Outdoors Information |
Block Island - Memorable Vacations Are Made of This
Block Island is a seaside jewel lying 12 miles off the southern coast of Rhode Island. This is a place where nature clings to every pond, stone-walled trail, beach, and everything in between. It's a paradise for cyclists, and a haven for those ready to leave the trappings and demands of the mainland behind. Most people take the ferry from Port Judith which takes one hour and plants you in the hub of Block Island at Old Harbor. A Seasonal ferry service also runs from Newport RI and Montauk NY. Coming to the Island is a shift in time, with its rugged undeveloped reserves? and open field farmlands? and narrow roads lined with stone walls and wild roses. Block Islands invites you to relax in dress and time. It's a chance for you to rediscover nature again. Here's suggested destinations to help you enjoy Block Island to its fullest? THE VIEW FROM MOHEGAN BLUFFS? You don't want to miss the view from Mohegan Bluffs. Take the Mohegan Trail from the village of Old Harbor out to the Bluffs. Mohegan Bluffs overlook the southern coast of Block Island, and on a clear day you can see Montauk, NY on Long Island, about 18 miles away. The cliff's tower 200 feet above the shoreline and offer stunning views of the landscape and the Southeast Light. A steep set of wooden steeps leads down to the beach below. THE BLOCK ISLAND LIGHTHOUSES Block Island has two lighthouses: Southeast Light and North Light. Southeast Light sits atop Mohegan Bluffs and was moved back from a perilous position on the cliffs in 1993. This is an attractive redbrick lighthouse built in 1875, and contains a museum inside for you to explore. North Light is at Sandy Point on the northern tip pf Block Island. This is the fourth lighthouse in this location and was built in 1867. Two of the previous lights were washed away and the third was dismantled because its position did more harm than good. North Light is within the boundaries of the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, and that's where we were heading anyway? BLOCK ISLAND NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Located on the North End of Block Island the refuge is now a 127-acre habitat for wildlife and for visitors to enjoy the wonder of this natural environment. If you're a bird-watcher then the fall season offers a spectacular opportunity to view migratory birds, especially songbirds. Bring your camera and binoculars for a very special trip to a very special refuge. The shoreline area runs from Settler's Rock to Sandy point and the North Light, and then from here to Great Salt Pond. This is an ideal area for walking, bird watching, and breathtaking views. BLOCK ISLAND BEACHES & PONDS Block Island beaches are the first stop for many first time visitors. The choices are many and varied. It has 17 pristine miles of gorgeous beaches. The two-mile Crescent Beach area consists of four beaches: Frederick J. Benson Beach, Scotch Beach, Mansion Beach, and close to the ferry landing is Ballard's. These tend to be the most popular, but don't forget just a few minutes bike ride away are deserted beaches, where you can enjoy your own spot of peace and harmony. For such a tiny area, Block Island boasts an amazing 365 ponds - that's right? one for every day of the year. So as you bike and hike around the island, it doesn't matter where you're at? you're only a few feet away from water. Permits are required to fish the freshwater ponds. Other things to do on Block Island include: visits to Manisses Animal Petting Zoo, Settler's Rock, located at the end of Corn Neck Road near a beach on Rhode Island Sound - the rock marks the landing point of European settlers of Block Island in 1661, and kayaking in New Harbor. While Block Island is a great place to visit for the day, you'll get more time to enjoy the island if you stay overnight, or even longer, at any of the varied lodging available. But advanced booking is a must. Inns and bed and breakfasts abound on the island, with many located near the village of Old Harbor and nearby New Harbor. For more information on inns and bed and breakfast accommodation check out www.blockisland.com. Cliff Calderwood is the owner and contributing writer of http://www.new-england-vacations-guide.com. You can read more about Block Island and get a free travel report at his New England Vacation online Guide site.
MORE RESOURCES: Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting |
RELATED ARTICLES
GOA - A Carnival of Beaches The state of Goa on the West coast of India, is located in the coastal belt known as Konkan. While this tourist magnet has much to offer: old churches, carnival atmosphere, Portuguese flavour, wildlife, nature and tantalizing cuisine, yet, mention Goa and the first, often only, image that flashes in one's mind is of the BEACHES. Hiking Mount Rainier National Park Mount Rainier National Park is the most popular park in the state. It has fantastic areas to explore. RV Camping at Casinos There's nothing that will quicken the interest of RVers like the prospect of free overnight parking. Places such as Wal-Mart parking lots, and truck stops, are well known freebies, and if you are on the move in your RV, expanding the list of possible free overnight camping locations will broaden your options. Costa Rica: Land of Natural Wonders Costa Rica is a small country - just 75 mi/120 km separates the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea at the narrowest spot - Costa Rica still has some of the most diverse scenery in the world. Its coasts have both sandy beaches and marshy swamps, while its interior is dotted with volcanoes, dense with rain forests and abundant with unusual flora. Hawaii Volcano Tour A Hawaii volcano tour can be a most memorable experience,and is readily available (short of eruptions!) year round.While each island boasts some volcanic heritage, The BigIsland is where all the action is. Backpacking Journals - Preserve Your Backpacking Experiences Backpacking is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your backpacking experiences can fade with time. Camping - Get Those Tents Up! Have you ever thought you might like to try a totally different vacation? Is the cost of your vacation this year a problem? Did you know that a week long Camping Vacation for a family of four can work out to under a $1000.That sounds pretty good eh! Can you smell that fresh air go on fill your lungs with it and oh! what's that lovely smell, somebody's cooking up a treat. Spain´s Beaches - You´re Spoilt For Choice Spain offers the visitor over 4,000 kms of coastline wheres/he can enjoy shining sun and sapphire seas in wonderfulsettings.And what a choice of sands! Golden sands, white sands, grainy sands, powdery sands, and even the black sands ofthe Canary Islands!Allergic to sand? No problem! Just plump for a resortwith smooth, white pebbles! You´ll find a good selection!Already holidayed several times by the Mediterranean? Thenwhy not try the fairy-tale fishing villages washed by theCantabrian Sea or Atlantic Ocean?"Spanish beaches are the most environmentally healthy in Europe" says the Foundation for Environmental Education, which has awarded the much-coveted Blue Flag to 450 of the country´s beaches - more than any other participating contry!Leading the way within Spain itself is the Costa Blanca, which received 48 Blue Flag awards. Creative Camp Cooking - Part 2 In a previous article, I wrote primarily about box ovens. With this article, we will consider a couple of other ideas that can also make your camping meals fun and enjoyable. Ten African Safari Tips That You Must Know Before You Go 1. Take the early morning drives on safari even though that often means getting up while it's still dark. 7 Need to Know Campsite Cooking Strategies Are you sick and tired of not knowing what to bring or what to cook when you go camping? Do you either pack the entire kitchen (including the sink) or you bring the absolute minimum and then have to use a fork as a spatula or two spoons as tongs?If that sounds even the slightest bit familiar then you are in the right place. Over the past decade or so I have refined a list of 7 things that I use every single time I prepare for my next camping trip. Tom Sawyer Day - Floating Down The River There were four of us on that first Tom Sawyer Day. I promised my friends an adventure-disaster, sure to get them wet and cold. A Review of Popular River Rafting Trips and Services Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices and experts alike. River rafting tours provide all of the equipment, guidance, and instruction necessary. San Diego Beach Hikes - Cardiff to Carlsbad San Diego offers a bevy of interesting hikes. With the average home price being around $500,000, they better be interesting!To unwind, I typically stop on my way home from work to hike from Cardiff to Carlsbad on the beach. Protection from Lightning - Smart Strategies for Hikers and All Outdoor Enthusiasts Prevention is your best protection against lightning. Be sure to check your local weather report before you head outside. Shark Pictures Not The Real Thing Pictures of a massive dead Great White shark on the back of a bakkie are doing the rounds on email with the subject line saying "Caught at Monwabisi and Strandfontein Beach yesterday" - but experts have dismissed it as a hoax.The grim pictures show the shark with a hook and trace still attached. How To Buy a Used RV - Part 1 If you are on a tight budget and can't afford a new model RV you might consider buying a used RV. Here are a few suggestions for finding a used, affordable RV:1. On Safari in Northern Tanzania - Back to The Sixth Day of the Creation Tanzania's natural endowment as a wildlife safari destination is unrivalled. Wild animals roam in vast areas as God intended on that sixth day of the creation. Bunbury Western Australia The first recorded mapping of what is now Koombana Bay and the eventual City of Bunbury, was in 1803 by the French explorers Nicolas Baudin and Louis de Freycinet, from their ships the Geographe and Casuarina. In 1831 there was a temporary English military settlement with the first settlers moving to the area named after Lieutenant Henry William St Pierre Bunbury in 1838. New Technologies in Camping and Outdoor Clothing Enhance the Outdoor Experience Camping is an excellent way to explore and experience the outdoors. The weather needn't be an obstacle to what sorts of climates and places you might trek to. |
home | site map | contact us |