A New Yorker Experiences a Quaint Stay at a Tiverton B&B

Ferolbink Potato Farm offers lodgings in the thick of Puncatest Neck

Photos by Meg Parsont

Posted Friday, September 29, 2023 12:00 pm

About Meg Parsont

Meg Parsont is an independent publicist and writer. Fans of the Late Show with David Letterman may recall her frequent appearances as Meg From Across the Street. While exploring the East Bay, Parsont would like to give shout-outs to favorites Blithewold, all things Groundswell, and Plouf Plouf Gastronomie.

By Meg A. Parsont

As New Yorkers in need of the occasional break from the hustle and bustle of the city, my husband Danny and I like to get off the beaten path when we travel. When I heard about the B&B at Ferolbink Farms in Tiverton, I thought it sounded perfect for a weekend getaway. A room in a house dating back to the 1840s on a working potato farm overlooking Narragansett Bay? Yes, please!

When we drove past farm outbuildings and equipment on the 170-acre property and saw the historic house and panoramic view in the distance of the Sakonnet River, we knew we were in for a memorable weekend. Pete Peckham, a vigorous 80-something potato farmer whose family has owned the farm and property since 1944, showed us to our suite on the ground floor of the sprawling house. With a bedroom and sitting room, huge bathroom, and access to the living room across the hall, the suite was larger than our Manhattan apartment! Furnished with a comfortable four-poster bed, an eclectic mix of vintage pieces, and assorted easy chairs and couches, it was spotless and homey. And the water view from the porch just outside our room was stunning.

Early the next morning I wandered around the property and discovered bushes laden with blueberries and raspberries, and spotted apples on some trees. Breakfast on the porch was simple: coffee, as many freshly picked blueberries as we could eat, cereal, and a toasted English muffin with jam, enjoyed while taking in that glorious view.

As avid bird watchers and enthusiastic eaters, Danny and I were on a quest for bird sightings and good peaches, and Pete and his wife Deanna gave us suggestions for nearby nature preserves and produce stands. For the next two days we explored the surrounding area where we discovered secluded beaches, fresh local produce, a field of black-eyed Susans, succulent lobster rolls with a water view, a charming French bistro, and a spectacular public garden. We returned to New York City rested, restored, and well fed!