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE WATER, THE BAY IS SURROUNDED BY INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT, ALL OF THEM OFFERING SUSTENANCE AND, IN MANY CASES, SHOPPING AND SIGHTSEEING. HERE’S ONE WAY YOU COULD FILL A WEEK ON NARRAGANSETT BAY—ALTHOUGH WE RECOMMEND SAVORING ITS MANY FLAVORS OVER THE COURSE OF A SEASON.

DAY ONE: WICKFORD COVE

The mediterranean-inspired Tavern by the Sea (bottom) serves good food near the Wickford Town Landing.
(Above) A Downeast cruiser enters Wickford’s well-protected harbor.

Scenic Wickford Cove, on the southwest side of the bay, welcomes boaters with free dockage (up to 2 hours) at the town landing, steps from the heart of the village’s shops and restaurants. If you’d rather leave your boat on a mooring, the town also maintains a handful of free moorings just behind the breakwater.

Among the culinary offerings is theBeach Rose Café, which serves delicious sandwiches, soups, burgers, seafood, coffee and more at the head of the harbor. Also nearby is the delightfulTavern by the Seaand its Mediterranean-inspired dishes, served on the outdoor patio overlooking a scenic canal.

Cool shops and galleries near the waterfront includeTeddy Bearskins,Yes Gallery,Blue HydrangeaandWickford Village Antiques. Nearby Mill Pond is worth exploring in a dinghy, SUP or kayak, and you can visit the famousSmith Castlefor a tour of this rare and wonderfully preserved colonial home.

DAY TWO: PROVIDENCE

(Above) Boaters in small skiffs, dinghies and kayaks can travel deep into the heart of downtown via the revitalized Providence River.(Below) Tucked inside the hurricane barrier, Foxpoint Marina offers slips and transient dockage. Photos/Tom Croke.

Few Rhode Islanders know that they can access the heart of the state capital in a small boat. Granted, the water gets pretty thin north of the Hurricane Barrier, especially at low tide, but you can usually take a dinghy, skiff or kayak far upriver for a unique perspective on the city. Granite landings along the river provide a place to tie up and explore the revitalized downtown area, up to and including the Providence Place Mall.

If you want to stick closer to the Hurricane Barrier, you may find an open spot to tie up in front of theHot Club restaurant and bar, or at theFoxpoint Marina, which provides access toLola’s Cantina, theWhiskey Republic,Gavin’s Puband other local eateries in the revitalized Fox Point neighborhood. You can dock for free if you show a receipt for $20 or more from Lola’s or Whiskey Republic.

DAY THREE: BARRINGTON/WARREN

(Above) The Wharf Tavern welcomes boaters on the Warren River. Photo/Ryan Clarke. (Below) Anglers enjoy excellent light tackle fishing inside the river and the bay. Photo/NEB/Tom Richardson.

Barrington presents an interesting boating conundrum: Most of the marinas, launch ramps and marine services are located in this Upper East Bay town, yet the majority of waterfront shops and restaurants are in neighboring Warren, on the east bank of the Warren River. But fear not, as boaters can enjoy the best of both worlds!

On Tyler Point, just below the Route 114 bridge, you’ll find the Blue Water restaurant, which serves lunch and dinner. You can usually find a place to tie up—seasonally, overnight or for just a few hours—at Striper Marina, which also offers a launch ramp. From Tyler Point, it’s a short walk or bike ride over the bridge to Warren’s historic waterfront district, home to numerous restaurants, galleries and shops.

Just downriver, the Warren Town Wharf offers 30-minute tie-up, but longer stays are possible on one of the town’s transient moorings. Contact the harbormaster, (401) 245-6341, for information.

If you want to enjoy some delicious fried seafood, chowder and lobster rolls, pull up to theBlount Clam Shack, which serves these summer favorites in a lot next to Blount Seafood. Or walk across the street to theBlount Market, which sells fine soups and sauces, breaded calamari and, of course, fresh clams landed right in Warren.

Also nearby and offering small-boat dockage are the intimateTav-Vino restaurantandAdmiral’s Pub—both local favorites. Last but not least is theWharf Tavern, a Warren River institution that also allows boaters to dock alongside the restaurant.

(Below) Daytrippers can dock at Bristol’s Thames Street Landing for up to three hours if they visit the local shops and restaurants. (Above) The DeWolfe Tavern os one of over a dozen eateries within walking distance of the Bristol waterfront.
Photos/NEB/Tom Richardson.

DAY FOUR: BRISTOL HARBOR

Bristol is one of the loveliest and most historic harbors on the bay, and boaters can now tie up for a generous 3 hours at the Thames Street Landing, home to the Waterside Bar & Grill and theDeWolf Tavern, along with several shops and boutiques. (Note that you must be a patron of one of the Thames Street businesses to dock here.)

Hourly dockage is also available for a reasonable fee at the spacious Town float. Town moorings are available as well, but you’ll need to contact the harbormaster on VHF channel 9 or call (401) 253-1700 to check on availability. Reservations can be made. Dinghies can be left at the Town Dock/Marina next to the red firehouse building. Bristol Marine, on the west side of the harbor, also rents moorings, and their launch can give you a lift into downtown.

The shady, shop-lined streets of downtown Bristol boasts over a dozen restaurants, includingAiden’s Irish Pub,Quitos(seafood in the rough),Redlefsen’s(German-inspired cuisine), andLeo’s(pizza and sandwiches). Feeling overheated? Cool off with a homemade ice cream or cabinet (a.k.a., frappe) at theDaily Scoop, behind Independence Park, orGray’son Thames Street Landing.

A bit farther south in the harbor, theLobster Pot restaurantis a dock-and-dine option adjacent to theHerreshoff Museum, which maintains an extensive collection of beautifully restored wooden boats designed by master naval architect Nathanael Greene Herreshoff. The museum also has a public dock and moorings to accommodate visitors arriving by boat, but hail them on VHF 68 first.

DAY FIVE: JAMESTOWN

Jamestown Boatyard offers transient moorings just south of the village.
Photo/NEB/Caroline Goddard.

Daytrippers who want to explore Jamestown, on Conanicut Island, have several places to keep their boat while they go ashore and explore. The east side of the island has two boatyards and a large marina. BothClark Boat YardandJamestown Boat Yardoffer transient moorings with launch service and facilities, and are about a mile from the shops and restaurants of the downtown area.Conanicut Marina, on the other hand, is centrally located on the downtown waterfront and has transient dockage, moorings and fuel. Hourly and half-day accommodations can be arranged.

If you want to take your own dinghy ashore, you can leave it at the East Ferry Town Wharf, just north ofConanicut Marina, for up to two hours. Passengers can also be dropped off here, but larger boats may not be left unattended.

From this point, you have a number of restaurants and shops within easy reach. Directly on the water,Grapes & Gourmetsells wine, beer and cheese at the Conanicut Marina.Spinnakerson Ferry Wharf serves ice cream and sandwiches, while you can order delectable lobster rolls, fried clams, gourmet sandwiches and more at theEast Ferry Deli.

A short walk up Narragansett Avenue will bring you to theNarragansett Café, a bar and restaurant with live music and a Sunday brunch. Nearby is the Jamestown Oyster Bar andSimpatico Trattoria, an al fresco-style Italian eatery.Jamestown Fishspecializes in fresh, locally harvested ingredients.

Another option on Jamestown isDutch Harbor Boat Yard, on the west side of the island. The marina rents half-day transient moorings ($25-$30) and is the home ofThe Shackrestaurant, where you can order mouthwateringTallulah’s Tacosand shrimp co*cktails. Downtown Jamestown is roughly a mile from the marina.

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At a Glance

Launch Ramps
Where to Stay
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Harbor Master and Harbor Info
Getting There
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