Block Island, RI

Visitors flock to Block Island during the summer months to enjoy world-class resort amenities in a small town setting. The island has been included in The Nature Conservancy’s “12 Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere” list. About 40 percent of the island has been set aside for conservation.

Enjoy nearly 17 miles (27 kilometers) of clean beaches with clear water, or hike, bike, climb, walk and swim throughout the island’s scenic landscape.

Beach lovers can take a short walk in any direction to wind up on one Block Island’s beautiful stretches of sand. Spend a day at Mansion Beach, where you can enjoy crystal-clear water.

Visit the southeast corner of the island for the Mohegan Bluffs. Begin at the top with sweeping views. Then, climb down more than a hundred steps over steep terrain to arrive at a rocky beach.

Plan to watch the sunset at one of the island’s lighthouses. Enjoy scenic views as you follow the path to the North Lighthouse, which has the ocean on one side and a large pond on the other. Learn some of the local history at the Southeast Lighthouse, which originally dates back to the 1800s and has been relocated farther back from the water for preservation.

Take the family for a hike on the Greenway Walking Trails, a 28-mile (45-kilometer) network that will take you across most of the island. There are several different access points to the trails that take you on various walks, such as Clay Head Hill Trail, which offers some of the best views on the island.

Block Island is about 14 miles (22 kilometers) south of the Rhode Island coast. Most visitors travel to Block Island aboard ferries, which take anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes depending on your departure point. The island is busiest during summer months and hosts a smaller population year-round.