Revved up New England
ners was surprisingly entertaining – and Chef Walter was always ready to point us in the right direction, usually with a well-placed quip at our expense! Under his watchful eye and instructions we prepared soup, salad and our pasta course.
And it was extremely satisfying when a couple of hours later we were finally able to settle down to the best bit: wolfing down the whole tasty lot. Most courses are $95pp.
Rhode Island may be America’s smallest state but the best things come in small packages.
The city of Newport quickly became one of my favourite spots in the US.
GLIDING
One of the world’s best-loved sailing destinations, it was home to the America’s Cup for more than 50 years. I got to experience the thrill of the action aboard Weatherly, a glorious 12-metre yacht which won the coveted trophy in 1962. americascupcharters.com
Gliding through Narragansett Bay with grace and speed, it was easy to imagine myself a star of the sailing world – even if my contribution was limited to a bit of rope-pulling. A two-hour sail will cost you $75, or $40 for under-10s.
Weatherly was a favourite of President Kennedy’s. JFK famously watched the 1962 action from wife Jackie’s family home Hammersmith Farm.
As you’d expect, the rambling mansion looks pretty grand from out on the bay. But Newport has some much, much grander homes.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many of America’s richest industrialists built “summer cottages” on the cliffs overlooking the bay. By “summer cottages” they meant enormous houses that would put many palaces to shame.
Today 11 of these Newport Mansions are open to the public. I went behind the scenes at The Breakers, which was the home of the Vanderbilts, once the wealthiest family in America. It boasts opulence on a scale that is hard to believe. newportmansions.org
But the really exciting way of seeing the mansions is from the air.
For £75pp, Bird’s Eye View Helicopter Tours offers a flight over all of the properties, including Hammersmith Farm, covering 18 miles of prime Newport coastline in 12 exhilarating minutes. newporthelicoptertours.com
Soaring above this seaside city was the perfect end to a fun-filled journey - one that really opened my eyes about this vibrant corner of the USA. discovernewengland. co.uk or visittheusa. co.uk