Block Island – Travel Guide At Wikivoyage

Do

Although Block Island mainly consists of 17 miles (27km) of beachy shore there is still plenty to do:

• Beaches.The seashore is everywhere. The Island encompasses 17 miles (27km) of beaches and offers many choices. Within walking distance of the ferry landing is 3-mile Crescent Beach, which is divided into three parts: the Fredrick J. Benson Beach, Scotch Beach, and Mansion Beach which is positioned beneath cliffs and the stone walls of a vanished mansion. The beach has lifeguards and restrooms. Food is available from nearby Old Harbor restaurants and concessions. Parking and beach admission are free.
• Block Island Parasail & Watersports,☏ +1 401 864-2474.Old Harbor Dock, provides an abundance of fun and diverse watersport activities such as banana boat rides, parasailing, jetboat rentals, sunset cruises and island tours.
• Boating.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.
• Block Island Fishing Charters, LLC,New Harbor,☏ +1 401 787-2321.Inshore and offshore trips for experienced anglers and newcomers alike. Target striped bass, blues, fluke & gamefish with licensed, professional captain. Nighttime trophy bass trips and island tours also offered.
• Children's activities.Include a story hour at the library, Nature Conservancy hikes, and a petting zoo.
• Hiking on The Greenway.More than 40% of Block Island is protected as open space. Both the Nature Conservancy and the Block Island Conservancy have been instrumental in these preservation efforts. As a result, Block Island retains its rural and undeveloped character. Hikers can enjoy twenty-five miles (40km) of trails through grassy meadows, stone walls, inland moors and Mohegan Bluffs. The main Greenway trail runs from the Great Salt Pond south to Rodmans's Hollow and the south shore. A second trail system starts on Payne Rd. west to Fresh Pond and then connects to the Rodman's Hollow trails. The third major trail system is Clay Head Trail, starting in the north end of the island off Sachem Pond and following the bluffs of the north-east coast. In the center of the trail are the Mazes, a series of trails through woods and brush. The Clay Head Trail can be accessed at three points on Corn Neck Rd. A map of the trails is available from the Nature Conservancy and can be bought in many island stores.
• Bird Watching.Block Island is a hotspot during Spring and Fall migration as it is on the Eastern flyway. During the breeding season, Northern Harrier and Merlin patrol the skies while Eastern Towhee and Gray Catbird are common in the thickets.
• Rustic Rides Farm,☏ +1 401 466-5060.West Side Road,Provides guided horseback rides on the beach, pony rides for children, and carriage rides for weddings and other special events.
• Block Island Sport Fishing,Old Harbor,☏ +1 401 487-2425.Fishing charters from Old Harbor, Block Island for striped bass tuna, and sharks on a safe and fast diesel powered Ridgeway express.
• The Empire Theatre: The Empire theatre may be the best and worst place to see a movie, because it is one of the oldest in all of Rhode Island. The theatre is one screen and it shows two films a night, on days that it is raining it will show its “Rainy Day Matinee”. If you are going to the Empire Theatre for a strictly viewing experience than you are going for the wrong reasons. The Empire Theatre is like stepping into a movie theatre time machine, before there was stadium seating and massive screens. Instead the seats are on a flat surface and the screen rolls down over a stage right after the musical entertainment is over, which consists of man or woman playing the piano as viewers file in. Throughout the entire film you really get that “Old School” theatre feel as you watch. It is strongly recommended that you do get there early enough to get a good seat, because the viewing from some areas is pretty poor, but overall the experience is worth it, especially to true theatre buffs.