Weekends with Yankee

>> NARRATOR: This week on Weekends with Yankee, Richard picnics on the lawn of the Chanler at Cliff Walk, a five-star mansion hotel in Newport, Rhode Island, and visits the International Tennis Hall of Fame, exploring the museum and courts.

>> We're the only place in the country where the public can play on the grass courts, which makes us rather unique.

>> NARRATOR: In Maine, Amy joins the founders of a craft oyster farm, OystHERS, and prepares baked oysters and a charcuterie board served in a grownup tree house getaway called Seguin Tree Dwellings.

>> With a tree house, you're in a space that normally you think, like, only birds or chipmunks are up in that space.

>> NARRATOR: And in Bethel, Maine, we explore the town's many activities for outdoor lovers of all types.

>> It's a small town with a big, friendly, welcoming, and warm attitude towards adventure.

>> NARRATOR: So come along with us for a once-in-a-lifetime journey through New England as you've never experienced it before, a true insider's guide from the editors of Yankee magazine.

Join explorer and adventurer Richard Wiese, and Yankee senior food editor Amy Traverso, for behind-the-scenes access to the unique attractions that define this region.

It's the ultimate travel guide from the people who know it best.

Weekends with Yankee.

>> Major funding provided by: >> Massachusetts is home to a lot of firsts-- the first public park in America, the first fried clams, the first university in America, the first basketball game.

What's first for you?

>> Grady-White, crafting offshore sportfishing boats for over 60 years.

>> The Barn Yard, builders of timber-frame barns and garages.

>> And by American Cruise Lines, exploring the historic shores of New England.

>> WIESE: Behind me is the city of Newport, Rhode Island, famous for its yachting, Tennis Hall of Fame and, of course, the mansions which dot Cliff Walk.

Today, I'm going to live the good life.

>> NARRATOR: Nestled in the heart of Rhode Island's classic coast, adventure awaits.

>> I think people are attracted to Newport because it's a very approachable city.

There's a little bit of something for everyone, from people who are very interested in sports or they're interested in sailing.

They can take to the water or they're surfing.

You can be laying out on the beach, or you can be touring some of Newport's amazing homes.

>> NARRATOR: Newport is synonymous with the extravagance of a bygone era.

>> The Gilded Age is a period in the late 19th century and early 20th century when a lot of very wealthy people were coming to Newport and building what were called summer cottages, and it was really an amazing time of opulence and wealth.

And it also coincided with the same time when professional architects started to train at schools like the cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, and so they came back with a wealth of kind of academic knowledge on how to build houses.

>> NARRATOR: One of the most iconic spots is the Cliff Walk, which hugs the coastline next to some of Newport's oldest and grandest Gilded Age mansions.

>> Originally, it was for access to the sea so that people could come out here for fishing or collecting seaweed.

1850s, that was when there was the first recorded use of the Cliff Walk as this public right of way, and since then, people have been using this space to go on walks, hikes, runs.

As you're walking, you can walk and learn a little bit about Newport's architectural history.

I think the thing that makes me most proud to be from Newport is this really beautiful sense of place from colonial history to Gilded Age, really such a beautiful connection to landscape and history that's all around us.

>> WIESE: And while on the Cliff Walk, perhaps nothing exemplifies the gilded life, a life of luxury, more than lunch at the Chanler.

>> NARRATOR: The Chanler has a storied history as the first mansion built on the Cliff Walk in 1873 for the huge sum of $300,000.

It has hosted dignitaries from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow to President Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, it is an exquisite hotel.

>> Chanler to me is quintessential Newport.

I mean, it was originally, you know, built by John Winthrop Chanler.

and it was meant to be a summer home for he and his wife, Margaret Astor, completed in 1873.

Several different phases in its lifespan, and was purchased as a hotel.

And so it ties directly into the Gilded Age history that's so rich here in the Newport area.

>> WIESE: What is your philosophy as a chef?

Especially here at the Chanler.

>> We always try to have something special on the plate and for the meal as a whole to justify why the guest is coming to us, showcasing ingredients from New England, from the property itself as well.

We have our own gardens.

Literally, the ocean is our backyard so it's tough not to be inspired with those resources.

>> NARRATOR: Chef Jacob is about to prepare a salad with ingredients from the Chanler's garden.

>> Regular thyme on that side.

We have some lemon thyme and some alyssum over here.

Try that, it's a little bit more forceful.

>> WIESE: I feel like I'm on a foraging trip here.

>> (laughs) Our little bit of garlic scapes that are shaved on there.

>> WIESE: Oh, nice.

>> It really kind of, just, it rounds out the palate, you know?

It's, uh... being able to incorporate the flowers, it really kind of gives a sense of whimsy on the plate.

>> NARRATOR: Chef Jacob adds the finishing touches.

>> The salad itself is all coming out of the garden, finished with the fresh flowers, the fresh cucamelons, you know, fresh tomatoes that were picked, some beans in there as well.

But the dressing is the same thing.

If you're serving the nasturtium as a salad, you know, everything together, what better way than to make a vinegarette out of the blossoms and, you know, reinforce the flavors?

>> WIESE: There is such a difference between fresh out of the garden or fresh out of the sea than when you get it in the store.

This is fantastic.

>> Completely different.

>> WIESE: And, you know, with the view of the Chanler, this is a fantastic start to my Newport experience.

Thank you so much, this is... >> Absolutely a pleasure.

>> WIESE: The billion-dollar view.

>> NARRATOR: Richard makes his way in style to hit the courts on famed Bellevue Avenue.

At the turn of the century, this building was once the Newport Casino.

Today, it is a historic landmark and museum which celebrates the sport of tennis.

>> WIESE: I'm at the Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island, and you know how you get here?

You practice, practice, practice.

Or, in my case, I happened to walk in the front door.

>> When you come down the street on Bellevue, you don't realize what's actually behind those arch doors and you walk onto this pristine, stunningly beautiful property.

The grass courts that are played on today were the same grass courts that were played on in the 1800s.

>> WIESE: How did the Hall of Fame end up in Newport?

>> This particular facility was built in 18-- over the course of 1880, opened in 1881.

It was built as a social club for the summer elite and tennis was the featured part of that.

>> WIESE: I looked around and I said, "Wow, there's some really cool memorabilia."

>> When you come to the Hall of Fame and you enter into the museum, there's a wide variety of activities and artifacts that you can look and see.

The museum spans the entire history of the sport, from the birth of the game, all the way to present day.

And, you know, we like to say we're preserving history as it's happening.

>> NARRATOR: Over 250 tennis greats are honored in the Hall of Fame from 27 countries, including Ren Lacoste and Billie Jean King, to Arthur Ashe and Steffi Graf.

>> We consider this to be the ultimate honor-- so once you've won every slam and gold medal and all the other possible trophies, the tour wins and you've spent your time at number one, number two, whatever that is, a body of voters will determine if you are eligible and worthy of getting into the Hall of Fame.

And we really are the, the keepers of the history of the sport globally.

There really isn't anyone else in the world who's focused on the entire spectrum of the sport of tennis as we are.

And, um, I... you know, so I think when people come, I hope that they get an understanding of the game.

I hope they feel inspired.

>> NARRATOR: Richard is inspired to hit the grass courts and practice his ground strokes.

>> Keep your front arm up when you hit your forehand.

When you hit it like this, you lack balance.

When your front arm's like that, you hit the ball beautifully.

Nice ball.

>> WIESE: There seems to be such an allure about grass.

>> Grass is the most precious and historic of all the surfaces.

People travel from all over to get a chance to play on grass.

We're the only place in the country where the public can play on the grass courts, which makes us rather unique.

It's very Field of Dreams -like.

When people come in here, they're just awed by the ideal of getting to play on the natural grass surface.

The ball doesn't bounce to you the way it would on a hard court.

>> WIESE: What's the advice you give?

>> You have great stroke, which was nice to see, and you're left-handed so you have that built-in advantage.

Is I would advise you to use a modern racket.

You're using the racket that Novak Djokovic uses.

One of the reasons he won, he's done so well at Wimbledon through the years is his willingness to get forward and take balls out of the air.

And the last thing I would say is I would really place great emphasis on serving.

If you can hold your serve on grass, you're going to be in pretty good shape.

The other thing about tennis that's so vitally important is that they've done medical research.

The people who play tennis tend to live longer.

It's fairly low impact.

It's great for cardiovascular, it's great for muscle development, and it's great for your mind also because you're forced to think all the time.

>> WIESE: (groans) Anyhow, Bill, thank you so much.

>> Well played, you're doing great out there.

>> WIESE: You're very generous, and, you know, given your Field of Dreams analysis of this place, I did feel like I was in some place that was steeped in tradition.

And, you know, I feel like it's an honor not quite worthy of me, but thank you.

>> Well, you're welcome and everybody is welcome to come here.

This is open to the public.

We are a public trust.

We're the International Tennis Hall of Fame, so thanks so much for visiting Newport.

>> WIESE: Well, thanks for rounding out my Newport experience.

>> Awesome.

>> WIESE: And I will practice, practice, practice.

>> TRAVERSO: I'm here on Robinhood Cove on Maine's Georgetown Peninsula, and I have such an exciting day ahead.

First, I'm going to be meeting with sisters Lauren and Sadia Crosby.

who farm oysters nearby, and then serve them at an oyster and bubbly bar in Bath, Maine.

Then I'm going to be visiting the Seguin Treehouse Resort.

This is a dream of mine to spend a day among tree houses, and I'm going to be cooking oysters and eating them.

It's just going to be fabulous.

>> NARRATOR: On the Georgetown Peninsula, in the quiet backwaters of Robinhood Cove, Sadia Crosby farms oysters-- she's an entrepreneur whose father was a commercial lobsterman.

This lifestyle is in her blood.

>> TRAVERSO: I love your office, it's beautiful!

>> Isn't it wonderful?

>> TRAVERSO: Thank you.

Nice to meet you.

>> Nice to meet you, and welcome.

>> TRAVERSO: Thank you, I can't wait to get out on the water.

>> Likewise.

>> TRAVERSO: How far out are your oyster beds?

>> It's about a ten to 15 minute boat ride out there.

>> TRAVERSO: Oh my gosh, I can't wait.

>> Yeah.

>> TRAVERSO: So tell me about kind of where we are and what these waters are like and how that affects the oyster.

>> In Robinhood Cove here, we have a very heavy influx of that, you know, Gulf of Maine water, so very salty.

Up in this cove, we have an estuary where there's a lot of fresh water so there's a big mix of nutrients.

>> TRAVERSO: Wow.

>> Which is very ideal for oyster farming.

When you start farming oysters, you don't know exactly how they're going to taste until you're able to harvest them.

So that might be two, two-and-a-half, three years once they've grown.

>> TRAVERSO: Wow.

>> And my oysters have a very sweet, buttery flavor with a subtle brine, but not overpowering.

>> TRAVERSO: Oh, that's so good!

>> And I am very, very happy about my oysters, yeah.

>> TRAVERSO: That's my favorite kind of oyster.

>> NARRATOR: Sadia's company is called OystHERS.

It's one of about 30 women-owned oyster farms in Maine.

OystHERS is part of the Georgetown Island Oyster Cooperative.

>> The whole lease area that you're seeing is actually made up of eight farmers and it was an initiative that we had here on the island to bring young people back to the island by providing aquaculture opportunities where they could support themselves, but also have families come back.

>> NARRATOR: Sadia earned a master's degree in entomology, but she spends most days nurturing oysters from the seed stage to adulthood with lots of TLC.

>> By tumbling or constantly moving them, it helps teach them to grow, you know, that beautiful deep cup.

You don't want to overcrowd them because then, you know, they're filter feeders, so they're filtering the water and that's how they get the nutrients that they need to grow.

>> NARRATOR: Sadia and Amy check for oysters that are ready for market.

>> So these I would actually describe as more petite oysters right now.

In some markets, they would definitely go to the market.

>> TRAVERSO: Uh-huh.

>> They're about two inches, two-and-a-quarter.

And then you have, like, a select oyster, which is, you know, anywhere bigger than that to, like, three-and-a-half inches.

Each oyster's a little different.

>> TRAVERSO: Yeah.

>> I'll get some quirky ones that I'll harvest here, and then when I'm shucking them later at the bar, I'll pull it out.

"Ah, I remember you!"

>> TRAVERSO: (laughs) >> TRAVERSO: Taste them, mm.

Mm, mm!

Oh my God, they're so sweet.

You didn't, like, pre-sugar them before you brought me out here?

>> Nope!

>> TRAVERSO: Wow.

That is fantastic.

>> Good.

>> TRAVERSO: Just this wonderful briny, you know, front.

But, oh my God, and buttery, like... just, oh!

>> Yeah, very special.

>> TRAVERSO: Wow.

Good work!

>> Thank you.

>> NARRATOR: Sadia and Amy motor back to Bath.

Sadia and her sister, Lauren, were born and raised in Georgetown.

Lauren was a high school teacher and Fulbright scholar.

Together, they opened OystHERS Raw Bar and Bubbly.

>> Coming together with Sadia has been awesome because we've always wanted to start a business.

And so it feels really good to finally do something with Sadia because we were best friends growing up.

That is kind of how OystHERS Raw Bar and Bubbly came to be.

And I love champagne and bubbly, and Sadia is an expert in oysters.

>> TRAVERSO: Yeah.

>> So we said, "Here we go.

We're doing it."

>> TRAVERSO: What made you want to come back?

>> So we're lobstermen's daughters and I was living in Alaska actually.

And at the end of 2021, I got a phone call.

Our dad had passed away unexpectedly.

He was our best friend, really cool guy, and that definitely brought us back.

I think he'd be really probably proud of what we've accomplished.

>> TRAVERSO: Oh, I can imagine.

>> Or he probably thinks we're crazy, you know?

Because it's a lot of work, but, you know, he didn't want any of his daughters to become lobstermen.

>> TRAVERSO: Yeah.

>> It was very clear, and we grew up doing it and it's a hard lifestyle.

>> TRAVERSO: Yeah.

>> So this is kind of a tribute to we're still supporting Maine lobstermen.

We're still supporting Maine crab, but just in our own way, which is a lot of fun, so... >> TRAVERSO: That's so great.

Let's talk about bubbly.

>> Yeah.

Yes.

>> TRAVERSO: What do you love?

What goes well with the oysters?

What should we know about pairing with oysters?

>> Yeah, I love bubbly so much because it's a celebratory thing, right?

And the whole concept of OystHERS Raw Bar and Bubbly was that the little things in life should be celebrated.

>> TRAVERSO: Aww.

>> Like, it doesn't matter who you are, where you come from-- it should be important to celebrate the small everyday things in life.

Actually, Sadia just found, two days ago when she was shucking one of these whiskey stones, her first pearl.

So we found a pearl.

>> TRAVERSO (gasps): That's so cool!

>> Yes, yeah, very cool.

>> TRAVERSO: Oh my gosh!

You're going to get rich off these oysters!

>> I know, I don't know, she's shucked about, you know, 10,000 oysters and only one pearl.

>> TRAVERSO: It just took a couple of years.

>> Yeah.

So when people come and takeaway, we do offer these little bait bags.

These are actually our father's bait bags.

>> TRAVERSO: Aw, that's so special.

>> When he was calling lobster traps-- they're clean, we've cleaned them!

But you can pick which oysters you'd like and we'll put them in a little bag, a bait bag, and we'll take them away.

>> TRAVERSO: Okay.

Thank you.

>> Yes, of course.

>> TRAVERSO: Thanks.

>> NARRATOR: After she's collected her fresh oysters, Amy will head to the nearby Seguin Tree Dwellings.

These unique tree house getaways are the creation of two brothers and their wives.

Inspired by a nearby island, they named it Seguin, a Wabanaki term which means, "reaching out of the water."

>> TRAVERSO: So Phil, will you tell me the story of this really magical place?

>> Yes, well, welcome.

I actually grew up on a neighboring property right over that way.

>> TRAVERSO: Wow.

>> We noticed some of these mammoth trees on site and our instinct was to climb them.

>> TRAVERSO: Right.

>> As soon as we got up to the heights, we looked out and caught this view, which is of the Back River, which meets up with the Kennebec and then out into open ocean.

>> And then at some point, none of us know who said it, the idea of tree dwellings emerged, or tree houses.

And then we all felt like, "That's it.

Like, that would be so fun, so creative, so exciting."

There is that feeling of going back to childhood.

And even if you didn't have a tree house, you probably made pillow forts or blanket forts or forts in the woods.

>> TRAVERSO: Yes.

Yeah.

And then I think with a tree house, you get this, like, literal change of perspective and you're in a space that normally you think, like, only birds or chipmunks are up in that space.

And now, like, I'm up there.

>> TRAVERSO: What do you want people's experience to be when they come here?

>> Yeah.

>> TRAVERSO: What, what are you hoping they pick up on?

>> I'd say at the core, we want it to be a place of rest and restoration, and simultaneously of creativity.

>> TRAVERSO: Mm.

>> Seguin is three tree dwellings, and a cook house and a gathering space, and I wanted you to feel that there was a sort of fluidness between the indoor and the outdoor spaces.

I start sketching by hand and looking at the site because the trees and the landscape are such a part of the tree dwelling.

And then you're trying to think, "Well, what would the view be out of there?

How would the trees intersect with the structure?"

>> NARRATOR: The tree dwellings are also the site of various programs for artists, writers, and other creative pursuits, from photography to music.

But the Dunns are most proud of their sister nonprofit.

>> Also, part of this property is Seguinland Institute.

And the institute, we create these immersive programs for college-aged students.

There's just so many young people who are hungry for these kinds of spaces where they can think about these big questions of the good life, get their feet on the ground before they launch off into this next phase of life.

>> TRAVERSO: Yeah.

>> So we hope it's a place that's unplugged, far away from the pace of modern technology where you can ground yourself and literally have a change of perspective.

So we love that we're able to create a little piece of magic in people's lives.

>> A sense of peacefulness of being in nature, a sense of calm, a sense of perspective, and also hopefully just, like, a sense of fun and joy.

>> TRAVERSO: Well, I am very excited to wander the property a little bit, gather some inspiration, and then I just wanted to make some yummy treats for everybody.

>> Wonderful.

Thank you.

>> NARRATOR: The gathering space in the trees is the perfect spot for friends to be together.

>> TRAVERSO: Hey!

Hi!

>> Hi!

Nice to see you!

(crosstalk) >> How are you guys doing?

>> NARRATOR: This is an intimate community where entrepreneurs like Marsha and Phil know the Crosby sisters.

Amy prepares a recipe called Oysters Old Cliff, with mushrooms, spinach, and cream cheese.

>> TRAVERSO: Bon appetit.

>> Cheers!

>> TRAVERSO: Mm.

>> So good.

>> TRAVERSO: Mm.

Oh, that makes me happy.

>> Mmm.

>> Wow.

>> TRAVERSO: This is, like, Maine bounty.

(laughter) >> Wow, this is best oyster!

(laughter) We were just having them raw, this is so good.

>> TRAVERSO: I'll send you the recipe.

>> NARRATOR: Amy saves the best for last, enjoying the view while soaking in a wood-fired hot tub up in the trees.

Philip said he wanted this to be a place where people could come and think about what the good life means for them.

Well, ending a day with a glass of delicious wine in a hot tub in a tree house is pretty much it for me.

(bike spokes turning) >> NARRATOR: A hidden gem, Bethel is an adventure-filled destination known for its mountain biking, mineral collecting, a vibrant downtown, and pristine waters that attract anyone and everyone who loves the outdoors.

>> Bethel is nestled in the Mahoosuc Valley region, which creates a great landscape for any outdoor activity.

So you've got the beautiful rivers, there's tons of lakes.

People come to this area to get out and enjoy nature and this location, Bethel Outdoor Adventure, provides almost every single part of that.

The Androscoggin River is a great river to canoe and kayak.

We have a couple of different locations that we drop people off at.

We shuttle people up river and they float right back down to us, which is great for logistics, so they don't have to worry about shuttling themselves up river-- they come right back to where they started.

You get a little bit more of a serene, picturesque area up there.

Lots of mountains in the background.

It's a nice wild atmosphere.

We've got an island with a suspension bridge over it with a nature walk around it so people can brave the suspension bridge, if you're not afraid of heights, and then we just have a lot of other hiking areas and nature paths around.

We have families that have been coming here for 30 years doing river trips and camping.

A lot of people have grown up here and they want to continue to come back and do that with their own families.

Being on the water, kayaking, canoeing, camping, this is a great place to create memories.

>> You can go out as a family and come back as a family and have some fun and see some new terrain.

Inland Woods and Trails' focus for mountain biking has always been about easy and intermediate, cross country, fun and flowy trails.

It's easy to build something hard.

It's hard to build something easy.

And that was our intention and that is what Bethel Village trails are all about.

Easy, fun, flowy, progressive trails that build confidence so you're ready to move onto the next thing.

You know, mountain biking is pretty simple.

It's like, you need a couple of bike shops.

We have those.

You need some good eats, we have that.

You need a coffee shop.

Nailed it there.

And then you need to, I guess, have some beer afterwards, so we've got four breweries in this town.

It's a small town with a big, friendly, welcoming, and warm attitude towards adventure.

>> One of the great, more recent attractions that has come to Bethel is the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, and it is absolutely fabulous, a great place for kids.

Very tactile, things you can touch and look at and explore.

You know, if anything can be described as the biggest, the most, the shiniest, the most important, it is in this museum.

This area of Maine has a wide variety of really beautiful gems.

It just sort of adds to the mystique of when you're out there in the woods, you're hiking around.

You never know what's under your feet.

You never know what you're going to be able to find.

Some people know this area just for its gems alone.

It also has one of the world's largest collections of things from outer space.

Moon rocks, things from Mars, and, like, second only to NASA collection of this, and so it's become a real attraction.

Some people know this area just for its gems alone.

>> NARRATOR: For exclusive videos, recipes, travel ideas, tips from the editors, and access to the Weekends With Yankee digital magazine, go to weekendswithyankee.com and follow us on social media, @yankeemagazine.

Yankee magazine, the inspiration for the television series, provides recipes, feature articles, and the best of New England from the people who know it best.

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Call 1-800-221-8154. Credit cards accepted.

Major funding provided by... >> Massachusetts is home to a lot of firsts-- the first public park in America; the first fried clams; the first university in America; the first basketball game.

What's first for you?

>> Grady-White, crafting offshore sportfishing boats for over 60 years.

>> The Barn Yard, builders of timber-frame barns and garages.

And by American Cruise Lines, exploring the historic shores of New England.