Block Island, RI, Guide and Information

Outdoor Fun on Block Island

If you’re lucky enough to own your own boat in the Northeast, you’ve surely enjoyed some fun times on Block Island. If you don’t, try to get hooked up with a friend’s boat. Or a friend of a friend’s boat. Sailing in this part of the United States is super sweet.

During the summer months especially, you can delight in all the comings and goings on the water in and around Block Island whether you’re in a boat or on land. It’s a favorite stopping off point for people sailing from New York or Connecticut to Rhode Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Local's Corner: Block Island, RI Best Kept Secrets

Most Discovery Map franchise owners live and work in their map territories. The ones that do not spend significant time in those territories (think vacation home, seasonal visits). As a result, they’re experts in all things local.

We asked Amy Newman from Discovery Map of Block Island about some of her favorite local spots. Read on for an informed local's perspective!

Instagram-able Block Island

You can never have too many pictures of lighthouses, especially when they’re so historic that they’re listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built out of brown granite in 1867 and situated on the northernmost tip of the island, Block Island North Light offers a sturdy New England presence from both land and sea.

You should be able to capture some good shots at the surrounding dunes. Get creative with the many wondrous shapes etched within the sand, abstract and otherwise. Keep your eyes out for piping plovers, another joyous subject of interest on this part of the island and get ready to hit play as they scurry about. Head over to the National Wildlife Refuge for more magical shots of wildlife and the land, sea and sky that they inhabit.

Welcome to Block Island

The Victorian-era buildings in Old Harbor, Block Island, recall a more laid-back time when people would sit on covered porches and take in the view of the Atlantic.

Named one of the last great places on earth, Block Island is a must-see destination for anyone who visits Rhode Island. Stay for a day (or for a week!) and take in the sights of this beautiful island, which you can only get to by ferry. Quaint shops, delicious restaurants, fun bars and nightclubs, and water-related activities abound in a place with no chain restaurants and no traffic lights.