Charlestown

"We stayed in this beautiful home for 10 days with our two teenage children, and had a fabulous time. It helped that the weather was just about perfect. Communication with Carol (the owner) and Dottie (the housekeeper) was really good, and Dottie met us at the house on the first day and showed us the various items of equipment etc. The house feels like a home, rather than an impersonal holiday destination, and we felt comfortable right away. The kitchen is spacious and well equipped. Parking is easy. The house is beautifully decorated - the only thing to be aware of is that there is a lot of going up and down stairs! Bristol is a lovely little town, which doesn't feel too touristy, but having said that, there are some great restaurants and cafes there. The place has a very relaxed feel to it, and locals seem fairly laid back: Bristol does not have a hectic city pace. It's an easy walk into the town - we walked in just about every day we were there. Roger Williams University is nearby, which means that there's a slight collegey vibe as well. The best meals we had were at Christian's and the Sunset Cafe. Leo's Ristorante was good (the melon sangria is dangerously drinkable), and we had one good and one OK meal at the Thames Waterside Bar and Grill. The meal at the DeWolf Tavern wasn't so great. We got a pizza delivery from Papa Joe's wrap shack which was great (and they found the house OK). The pizzas are enormous. The house is on the main bus route between Providence and Newport and bus service is fast and reliable. Although a car is recommended, you could easily visit without one. In particular, if you have teenagers who want to explore by themselves, the bus would be a great way to do this. We took the bus to Providence one evening to see WaterFire (google it - it's well worth the visit if it coincides with your stay), and another time took the bus to Newport. We went to Newport a few times - to try out the restaurants, take a harbour tour and to look at the mansions. The Marble House is magnificent, and there's a display about the Americas Cup, which of course mentions Nat Herreshoff. (In fact, a book about him, available from the Marble House gift shop, describes Love Rocks in the first paragraph). There's plenty to do in the surrounding area. We spent a day in Boston (and wished we had more time). The internet is super-fast and covers the house well. All in all, this was one of the best vacations we have had."