Holly Herdman

Located at the base of one of the Block Island lighthouses is Mohegan Bluffs – one of the most scenic landscapes on the Island. The Mohegan Bluffs at the Southeast Light is an incredible place to hike and admire the scenic beauty of Block Island. Not only is the hike along the top of Mohegan Bluffs beautiful but there are steps down to what many consider one of the prettiest Block Island beaches.

The Mohegan Bluffs are just one of the many beautiful areas to enjoy some restorative time in nature on Block Island. Block Island may only be 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, but it truly does feel like it’s an entirely different world. In part, it’s because a vast majority of the Island is protected in its pristine natural state in perpetuity.

Thanks to the protected habitats, there’s a slower pace of life out here. What’s more, there’s excellent lodging like our Block Island hotels, where it will feel just like coming home. Like most things on Block Island, you don’t have to travel far from our Block Island hotels to enjoy beautiful places like Mohegan Bluffs. Book a room at one of our stunning Block Island hotels today!

Hike Along the Scenic Mohegan Bluffs

The dramatic clay cliffs, rising sharply from the rocky beach below, are one of the most iconic sights on Block Island. They stand majestically, 200 feet above the coastline below. On a clear day, you can even see all the way to Montauk on Long Island.

The Mohegan Bluffs got their name from a historic battle that is said to take place here. The battle of the Niantic and the Mohegan occurred here in the mid-16th century. During this battle, 40 members of a Mohegan raiding party were driven off the cliffs to their deaths.

The beach at the base of Mohegan Bluffs is rocky but stunningly beautiful. You’ll have to walk down 141 steps to get there (and don’t forget, you have to come back up, too!) – but it offers visitors a beautiful and secluded place to swim and surf.

While you’re out hiking the Mohegan Bluffs, make sure to take the time to visit the Southeast Lighthouse, located at the top of the cliff. The charming red-brick Gothic-style architecture of the lighthouse is unusual and beautiful. It was built in 1874 and today houses a museum and gift shop. You can also climb to the top of the tower for breathtaking ocean vistas.

From this end of the Island, you can also see the first commercial offshore wind farm in the country, the Block Island Wind Farm. The wind turbines are about 4 miles offshore and help supply all the power on Block Island.

You can easily reach the Mohegan Bluffs by bike, as they are less than 2 miles from our Block Island hotels. It’s a popular spot, so if you want to beat the crowds, we recommend heading there earlier in the day.

Stay at the Best Block Island Hotels

Visiting the picturesque Mohegan Bluffs is just one of the many great things to do on Block Island. With beautiful walking trails, bike routes, and beaches to enjoy and plenty of fantastic shops and restaurants to round out the experience, you’ll want for nothing during your time at our Block Island hotels.

We offer a range of accommodations for all types of travelers, including families, couples, friends traveling together, and even our furry companions. Our Block Island hotels are some of the only beachfront lodging properties on the entire Island. We compromise on nothing throughout your stay, ensuring you enjoy all the creature comforts of home and none of the stress that comes with it.

More than anything else, guests staying with us at our Block Island hotels seek restorative downtime away from the busy demands of home. Hop on the Block Island Ferry, and enjoy the best getaway of the year. Book your room with us today!

There are so many fantastic things to do on Block Island, from grand adventures to quiet afternoons on the beach. With 17 miles of pristine beaches, stunning lighthouses and bluffs towering above the ocean, winding trails through the island’s protected areas, and an unbeatable atmosphere that sets the perfect stage for relaxation, what’s not to love about a fall getaway to this charming island paradise?

From the moment you step off the Block Island Ferry, you’ll feel as though you’ve stepped back in time to the popular summer destinations of days gone by. Generations of families have been coming here since the 1800s, and it’s easy to see why. Not only are there so many things to do on Block Island, but you’ll be surrounded by jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery everywhere you turn. So much of the island has been protected to retain its quintessential island charm.

Our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts & Cottages are right on the beach and just a short walk from the ferry. Within minutes of your arrival on the Block Island Ferry, you can relax in our little island paradise and enjoy the best getaway of the year. We offer a range of accommodations, from family and pet-friendly bed and breakfasts or cottages to an adults-only Inn on the beach. You can find exactly what you’re looking for from our collection of Inns. Book your getaway today!

The Best Things to Do on Block Island

Though we love Block Island any time of year, we think fall getaways are exceptional. There are still plenty of things to do on Block Island in the fall, but there are far fewer crowds here at this time of year, leaving you much more time to relax and enjoy our island paradise. At times, it may even feel like you have the island to yourselves!

Whether you want your getaway packed with adventure or filled with lazy days and good books by the beach, you’ll love a getaway to our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts. We’re one of the only lodging properties actually located on the beach, and we’re close to many of the best things to do on Block Island. There’s a reason families have been returning to our Inns for generations! Below, we’ve listed our favorite things to do on Block Island this fall.

You can’t come to Block Island without walking our trails. They are all over the island, taking you to breathtaking vistas everywhere you turn. No wonder they are rated as one of the best things to do on Block Island! These trails, and the protected lands they cross, also inspired the Nature Conservancy to call Block Island one of the “last great places” in the Western Hemisphere.

You can walk all over the island on these trails, but you can also rent a bike in town and take to the roads, touring magnificent landscapes as you ride. There’s a great 7.5-mile bike tour that takes you to all the top sights around the island.

One of the best things to do on Block Island is to visit the beach. With seventeen miles of beaches around the island, all of which are public, it’s easy to find your own quiet spot. That’s even more true in the fall when the crowds are fewer.

Visit the gorgeous red brick Southeast Light, one of two Block Island Lighthouses. It offers excellent ocean views, of course, but also the Block Island Windfarm, located just offshore.

When you’re done at the lighthouse, walk along the top of Mohegan Bluffs, and take the 141 steps down to the beach. It’s one of the most stunning beaches on the island and is one of the best things to do on Block Island.

The North Light on the other end of Block Island is equally as impressive, offering magnificent coastal views. There’s a museum worth visiting here, too, open on weekends between Memorial and Columbus Day.

With so many protected habitats here, Block Island always has excellent birdwatching. Fall is one of the best seasons for it, though. We recommend you visit the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge near the North Light.

Get out on the water! Whether you want to surf, sail, kayak, or fish, getting out on the water is one of the best things to do on Block Island. You can enjoy time on the Block Island Sound or one of the 365 ponds around Block Island!

Enjoy a walking tour of Block Island’s Old Harbor. It’s one of the best things to do on Block Island, especially if you don’t bring a car!

Take your time to browse the shops, art galleries, and more in the Old Harbor district of town. A seasonal farmers market on Saturdays and Wednesdays through September offers a wonderful glimpse into local life on Block Island.

Savor the Moment at our Block Island Bed and Breakfast

Though there are so many wonderful things to do on Block Island, many come here to escape the fast-paced, overstimulating world they left behind on the mainland. Accordingly, many of our guests love relaxing, unwinding, and enjoying the slower pace of life they find here. Our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts are perfect for that!

Whether you’re taking a vacation with your kids, looking for a place that will accommodate family and friends, or would prefer a more intimate couple’s escape, you’ll find it from our collection of Block Island Bed and Breakfasts and vacation cottages. The Blue Dory Inn and our Block Island Vacation Cottages are perfect for families and those traveling with pets, while Avonlea is perfect for couples and intimate, romantic escapes.

Regardless of the property you choose, you’ll find from our collection of Block Island Bed and Breakfasts one of the best places to stay on the island. We’re one of the only properties offering beachfront access, all within walking distance from the ferry, shops, and restaurants. Couple our convenient beachfront location with exceptional hospitality, personalized service, and unrivaled attention to detail, and you can see why we’re rated as one of the best places to stay on Block Island.

Families have been staying at our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts for generations. We’d love to welcome you into our family this fall and show you all the best things to do on Block Island. Book your room with us today!

There are so many wonderful things to do on Block Island, but visiting the beach is an absolute must. Luckily, it’s easy! There are seventeen miles of Block Island beaches to explore, all of which are open to the public and mostly easy to access. That includes the Block Island beaches right here in front of our Inns!

We’re one of the few places to stay on Block Island located right on the beach – and that’s true whether you stay at our family-friendly Blue Dory Inn, the couple’s only Avonlea, or our family-friendly Block Island vacation cottages. Though our beachfront locations certainly make us one of the best places to stay on Block Island, that’s just one of the many reasons people choose to stay with us every time they visit.

Like the rest of the island, staying with us is like coming home. We offer personalized service that can’t be beaten; a true island paradise. We’ll also share our favorite island secrets with you, including sending you to the best Block Island beaches. Fall, winter, spring, or summer – there’s never a bad time to visit us on beautiful Block Island. Book your room with us today!

The 8 Best Block Island Beaches

Block Island is pretty small – it’s only three miles wide by seven miles long. But its seventeen stunning miles of shoreline are almost all beach, and unlike many other islands, these Block Island beaches are open to the public. They’re even pet-friendly! Thanks to the dedication to preservation around the Island, Block Island beaches are some of New England’s nicest.

You don’t have to go far to enjoy the best Block Island beaches, either – as we sit right on the beach here at our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts! Crescent Beach, one of the most popular (and busy) Block Island beaches, is walkable from our location, too. Apart from enjoying a day on this two-mile sandy paradise, there are other great Block Island beaches worth visiting, and we’ve listed our favorites below.

We’ve already mentioned it, but Crescent Beach is easily the most popular beach on the island. It’s a two-mile stretch of sand that stretches from Block Island’s Old Harbor district to Clay Head Nature Preserve. The beach is easy to access, especially for those guests who come to the island without a car, and it offers beautiful views and warm sands.

If you’re looking for a hidden gem of a beach, head to Mansion Beach. There, you’ll find soft white sand, gorgeous clear blue water, and big waves to play in. The traffic to this beach is lower, too, which means you can enjoy a much quieter day at the beach here.

Fred Benson Town Beach is perfect for families visiting our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts. There are great amenities here, including showers, restrooms, concession stands, and beach equipment rentals – in short, everything you need to enjoy your days at Block Island beaches!

If you want to do some snorkeling, head to Surf Beach. It’s not too far from our Inns and cottages either, making it a quick and easy place to get in the water and have some fun.

For breathtaking views of our island paradise and the surrounding waters, head to Mohegan Beach. It’s a little harder to access, with 141 steps down to the beach, but you’ll be so glad you made the trek down there. Not only is this one of the most secluded Block Island Beaches, but it’s unbelievably beautiful. The beach is surrounded by 200-foot cliffs and dramatic coastal scenery.

If you’re enjoying a romantic getaway on Block Island, don’t miss the chance to take in a sunset from Grace’s Cove – arguably the best place for sunsets on Block Island. It’s also quite a ways away from town, which means unlike other Block Island beaches, you won’t find big crowds here.

If you’re looking for sealife, don’t miss the beach at Great Salt Pond (aka New Harbor).

For those romantic long walks on the beach, we recommend the beach in front of the popular North Light at Cow Cove. This is one of the few Block Island Beaches where you’ll want to stay on dry land, though. The rip current off the shore here is dangerous and unsuitable for swimming.

The Best Places to Stay on Block Island

Whether you’d prefer to do nothing beyond enjoying the best Block Island beaches or you want to explore the island’s trails, bikeways, lighthouses, and more, there’s nothing better than our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts when it comes to island lodging. Not only are we one of the few places actually on the beach, but we’re consistently rated as one of the best places to stay on Block Island.

We’ve been welcoming guests at our Block Island Bed and Breakfasts for over thirty years – and have seen more than one generation pass through our doors. For our guests, staying with us is like coming home to their treasured summer escape. Over our thirty years in business, we’ve added diversity to our accommodations, so there’s something here for everyone.

Whether you’re taking a vacation with your family or a quiet, romantic retreat with your special someone, you’ll find it here. The Blue Dory Inn and our Block Island Vacation Cottages are perfect for families and those traveling with pets, while Avonlea is perfect for couples and intimate, romantic escapes. Regardless of the property you choose, you’ll find from our collection of Block Island Bed and Breakfasts one of the best places to stay on the island.

Though it’s a nice perk that our Inns are conveniently located on the beach, and close to town, we are so much more than our location. We also offer warm, welcoming hospitality, personalized service, and attention to detail unrivaled on Block Island. One stay here, and you’ll see why our guests return and continue to rate us as the best places to stay on Block Island. Book your room with us today!

Author: Holly Herdman