Weekends with Yankee

Amy Traverso heads to Boston’s Chinatown for a tour of this vibrant community and to make dumplings. At the Weekapaug Inn in Westerly, RI, co-hosts Richard Wiese and Amy Traverso explore the attractions of the four-star destination while enjoying both its natural beauty and its culinary delicacies. And in Tiverton, RI, we visit a special breed of farmers determined to preserve their way of life.

Visit the oldest acapella group in the United States, The Whiffenpoofs. In Salem, MA, experience an urban oasis, The Salem Punto Art Museum, where grand scale murals decorate the community. In Portland, ME, meet Barton Seaver, a chef who combines his passion for food and cooking with his commitment to sustainability and conservation. And co-host Richard Wiese takes us on a tour of the PEZ factory.

Richard Wiese takes us on a tour of the Mystic Aquarium where he gets to be trainer for a day. Up in Grey, Maine, visit a sanctuary for injured and orphaned wildlife, the Maine Wildlife Park. In New Hampshire, Amy Traverso goes crabbing with a fisheries specialist. Amy cooks her catch into a mouthwatering seafood stew with Brendan Vesey, chef of Botanica Restaurant and Gin Bar in Portsmouth.

Amy gets to build a table by hand, using sustainably sourced wood from a nearby forest, at Shackleton Thomas Furniture and Pottery. In Maine, Richard Wiese takes us on an adventure to unearth the state gemstone--tourmaline. In Cape Neddick, ME, chef Justin Walker and his restaurateur wife, Danielle Johnson Walker, put a modern spin on a traditional Maine bean hole supper at their farmhouse.

In Connecticut, Dorie Greenspan whips up a delicious triple-layer parsnip and cranberry cake. Up in Rumney, New Hampshire, Richard goes rock climbing at a popular destination for climbers from all over the world. And in Martha’s Vineyard, renowned architect Patrick Ahearn takes us on a tour of a few of his favorite preservation projects that also highlight the unique beauty of the island.

In NH, chef David Vargas uses tortillas crafted from locally grown corn, Richard hops on an ATV, and we go hang gliding at sunset. And on Martha’s Vineyard, it’s Grand Illumination Night, featuring homes decorated with paper lanterns.

Amy Traverso visits an acclaimed vineyard in an unlikely place--Barnard, VT. At Swans Island Company in Northport, ME, sheeps’ wool is hand dyed and handwoven to create one-of-a-kind blankets and scarves. In Mystic, CT, Richard Wiese hops aboard the newly restored Mayflower II, a full-scale reproduction, just in time for the 400th anniversary.

In Provincetown, MA, see what makes this Cape Cod town a beloved destination. At the Music Hall in Portsmouth, NH, we find a calendar packed with musical, literary and cultural events. At Luke’s Lobsters in Maine, see how a lobster roll company grew into a sustainable seafood company and get a peek into the factory where they prepare about 32,000 pounds of lobster every day.

Richard Wiese is on Potter Pond in Kingstown, RI, with Perry Raso, owner of Matunuck Oyster Farm and Bar. At The Thompson House Eatery in historic Jackson, NH, husband and wife team Jeff and Kate Fournier are continuing the restaurant’s legacy as a landmark in the community. Then visit Wiggly Bridge Distillery in York, ME, where small batch spirits are distilled in handmade copper stills.

Richard Wiese goes to Provincetown, MA, to meet with maritime treasure hunter who made a surprising discovery on a pirate ship. Up in Portland, ME, tour the iconic B&M Factory, where they make canned brown bread—a uniquely New England treat. Then in Providence, RI, see some local eats and learn why this tiny state has so many unique dishes that you can’t find anywhere else.

Comedian and author John Hodgman visits his hometown of Brookline, MA, including historic Coolidge Corner Theater for some nostalgia and popcorn. Then in Bartlett, NH, Richard Wiese ice climbs Cathedral Ledge. Finally, we head to New England’s largest outdoor sculpture park: The Andres Institute of Art in Brookline, NH, where the more than 80 pieces are designed to withstand the elements.

Richard Wiese is in South Hamilton, MA, where he visits the Myopia Polo Club. Amy Traverso goes to Freedom, NH, and finds out what to carry in your survival pack and how to build a fire and shelter. Then out on Martha’s Vineyard, we hop on the African American Heritage Trail and take a dip in the ocean for a water workout with the Inkwell Beach Polar Bears.

Killington Resort in Killington, VT, hosts the Women’s World Cup Skiing. In Walpole, NH, painter Eric Aho works on one of his famed Ice Cut paintings, where he saws then paints ice from a frozen lake. We see the monumental murals painted by José Clemente Orozco at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. And we visit Twin Farms, an exclusive resort in Barnard, VT steeped in romance and history.