There are great restaraunts, and then there are restaraunts that are so great that you’d plan a vacation so you can experience them.Open Table recently highlighted the best destination restaurants nationwide, and a New England establishment made the list.
“The menus, experiences, and photo-ops at these awe-inspiring places draw visitors from around the globe,” the article explains. A common theme to the thirteen locations selected is the outdoor ambiance that comes with the experience. Some of the restaurants offer outdoor seating, while others are stationed in scenic areas.
So, where in New England do you need to go to visit a top destination restaurant?
Newport, RI
The White Horse Tavern has a history that dates back to 1673. It’s “America’s Oldest Tavern,” as stated on their website (and they say it’s the 10th oldest in the world). It has a warm, colonial feel. It was the meeting place for the General Assembly in the late 1600s. Moreover, in the 1700s, councilors frequently dined at the White Horse as a business lunch. Finally, in 1972 the tavern was recognized as a national historic landmark.
Most recently, in 2014, the White Horse Tavern was acquired by a Newport restaurant group to keep the great food and tradition alive. Thus, it has remained one of the top destination restaurants in New England.
The Menu
“Today, it showcases the region’s artisan meats and produces in staples such as the duck Scotch egg, a soft-boiled egg wrapped in duck sausage and panko bread crumbs, and the beef Wellington with foie gras mousse, puff pastry, whipped potatoes, greens, and glazed carrots,” Open Table details in their feature.
The White Horse Tavern offers a fresh raw bar with individual or sampler selections. The entrée options always include a catch of the day. A la carte sides are prepared to accompany almost any choice on the menu. Furthermore, much of their ingredients are locally sourced from New England providers.
Massachusetts Lighthouse Named One Of The Most Beautiful In The World
What do Porto, Portugal, Crete, Greece, and Scituate, Massachusetts have in common? They all have historic lighthouses. In fact, in Trips To Discover’s recent guide, they named Old Scituate Light, along Massachusetts’ south shore one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The 1800’s
This landmark dates back to the year 1810. “Congress voted to build a lighthouse at the harbor, and the light made of split granite blocks with a house attached and was activated the following year (1811),” Trips To Discover explains. It was the 11th lighthouse in the United States upon completion. It cost $4,000. Shortly after, Captain Simeon Bates, his wife and nine children lived at the house. Bates was the first keep of this lighthouse.
“Because mariners complained that the light could not be seen from far enough away to make proper heading adjustments, the U.S. Government added fifteen feet in height to the tower in 1827, mortaring red brick on top of the granite blocks,” Scituate’s Historical Society explains.
The 1900’s
The town of Scituate acquired the lighthouse from the government in 1916 for $1,000. Fourteen years later, a new lantern room was built at the top. 1994 marked one of the most memorable events in Old Scituate Light’s history as it was relit, making it visible from the sea for the first time in 134 years. Three years prior, it had been relit to be seen on land only.
Present Day
Old Scituate Light is a very popular south shore attraction. Every day people can be seen taking pictures of this lighthouse. Select dates are released each year that detail when it will be open to the public. Walkways along the water’s edge surround it for guests to explore the area. One of this destination’s most notable elements is the attached cottage. That remains a private residence that is the lightkeeper’s cottage.
While many tourists travel to the south shore of Massachusetts for the beaches and boating, stopping by one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world is also a site worth seeing.
