New England: Fall Foliage by Yacht

Duration

7 Days

Embarkation

Newport, RI (Newport Shipyard)

Disembarkation

Boston, MA (Boston Yacht Haven)

Best season

September – October

Total distance

130 NM

Overview

New England in autumn is one of nature's greatest spectacles — the forests blaze with red, orange, and gold, the air is crisp, and the historic coastal towns are at their most charming. This 7-day yacht charter combines the best of New England's maritime heritage with the spectacular fall foliage season.

Highlights

• Newport's Gilded Age mansions
• Nantucket's cobblestone charm
• Martha's Vineyard lighthouses
• Cape Cod's autumn colours
• Plymouth's Pilgrim heritage
• Boston's Freedom Trail

Day by day

1. Day 1: Newport — Sailing Capital

   Newport, RI

   Morning: Board at Newport Shipyard, the premier superyacht facility in New England. Welcome reception with New England clam chowder and local craft beer.

   Afternoon: Tour the Gilded Age mansions — The Breakers, Marble House, and Rosecliff. Walk the Cliff Walk for spectacular ocean views.

   Evening: Dinner at The Chanler at Cliff Walk, a luxury hotel restaurant with tasting menus overlooking the Atlantic.

2. Day 2: Block Island — Autumn Tranquility

   Newport → Block Island · 15 nm

   Morning: Cruise to Block Island, a Nature Conservancy 'Last Great Place'. The island's rolling hills are ablaze with autumn colour.

   Afternoon: Hike the Mohegan Bluffs for dramatic cliff views. Visit the Southeast Lighthouse and explore the charming village of New Shoreham.

   Evening: Dinner at The Atlantic Inn, a hilltop restaurant with panoramic views and farm-to-table New England cuisine.

3. Day 3: Nantucket — Whaling Heritage

   Block Island → Nantucket · 40 nm

   Morning: Cruise to Nantucket, the former whaling capital of the world. The cobblestone streets and grey-shingled houses are quintessential New England.

   Afternoon: Visit the Whaling Museum, explore the historic downtown, and browse the galleries and boutiques. The autumn light on Nantucket is legendary among photographers.

   Evening: Dinner at The Chanticleer, a French restaurant in a rose-covered cottage in the village of 'Sconset.

4. Day 4: Martha's Vineyard — Island Charm

   Nantucket → Martha's Vineyard · 25 nm

   Morning: Cruise to Martha's Vineyard and anchor in Edgartown harbour. The white captain's houses and harbour views are picture-perfect.

   Afternoon: Explore the colourful gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, visit the Aquinnah Cliffs, and tour the island's vineyards and farms.

   Evening: Dinner at The Port Hunter in Edgartown, featuring locally sourced seafood and autumn harvest menus.

5. Day 5: Cape Cod — Fall Colours

   Martha's Vineyard → Provincetown · 30 nm

   Morning: Cruise to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. The dunes and marshes are golden in autumn, and the whale watching is excellent.

   Afternoon: Whale watching excursion — humpback whales are abundant in these waters during autumn. Explore Provincetown's art galleries and the Pilgrim Monument.

   Evening: Dinner at The Red Inn, a waterfront restaurant with spectacular sunset views over Cape Cod Bay.

6. Day 6: Plymouth — Pilgrim Heritage

   Provincetown → Plymouth · 25 nm

   Morning: Cruise around the Cape to Plymouth, where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. The autumn foliage along the coast is spectacular.

   Afternoon: Visit Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II replica, and Plimoth Patuxet Museums — a living history museum recreating the 1627 Pilgrim village.

   Evening: Dinner aboard featuring a New England harvest feast — lobster, cranberries, butternut squash, and apple cider.

7. Day 7: Boston — Historic Finale

   Plymouth → Boston · 30 nm

   Morning: Cruise to Boston, arriving at Boston Yacht Haven in the heart of the city. The approach past the Boston skyline and harbour islands is impressive.

   Afternoon: Walk the Freedom Trail, visit Faneuil Hall, and explore the North End (Boston's Little Italy). The autumn colours in Boston Common and the Public Garden are beautiful.

   Evening: Farewell dinner at Menton, Boston's most acclaimed fine dining restaurant. Disembark the following morning.