Before the advent of cars Block Island was advertised as the Northern Bermuda. Having been to both Bermuda and Block Island I can understand some of the the comparisons. In a nutshell both are safe places, except for possible moped mishaps. Both are relatively small islands that can be navigated from end to end fairly easily. We did Bermuda on mopeds and Block Island on bicycles. The people on the islands are quite friendly and, though different, you will detect accents in their English language. Both islands have great beauty in their landscapes having hills, bluffs, beaches and ponds. Both have wonderful places to eat and both have some very fine quaint places to stay. Bermuda has cruise ships that come in often. Block Island has ferries bringing in day trippers daily.

Just remember three big differences. Bermuda has palm trees and many fine golf courses, Block Island doesn't. On Block Island we drive and bike on the right side of the road. In Bermuda everyone drives on the ...... side. No, not "wrong" side, the "other" side.

PLACES TO STAY

This is a small island with a Guest Houses, Cottages, Inns and B&Bs. Thankfully you will not find chain motels or hotels. Some of the accommodations are simple and others are meticulously designed to reflect romantic Victorian styles. We once stayed at the Hotel Manisses that serves as a 17 room B&B. I can highly recommend this particular place. We stayed in the Antoinette room right off the front porch. The furnishings were exquisite. It was perfect! Though this property invites children 12 yrs and older only, we never saw any children at all.

The sister property The 1661 Inn with 9 rooms looks to be another beauty. It is also done in Victorian style. We spent time on the property drinking some port in the late afternoon while sitting in the Adirondack chairs that dot a grassy hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is a heavenly atmosphere. There are many places to check out. One seems to be better than the next. A few buildings that are on the National Registry of Historic Places dot this island that was named after Adriaen Block who landed on the island in 1614.

GETTING THERE

This is an island that is part of Rhode Island which isn't an island at all. It's really too hard to swim to Block Island, especially if you are towing your own bicycles. At about twenty miles it's just too far. There are many light planes that can be flown in. Check with the Block Island Chamber of Commerce for more information.

The most common means of transport to the island is by ferry, though limited, depending on season. Here again you must check out dates. During the summer months you have a few choices of departure. Ferries run from Newport RI, Galilee, CT, New London, Ct, and Montauk Point, Long Island, NY. Most take about an hour to an hour and a half. A couple of these departure points offer high speed ferries cutting the time in half. These are new but I would look to try getting reservations on one if you do not care to be on the water long. The seas around Block Island can get pretty rough. On one trip out of Galilee I thought is was going to die. But let me tell you, Block Island is worth dieing for. At least, it does seem have a touch of heaven.

GETTING AROUND

There are a couple of different landing points for the ferries. We have only come into the Old Harbor. Once arriving you are in a very small seaside town that is very walkable. Taxis are available to take you to any further destinations on the three mile, at its widest, island. Cars can be rented, but I don't suggest it. They must be booked early and part of the charm of this island is being motorless. We rented bicycles for the week. There are many places in town. Shop around, there is a difference in prices though most offer the same kind of mountain type bicycles. There are some hills but we were able to navigate all of them with a little effort. Mopeds are available too. I will say that getting around this island on them is much safer than in Bermuda. You get to drive on the correct side of the road too.

WHAT TO DO

Old Harbor has a number of restaurants that are open air. That's what I like. The seafoods are excellent. Many B&Bs and Inns have their own upscale dining rooms too. The only chain food place I know about is a Ben and Jerry's ice cream place that is inconspicuously inside an old inn. Thankfully there are no McDs or TGIFs around here.

Though there is a fair amount of small stores, this is not a shopping destination. During the off season there are less than a thousand permanent residents. This grows to over 15,000 in the summer and along with day trippers, it can get crowded in town. Many places shut down for the winter.

We were able to get a map of the island that gave some highlight destinations. One must stop is the South East Lighthouse. For you buffs about lighthouses on bluffs here's a bit of information. This is the highest lighthouse in all New England. This area is known as the Mohegan Bluffs and are over 200 feet high. This also happens to be a place where everybody takes pictures. On the other end of the island that is 7 miles long is the North Light lighthouse. This one has a museum downstairs. There is no access to the towers of either lighthouse.

In between the lighthouses are small roads and over 30 miles of trails. Magnificent views can be seen from the bluffs. With a map in hand we searched for an old Indian cemetery and rode up and down the hills where we have found farms, small homes and a number of small ponds.

There are a few small beaches on the island. None can compare to any of Long Island's barrier beaches, but they are nice enough. We do spend some time on them when we go. One happens to be a very short walk from town. Another is not far from the large Salt Pond where many beautiful boats are moored. The beach is actually on the Atlantic in a state park and not on the pond.

A FEW LAST THOUGHTS

Block Island is the perfect place to catch up on reading. I was quite surprised to find a very old copy of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, that was printed in the early 1900s, in the room of an Inn we once stayed in on Block Island well before the Broadway play started up in 1987. I digress. Bring a few books. Though you can find a touch of nightlife in town, this is really a low key island. Sunrises and sunsets, bicycle rides, picnic lunches, soak up rays on the beach, read books while in rocking chairs on a veranda and dining alfresco are some things to see and do on the island. Perhaps those are the only things to do. Well, maybe there's a bit more once the lights are dimmed and the candles are lighted.

1,000 Places To See Before You Die. A book that listed Block Island as one of them.

Wonderful Weekends from New York City Block Island listed in this book that suggests places to stay, where to dine and what to do.


Long Island
Newport, RI

Block Island is one of Pops Top Ten Getaway Places From NYC for Couples

Recommended: Yes

Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug