Location: Block Island
Top Things to do in Block Island
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Block Island, Rhode Island (RI)
Block Island is located off the coast of the U.S. state of Rhode Island, named after Dutch explorer Adriaen Block. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean about 14 miles (23 km) east of Montauk Point, Long Island, New York, and 13 miles (21 km) south from mainland Rhode Island, from which it is separated by Block Island Sound.
Restaurants in Block Island
1. Mohegan Bluffs
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 718 reviews
Two-hundred-foot cliffs with great views of the Atlantic.
Reviewed By stevendO6647JP
Beautiful! We got there at 10am only a few people there but right after that people kept constanlty coming (probably because the ferry arrives around this time which i believe is the first of the day). Honestly, even with more people its pretty big and its not crowded. Tip - keep walking right or even left to walk along shoreline and away from people. It is very rocky (small uneven rocks) so wear good shoes. As a billion other people said, there is alot of stairs but unless you have difficulty with normal stairs, this will be fine for you. Going up is of course more tiring but will only take a few minutes if you go at a slightly brisk pace. There are plenty of taxis from the ferry to take you there. I believe it was 16 or so around there bucks one way for 2 people and only takes like 5-10 minutes to get there. It is got friendly, the taxis are dog friendly and the ferry is dog friendly. **If you have a drone and want to fly it here such as a DJI drone you have to do special authorization before flying. I did not and could not fly it here due to airport nearby. Only place i could fly my drone was the northern part of the island where the other lighthouse is (there is southeast lighthouse by Mohegan bluffs) and they have a nice quiet beach area up this way too. Have fun!!
2. Jessie Edwards Studio
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
This gallery specializes in contemporary American paintings, drawings, prints, as well as offering a wide selection of sculpture, ceramics and artful gifts. Representing over 30 artists, the gallery is open May through December, and by appointment during the winter months. We feature artists receptions, and ongoing exhibitions.
3. Ocean View Pavilion
4. Block Island Trading Company
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 50 reviews
As reviewed by the Block Island Chamber of Commerce..."Quality Block Island souvenirs. Beautiful jewelry, summer bags & scarves. Christmas ornaments, baby gifts, etched glasses....you name it, they have a gift for everyone. Great website, quick shipping.
Reviewed By fastfirst - Beulaville, United States
This store is my favorite on the island for Block Island products! Local, hard working owner! Support this great store! High quality products! Love the dog stuff!!
5. Sachem Pond Wildlife Refuge
6. Greenway Walking Trails
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Trails will get you to the secluded parts of the island.
Reviewed By heidih997
The Greenway Trails are a lovely collection of dirt tree-shaded trails that interconnect and take you around the airport. For the adventurous experienced hiker, you could take it down Lakeside Drive to the Mohegan Trail and back to Old Harbor. Remember to bring water.
7. Blocks of Fudge
8. Southeast Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 397 reviews
These two lighthouses stand watch over tiny Block Island, scene of 59 ship wrecks in the early 1800s.
Reviewed By AlexB10499 - Providence, United States
The Block Island Southeast Light is a National Historic Landmark, an island icon, and a success story of historic preservation in New England. This beautiful 1875 Gothic-style brick building sits atop the Mohegan Bluffs, an even more beautiful natural setting, where it shines its light out for dozens of miles over the sea. By the 1990s, the cliffs had eroded so far back that they threatened the building, so the entire structure was moved 300 feet back to ensure its preservation. Today it houses a museum and allows people to climb to the top of its tower, and its wide green lawn invites people to relax and picnic. As of summer 2019 the exterior of the tower is being renovated; work will proceed to the interior once that work is finished.
9. North Lighthouse
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 246 reviews
Granite lighthouse that was built on Sandy Point in 1867. Inside the building is a maritime museum. There are five rooms of exhibits each showcasing a particular piece of maritime history. Please come visit. The views are spectacular! We are open full time in July and August. Weekends in September and October until Columbus Day.
Reviewed By 477kerris - Milford, United States
This lighthouse is so beautiful! It’s set among dunes and a beautiful beach. If you love lighthouses, this is a must see.
10. Rodman's Hollow
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 62 reviews
Wildlife refuge formed by glaciers.
Reviewed By AlexB10499 - Providence, United States
The birthplace of Block Island’s conservation movement, and one of New England’s most remarkable coastal landscapes. Rodman’s Hollow is a place that’s better seen than described, but I’ll do my best to give you a sense of it. From its trailhead off Cooneymus Road, the hollow appears as a vast, forested basin in the land. Created by the same glaciers that made New England’s present geography, you descend into the hollow along the primary trail, Black Rock Road. You can take smaller paths to your left and right to go further into the forest, but I love to follow Black Rock Road until it begins to rise again out of the basin. Somehow the colors of the sky and wild grasses seem more intense in that place — clouds seem to sit on hilltops, and you catch sea breezes at each crest until you begin to see the ocean. From there you can follow paths along the Black Rock Bluffs at the southern shore, which offer some of the Island’s best views. In spring, the many shad trees in the Hollow bloom into a silver color, which is a beautiful sight to take in from the trailhead.
