2014 Block Island Tourism Magazine

BLOCK

Block Island Tourism Council www.blockislandinfo.com

2014

ISLAND

Close To Home, A World Away

Fine Dining • Cocktails • Accommodations • Special Events

The Only Thing We Overlook Is The Ocean Block Island, Rhode Island 02807 • 401-466-5844 • www.springhousehotel.com

Block Island Beckons!

Block Island is special in so many ways. Whether you enjoy a laid-back beach day, a vigorous bike ride, an adventure in a kayak or a paddleboard lesson, our little island is worth exploring.

What many people don’t realize is

ferry service from Newport, Rhode Island, will add a leg to and from Fall River, Massachusetts.

Once you’ve arrived on-island, you will not come across a traffic light or a big chain business, but you will be blown away by the natural landscape with stone

just how easy it is to get here. Only 12

wall-lined rolling hills, breathtaking

miles off the Rhode Island coast, we are

bluffs, and pristine beaches.

a 15-minute plane ride from Westerly,

If it’s an event you’re planning, Block Is-

Rhode Island, and just 35 minutes by

land may be the perfect destination. Many

plane from Providence or an hour from

of the historic inns make unforgettable

Westchester County Airport outside

venues for your wedding or group getaway.

New York City. We’re a half hour

For anyone who enjoys outdoor activities,

on the high speed ferry from Point

music, art, dining and scenic beauty, Block

Judith, Rhode Island or just over an

Island beckons...

hour on the ferry from New London,

Zena Clark

Connecticut. A Montauk ferry brings

President, Block Island Tourism Council

visitors from Long Island, New York, to our unique island. Beginning this summer the high speed

You’ll always remember your summer on Block Island

Zena Clark with husband Jamie Johnston and their son Fisher on Crescent Beach.

Somewhere on Block Island there’s the perfect summer cottage for you. And we can help you find it. We have an extensive selection of rental homes and if you’re interested in taking advantage of the current buyers’ market we can help you with that too.

From North Light to Black Rock nobody knows this island better. That’s why they call us the Island experts.

Make this summer one to remember!

Cynthia Pappas, Broker Gail Heinz, Sandra Hopf, Shannon Morgan, Logan Mott, Rebecca Pappas

Sullivan Real Estate • The Island Experts since 1967 401 466-5521 • www.sullivanbi.com www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

1

Sail Away • • • •

On The Block Island Ferry Service from Pt. Judith, Newport, and Fall River

Year-round ferry service Most ferry trips daily All ferries dock in the center of town in Old Harbor Fastest ferry trip from the mainland

Passengers

Autos

Trucks

Bikes

www.blockislandferry.com Freight 866.783.7996

/TheBlockIslandFerry

@BlockIsleFerry

The Atlantic Inn A Block Island tradition Featuring the

Restaurant 1879

Susan Sancomb

For an unforgettable evening with breathtaking views…

Tapas, cocktails and sunsets…

Or just relaxation at its Best…

2 Close To Home, A World Away

The Atlantic Inn www.atlanticinn.com 401-466-5883 www.blockislandinfo.com

“The best part about Block Island is that all 17 miles of sand are free — including parking.”

– jetsetter.com

Skimboard Flip by Robin Langsdorf

Block Island: Close To Home, A World Away is produced jointly by the Block Island Tourism Council and the Block Island Times.

The Block Island Tourism Council Center Road, Box 356, Block Island, RI 02807 www.blockislandinfo.com President Zena Clark Vice President Steve Filippi 2nd Vice President John Cullen Secretary Sven Risom Treasurer Julie Fuller Members Brad Marthens, Logan Mott Chase Executive Director Jessica K. Willi

Table Of Contents 1. Block Island Beckons

20. The Goods

3. Table of Contents

22. Living History

5. You’re Closer

Than You Think!

24. A Room with a View

7. B.I. Basics 9. A Natural Beauty 12. Endless Beaches

Ocean Avenue, Box 278, Block Island, RI 02807 Phone: (401) 466-2222 Fax: (401) 466-8804 www.blockislandtimes.com Co-publishers Fraser and Betty Lang Editor Lisa Stiepock Writers Chris Barrett, Brent Lang, Judy Tierney Staff Photographer Kari Curtis Contributing Photographers Sara Dunleavy Berge, Andre Boudreau, Margie Bucheit, Kate Butcher, Mia Campopiano, Gerard Closset, John Cullen, Pam Gasner, Annie Hall, Tracy Heinz, Robin Langsdorf, Michael Medford, Ned Phillips, Malcolm Greenaway, Sara Sprague, Celeste Sloman, Snap! Photography, Jeffrey Smith, Judy Tierney, Lesley A. Ulrich Production Chris Izzo of CRI Design © 2014 Block Island Tourism Council & Block Island Times

Cover photo by Kari Curtis www.blockislandinfo.com

16. Rest, Relaxation, Recreation 18. New England’s Boating and Fishing Paradise

26. Good Eats 29. Nightlife 31. Our Favorite Times and Events 33. Our Island Community 35. The Perfect Place for a Wedding 36. Group Tours

SPONSORS: The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses, Block Island Reservations, Deepwater Wind, Spring House Hotel, The Atlantic Inn, Ballard Hall Real Estate, Beach Real Estate, Block Island Conservancy, Block Island Express, Block Island Fishworks, Cape Air, Interstate Navigation, Lila Delman Real Estate, New England Airlines, Newport Convention and Visitors Bureau, Payne’s Harbor View Inn, Poor People’s Pub, Providence Convention and Visitors Bureau, Sullivan Real Estate, The Surf Hotel Close To Home, A World Away

3

GoProvidence.com to Providence, Rhode Island

Looking for a romantic getaway or a fun family adventure? Spend the weekend in Providence, RI, and enjoy the city’s acclaimed arts and culture, renowned restaurants, eclectic shopping and exciting attractions. Visit GoProvidence.com now to start planning your escape to the Creative Capital.

Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau | 800.233.1636

Come Home To

Block Island

Real Estate Sales and Service Whether you are looking to purchase that special Island property or planning a relaxing vacation, Ballard Hall Real Estate is on-island year round to assist you. Browse our property listings and connect with one of our agents for buyer or seller representation.

When it comes to a Block Island house rental choose from over 100 homes, cottages and condos ranging from one to seven bedrooms. Make your selection at our new website featuring interior photos, pricing and weekly availability.

Call for reservations.

www.blockislandproperty.com Gail P. Ballard Hall, Principal Broker Corner of Ocean Ave. and Corn Neck Rd 401-466-8883 4 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

You’re Closer Than You Think!

More than 20 million people are within a four-hour drive of the ferries and airlines that bring visitors to Block Island, and more than 10 million can reach a ferry or airplane in less than two hours.

By Ferry

Block Island Ferry/Interstate Navigation provides year-round service from Point Judith, Rhode Island (304 Great Island Road, Narragansett, R.I.) to Old Harbor, Block Island. This is the only ferry that can take vehicles to the island, and reservations for them are required (the sooner you can do this the better). Passengers do not need reservations for the roughly one-hour trip. You can find schedules and travel and reservation information for Interstate Navigation at (866) 783-7996 or blockislandferry.com.

Block Island High-Speed Ferry/ Interstate Navigation runs a high-speed catamaran from midMay through mid-October that gets you from Point Judith (304 Great Island Road, Narragansett, R.I.) to Old Harbor, Block Island, in 30 minutes. A second high-speed catamaran will run daily service from Fall River, Massachusetts, to Newport, Rhode Island, and on to Block Island in 2014. For schedules and more information call (866) 783-7996 or visit blockislandferry.com. www.blockislandinfo.com

Block Island Express gets you to Old Harbor in just over one hour on a high-speed catamaran from a terminal in New London (2 Ferry St., New London, Conn.) that’s right next to the Amtrak train station. It runs May through September.

Block Island Express also offers connections to Block Island from Orient Point, Long Island, via its Cross Sound Ferry service. The two services have matched-up schedules making it convenient and quick to take the fast ferry from Orient Point to New London and connect to the ferry to B.I., all in 2 hours and 45 minutes, including layover.

Schedules and connection information for Block Island Express are at (860) 444-4624 or goblockisland.com.

Montauk Ferry runs between the tip of Long Island, New York (462 West Lake Drive, Montauk, N.Y. ), and Block Island during the summer. The trip takes just under two hours.

Schedules and information at (631) 668-5700 or vikingfleet. com.

By Private Boat

Dock your own boat at one of four full-service marinas or anchor in either Old Harbor or New Harbor. For more information on marinas, moorings, and anchorage, visit blockislandinfo. com.

By Commuter Plane

New England Airlines has provided daily scheduled air service to Block Island from Westerly, Rhode Island, since 1970. The airport (56 Airport Road, Westerly, R.I.) is just off Interstate 95 and is an easy drive or train ride from anywhere in New England.

(Amtrak serves Westerly with daily trains between Washington/ New York and Boston.) Flight time is 12 minutes. Find schedules and information at (800) 243-

2460 or block-island.com/nea.

Cape Air begins service this spring to Block Island from T.F. Green in Providence (2000 Post Road, Warwick, R.I.) and from Westchester County Airport (240 Airport Road, White Plains, New York) just outside New York City.

For schedules and information, call (800) CAPE-AIR (227-3247) or visit www.capeair.com.

By Private Plane

Block Island State Airport welcomes private prop planes on its one-lane runway. There is no control tower, but pilots should announce themselves on frequency 123.00. For more information check the Airport Facility Directory for the Northeast or call airport manager Landmark Aviation at (401) 466-5511.

Just off the coast of Rhode Island, this secret gem is a throwback to the mid-1800s: antique-filled Victorian inns, miles of pristine rolling hills, and towering cliffs with stunning views of the Atlantic.

— travelandleisure.com Close To Home, A World Away

5

Coast To Coast In 12 Minutes

Daily Flights Free Parking at Westerly Airport

The Fastest Way to Block Island

Information & Reservations 800.243.2460 Block Island 401.466.5881 Westerly 401.596.2460

6 Close To Home, A World Away

Block Island’s Resident Airline Since 1970

www.blockislandinfo.com

B.I. Basics The Facts 1661 The year Block Island was founded.

1672 The year the Town of New Shoreham was incorporated.

Area 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, Block Island is shaped like a pork chop, and covers 6,000 acres.

Location 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island.

Population 1,000 year round; 15,000 to 20,000 in summer.

Ponds Legend has it there are 365 freshwater ponds, one for every day of the year.

Stone walls 300 to 400 miles of

manmade stone walls.

Nature Trails 28 miles of trails.

Open Space 43 percent of the island is preserved open space.

Beaches 17 miles worth, all free, all gorgeous.

Education One K-12 school with 114 students.

Getting Around On Foot The sneaker express is an easy way to enjoy the shops, restaurants and hotels in Old Harbor. It’s a 15-minute walk from the ferry to the main beach.

On Bikes Bicycles are an affordable and enjoyable way to

explore the island. Rental stands offer bikes to fit the needs of the entire family or bring your own over on the ferry.

On Mopeds Mopeds can be rented around the island, and can accommodate one or two passengers. Mopeds may be driven on all paved island roads, but are not allowed on dirt roads.

By Taxi Taxi service is available island-wide. A taxi stand is located by the ferry docks in Old Harbor, and taxis regularly wait for customers at New Harbor and the airport. Most offer island tours as well.

By Car Depending on your itinerary, you may or may not require a vehicle while here.

In the busy summer months, keeping the number of cars on-island to a minimum is encouraged. However, the spring and fall provide comparatively empty roads.

More info at: www.blockislandinfo.com.

Or at the Visitors Center in the ferry parking lot; call (800) 383BIRI (2474) or (401) 466-BIRI (2474).

Old Harbor Docks by Kari Curtis

“You won’t want to leave Block Island — one of the most beautiful islands in the world for walking, biking, or simply looking out to sea” — Yankee magazine

www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

7

Beach Real Estate Sales • Rentals • Market Evaluations Open year round with friendly, competent service.

Contact us now to see how we can help you!

“Let us show you the most beautiful properties on Block Island.”

— Nancy Pike and Mary Stover

Mary Stover and Nancy Pike, Brokers PO Box 1468,Ocean Avenue, Block Island, RI 02807 www.biBeachRealEstate.com • 401-466-2312

The Ideal Spot For The Times Of Your Life

J. Fuller

Overlooking New Harbor Suites with jacuzzis Private decks

Satellite TV Breathtaking views Antique furnishings

Large rooms with whirlpool tubs

Corner of Ocean and Beach Avenues 401.466.5758 • www.paynesharborviewinn.com 8 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

A Natural Beauty Twenty-eight miles of walking trails, acres of open space, many of the most beautiful beaches on the eastern seaboard, spectacular havens for fish and wildlife — it’s no wonder Block Island was named one of the last great places in the western hemisphere by The Nature Conservancy. More than 43 percent of the island is preserved, and walking is an excellent way to take in the rolling hills, lush farmland, and stunning vistas. Look for peregrine falcons and red-tailed hawks in the sky, ring-necked pheasants and American woodcocks among the abundant wildflowers, and seals perched on beach rocks. Block Island is renowned for its beauty and commitment to preservation. Once you visit, you’ll understand why.

2 Shadbloom in Rodmans Hollow by Kari Curtis

3

North Light and Cow Cove by Kari Curtis

www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

9

“Unpretentious Block Island is a barefoot and bicycle kind of place, with rolling green hills, hundreds of freshwater ponds, and dramatic 250-foot bluffs that remind many of Ireland.

So bewitching is it that The Nature Conservancy was inspired to call the island ‘one of the last great places in the western hemisphere.’”

1

5

Daffodils at Clay Head Trail by Lesley Ulrich

— “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”

Ocean View Pavilion by Kari Curtis

4

7

Alpaca at Abrams Animal Farm by Kari Curtis

Block Island Conservancy Education Center by Kari Curtis

Don’t Miss 1. Clay Head Nature Trail offers walkers unparalleled views along the northeastern shore of the island. Accessed by a dirt road leading off Corn Neck Road just two miles from the beach pavilion, the path meanders along the bluffs before ending at Settlers’ Rock.

whose family owns and operates The 1661 Inn and Hotel Manisses. Visitors to the farm can view and pet llamas, emus, sheep, donkeys, goats and more.

There are even kangaroos, lemurs, Scottish Highland calves and a zedonk (zebra/donkey).

2. Rodman’s Hollow is a wild and beautiful cleft in the rolling terrain left over from a melting glacier. Hawks, deer, and all manner of trees, wildflowers, and other vegetation populate the hollow.

Walking trails lead to Black Rock.

5. Ocean View Pavilion is a comfortable sitting area near Old Harbor that offers stunning ocean vistas. Maintained by the Ocean View Foundation, the area marks the spot where the magnificent Ocean View Hotel once stood. The Foundation runs environmental education programs for children and adults year round.

3. Both lighthouses on the island are open to visitors. Southeast Lighthouse, east of Mohegan Bluffs provides a magnificent coastal view. On clear days it’s even possible to glimpse Montauk, New York, some 20 miles away. A wooden staircase leads to the beach below. The climb down and back is challenging, however, and the footing at the bottom is extremely difficult. That said, the beach has to be among the world’s most spectacular. A walk down the beach from Settlers’ Rock brings you to the beautiful North Light.

4. Abrams Animal Farm offers a diverse collection of exotic and domestic animals maintained by Justin Abrams, 10 Close To Home, A World Away

6. Walking Trails crisscross the entire island. The Greenway is a web of trails that connects miles of natural habitat and provides memorable hikes for visitors. Among many other worthwhile hikes is the one that takes you through the gorgeous Hodge Family Preserve toward the end of Corn Neck Road (pictured here).

7. A new Education Center on Weldon’s Way, run by Block Island Conservancy, and an office on High Street housing The Nature Conservancy provide a wealth of information about

the island’s wildlife and plants, and the island’s ongoing efforts to preserve open spaces. Stop by to pick up trail maps or bird checklists and find out about nature walks and other free programs.

8. Beach Paths take you through the dunes to the beach all along Corn Neck Road and elsewhere on the island. Take care to stay on the paths and protect the island’s delicate sand dunes.

9. The community of boaters who make their home on the Great Salt Pond aren’t the only ones who spend time fishing and clamming on the beaches that surround it. Andy’s Way is well known for shellfishing (with a license of course) and beachcombing, while Coast Guard Beach is a terrific spot for surfcasting and exploring all manner of marine life — not to mention watching the ships and boats heading in and out of the harbor through the cut.

10. BIMI (Block Island Maritime Institute) runs lots of sailing and marine exploration programs from its “offices” at Smuggler’s Cove (near Dead Eye Dick’s restaurant), which is where you’ll find their popular touch tank and squid dissection workshops. www.blockislandinfo.com

8 Beach Path by Gerard Closset

9

10

Harvesting Seaweed at Andy’s Way by Robin Langsdorf

BIMI Touch Tank by Kari Curtis

6

Justin Lewis and Cameron Greenlee, ConserFest organizers and founders

Hodge Property Trails by Michael Medford

“Block Island’s conservation ethic began more than 100 years ago with the wonderful Miss Elizabeth Dickens, who taught my grandfather Rob about birds in a one-room schoolhouse on West Side Road,” says Justin Lewis, one of the founders of ConserFest, an annual gathering of artists and musicians that raises money for the Block Island Conservancy.

“Cameron’s grandmother, Dorothy Greenlee, and my grandfather were friends who loved the ocean and the land, and who worked together with their neighbors to further conservation of this lovely island,” he says of his ConserFest co-founder Cameron Greenlee.

“Block Island would not be what it is for me without my grandparents Dorothy & Ralph,” agrees Cameron. “They’ve had their property on Cormorant Cove since the late sixties and brought my dad to B.I. as a teenager. My love for all things natural and beautiful on B.I. is based on the love for the island’s flora and fauna that my grandfolks embodied throughout their lives and passed on.”

“People love Block Island for many reasons,” continues Justin. “But, whether swimming, beachgoing, sailing, hiking, biking, fishwww.blockislandinfo.com

My Block Island

ing, paddling, stargazing, or picnicking, it is the island’s natural beauty that adds one-of-a-kind value. Our aim with ConserFest is to further what Miss Dickens, ‘Granny Greenlee,’ ‘Robbie,’ and so many others have accomplished.

We hope to educate our friends, celebrate conservation’s past and present successes, and hopefully bring new members, young and old, into the conservation community — in order to guarantee a celebrated future.

“As a musician, I’ve traveled the world, played in front of different audiences and experienced different types of music festivals,” says Cameron. “To me, the most inspiring have always been the festivals that promote the arts through positivity and purpose — for a cause. While Block Island is full of amazing events and music, we felt like something more could be done here.” And beyond.

“One of the fascinating things about ConserFest,” says Cameron, “is that it can grow exponentially — while Block Island is a tiny piece of land in the grand scheme of our Earth home, the idea that is ConserFest and land conservation on Block Island can be inspiring anywhere and to anyone in the world. That is our ultimate hope, that it draws more folks to pay attention and be concerned about their natural environment.”

Find out about this year’s festivities at www. conserfest.org.

Close To Home, A World Away

11

Endless beaches 17 miles of sandy fun and peaceful bits of paradise

3

12 Close To Home, A World Away

Scotch Beach by Kari Curtis

7 Boat Bar at Ballard’s Beach by Kari Curtis

6 Surf Beach by Kari Curtis

www.blockislandinfo.com

2 Mansion Beach by Kate Butcher

5 Baby Beach by Annie Hall

8 Mohegan Bluffs by Robin Langsdorf

9 Bluffs over Vail Beach by Celeste Sloman

10 Black Rock Beach by Celeste Sloman

Fred Benson Town Beach by Kari Curtis

www.blockislandinfo.com

4

Close CloseToToHome, Home,A AWorld WorldAway Away 13

11

Mosquito Beach aka Dinghy Beach by Kari Curtis

12 At Andy’s Way by Celeste Sloman

Fred Benson Town Beach by Kari Curtis

Julia Gasner, seventh grader at Block Island School Why I like living near the beach: I love that I can just walk across the street to the beach to meet my friends. If I forget anything I can go back easily to my house to grab it.

I like sitting in the black sand close to the edge of the dunes to warm up after swimming in the surf.

I like that I don’t have to wait for my parents to drive me.

The sound of the waves helps me to fall asleep at night.

Sometimes on weekends, I take a run down to Mansion Beach or walk to the backyard dock to take pictures of the sunsets. My cat Pepper likes to follow me around even walking with me on the beach and hiding in the dunes.

Another thing I like to do is to go out with my dad in our Whaler fishing and clamming in the Great Salt Pond.

I like finding treasures and small beach stones that I use to make my jewelry designs 14 Close To Home, A World Away

4

My Block Island that I sell at the Farmers’ Markets with my brothers. My older brother taught me how to drill sea glass and stones and it is a hobby I enjoy working on during the winter. I also learned to surf from my older brothers when I was little and it is something I love to do when I don’t have sports practice.

Crescent Beach feels like my own private beach in the winter.

When I want to go surfing, I can look out my window and check out the waves.

Dunn’s Bridge is to the north of my house and in the spring and fall I like to go fishing there with my dad, sometimes even before school starts if the stripers are feeding. Sometimes I see my friends’ dads there too.

I also love going on walks to other beaches on the island. Mansion Beach is a favorite when my cousins are visiting during the summer. We also go surfcasting at Charlestown Beach.

www.blockislandinfo.com

1

13

2 12 3

14 15

11

4

5

16a

6

7

16b

16c

10

9

8

15 Charlestown Beach by Kari Curtis

Block Island Beaches 1. Cow Cove is near Settlers’ Rock.

Although the shoreline is rocky, it offers some of the best coastal views and also sports the historic North Light. This is not a place for swimming because of a strong riptide. Be careful where you walk too: the beach is a nesting area for many rare birds.

2. Mansion Beach lies at the end of a dirt road with the same name. The island’s most stately mansion once sat here until fire destroyed the house and it was never rebuilt. However, the beach fits the name by being one of the island’s grandest. Mansion marks the north end of what’s known as Crescent Beach.

3. Scotch Beach is a quarter mile north of Fred Benson Town Beach. Scotch is a sandbox for kids and the place boaters end up when they cross Corn Neck Road from Dinghy Beach. A small parking lot sits between the road and the dunes.

4. Fred Benson Town Beach is home to Block Island’s fully equipped bathhouse. In addition to showers, lockers, food, and rental items, the beach is staffed with lifeguards in the summer months.

5. Baby Beach is a well-sheltered beachfront toward the south end of what’s known as Crescent Beach (Mansion marks the north end), where children can easily play in the shallow waters.

6. Surf Beach, named for The Surf Hotel above it, is an ideal place to snorkel www.blockislandinfo.com

and check out the abundant sea life, such as small crabs and starfish, and to hunt for shells and sand dollars. Surf Beach marks the south end of what’s known as Crescent Beach.

7. Ballard’s Beach is located on the south side of the Old Harbor breakwater adjacent to Ballard’s Inn and its restaurant that serves on the beach.

Staffed with lifeguards throughout the summer months, it is also a popular destination for sunbathing, swimming, and volleyball.

8. Mohegan Bluffs beachfront is found at the bottom of a steep set of stairs, 141 steps to be exact. The payoff is a secluded and spectacularly beautiful, if rocky, place to swim and surf.

9. Vaill Beach is a large beach at the bottom of a hollow. The path to it is located at the bend in Snake Hole Road.

At the base of the bend turn left and walk for approximately 50 yards. The surf here is rough and rocks line the shallows, so swimmers should exercise caution.

10. Black Rock boasts expanses of sand and a series of coves at the base of a cliff. Swimming is difficult because of the large number of rocks, but it’s a perfect place for an oceanside hike. The area takes its name from a large, dark rock that rests offshore in about 15 feet of water and has spelled the end for many ships. Located a pace off the main road, it’s best to walk or bike to get there.

11. Mosquito Beach, also known as Dinghy Beach, is located just across the road from Scotch Beach, providing

a place for boaters in New Harbor to tie up their rafts and dinghies. There are majestic views of Great Salt Pond, making it a good backdrop for photos.

12. Andy’s Way is the island’s premiere clamming spot. Standing at the end of a dirt road that bears the same name, it’s a good place to take a stroll. Just north is Beane Point, U.S. Fish and Wildlife property that is home to many rare birds.

13. West Beach is narrow, but it’s lightly trafficked and has gentle surf and stupendous views of the North Light.

14. Coast Guard Beach is at the end of Champlin Road and derives its name from the decomissioned Coast Guard station there. Don’t swim here, but it’s a good place for clamming and fishing.

15. Charlestown Beach is popular with fishermen because it has a long jetty at its end. Typically uncrowded, it’s a nice spot to watch the boats come into New Harbor.

16. Grace’s, Dorrie’s, and Cooneymous coves are secluded beaches on the west side of the island. Perfect for hikers and those looking for an outof-the-way spot to catch a sunset.

14 Coast Guard Station by Kari Curtis

Close To Home, A World Away

15

Rest, Relaxation, Recreation

Whether you surf, sail, kayak, snorkel, or fish, Block Island offers plenty of ocean and pond adventure. The pounding surf and temperate waters are perfect for surfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, parasailing, scuba diving, and sea kayaking, and there are a number of local businesses that rent equipment and offer lessons and summer camps.

There’s offshore adventure in the form of sail and powerboat charters. Inland pursuits include biking, hiking, and all manner of exercise classes, such as yoga, Nia, aerobics and more — you can even take yoga classes on paddleboards at dawn.

Or you can hit the spa or simply hit the hammock! For more information, visit the Block Island Tourism Council’s web site at www.blockislandinfo.com.

Hammock at Atlantic Inn by Snap! Photography

Crescent Beach Dog Run by Kari Curtis

16 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

New Harbor Bait Shed by Kari Curtis

Boards by Kari Curtis

This tiny refuge off Rhode Island is remarkable for what it doesn’t have. No traffic jams (there are hardly any cars).

No private beaches—just miles of unfettered coastline. And, as of yet, no movie moguls or vacationing presidents, unlike nearby Martha’s Vineyard. Block Island’s low-key visitors are more interested in scenery than in a trendy scene. And what scenery: undulating hills and breeze-rippled grasslands, stone walls reminiscent of Ireland, and trails lined with bayberry and beach roses. …The mainland may be only 12 miles away, but you’ll have forgotten it exists.

Fort Island by Kari Curtis

Cyclist by Kari Curtis

—Travel + Leisure Young Surfer by Kari Curtis

Danielle Duffy, owner, Elevation Studio and Cafe In the summer of 1992, I was a college student in New Paltz, N.Y. An urge for a road trip to the ocean found me in Fisherman’s State Park in Narragansett, R.I. I woke up and was heading to the beach and from the next campsite I heard, “You should check out the island.”

Just down the road, I boarded the next ferry with my daypack, a curiosity and no expectations. That ferry ride changed my life.

The immediate magic of Block Island captured me. The clean ocean water, the quiet trails, and those gorgeous landscapes. How could this place only be 7 by 3 miles? My life began to unfold on the island and as my love and curiosity flourished, roots began to grow.

Now as a year-round resident, I have witnessed over 20 years of cycles and seasons, and that same first “magical discovery” in the eyes of new visitors each year. My love for this island has not waned one bit. Living here has taught me about change and being flexible, nature and appreciation, creativity and purpose.

Having a yoga studio and cafe here has been a blessing and a result of many years of practice and work…all kinds of work. Islandwww.blockislandinfo.com

My Block Island ers tend to wear many hats. Sometimes it’s a tricky balance, but it can be a fun challenge.

In my yoga classes, I can feel people’s relief.

A sense of true peace. To be in such a special place as this, reconnecting to their very own nature when they spend time in these beautiful landscapes. Embraced by constant ocean energy, we ebb and flow through the seasons and changes together. It makes everything so worth it.

I enjoy seeing my summer friends return each year, watching them rejuvenate and replenish themselves from their mainland lives.

I cherish the quieting down post summer, the potlucks with island friends, the stillness of winter. Spring comes and we prepare, once again for a busy season…and so it goes.

Sometimes I travel to beautiful Costa Rica in the winter for a vacation. When I return, I am always refreshed by the pure beauty and uniqueness of the island. Block Island is a place I am honored to be part of and nurtured by.

For information about the studio and cafe, go to www.elevationbi.com.

Close To Home, A World Away

17

New England’s Boating and Fishing Paradise Boaters from around the world find harbor in

Or take to the miles of sandy beaches and rocky shore-

more than 50 acres of anchorage and more than 100 public

line for fly fishing and surfcasting. Shore access is unre-

moorings. No boat? No problem. Rental boats and a charter

stricted around the entire island. Just don’t forget to stop

fishing fleet await to take visitors out on the Great Salt

by the island’s two tackle shops for bait or suggestions

Pond, the Block Island Sound, and, of course, the Atlantic

about where the action is. And don’t forget about the clam

Ocean for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, bonito, mahi-mahi,

flats, either!

shark, and more. The island hosts premiere races and fish-

For mooring, anchorage, licensing and docking informa-

ing tournaments including the Tri-State Canyon Shootout

tion, visit the Block Island Tourism Council’s web site at

fishing tourney and the Storm Trysail sailboat races.

blockislandinfo.com.

Sachem Pond at Dusk by Gerard Closset

18 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

Boat Basin by Kari Curtis

Clam Police by Margie Bucheit

Block Island Fishing Academy courtesy of Fishing Academy

Sunset Paddle by Jeffrey Smith

Storm Trysail Race by Kari Curtis

“Whatever you are searching for, Block Island seems to have it: art galleries, hiking, fishing, bars, food and shopping are all available within arm’s reach, and you’ll be no farther than a 20-minute bike ride from the southern and northernmost points of the Island.”

— marinalife.com Great Salt Pond by Kari Curtis

www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

19

Water Street Stores by Judy Tierney

Painting Workshop at Island Bound Bookstore

Farmers Market by Pam Gasner

Glass Onion gals

Building Blocks by Judy Tierney

The Goods Do a little credit card damage in one of the

Block Island’s natural beauty, its rolling hills, vivid

island’s fine clothing shops; pick out a memento or Block

skyline, clifftop vistas, and fog-cloaked hollows have

Island-themed sweatshirt as a keepsake from your island

inspired scores of poets, painters, potters, musicians, and

vacation at one of the charming gift shops; or browse for

photographers. Its solitude and grandeur have also created

fine art or pottery in the downtown’s many galleries.

a vibrant community where artists can create in a place

Only steps away from the ferry dock in Old Harbor is

that, in the off seasons, is removed from the hustle and

the heart of Block Island’s historic downtown. Most island

bustle of ordinary life and, in summer, is filled with visitors

stores are Mom and Pop businesses and the range of items

seeking to view and buy their work. From the Highview

offered is truly astounding. Homemade honey and candles

Hotel’s frescoed scenes of simple island life, created by H.D.

vie for space with designer handbags and fashionable

Wetherbee in 1948 in exchange for whiskey and rent, to

bathing suits and board shorts. Forget something? Not a

Malcolm Greenaway’s landscape photography, Block Island

problem. There are a host of choices to hook you up with

art has become world-renowned.

everything from fishing and surfing gear to sunscreen and paperback books.

Local artists and craftsmen show at the many galleries that dot the downtown, during the Arts and Crafts Guild

In addition to the shopping in town, there are farmers’

shows hosted on the Historical Society lawn a few times

markets where island artists, chefs and farmers gather each

each season, and at the twice-weekly farmers’ markets. Be

Wednesday and Saturday morning to sell their wares. It’s

sure to pencil in the Christmas Stroll for late fall: During

a great way to pick up locally grown produce, home-baked

the Thanksgiving Day weekend, island stores open their

goodies, locally made preserves, handcrafted jewelry, and

doors and offer dynamite discounts just in time for the

much more.

holidays.

20 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

Olive at Goose and Garden by Kari Curtis

“Fans of Block Island tend to describe this jewel 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island in terms of what it isn’t: The Hamptons without the attitude. A historic seaport minus the theme restaurants and chain stores.

An understated Nantucket.”

—Money magazine

Stores under the National by Judy Tierney

Marye Kelley by Kari Curtis

Felted Soap at North Light Fibers

Mary Lawless, owner WaterColors and president B.I. Chamber of Commerce I grew up around the Amish country in Pennsylvania, but after a season in Cape May, I ended up working during college summers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I returned to the Teton Valley after graduation, intending eventually to open my own shop. My parents weren’t thrilled with my western address, however, so I agreed to come back east for a summer. Complete serendipity brought me to Block Island and I fell in love.

I like places that are a little unusual, that you have to try a little harder to be in. There’s more appreciation for being able to be there.

The fact that you must take a scheduled ferry and not just drive to get there — or leave — whenever you wish, coupled with its small size, smaller year round population, and quiet off-season makes the island daunting to many, and more interesting to others.

In so many ways, though, the island is a welcoming place and I find its people, both residents and visitors, to be unique, uncommon, truly special. And Block Island is so beautiful and its beauty so accessible.

It’s all around us, changing not only season to season but minute to minute.

I opened my shop WaterColors here in 1990. I’ve almost always moonlighted in restaurants as well, starting with the Manisses and the Broiler, then more than a decade www.blockislandinfo.com

My Block Island

at Winfield’s, where I also do the window boxes, and finally five years at Eli’s. People tend to wear a lot of hats on B.I. Visitors are frequently entertained by the phenomenon of seeing their breakfast waitress later in the day as she rents them a kayak and still later serving a cocktail or working in a shop. I enjoy chatting with visitors and hearing their stories, often about the island.

That enjoyment of the island life and sharing it, as well as owning a business, lead to my interest in tourism. I joined the Tourism Council Board and now years later am serving my last year on the Board for the Chamber of Commerce as President. The Chamber office runs the Visitor Center by the ferry landing, develops and runs events such as The Taste of Block Island, Restaurant Week and the Holiday Stroll among many other things. The staff have all lived here for many years, know what they’re doing and enjoy helping people find their way around the island whether it’s to a hotel room or B & B, that perfect stretch of beach or walking trail, a special shop, perfect cocktail or best lobster roll.

I came to B.I. in 1986 and I still find it a place full of possibilities.

For more information about the Chamber of Commerce, call (401) 466-2982 or visit www. blockislandchamber.com.

Close To Home, A World Away

21

B.I. Historical Society Museum by Pam Gasner

Living History Block Island’s history is a rich one, encompassing

mentioning shipwrecks. While some have become the stuff

Native American tribes, Revolutionary War heroes, legend-

of legend, others remain accessible for sport divers. Among

ary shipwrecks, and its emergence in the late 1800s as one

the legendary is the Princess Augusta, which inspired John

of New England’s premiere summer attractions.

Greenleaf Whittier’s 1867 poem “The Palatine.”

Learn more about the island’s history by visiting the His-

Block Island’s rough seas and rocky coastlines would

torical Society Museum and gift shop downtown. A white

certainly have claimed more ships were it not for two light-

mansard-roofed building, the Historical houses an extensive

houses. The North and Southeast lighthouses have achieved

collection of furniture, textiles, quilts, oral histories, fish-

iconic status, revered for their historic significance and as

ing gear, tools, and Native American artifacts. Then head to

symbols of the community spirit that has allowed them to

Issac’s Corner, at the intersection of Center Road, Lakeside

be restored and preserved.

Drive, and Cooneymous roads. Named for the island’s last

The Southeast Lighthouse made national headlines in

full-blooded Native American, who died in 1886, it is near

the early nineties when, after years of erosion, it found itself

the Indian burial ground and the stone monument erected

just 50 feet from the cliff’s edge. Islanders banded together

just last year in honor of the Manissean Indians.

to save the beloved structure, raising nearly $2 million in

On that same corner, overlooking Fresh Pond, sits the gambrel-roofed cottage of composer and poet Arthur Penn,

federal and private grants and donations to move the National Historic Landmark 245 feet back from the bluff.

who lived there with his wife Nell in the 1920s. His song

You’ll want to see the North Light, too, by hiking past

“Smilin’ Through” is named for his Block Island home.

Settlers’ Rock. The lantern on that lighthouse was recently

No history of Block Island would be complete without 22 Close To Home, A World Away

restored and re-lit, and its small museum renovated. www.blockislandinfo.com

The [1,000] year-round residents give Block Island — along with its well-cared-for inns and restaurants and shops — the kind of down-home air that its stylish neighbors to the east, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, devote themselves to re-creating.

The difference is that Block Island is not exclusive; there’s something here for everyone. And, there’s nothing ‘of the moment’— unless the moment you’re referring to is sometime in the 1600s.

—Travel + Leisure Kari Curtis

Southeast Lighthouse by Andre Boudreau

Pam Gasner at Historical Society by Kari Curtis

Champ Starr with model of Leona A at Historical Society

Jacques Boudreau, sixth grader at B.I. School and part-time Southeast Lighthouse keeper Going to school somewhere else would be different. I wouldn’t see as many of my friends. Here I have friends in all grades.

[The school has 114 students in grades K to 12.] Everybody plays all the sports because otherwise you might not have enough kids [for a team].

I like going off island to play basketball and I like playing tag and football at recess. Everyone plays together. You get recess until eighth grade here.

My friends think it’s cool I live at a lighthouse. People are always asking me about it. They ask, ‘Have you lived at a lighthouse your whole life?’ [yes]; ‘How many feet is it to the bluffs?’ [about 250]; ‘How tall is it?’

[67 feet]; and, ‘When was it built?’ [1874]. I tell them other things about it — it protects boats from not getting stuck on the rocks or the shore and it was moved because the bluffs were eroding. They used rails to move it. I wasn’t born yet so I didn’t get to see it. If we didn’t move it, it would have fallen off the bluffs by now.

My three favorite things to do on Block Island in the summer are go to the beach, go snorkeling, and go tubing. In winter it’s sledwww.blockislandinfo.com

My Block Island

ding and ice skating.

About Block Island I would tell people they should come here. If you own a boat it’s only a 13-mile trip and you can just live on your boat and go wherever you want — surfing, paddle boarding, skimboarding, tubing, swimming, water skiing. If you don’t have a boat you can just stay at a hotel and wake up really early and go snorkeling then get something to eat. You can go to Winfield’s or The Spring House for really good food.

Rebecca’s is the best for cheeseburgers and milk shakes.

Also, people should get surfboards and skimboards at Diamondblue Surf Shop and snorkels and Go Pros and shoes at the Sport Shop.

If they want to see something really cool and meet someone who knows a lot about the island, then I would go to the Southeast Lighthouse and talk to my mom. And there might even be a food truck there that my dad and me run!

For more information about the Southeast Lighthouse, call (401) 466-5009 or visit www. nps.gov/maritime/nhl/blockisl.htm (the lighthouse is a National Historic Landmark).

Close To Home, A World Away

23

The Spring House by Mia Campopiano

Avonlea by Kari Curtis

Darius Inn by Kari Curtis

Sullivan House by Kari Curtis

Sea Breeze Inn by Lisa Stiepock

A Room with a View

Rent a cottage for a week or choose among dozens of hotels, inns, and B&Bs Block Island has the largest collection of Victorian era

and guest houses. You’ll find friendly and knowledgeable

hotels of any vacation destination on the Eastern seaboard.

proprietors who are eager to hand out advice about things

Among the architectural gems are the Atlantic Inn, the

to see and do.

Spring House, Hotel Manisses, the National Hotel, and once

For longer visits, Block Island has a slew of rental

again to everyone’s delight, the re-opened Surf Hotel. Many

properties and able real estate agents to help you find the

are historic landmarks that have been lovingly restored to

picturesque vacation home that’s just right for you and

their original grandeur and beauty.

yours. For specific accomodation information visit the Block

The island is also famous for its quaint bed and breakfasts 24 Close To Home, A World Away

Island Tourism Council’s web site at blockislandinfo.com. www.blockislandinfo.com

Water Street at Dawn by Kari Curtis

Atlantic Inn by Kari Curtis

Surf Hotel by Kari Curtis

Old Town Inn by Celeste Sloman

Narragansett Inn by Kari Curtis

“This 7-mile-long isle off the Rhode Island coast is an unpretentious mix of wildlife preserves, old Victorian hotels and weathered gray houses, stone walls and inland moors, nature trails and freshwater ponds, and windswept bluffs and sandy beaches that sometimes, on a quiet day in spring or fall, seems more like a corner of Europe than New England.”

— Islands magazine

Carol Payne, owner Payne’s Harbor View Inn My father, Frank Payne, was born here, a seventh generation islander — it’s “Sands” on Settlers’ Rock. I’ve been here summers my whole life. My children, too, spent their summers out here. We all worked at the family business, Payne’s Dock.

I have a letter my father wrote to my mother during the war in which he says that he thinks yachting is really up-and-coming and tells her that if they could get water down the dock they could really have a business. He told her she and his sister Harriet (Phelan) could sell chowder. Which of course they did. My mother used a cigar box for a cash register.

We did that for many years and we all loved working there.

Eventually, after my parents passed away I built an inn on a hill overlooking New Harbor and Paynes Dock. The well for the dock is up www.blockislandinfo.com

My Block Island on that hill and I remember one time my dad was standing there with his hand on his hips like he always did and this woman asked him what he was thinking. And he said I’m thinking some day there’s going to be something great here. And now there is! The guests spend a lot of time out on the decks overlooking the dock, the harbor and the ocean.

My daughter Carrah has been able to help me up here the last couple years. [Daughters Charity and Carmen work with Carol at Payne’s Killer Donuts.] The guests like it that we’re island people because they have so many questions about the island history. They love that we have family pictures of a century ago all around the inn. They always ask what it’s like in the winter out here of course. I tell them, well, in February the island gets really small and everyone gets really good looking!

Close To Home, A World Away

25

Sushi at The Oar by Kari Curtis

Ballard’s Inn by Kari Curtis

Betty Jean at Ernie’s by Judy Tierney

The Ice Cream Place

Good Eats From family-friendly to romantic fine dining,

from the beach or ferry. Bite into one of our legendary fish

Block Island can satisfy your hunger at any of nearly 40

sandwiches, snack on clam cakes or mahi-mahi, feast on

restaurants and pubs.

buckets of shrimp and enjoy the spectacular ocean views.

Seafood lovers will delight in the dizzying number of ways

But Block Island offers more than just seafood. Hungry for

our local chefs prepare fresh catch. Many of the island’s

falafel, eggplant rollatini, sushi, pad thai, freshly-made ba-

most beloved seafood joints are less than a five-minute walk

gels, or a lemon-lime gelato? Block Island has you covered.

26 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

There are day visitors who take the ferry to Block Island for no other reason than to dine at one of the isle’s elegant restaurants.

Perhaps this is because many of the island’s fine dining establishments boast views that are every bit as impressive as the food.

Finn’s Fish Market by Kari Curtis

— About.com Manisses Restaurant patio by Kari Curtis

National Hotel Fireside by Kari Curtis

Surf Hotel Back Porch by Kari Curtis

Adam Stabile, bartender at The Spring House I’ve been working for Frank [DiBiase, owner of The Spring House] for 21 years. I started bussing tables at Stuffies Bar and Grill in North Providence. I came out here in 1996 and have been tending bar for Frank at The Spring House six months a year ever since.

In the winters I tend bar at the Providence Oyster Bar on Atwells Ave. in Providence.

I think of bartending as a lifestyle more than career. I enjoy being on the stage, if you will, meeting new people and creating long lasting relationships with customers who come back year after year.

The best thing about working at The Spring House bar is the nightly regulars. I enjoy hearing about people’s days, nights, weekends.

Phil Donoghue was here once, as a wedding guest. He said, “I always dreamt of being a bartender.” I invited him behind the bar, never thinking he would accept. He did.

He popped a few beers with me, took a few pictures. It was really neat. www.blockislandinfo.com

Three Sisters sandwich shop by Kari Curtis

My Block Island Another great thing about working here is the gardens on our property. The kitchen uses fresh produce in its cooking, and we use it in our drinks as well. One example is Agave Rio. We use jalapeno peppers and cilantro in a tequila-based cocktail. It’s different but good.

What’s my “go-to cocktail” for a customer in search of a summery drink? I’m a gin fan.

I like to create gin cocktails that are very refreshing. The Sipping Jet Set cocktail combines gin and elderflower liqueur. It appeals to everybody.

When I’m not behind the bar I’m on the beach. I enjoy Pebbly Beach below the Spring House. It’s quiet and relaxing, never too far away from work.

On Tuesday nights I like to go to Captain Nick’s to hear Marc Scortino play piano and sing. On Sunday afternoons I like to have a cocktail at the Surf Hotel bar on the back porch overlooking Crescent Beach.

– as told to Jane Vercelli

Close To Home, A World Away

27

On the island, take it slow.

To the island, make it fast.

Get to Block Island in just over an hour via the fastest ferry from the mainland.

goblockisland.com

We’ve been stirring up history and culture for over 375 years.

Make our Visitor Information Center the first place you visit! Open 7 days a week.

23 America’s Cup Avenue, Newport, RI

Share a review on Seasonal Daily Departures to Downtown Newport

DiscoverNewport.org | 800.326.6030 28 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

Margarita Diablo at Harry’s by Sara Dunleavy Berge

Block Island Music Festival at Captain Nick’s

Block Island with its plentiful restaurants and nightclubs, is a funloving party girl.

—windcheckmagazine.com

Old Island Pub by Kari Curtis

Brandon behind the bar at Harry’s by Sara Dunleavy Berge

Drinks at The Spring House by Kari Curtis

Rick and Brad behind the Atlantic Inn bar by Kari Curtis

Nightlife After a day of swimming, fishing, sailing or hiking, you need to relax — just not too much! A different island adventure awaits you after dark. Block Island bars and nightclubs are among the best in New England. You’ll find local brews, mudslides, and margarita madness to go with the live music that will keep you dancing well into the night. www.blockislandinfo.com

Lighting a lantern at the Atlantic Inn by Kari Curtis

Close To Home, A World Away

29

30 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

Soap Box Derby by John Cullen

Painted Rock by Sara Sprague

Fourth of July Unicyclist by Malcolm Greenaway

Shane at the Block Island Times January 2014 by Kari Curtis

Lazy Fish gift wrapped by Kari Curtis

Dunes at the North Light in Winter by Malcolm Greenaway

Farmers’ Market by Kari Curtis

Springtime Field Trip by Kari Curtis

Favorite Times and Events Block Island’s best kept secret may be the pleasure of its

Triathlon by Kari Curtis

Halloween by Kari Curtis

Rebecca at Dawn by Kari Curtis

Spring at the Farm by Kari Curtis

summer including the popular Blues on the Beach concerts

shoulder seasons. Spring and fall are quieter and perhaps

at Fred Benson Town Beach; fall classics like the Motoring

even more gorgeous than summer and A Taste of Block

Event and the Soap Box Derby; and new favorites, such as

Island weekends, May 30 to June 1 and September 26 to

the Glass Floats Treasure Hunts, in which visitors and is-

28 in 2014, give guests a chance to sample the island’s inns,

landers alike comb beaches and trails for fishing-float-style

restaurants, and activities at a deep discount. Sample island

glass balls handblown and stamped with an island shape.

food during Restaurant Week June 16 to 22 this year.

Popular annual celebrations include the Fourth of July,

Winter happenings include the Christmas Shopping Stroll over Thanksgiving weekend, the Polar Plunge on New

of course, but also races such as the Shad Bloom race in

Year’s Day, and the Groundhog Day census. Find a full

early May, the August triathlon, and September’s 15K Run

listing of events in 2014 at blockislandinfo.com or on the

Around the Block; art and music festivals throughout the

calendar at blockislandtimes.com.

www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

31

Go Online for Spring & Fall 2014 Packages Visit www.blockislandinfo.com

800-383-2474 • Visit www.blockislandinfo.com

32 Close To Home, A World Away

Register onine to Win a Block Island Getaway

www.blockislandinfo.com

School Dance at the Empire by Lisa Stiepock

The Entire School by Kari Curtis

Poets Laureate by Malcolm Greenaway

Christmas Play by Tracy Heinz

Our Island Community

Spring Concert by Ned Phillips

Clam Shack by Kari Curtis

2013 Graduating Class by Kari Curtis

Young Firefighters by Kari Curtis

When you step onto Block Island you’ll find a place that includes not just rare birds, fantastic beaches and miles of hiking trails, but a close, caring community.

find this interdependence creates a sense of community unrivaled anywhere else.

You’ll find that this community — my neighbors — cares.

I grew up here and have witnessed many changes, but

They care deeply about each other, about the environment

one thing that has remained the same all these years is the

around them and about those coming to enjoy this island.

character of the people. When you visit you’ll meet some of

Perhaps that’s why we’re so proud to show off this island

our 1,006 year-round residents who run businesses, send

gem to the world.

their children to school, offer directions to the passing tourist and wear many, many hats.

I encourage you to come visit, meet my neighbors and share in this special place.

It’s not unusual to see your taxi cab driver as your waiter

Kim Gaffett

at dinner or the First Warden leading a nature walk. You’ll

First Warden/Nature-walk leader

www.blockislandinfo.com

Close To Home, A World Away

33

Classic Victorian Hotel over looking Beach with Amazing Ocean Views & Private Access to it.

Restaurant Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner with a Victorian Indoor Lounge & New Outdoor Bar

401.466.2241

Surf Hotel Catering Available On & Off Site

www.thesurfhotelbi.com PO Box C , Dodge Street Block Island, RI 02807 surfhotelbi@gmail.com

View from end of porch

Like us on Facebook

SINC

Whether looking to rent, buy or sell, please contact us for all your real estate needs.

IN

TER

E 1964

N AT I O N

AL

61 dodge street 401-466-8777

Local Legacy...International Reach™ newport 34 Close To Home, A World Away

narragansett

providence

jamestown

details@ w at c h h i l l

block island www.blockislandinfo.com

Bess and Charlie at the Atlantic by Robin Langsdorf

Terri and Chad at the Narragansett Inn by Danielle Robinson

Kelly and Ryan at the Southeast Lighthouse by Joshua Behan

Kelly and Ryan at the Dinghy Dock by Joshua Behan

Katie and Tristan at The Spring House by Susan Sancomb

Amanda and Joshua on Great Salt Pond by Lesley A. Ulrich

Kimberly and Joe at The Sullivan House by Hilary B. Photography

Morgan and Patrick at Avonlea by Stacey M Photography

Kaylyn and Nic at Ballard’s Inn by Michael Benson

The Perfect Place for a Wedding

It’s no secret anymore how much fun it is to have your wedding on Block Island: Every year more and more couples choose the island for a close-to-home, but worlds-away destination celebration. Whether it’s just the two of you on a dock or at a lighthouse, or hundreds of friends and family members renting houses together for a week of parties, you’ll have a picture-perfect time. www.blockislandinfo.com

Mary and Lance’s musician friends at the North Light by Heather Linton

Close To Home, A World Away

35

Group Tours Whether you’re a community recreation department, a

trip ferry tickets, island tour, lunch, and of course free time

family wishing to reunite, a cyclist group, a charter school,

for ad hoc exploration.

or a company looking for a fun place to retreat, there’s a

“Group tours bring a whole different dynamic to Block

Block Island experience just right for you.

Island,” says Jessica Willi, executive director of the Tourism

Tours are especially good for gatherings of friends, family,

Council. “This market is wonderful for first-time visitors to

classmates or colleagues who’ve never been to the island

the island because they don’t have to worry about logistics.

before and want to maximize a day or a long weekend by

Everything is included in their day. And, as we know on

taking part in this rapidly growing island industry.

Block Island, one visit will turn into a lifetime of visits. If

“We’ve had classic car associations, military reunions, and

you come once, you will want to come back!”

lighthouse afficionados come out,” says Megan Moran, sales

For more information, go to www.blockislandinfo.com or

manager for the Block Island Ferry. What appeals to folks is

blockislandferry.com.

the inclusive nature of a tour, she says. You get your round-

Faster than a speeding ferry.

Skip the ferry and hop on a fast flight from Providence or White Plains to Block Island. Enjoy our frequent schedule and easy connections through TF Green so you can start your vacation sooner. Book online today.

Providence

White Plains

Block Island

EasyEasy ground limo transport transport available. available between Midtown and NYC Westchester County Airport.

pvdairport.com

Your wings

to Block Island.

capeair.com 800-CAPE-AIR 36 Close To Home, A World Away

www.blockislandinfo.com

Ours is on target to become the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

Watch videos, learn more, and be proud at dwwind.com.

Bryan Wilson, Manager, Block Island Wind Farm Post Office Building • Suite 204 • P.O. Box 116 • Block Island, RI 02807 Phone: 401.859.2084 or 401.474.5782 • Fax: 401.466.5943 www.dwwind.com • www.facebook.com/DeepwaterWind

Block Island Reservations

Located in the lobby of the Harborside Inn, directly across from the Old Harbor Ferry

One stop shopping for lodging on Block Island!

(800) 825-6254 www.blockislandreservations.com

Enjoy unparalleled beauty and endless activities for your Island getaway.

Visit BlockIslandReservations.com for all your accommodation needs including hotel rooms in historic Old Harbor, suites, cottages & apartments. We offer packages with 2 nights lodging, bikes or mopeds, dining & ferry starting at $359 for two guests midweek. Browse our website for details and other great deals!

' #!/ƫđƫ +0!(/ƫđƫ +00 #!/ƫđƫ 1%0!/ƫđƫ , .0)!*0/