It’s time for a Spring Ramble on FarmCoast! With only an hour’s drive from Boston, Providence, Newport, and the towns of Southeastern Massachusetts, it is the perfect time to frolic through the winding roads of FarmCoast bursting with color and signs of the new season. You will be pleasantly surprised as you pass salt marsh grasses hugged by a glimmering shoreline, and unique artisan shops and restaurants along this beautiful coastal village route.

Now is also the time to book Summer Rentals!  Visit one of the FarmCoast realtors to explore a selection of homes that are available for the summer months.

After a mild winter, spring has come early to FarmCoast.  Already the grasses are greening, and daffodils and forsythia will punctuate the landscape. Ospreys will have returned to the Westport River, and the buds on many of the trees are noticeably ready to bloom.  Here, the climate is more temperate than Boston.  During the winters we are usually 10 degrees warmer and, in the summer, 10 degrees cooler due to the buffering of the coastal waters.

Spring is an especially good time to leave the confines of the city and explore the rural coast of FarmCoast New England. Here you will discover an active community of artists and artisans, contemporary boutiques, established wineries, and an abundance of local farm and seafood-based restaurants. Using our FarmCoast Map you can create your own daylong outing or relaxing spring shopping trip along this 30-mile country-coast loop.

A good place to start a FarmCoast tour is at Coastal Roasters in the early in the morning with a signature coffee or tea overlooking the Sakonnet Bay. Continue on to Tiverton Four Corners (www.tivertonfourcorners.com) where free FarmCoast maps are available in any member shop.  Here more than two dozen stores all within walking distance of each other offer the latest in home furnishings and accessories, fine art, handcrafts, and distinctive clothing.  Don’t expect the usual standards—one-of-a-kind creations or hard-to-find wares all hallmarks of this historic district.

Must-visit shops include The Cottage at Four Corners, where owner Nancy Hemenway combines hard to find French furnishings with cottage-style home accessories; Tiffany Peay Jewelry, an enchanting shop featuring her distinctive designs; Roseberry-Winn for their award-winning pottery; Gallery 4, with a unique collection of oriental wares including an Oriental Rug Bazaar; and the Donovan Gallery, one of the finest collections of New England art. South of the light you will find Amy Lund’s Weaving Studio, another award-winning artist, and Courtyards with everything from garden art to jewelry.  Try Little Purls for special children’s winter clothing and gifts and Sakonnet Purls for yarns, needlepoint, and anything for the serious or beginning knitter. Four Corners Grille has casual dining options weekdays starting at 11am, and weekends starting at 8am.

Farther along Route 77 ramblers will find a gorgeous variety of potted plants and greenery at Peckham’s Greenhouse, fresh produce at Young’s Family Farm, and a surely pleasurable tasting room at Sakonnet Vineyards. Continue your travels toward Westport through scenic Little Compton Commons, but make sure and stop for an espresso at the Art Café.

At Partners Village Store on Main Road in Westport Central Village, a colorful medley of gifts, books, toys, cards, and lunches are provided with exceptional customer service. The newest addition to the FarmCoast is now open for the season: the Dedee Shattauck Gallery features a bright and modern space for exquisite art works. Westport Central Village boasts three clothing stores, A.S.Deams, Deni’s Closet Boutique, and County Woolens, each with a different assortment of stylish and seasonal clothing. 

Remember to eat! Bayside Restaurant in Westport or is a good option for local lunch.  For something upscale try Bittersweet Farm, which offers full course dining Tuesday to Sunday, with a special brunch menu on Sundays or The Back Eddy in Westport Point, whose motto is ‘Think coastal, eat local.’ Make sure to visit Lees Market, the area’s best specialty food market.

Continue on Hixbridge Road in Westport to Westport Rivers Vineyards and Winery for wine tasting, gifts, and tours.  Special food events and workshops are available throughout the year.

In Dartmouth's Russell's Mills village Davolls General Store is home to collectibles, autographed children’s books and antique furniture.  Salt Marsh Pottery makes hand painted pottery and tiles with wildflower imprints as well as specialty baby’s hands and feet imprints by appointment.  Further south from Russells Mills, you will find Dartmoor Gifts, with a potpourri of distinctive garden gifts, and Gustin Ceramics, an art gallery of fine ceramic art from local American artists.

Finally, don’t forget the “harbor village with a beautiful view”! In Padanaram Village, you will find a number of gift shops includingFlora, with distinctive clothing and accessories for your home and closet, Folia, featuring unique stationery designs, and The Packet, which provides traditional New England gifts, clothing, and nautical items. Giuliana's Yarn Shop, offers “everything hip and knitworthy,” as well as all level knitting and crochet classes. The Black Bass Grille in Padanaram Village is a quaint eatery featuring daily specials and weekend brunch. For more casual dining in Padanaram, the Beach Plum Café offers a beautiful harbor views, and gourmet lunch and bakery foods.

Whether you go for a long drive, a day-trip, or weekend visit, a Spring Ramble on the FarmCoast will be sure to inspire you! Store, gallery, and restaurant hours may vary. To see a full listing of restaurants and shops, pick up or download our map!