Beautiful Block Island
The perfect long weekend getaway
I visited Block Island for the first time four years ago for my friend Molly’s bachelorette (hey, Moll!!) and absolutely fell in love with it. There’s just something about it that makes you feel like you’re in a far away land when you’re actually only nine miles south of mainland Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Montauk, New York.
At just 10 square miles, it is much smaller than it’s well known counterparts Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, but packs a huge punch. From beaches to hiking to waterfront bars and restaurants, there are so many great things to explore.
It’s nearly impossible to cover all of the wonderful spots in a single blog post; every time I go find new places that I love even more than the last. But if it’s your first time going, here are some of my favorites and absolute must-dos. No matter what, make sure that you leave plenty of time for exploration to discover all of the little gems the island has to offer!
HOW TO GET THERE:
There are three primary ways to get to Block Island: ferry, private boat and air. Unless you plan on being there for an extended period of time, I would not bother bringing a vehicle. The island is very walkable and has a variety of transportation options (bikes, mopeds, taxi’s, Uber, etc.).
By Ferry:
Block Island Express: provides service May - September from New London, CT. The trip is 90 minutes on a high-speed catamaran that has snacks and a bar on board. Round-trip tickets start at $52.50 and parking is available on site for $10/day or across the street for $15/day. This is what I take when I visit. Reservations are not required, but I recommend booking in advance; better safe than sorry!
Block Island Ferry: provides year-round service from Point Judith, RI. Traditional (55 minutes) and high speed (30 minutes) options are available. Additional routes from Newport (1 hour) and Fall River (2 hours) are typically available, but on hold for 2020.
Viking Fast Ferry: provides service May - September from Montauk, NY in 60 minutes.
By Boat:
Old Harbor: A 30 boat marina right in town on the east side. First come first served. Call or Email Harbormaster Kate McConville with questions.
New Harbor: Three large marinas and 90 town moorings which can rented for $45+/night. The basin can be contacted on VHF CH 12 upon arrival. First come first serve.
By Air:
Block Island State Airport (BID): Accessible daily year-round through New England Airlines from Westerly, RI. Flight time is only 12 minutes!
WHERE TO STAY:
One of the things that I love most about Block Island is that there aren’t any chains on the island. All of the hotels, restaurants and shops are small, local places. Staying overnight can be expensive given the short tourist season, but it’s so worth it to get the full experience. There are a few different areas of town to consider:
Old Harbor: Right off the ferry, within walking distance to almost everything on the island. Some more affordable options are The National Hotel, Harborside Inn and Water Street Inn. There’s nothing fancy about them, but the location is prime. During my most recent visit, we stayed at the Old Bakery Guest House; right next to The National Hotel. There were two separate bedrooms in the suite and the large balcony overlooking the ocean was a huge plus that is tough to come by.
New Harbor: 15-20 minute walk from town, but there are number of attractions in the area that you will want to go to when you stay, including Dead Eye Dick’s, Mahogany Shoals and The Oar (more on these later). Some more affordable options are the Narragansett Inn and Payne’s Harborview Inn. I’ve stayed in the Barrington Inn twice and loved it; the patio areas are spectacular (see photo below). The property recently switched ownership and prices have gone up, but it’s definitely worth looking into.
Inland: Deeper into the island, there are a variety of houses, apartments and time shares available for rent.
While some rentals are on search engines like Expedia, Booking.com and Kayak, many run solely through their own website or the independent sites below. Be sure to check out all of these options before booking a stay!
Block Island Chamber of Commerce: 40+ properties; where I found the Barrington Inn.
Block Island Reservations: 16 properties; where I found the Old Bakery Guest House.
Block Island Realty: Home, apartment and time share rentals. Also check VRBO.
ACTIVITIES:
Bike/Moped Rental: Renting a bike or a moped is the best way to explore the island. You can get around the entire thing in one day and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. Bike rentals start at $20/half day and moped rentals (for one or two passengers) start at $100/day. There is a great bike tour map available to plot your route and reference along the way.
Beaches: There are 16 different beaches; each beautiful in their own way with different terrains and landscapes.
Hiking: Block Island offers a handful of relatively easy hikes with beautiful views, perfect for the whole family to enjoy. The BI Nature Conservancy also offers guided walks and hikes; check the schedule online as it varies throughout the year.
Water Sports: From parasailing to banana boat rides to surfing, kayaking and paddle boarding, there are a ton of different ways to have fun on the water.
BARS AND RESTAURANTS:
I’ve had some of the best seafood and cocktails of my life on BI. Honestly, I haven’t tried anything that wasn’t really good, and there are still so many spots that I still want to try. Exploring all of the food and drink options is half the fun! Until next time, here are some of my go-to’s:
Breakfast: Persephone’s Kitchen and Café (awesome smoothies and smoothie bowls, egg sandwiches, coffees, matchas and other bakery items), Ernie’s Old Harbor Restaurant, The Harbor Grill and Orchid Lounge (in the Harborside Inn) and The Surf.
Lunch: Calavera’s (real deal Mexican food, their fish tacos are a must!), Beachead, Kimberly’s and Three Sisters.
Dinner: Dead Eye Dick’s (ask for a seat at a firepit for the perfect sunset view, you won’t be disappointed!), The Oar (awesome mudslides and house-made sushi), Winfield’s, Spring House, Tigerfish and Eli’s.
Bars/Nightlife: Payne’s Dock & Mahogany Shoals (located in New Harbor; its a 20 minute walk from the ferry, but well worth it for stellar sunsets and live music), Poor People’s Pub (friendly, casual and just plain fun), Captain Nick’s and Yellow Kittens (restaurant turned bar after 10 pm that gets the party going!).
MUST-SEE SPOTS:
Fred Benson Town Beach: An absolutely beautiful beach with white sand and a beach pavilion with a concession stand, showers/restrooms and chair/umbrella rental. It’s a mile from town (quick 15 minute walk) and a great place to post up for the day.
Mohegan Bluffs: The view from the top of the staircase at Mohegan Bluffs is enough to take your breath away. Skip the taxi ride and rent a moped or a bike to get here. It will only take 10-15 minutes and you get to see some beautiful parts of the island along the way. Wear sneakers to take the stairway to the beach that is picture perfect from every angle.
Springhouse Hotel: There are few things better than sipping on a craft cocktail (try the “Fuego” — a jalapeno cilantro margarita) while listening to live music and overlooking the ocean at the Springhouse Hotel. There is live entertainment Wednesday - Saturday from 4-7 pm. Be sure to check out Israel “Izzy” Malek and Dave Lefkin on Thursdays.
Ballard’s: It truly is a Block Island tradition. With outdoor bars, games and live music all right on the beach, you’re bound to have an awesome time here. Definitely treat yourself with a pineapple drink! The below photo was taken from Ballard’s Twitter page.
Rodman’s Hollow: If you’re looking for a quick hike that delivers amazing views, this is for you. The path at Rodman’s Hollow is 0.9 miles and very flat out to a panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the hike, take the narrow path down to the beach and explore the beautiful rocks and seashells that wait for you at the bottom.
There you have it! Those are some of my recommendations and favorite places to make your next trip to Block Island one that you won’t forget. Please feel free to reach out to me on Instagram @livewell_ct if you have any questions!
