Block Island

Rhode Island

Ten thousand years ago, glaciers pushed their way down the East Coast and left behind the rocks and soil that was to form this little paradise that we call home. The result was a cozy community (only around 800 folks in the winter), a land of stunning vistas and a very fragile ecosystem that we have had the good fortune to preserve for all to share. Because of the particular forces of nature that went to work on Block Island, no other place on earth shares its geography, nor its balance of species. A rarity, indeed. Block Island is a rarity in another sense; it's a place that moves at its own pace and is known for a relaxed way of life. It's where "dressed up" means a pair of shorts. Islanders speak of going to the mainland as going "off island" — an expression of the feeling that Block Island is its own entity, as unique as the North Light or the 250-foot bluffs. We want you to come here and shed your whole way of life for a while. Forget your agendas and your deadlines, lose your ambitions and your daily planner; sink into natural splendor, clean air and the clear night sky. There's a story about a visitor who went into a café on the island and asked some of the regulars where the beach was. Four of the patrons turned around and each pointed in a different direction. Well, they all got it right. Perhaps the real reason Block Island was put on this earth was to make sure everybody gets enough beach time. More than 350 freshwater ponds (from natural springs) and 17 miles of beach invite you to jump in the surf, spend a lazy afternoon building a sandcastle or burying Dad in sand. Indulge in the novel you've never finished, or just take a snooze.

A Last Great Place

The Ultimate Escape Getaway

More than one-third of Block Island is conserved land and there has been an extensive effort to keep the island's natural bounty and remarkable landscape preserved and intact.

This work is a continual process and applies not only to natural resources. When the 125-year old Southeast Lighthouse was in danger of toppling off the bluffs, funds were raised to move the lighthouse back to keep this antique structure for future generations to enjoy.

The population rises from 800 to an estimated 12,000 people in the summer, and it is our visitors' regard and respect for the island that insure this "Last Great Place" is maintained as a beautiful and natural habitat for all.

Here's what you can do:

Take your trash with you and dispose of it!
Avoid the dunes! A continuing effort is being made to restore and preserve them, and so much as a footstep can ruin years of nature¹s work.
Boaters... Great Salt Pond has a convenient and free pump-out service. Use Channel 68 and help keep the Great Salt Pond great.
Moped users are asked to stay on the side of the road and avoid dirt roads altogether.
Trail systems are for hikers only; no bikes!
Take precaution against deer ticks.

Pastimes & Diversions

Plenty To Do & See

Island joke: Tourist walks into a shop and asks which way to the beach. Four locals point in four different directions. With 17 miles of picturesque beaches, the only choice is which beach to frequent. Within walking distance of the ferry landing is three-mile Crescent Beach, which is divided into three glorious parts: the Fredrick J. Benson Beach, Scotch Beach, where the locals go, and Mansion Beach, situated beneath cliffs and the stone walls of a vanished mansion.

Mohegan Bluffs inspire awe with breathtaking vistas of the rocky shore below and Montauk Point on the horizon. Perched atop the majestic bluffs is the Southeast Lighthouse. Its sister beacon, the restored North Light, sits on the opposite side of the Island above rose-strewn dunes. Both lighthouses offer tours. The Greenway, a network of trails that wind for more than 30 miles, offers a peaceful retreat for the occasional stroller or the serious hiker. Meandering paths lead from Rodman's Hollow to cliffs of clay and the coastline.

The best way to tour Block Island depends on the visitor. Rent a bike, jump in a taxi, head to the airport for an aerial tour, or view your surroundings on horseback!

Charter boats are available for deep-sea fishing or you can simply cast your line in the surf. The 365 fresh water ponds are home to bass, perch, and pickerel. You can snorkel, scuba dive, kayak, or parasail; play tennis, croquet or basketball; you could ride a horse or simply sail into the sunset. Children's activities include a story hour at the library, Nature Conservancy hikes, and a petting zoo.

Live entertainment from rock to reggae can be found in Island nightclubs. Movie theaters show first-run films. Concerts, gallery openings, and lectures fill the summer calendar.

Useful Facts

Block Island Do's & Dont's

Lodging:
Block Island has hotels, inns, bed & breakfasts, guest houses and home rentals. Plan ahead with reservations, which require initial deposits.
Special Events:
Several of the hotels and lighthouses offer special wedding arrangements. Several also have facilities to accommodate seminars, conferences, workshops and retreats.
Getting Around:
Taxi rates are based on a zone system and are posted inside each cab. Bicycles and mopeds must use the road and are subject to the same rules as autos. Mopeds may be used on paved roads only; helmets and eye protection is required.
Beach Use:
The beaches are free on Block Island. However, fires on the beach require a permit, available at the New Shoreham Police Department, located at Ocean and Beach Avenues.
Public Restrooms:
Locations at the ferry landing in Old Harbor; town dock; next to the Hog Pen in New Harbor; Town Hall; Island Free Library; State Airport; North Light; Transfer Station; Sewer Company; Police/Fire Station; and in the Fred Benson Town Beach pavilion, which also has lockers and showers.
Rentals:
Bicycles, mopeds, automobiles, beach chairs, beach umbrellas, boogie boards, fishing poles, kayaks, snorkel gear and canoes.
Drinking:
The legal drinking age in Rhode Island is 21. Drinking on public property is prohibited.
Camping:
Limited to Boy Scout and Girl Scout groups at a designated campsite; sleeping in the open is prohibited. Contact (401) 351-8700.
Leash Laws:
Dogs must be kept leashed at all times.
Town Ordinances Prohibit:

Drinking alcoholic beverages in streets, on docks, etc.
Camping, except by special permission.
Sleeping overnight in vehicles or on beaches.
Operating motorcycles between midnight and 6 a.m.
Beach fires and/or driving on the beach without permit.
Dumping refuse on roads or in harbors.
Shellfishing without a license.
Charcoal fires on boats tied up at docks.
Disturbing the peace.
Unleashed dogs.
Littering.

Spring, Winter, and Fall

The Island For Every Season

The population on the small Island swells into the thousands with summer visitors arriving hourly via ferry and plane. While we love the summer on Block Island too, it's only one of several seasons when the Island comes alive.

Island insiders know that daffodils and shad blooms burst open in the spring, as do shops, restaurants, and inns. Before the crowds of summer claim Block Island, spring offers sunny days where you can take advantage of the beaches, trails, and ponds.

New England is famous for rich landscapes of blazing red and golden amber in the fall; Block Island is no exception. If you come to see the foliage, you'll probably spy much more in the autumnal sky. Flocks of birds pass through during the fall and the spring because Block Island is a stop of the fabled Atlantic Flyway. With as many as 150 different species swooping in to say hello, the Island may have as many as several hundred thousand birds calling it home for two or three days at a time.

Winter is for vigorous souls (including 800 year-round residents) who enjoy the crisp air and relish having deserted beaches to themselves. Pick your favorite season and spend some time on Block Island.

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