Why Westerly, Rhode Island, is Perfect for a Mother-Daughter Getaway

Mothers and daughters share a special bond, and when those daughters are grown and have their own busy lives, it becomes even more important to set aside time to take a break from life and enjoy each other’s company. In other words, you shouldn’t wait for a special occasion like a birthday or Mother’s Day to celebrate your bond. Westerly, the small-town gem in Southern Rhode Island, is a great place to plan one of those getaways. The town has history, plenty of fun things to do and a great culinary scene.

Umbrella Factory bamboo forest © Eugenia Lazaris

If you’ve heard of Westerly, it might be because Taylor Swift has a home there, or it could be because it’s one of Rhode Island’s most charming coastal towns — and one of my personal favorites I love writing about! The rugged Atlantic coastline is simply captivating, and the boutique shopping in the downtown neighborhood on the bank of the Pawcatuck River and Watch Hill neighborhood, along the waterfront, are great places for unique finds. You’ll also want to schedule some time to visit Fantastic Umbrella Factory, a collection of boutique clothing shops and gift shops along with a bamboo garden and farm animals. The spot, something of an art enclave with interesting sculptures scattered around the property, is nestled in the woods. Just don’t forget the bug spray or you’ll meet more mosquitoes than chickens. For a more art-centric experience, Artists Cooperative Gallery features rotating art exhibits.

Westerly is home to some incredible restaurants like The Café, where you can get the obligatory lobster roll and unique desserts like miso Basque cheesecake and chocolate vinegar cake, but the sticky toffee pudding is so good it’s worth the trip to Rhode Island all by itself! There are also plenty of things to do together in town like visit Living Sharks Museum, stroll through Napatree Point Conservation Area and swim at Misquamicut State Beach.

When it comes to places to stay, you’ve got an array of options, like top-of-the-line Ocean House, which sits directly on the coast in the Watch Hill neighborhood overlooking the Atlantic. But you might want to save that for a mother-daughter brunch or spa day and, instead, stay in a bed and breakfast that is the epitome of New England charm.

Margin Street Inn © Courtesy of South County Tourism Council

Margin Street Inn is one of those idyllic spots capturing the essence of the region and town of Westerly all at once. Located in the city’s historic downtown neighborhood ,alongside the Pawtucket, the inn consists of two separate homes beautifully restored and decorated by a talented husband and wife duo. Each of the 10 rooms is decorated differently, breakfasts are home cooked, and the daily afternoon wine and cheese hour is a great way to unwind from a day of sightseeing. The inn is kid- and pet-free. Note: While the property is absolutely beautiful and ideally located, there are no elevators in the homes, so depending on your accessibility needs, you might want to reconsider Ocean House for more than spa and brunch.