Rhode Island Best Lodging 2011

BEST COTTAGE RENTAL
Kagels Cottages, Narragansett
Early-20th-century waterfront cottages nest by a salt pond. Steeped in 63 acres of farmland and views of the Ram Island bird sanctuary, it’s clear why this has been a family business since the 1920s, hosting five generations of families: There’s no reason to leave. Rates: from $1,100 per week. 91 Kenyon Farms Road. 401-783-4551 (summer), 401-789-9983 (winter); kagels.com

BEST REASON TO COME ASHORE
Forty 1° North, Newport
It’s not just for landlubbers–sailors like to berth their yachts here, too, forgoing their galley kitchens for dockside dining and a Tempur-Pedic sleep. This sleek resort is a compound of two restaurants, a marina, hotel rooms, cottages, and lofts. Rates: from $375, including in-room spa amenities. Entrées: Grill from $24; Christie’s from $9. 351 Thames St. 401-846-8018; 41north.com

BEST NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Rose Island Lighthouse, Newport
For a charitable donation that’s far less than a beach-house rental, you can be the lighthouse keeper for a week ($1,200-$2,300). If idling is more your speed, rent a guest room in this circa-1912 museum. Rates: from $185. 401-847-4242; roseislandlighthouse.org

BEST VICTORIAN MAKEOVER
Ocean House, Watch Hill
This grande dame may have undergone a five-year, $140 million facelift, but it hasn’t forgotten its roots. You’ll find afternoon tea on the porch and Friday night clambakes on the beach. And the head lifeguard, who left after 35 years when the hotel closed temporarily in 2003, is now in charge of beach services (and still saving lives at age 62). Rates: from $545. 1 Bluff Ave. 401-584-7000; oceanhouseri.com

BEST INDULGENCES
Stone House, Little Compton
Sail the islands and dine by candlelight on a hired Hinckley before cruising back to this 13-room 1854 stone Italianate villa at Sakonnet Point. Bathroomd feature tiled Japanese soaking tubs, and the spa offers Balinese massage. Rates: from $800, including full breakfast. 122 Sakonnet Point Road. 401-635-2222; stonehouse1854.com

BEST B&B
Marshall Slocum Guest House, Newport
The first clue is a front porch swing. Then you meet the gracious innkeepers, Mark and Dana Spring, and you begin to suspect that this visit will feel like staying with friends–friends who honed their hospitality at the Ritz-Carlton. Breakfasts on the terrace are worth a wake-up call. Plus, downtown is within walking distance yet out of earshot. Rates: from $125, including full breakfast. 29 Kay St. 800-372-5120, 401-841-5120; marshallslocuminn.com

BEST HOTEL ALTERNATIVE
Bristol Guest Suites, Bristol
Choose from the Harbor, Garden, or Sailor’s Loft: three quaint apartments in federal homes in Bristol’s downtown historic district. Features include kitchenettes, gardens, bay views, and fireplaces. Lofts are available by the night, week, month, or longer. Rates: from $175. Harbor Loft, 9 Church St., 401-254-0995; Garden Loft, 620 Hope St., 401-253-7412; Sailor’s Loft, 649 Hope St., 401-396-9560.bristolguestsuites.com