Newburyport is the perfect destination for a good old-fashioned road trip. Historically a busy fishing village north of Boston, Newburyport has been an East Coast gem since the revolution. Its classic Yankee charm makes it a chic town to visit when you want to get out of the city– the perfect spot to spend a weekend. We rented a Tesla Model 3 and took a road trip to Newburyport a few weeks ago, which looking back feels like a lifetime ago. No restaurant closures, travel bans or fears of catching COVID-19 in our own backyards. Hopefully this gives a little relief to the onslaught of negativity in the news these days, here is how we spent a weekend roadtripping to Newburyport in a Tesla.
Renting a Tesla Model 3
You all know we love our road trips and one of the reasons they are so fun is that we get to try out new makes and models of cars. This time we wanted to give the Tesla Model 3 a try. There are lots of Teslas available on Turo to rent. We picked up our car Saturday morning for our 2-day rental and we were off.
Getting to Newburyport on Our Roadtrip
If you try to envision a classic New England town, Newburyport should come to mind. Colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks make for picturesque locale. After a quick 45-minute drive, we arrived in the heart of this beautiful downtown. Driving through the charming streets got us excited to explore, but we had just a few more minutes until we would arrive at our hotel, Blue Inn on the Beach by Lark Hotels.
Blue Inn on the Beach
Located just a few minutes from downtown, on Plum Island, Blue Inn on the Beach is where you want to stay when visiting Newburyport. The Blue Inn on the Beach, by Lark Hotels, is a modern take on the classic Yankee ‘beach house.’ Open year-round, guests can take in views of the Atlantic during all seasons.
The Ocean-view balconies mean you can wake up, enjoy the complimentary breakfast basket and coffee with the sights and sounds of crashing waves in the morning sunlight.
Coastally inspired décor fills the rooms with calming colors and textures that make you feel right at home. The signature Lark Hotel funky twist means that rooms are reminiscent of the beach houses found all up and down the Atlantic coast, but with a modern look and feel that’s creative, appealing to visitors from all over the world.
Exploring Newburyport
Water Street and State Street are the two main streets in the town, but the side streets are absolutely worth exploring as well. Stop in at any of the galleries, shops, or cafes to buy some souvenirs or just check them out. Soak & Shoreline, La Cascade cu Chocolat, and the Salt Cellar are must-sees for any traveler. Once you’ve shopped yourself out, take a stroll to the waterfront and enjoy the views of the Merrimack River, which flows into the Atlantic.
Dinner at the Poynt
After a day of exploring, we headed to the Poynt on Water Street for dinner. Street parking as well as parking lot spaces are available nearby, making it the perfect location for road trippers like us. Their eclectic menu is filled with shareable small plates and an excellent cocktail list. The fusion appetizers, like the shishito peppers and the duck tostada, were a tasty way to begin the meal.
Duck Tostada Shishito Peppers Steak Frites Lamb Bolognese Ice cream and blondie
For entrees we tried the grass-fed ribeye and the lamb Bolognese, which is made with fresh fettuccini and topped with a generous scoop of ricotta. And of course we saved room for dessert.
Enjoying the Simple Things
The times that we now live in have given all of us a new lens on our old lives. Jumping in the car and heading to a fun destination for the weekend used to be so ordinary, but now feels like a dream. Newburyport is an amazing locale destination for Bostonians and for those seeking a low-key trip, spending a weekend at the beach will certainly be a dream come true once the COVID-19 crisis is over.
Roadtripping in a Tesla
Our experience with the Tesla Model 3 was great! Autopilot on the highway made the trip a breeze and with an abundance of both Tesla chargers, level 2 charging and level 1 charging available in the Northeast, we didn’t feel any range anxiety on this weekend getaway.
For more road trip stories be sure to check out our articles on a Wine & Cheese Roadtrip Through Quebec and Roadtripping to Wiesbaden.
