PLEASURE ISLANDS

I sland hopping may not be a term that readily comes to mind when you’re in Newport, Rhode Island. But Newport itself is on an island—Aquidneck—and Narragansett Bay is home to some 40 islands and islets. Whether you’re looking for a quiet oasis on the hook or a bustling harbor, something close aboard or a little more of a stretch, an island-hopping mindset will open up all kinds of possibilities for late summer boating in this part of the Northeast. Here are a few destinations to steer toward.

JAMESTOWN

The most obvious first island hop from Newport is directly across East Passage to Conanicut Island, or Jamestown. The second-largest island in Narragansett Bay at just under 9.5 square miles, Conanicut has a long Native American and colonial history. Today, most people know it as the island they drive across on Route 138, with bridges connecting it to North Kingstown to the west and Newport to the east.

The whole island is the town of Jamestown, which is how locals refer to it. Whether you want to just hang out at anchor for an afternoon of swimming, wander around town and find a nice place to eat, visit some of the historic sites and parks, or find a beautiful overnight anchorage, all options are easily accessible. “Compared to Newport, it’s