It’s true; I have spent many a blog sharing my travel adventures in the Hawaiian Islands (what can I say I am a sucker for tropical breezes, cobalt blue waters and powder soft sand). But, today I plan to share with you my adventures on a different island far away from those pearls floating in the Pacific. It’s still a place you can escape to from the mainland—only the tropical libations don’t flow quite the same. I’m referring to Block Island located 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island–it has its own unique attributes—-ones that will likely inspire you to make visiting an annual event.
Block Island was formed more than 10,000 years ago by glaciers and is now home to 800 people during the winter months. The island’s geography is spectacular. It includes bluffs, coastal scrub and grassland as well as beaches, ponds, and of course, the ocean. Given that topography it stands to reason that conservation is a big part of Block Island’s history. Currently, about 43% of the land is in some form of conservation.
Block Island is not somewhere you want to travel to without a camera. The area is known for its lighthouses, especially the North Lighthouse and the Southeast Lighthouse, which sits atop a 200-foot clay bluff. Both serve as wonderful backdrops to family photos. In addition, if you are traveling with children consider spending an afternoon making use of the island’s many recreational activities including, boating, kayaking, biking and hiking.
Tourist attractions aside, what makes the island so endearing (at least to me) is its charm. Block Island has a very low key, relaxing atmosphere. What’s more, in my experience it doesn’t matter if you are an oil tycoon from Texas or a factory worker from Detroit, the residents there treat you with the same wonderful hospitality.
Block Island may be small, but there are plenty of places to stay. The island houses numerous inns, B and Bs, and hotels. Most of which are the original buildings, which date back to the 1800s–and all have been restored. The hotels on the island are known for their wrap-around porches that face the ocean. They make the perfect venue to view and photograph spectacular fall sunsets.
If you are a nature lover, a bird watcher, or you simply enjoy relaxing on beaches and the bluffs, you’ve found your paradise in Block Island.
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