DINE Inns offer Olympic Level Adventure – Part II

Last week we introduced the world to our own world of adventure and Olympic-level athletic sports at the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England (DINE).  In Part I of this series, we talked about everything from Olympic-level trivia and puzzling in Vermont to garden and beach strolling in Maine. This week our blog will focus on sports offered in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island inns.  No need to wait four years for the next winter Olympics, we offer Olympic-style adventure year-round at the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England.  Go for the gold – it takes far less training and is a lot more fun here in DINE country.

In Massachusetts, we start at Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, MA where they’ve taken “taverning” to Olympic heights.  The Harbor Light Inn’s cozy tavern often offers weekend entertainment, and with a nautical flair, gives guests the chance to enjoy a cocktail, craft beer or glass of wine after a day of exploring the area.  Well trained in light pub fare and everyone’s favorite chowder, the Harbor Light Inn’s tavern offers up plenty of events in cocktailing for guests, athletes and Olympians alike.

single malts at Gateways Inn & RestaurantMoving west to the Berkshires, the Gateways Inn and Restaurant’s elite collection of 180 different whiskies makes this inn another perfect venue for “Malting”.  Add in the inn’s Piano Bar, often open late after summer events at Tanglewood and other Berkshire entertainment venues, and you have an Olympic-level training facility here for single malting.  For those training for the wine-tasting events, you’re in luck. Gateways Inn offers up an extensive wine list and has already captured gold with a Wine Spectator’s “Award of Excellence”. For those working hard to make it big in the four-man (or woman) malting events or speed-malting, and wine-tasting, the Gateways Inn & Restaurant is an ideal venue for those in training.

Just about 45 minutes from the Gateways, Olympians will find the Deerfield Inn, another well-known training facility of historic proportions.  Located within a living museum, the Deerfield Inn is a hotbed for speed learning and colonial history observation.  Stay at this Olympic village and re-enact history in living color – including gold, silver and bronze.  The inn’s restaurant Champney’s Restaurant and Tavern, offers elite training menus focused on local fare too.

Tea time at Captain's House InnFor those interested in biathlon, head to Chatham Cape Cod’s Captain’s House Inn.  Here you’ll find the ideal venue for tea and R&R all in one place.  Spend the morning focused on sleep, walks on the beach and nutritious breakfasts.  In the afternoon, focus your energy on honing your tea-time skills as a fabulous afternoon tea is the specialty of this inn.  With Cape Cod’s distinctive beaches and the Captain’s House Inn’s distinguished dining room combination, this is the ideal location for those interested in this unique biathlon competition.

Moving to Rhode Island, we head to Newport, where the Cliffside Inn offers up the perfect training center for cliff walking.  Located within steps of Newport’s famous Cliff Walk, the Cliffside Inn allows athletes the chance to enter easily and continue training for miles and miles. Return to the inn for ideal shower facilities, then end the day with a deep muscle massage right in your room.  Training diets and food restrictions are no problem here, where the breakfast and afternoon receptions are plentiful and perfect for athletes and guests in training.

Porch at Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, a Niantic, CT B&BFinally, we end our Olympic training tour at the Inn at Harbor Hill Marina, which takes Porch Sitting to the highest levels.  With a rocker-filled porch overlooking a busy marina and Niantic Bay beyond, guests and athletes alike can become expert porch-sitters and rockers here with just one stay.  Take morning coffee or afternoon wine or cider out on the porch and sitting for hours becomes easy and beneficial to body, mind and spirit for all those who wish to pursue this endeavor.  With one stay, many guests can qualify for the U.S. Porch Sitting Team.  Returning guests serve as mentors and trainers for those new to the sport.

There you have it, twelve Olympic sports and the distinctive training facilities offered by DINE inns.  For those who’d simply rather pursue an expertise in New England romantic escapes, any of these options work well too! Plan your next romantic winter  getaway at the 12 Distinctive Inns of New England by clicking on links below that will take you directly to each of their websites.

In Rhode Island: Cliffside Inn in Newport

In Connecticut: Inn at Harbor Hill Marina in Niantic

In New Hampshire:  Manor on Golden Pond in Holderness & Chesterfield Inn in West Chesterfield

In Vermont:  Rabbit Hill Inn in Lower Waterford & Grafton Inn in Grafton

In Massachusetts:  Harbor Light Inn in Marblehead, Gateways Inn & Restaurant in Lenox, Deerfield Inn in Historic Deerfield and Captain’s House Inn in Chatham on Cape Cod.

In Maine:  Captain Jefferds Inn in Kennebunkport & Camden Maine Stay Inn in Camden.