The Red Dory

"WHAT: The second act for chef Steve Johnson (who closed his Cambridge, Massachusetts, restaurant Rendezvous in 2014), with deceptively simple fare, served in a quaint one-story building overlooking the Sakonnet River, 45 minutes south of Providence. 

WHY: With a wood-fired stove in the dining room and a picnic-table-strewn waterfront porch, Red Dory screams more summer weekend than urban swank. But here, beneath canvas sails draped from the cork ceiling, Johnson works wonders with local seafood, like the tender Rhode Island squid he sauteed with thick borlotti beans and arugula, or the linguini slicked with red sauce and clams dug up nearby. The lemon pudding cake, which Johnson also served at Rendezvous, tastes of sunshine, summer weekend or not." [Eater]

Mediterranean Restaurant

Website: The Red Dory

Address: 1848 Main Rd, Tiverton, RI 02878

 

Balcones del Atlántico

"The 86-villa Balcones del Atlántico opened two years ago in Las Terrenas in the mountainous Samana Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. This is one of the most postcard-perfect spots in the northern Antilles. The remote setting is mythical. The road to get here passes through lush, wet high mountain passes carpeted with thick palm trees and massive ferns. Rumor has it that ex-CIA agents often retire to Samana to escape into hidden homes high up in the mountains. It’s the stuff of spy novels, but for real. Maybe. A perfectly idyllic natural beach extends from one end of Las Terrenas to the other, with dozens of thatch shops, restaurants and seafood purveyors lining the sand. You're more likely to see a fisherman throwing a net just offshore than a t-shirt shop. The emerald water is calm and clear, and the only sound you can hear is the tradewinds coming off the tropical Atlantic. The eco-luxe Balcones features 1- to 3-bedroom villas with gigantic balconies (hence the name), filled with plump pillows, modern Balinese-style furniture, thick hand-hewn wood tables and long fancy BBQs. 'When people want a real Dominican experience they choose Terrenas,” says GM Pedro Sanchez during our lunch at the seaside Porto restaurant. “Yet the area was built by the French, Italian, German and Dominicans who lived and worked here for decades. So it’s very multicultural, but at the same time lush and natural, so you feel very in touch with the soul of the Dominican Republic.'" [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Balcones del Atlántico

Address: El Limón 32000, Dominican Republic

 

Freddies Santai Sumurtiga

"Want secluded beaches and thatched huts perched above lapping turquoise waves on white sand beaches facing the Andaman Sea? The island of Pulau Weh, locally known as Sabang, is about a 45-minute speed ferry ride from the Banda Aceh port. Jutting toward the Indian Ocean, it is the northwesternmost island of the entire Indonesian archipelago and offers snorkeling, scuba diving, and a laid-back, relaxing getaway. The waters at Iboih and Gapang beaches on the northwest peninsula are very calm and inviting. This area is more remote and accommodations are very basic. The best place to stay is at Freddies on secluded Santai Sumurtiga facing the Andaman Sea. Sumurtiga beach is one of the only beaches where women can wear swimsuits and bikinis without drawing unwanted attention. A native South African, Freddie Rousseau is a personable and consummate host, cooking up meals himself and tailoring the music selection to his guests as they enjoy the breezy open-air dining room. Accommodations are in thatched huts with balconies perched over the beach where one can sit and daydream about legendary pirates of the south seas." [AFAR]

Hotel / Beach

Website: Freddies Santai Sumurtiga

Address: Jalan Kyai Haji Agus Salim, Ie Meulee, Sukajaya, Kota Sabang, Aceh 23521, Indonesia