This seaside get-away is plopped down in the Atlantic Ocean, 15 miles off the mainland of Rhode Island. Two-hundred foot bluffs look out over the restless tide and the Great Salt Pond nurtures a host of wildlife rarely seen elsewhere. And little ferries, filled with passengers, chug back and forth to the rocky nest from Port Judith on the mainland.
This magnificent, little rock lures thousands to its shores. According to Nature Conservancy, Block Island is one of "the last great places in the Western Hemisphere." The island overflows with natural beauty -- gentle hills, Early American homes, stone walls, meadows painted with wildflowers, and towering bluffs perched over the pounding tide.
When summer comes, Block Island fires up with activity. Diving and snorkeling adventures for all skill levels are offered. Kayaking the inland waters is a relaxing and awe-inspiring experience, as well.
The island is inhabited by an extensive network of nature trails that traverse woods and meadows, as well as the ocean shores, and is great for walking, biking, jogging or just observing nature.
Soaring over the tides in a parasailing adventure is an experience the entire family will never forget. Exquisite views, the exhilaration of being on top of the world, and the sensation of total freedom is what it's all about.
Renting a jet boat and skidding across the waters is always fun. The breeze and spray from the bobbing tides make a great cool down in the heat of the summer sun.
Block Island is a fisherman's paradise. Striped bass and bluefish are everywhere. New Harbor Channel's great for flounder. Offshore fishing reels in all sorts of goodies: swordfish, billfish, and tuna, among others. Fresh water ponds have great fishing, too, with a bunch of different species including perch and bass. Licenses for freshwater fishing are available at the Town Hall.
Block Island, once called Manisses or "Land of the Little God", can be reached by ferry from Newport or Providence, RI or from Montauk, Long Island, NY.
