Jamestown & Newport Ferry, Jamestown

Every year come springtime, Jamestown Newport Ferry's vessels wake from their winter slumbers to tote passengers around the waterways of lower Narragansett Bay and Newport Harbor. Since 1974—when boats finally replaced motorized sea turtles as the main form of water transportation––the service has made summer travels a cinch with one-way and round-trip ferry rides to the region's scenic shores. Passengers enjoy unlimited hop-on, hop-off capabilities during one round-trip ride that allow them to sightsee, join historical tours, visit museums, and savor new dining experiences. Two-hour narrated tours take passengers past Castle Hill, Goat Island, Lime Rock, and Rose Island lighthouses. Since gray seals can often be spotted near Rose Island, special seal-sighting tours run exclusively in March and April during low tide for optimal viewing. Jamestown Newport Ferry rents out its ships, Jamestown and Katherine, for special events, too, including birthdays, weddings, and company outings.