New York City
Block Island is the Perfect Weekend Trip
A few hours from NYC, this getaway will transport you to more wholesome times past.
New Shoreham, Block Island
Exploring the Island
Once settled, we decided to explore the town and the island itself. Also referred to as New Shoreham, Block Island is a historic seaside destination known for its bicycling, sailing, fishing and beaches. As the island is just shy of ten square miles and is easily navigable by bike or moped, we were able to visit both lighthouses, soak in the country farmsteads and scout the unspoiled coast.
After spending most of the afternoon on a secluded beach, we returned to the inn for wine and hor d’oeuvres. Grabbing our fare, we headed out to one of several comfy seats accompanied by tables on the wraparound porch. I truly couldn’t imagine a better end to a day at the beach than sipping a glass of wine paired with flatbread bruschetta and feeling the light ocean breeze in my hair.
Later that night, we dropped into a nearby restaurant for dinner followed by drinks at a bar featuring live music before returning to Avonlea for the night. We woke to the sound of waves and a delectable breakfast of stuffed french toast, fresh fruit and baked goods.
I truly couldn’t imagine a better end to a day at the beach than sipping a glass of wine paired with flatbread bruschetta and feeling the light ocean breeze in my hair.
The Oar restaurant
The Perfect Casual Afternoon Meal
Prior to leaving the island, we spent a leisurely afternoon at The Oar, which overlooks New Harbor and the Great Salt Pond. Over the years, this restaurant has become a tradition with vacationers, locals and, especially, the boaters that are docked or moored in the harbor below.
While the view from The Oar’s decks and lawns is awe-inspiring, the restaurant itself exudes a fun atmosphere with its painted oars telling the stories of travelers before us. Overall, it was the perfect choice for a casual afternoon meal and drink.
As the ferry pulled away, we couldn’t have been happier with our trip to Block Island. The hospitality and service at Avonlea, Jewel of the Sea were amazing and the moments shared in town and along the shorelines will always be remembered.
Geneva Walton
To be this close to NYC and not be crowded is just baffling to me. This place looks great, Maybe i’ll visit this weekend. Thank’s for this.
Lyndsi LaRose
I’ll forward this to some of my friends who live in NYC. Looks like a really fun getaway. I love that your articles lay out a full itinerary with everything to do, which makes it really easy to book everything and know what to do.
Sarah Evanston
The Blue Dory looks super cute. I’m going to do this trip this summer and visit/stay at all the places you recommended. Please write more articles like this — with the entire trip planned out!
Auriane Desombre
It's always nice to escape the city for short trips during the year! Block Island looks like a really fun and pretty getaway 🙂
Zenab Bello-Osagie
It's nice to get away from the city for awhile to visit a somewhere calm and relaxing. Looks very pleasant.
Jen Spillane
Awesome! It's nice to learn about some getaways that aren't too far from the NYC area. There are plenty of vacation hotspots that aren't too far out of reach.