Block Island is a New England getaway at its best, complete with lighthouses, seagrass-lined beaches, and 30 miles of hiking trails. The island’s only town, New Shoreham, is filled with boutiques and restaurants worth exploring, though it won’t take you very long. Spend the rest of your time at Block Island Beach House. With its floral wallpapers, decorative surfboards, white-washed rooms, and rentable bikes, the hotel feels like your own private beach house—with none of the upkeep.
Pro tip: There are several nature conservatories on the island, the most popular being the 190-acre Clay Head Preserve on the northeast coast, which features a series of unmarked, interconnected walking paths known as “the maze.” It’s worth visiting any time of year, but it happens to be one of the island’s best leaf-peeping spots in the fall.
Getting there: The Block Island Ferry provides year-round service from Point Judith and is the only ferry that can take vehicles from the mainland to the island. You can also take the Block Island Hi-Speed Ferry for a 30-minute trip, but that boat only runs from mid-May through the end of November. (The scenery along the ride is so gorgeous, you’ll probably want to take the slow route anyway.)
