Just off the coast of Rhode Island lies your next getaway, Block Island. This island is a place where New England Charm meets the shoreline. Beach vibes and blue space are plentiful year round. In early Spring visitors can expect fewer crowds and endless beauty. A walk along Rodman’s Hollow or down the 141 steps at Mohegan Bluffs will take your breath away.
If biking is more your speed, the perfect route has been laid out for you on the bike tour – a 7.5 mile loop that includes 9 stops around the island. You’ll start revving up at the Tourist Center. Make your way up a small hill to visit our friends at the Abrams Animal Farm. You’ll fall in love with our 4 legged friends. These furry creatures will prove to be the motivation you need to keep going.
Next, take in the sights at the Spring House Hotel. The Atlantic Ocean never looked so breathtaking. You will then follow the coast and make your way to Southeast Light. One of two lighthouses on the island, the Southeast Light, sits atop Mohegan Bluffs and will provide you with amazing views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Block Island Windfarm, located only three miles offshore. Built in 1875, this brick and granite tower amazes the minds of architects and visitors alike.
Mohegan Bluffs stops everyone in his or her tracks. I have to agree with those who say this is the most spectacular view on the island. This is the spot I think about when I think of Block Island in the Spring. The greens are growing. The flowers are blooming. The rocky beach is calling. It’s a bit of a climb to get to the beach with a set of 141 steps leading down to the sand but the payoff is unbelievable, with clay cliffs that offer one of the most dramatic views of the Atlantic in all of Rhode Island, and a vista that can extend all the way to Montauk on the tip of Long Island.
Painted Rock is your next stop. This landmark is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a rock. It’s painted. It’s really a local thing. The rock has been painted hundreds, if not thousands, of times with messages ranging from wedding proposals to welcome messages. Put some paint in your backpack and have at it my friends. Paint whatever you like, just keep it clean. Kids do love to visit this landmark too.
Rodman’s Hollow is next on your tour and it’s a can’t miss. Take a break from the bike as you stretch with a relatively easy walk through mother nature’s playground. You’ll see grand bluffs and pristine beaches. You’ll also walk passed Black Rock Beach, proven to be a great place to find glass floats.
You can then take a ride to Fred Benson Town Beach. The stretch of white sand and low surf will serve to be soothing after a day of biking.
There is no better way to end your tour than at the Odd Fellows Hall, open for the season for a coffee and treat!
If you are feeling brave after the bike tour, or simply want to look forward to another adventure, the hike to the North Light on the sand is an adventure worth taking. The lighthouse itself is not yet open for the season but the views are spectacular and worth every step once you arrive. If you are lucky and patient, you may even see the beautiful wildlife on the way.
Whether you choose to walk, drive, or ride around the island, visiting these landmarks will have you experiencing Block Island and ALL it has to offer.
See more on the tour at: http://www.blockislandinfo.com/maps/bike-tour-map