Travel + Leisure has put Westport in the spotlight, saying it’s “a more affordable version of Cape Cod —with all the same coastal charm.”

In a Nov. 17 article by Anna Laird Barto, the “Top 5 Can’t Miss” highlights were listed as:

• Horseneck Beach, “beloved by locals for its miles of soft sand and sweeping views of Buzzards Bay.”
• Paddling “the calm waters” of the Westport River.
• A self-guided food tour of the countryside, “stopping at roadside farm stands and stores to sample local fare straight from the source.”
• Buzzards Bay Brewing, to enjoy some craft beer.
• Fresh oysters from Westport Sea Farms.

Barto writes that Westport, part of the area’s beautiful Farm Coast, “embodies the most beloved aspects of New England, minus the crowds and steep price tags.”

“Strolling Westport’s historic seaport, with its colonial-era cottages and their weathered gray shingles, you’d swear you were on Cape Cod or Nantucket,” Barto writes. “Like the Cape and the islands, Westport’s beaches and wetlands are protected from development; you can stroll for miles with little sign of civilization. Venture a bit inland and the scenery changes to … fields scattered with timber-framed barns and crisscrossed by low stone walls that have stood for generations.”

Travel + Leisure also noted how the local food scene has been influenced by the town’s farming and fishing traditions.

To get a taste of Westport, Travel + Leisure recommended places to stay like The Harbor Inn Acoaxet; things to do like the aforementioned Top 5; shopping at spots like Weatherlow Farms, Lees Market, Partners Village Store, Jeffrey Westport and more; and dining options like The Back Eddy, Perry’s Bakery, Bittersweet Farm and more.