Landmark lighthouses dot the New England coastline, as beacons for picturesque harbors and quaint fishing villages where summer days are filled with lobster bakes and strawberry festivals. The itinerary for a Cape Cod and Newport boat charter charter embraces long, lazy days sampling tastes of quintessential southern New England. Newport, Rhode Island, Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast are rich with Yankee seafaring spirit, unique attractions and exquisite coastal beauty. The best way to sample hidden New England is aboard the deck of your own private yacht charter, exploring windswept dunes, remote sand spits and salt marshes abundant with marine life. You can be wandering art galleries in the heart of the town in the morning and drop anchor off a golden sandy beach in the late afternoon.

• Day 1 Day 1, Newport, RI

  Newport, Rhode Island is New England’s yachting capital and our recommended port of departure. A Newport boat charter has easy access from Providence's T.F. Green Airport which is 25 miles away or Logan Airport in Boston, about 90 minutes away. A thriving, colonial seaport, Newport's shipbuilding and seagoing roots pre-date the American Revolution. In the late 1800s, Newport was the summer destination for the rich and famous of New York City, who endowed it with a wealth of magnificent mansions, many of which are open to the public.

  Today, the busy port is surrounded by shops and restaurants housed in 18th and 19th century buildings boasting the bricks, beams and cobbled street motif that’s typical of coastal New England. Our New England yacht charters embark from right in the heart of the port, giving you easy pedestrian access to the town. Shop for jewelry, crafts, local art, clothing, books, souvenirs and anything nautical. For the hearty, we recommend renting bikes, pedaling past the cliffside mansions onto country roads, ending up at one of the many fine beaches near town.

  Some of our favorite attractions aboard a Newport boat charter are:

  Cliff Walk: A 3-mile walk along the cliff at the water’s edge; breathtaking Atlantic Ocean views and glimpses of the Newport mansions and their landscaped gardens.

  Belcourt of Newport: An 1891 castle in the style of Louis XIII's Versailles hunting lodge, housing a collection of European and Asian art and antiques from 32 countries. T

  our the Mansions: The Newport mansions are a “must-see" during a New England yacht charter trip. Astor’s Beechwood Mansion, The Breakers, The Elms, Chateau-sur-Mer, Rosecliff and more.

  International Tennis Hall of Fame: Steal away from your Newport boat charter, and test your tennis savvy at the world’s largest tennis museum. Celebrity tournaments take place on occasion and grass court rental is available.

• Day 2 Day 2, Cuttyhunk, MA

  A world away from the pace of Newport, Cuttyhunk is an island of peace and plenty with only 26 year-round inhabitants. Just two miles long and a mile wide, the small village is surrounded by rolling hills of sea grass and bayberry. Deer and rabbits romp throughout the island, accessible by biking and hiking trails and small, winding dirt roads, where the sight of a car is a rarity. Enjoy a bonfire on the beach, water sports and basking in the sun on your own piece of beach during New England yacht charter vacations. Best of all, local fishermen visit at sunset delivering fresh quahogs and oysters. Just add cocktail sauce and a frosty glass of Samuel Adams beer… yum!

• Day 3 Day 3, Nantucket

  Miles from anywhere, vibrant yet low-key describes this vacation resort with a history defined by whaling, fishing and the arts. Nantucket is graced with a unique ecology hosting hundreds of species of birds and wildflowers, rolling dunes, sandy beaches, lighthouses and ocean side cliffs. Main Street is a charming cobblestone lantern-lit thoroughfare lined with boutiques and galleries as well as plenty of family and fine dining restaurants. Nantucket is often the highlight of a New England yacht charter. History buffs will enjoy a handful of local museums – the Nantucket Whaling Museum with its ship models, harpoons, tools, scrimshaw and whale jaw bones as well as the Museum of Nantucket History; Maria Mitchell Museum (great for kids) with a tiny aquarium, a natural science center and an observatory; African Meeting House and Black History Trail; Quaker Meeting House and Museum; and the Nantucket Lifesaving Museum.

• Day 4 Day 4 and 5, Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard:

  It's easy to see why this enchanting island lures vacationers from all over the USA and beyond. Martha's Vineyard features sweeping beaches, welcoming ports, long expanses of windswept dunes, tidal pools, fine local artists and an inexhaustible list of things to do and places to see during a New England yacht charter trip. Take at least two days for an introduction to six very distinct towns and three major ports. Part of Edgartown’s charm is the 17th century sea captains' homes hugging the cobbled streets, although children seem more impressed that this was the location for filming the movie “Jaws”. As in Nantucket, a festival of boutiques, restaurants, ice cream parlors, fudge shops and restaurants are plentiful enough for every shopper to drop before the day concludes with another glorious sunset.

  A few attractions:

  Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary: 350 acres of beach and marsh land are operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society. Explore the educational center with fish tanks, a reptile pond, walking trails and family-oriented activities on New England yacht charter holidays.

  Chappaquidick Island: Catch a 5-minute ferry ride from Edgartown to the spit of land known as Chappaquidick. Take your bicycle to its deserted coves, build castles in the sand and visit the serene My Tai Japanese Garden.

  Farm Neck Golf Course: An 18-hole course is a great choice for a non-beach day and Chicama Vineyards has wine-making tours and tastings.

  Architectural Walking Tour: One-third of the island is in conservation, including three centuries of classic architecture. The historical society offers guided and self-guided tours to appreciate styles such as early saltbox, Greek, Revival, Georgian, cottage and modern.

• Day 6 Day 6, Hadley's Harbor

  A secluded deep-water anchorage is tucked into the shelter of a few islands -- some inhabited, others deserted, none commercial. A great place to swim, kayak and commune with nature, it's a quick ride by tender to the nearby Woods Hole and the world-famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

• Day 7 Day 7, Block Island

  Off the Rhode Island coast, your southern New England yacht charter itinerary includes Block Island, "One of the Last Twelve Great Places in the Western Hemisphere," as heralded by the Nature Conservancy. The island's system of walking and hiking trails through rolling green hills and dramatic bluffs that some say is reminiscent of an Irish coastline without the sheep. Gingerbread cottages, restored Victorian hotels, artists studios, and an old port bustling with activity is famous for salt water taffy, hand cut French fries and fresh squeezed lemonade to fuel long walks along stretches of lovely beaches and 365 ponds.

• Day 8 Day 8, Newport, RI

  Alas, your New England yacht charter holidays must come to an end. Come on back soon!