Block Island
 

We are going to be spending 5 nights on Block Island next week. Is that WAY too much time there? There haven't been any posts about this place in a while. Can anyone update us as to restaurants, things to do in the Fall, how to spend your days, etc. Maybe we should cut it short and spend a night or two somewhere else?

I think it all depends on what your interests and expectations are. If you like quiet, remote get-aways and you like to bike, walk or hike in nature then you'll be fine. After a day or so of town activities, the rest of your stay can be filled with physical activity all around the island.

As far as restaurants, I would recommend Eli's or the Atlantic Inn for better dining. I would recommend the Beach Head or Winfield's deck or the Market (for gourmet sandwiches) for lunch. Bethany's diner at the airport is excellent for breakfast if you tire of your inn's (or B&B's) morning meals.

As far as what to do, here are some ideas: kayaking, biking the island, walking the beach, Mohegan bluffs, North light house, Southeast light house, the goofy but interesting Block Island museum, the Maze, birding in Rodman's Hollow....

I'm biased about the place, frankly. My husband and I were married there 11 years ago (tomorrow!) and we return every summer/fall for an extended stay. The island is a very quiet retreat for us and we adore it. But Block Island may be too quiet or remote for others.

Quick addendum to my previous post: there is a fairly active nightlife on the Block Island (Club Soda, Yellow Kittens, the Oar) after the summer crowd leaves but it's probably more a weekend thing that during the week. If you were to consider cutting your stay short I would highly recommend Newport-which is a bit of a hike from Pt. Judith-if that's the ferry you're taking.

Totally agree with Kehsutton. If you can't picture spending most of your vacation sitting in a chair relaxing with a good book or hiking around the beach/bluff, you might want to consider a night or two in Newport. By the way, Newport is about a 40 minute drive from Pt Judith; I guess defining that as a "hike" or not is in the eye of the beholder....

Another option to get off the island is to go to Montauk, Long Island. Unfortunately the ferry between the 2 is not a car ferry so you'd have to be on foot (or bike) in Montauk. I'm someone who can't imagine 5 days on Block Island, esp. after Labor Day and during the week.

Thanks for all the ideas so far. And Happy Anniversary Kehsutton! We will try all your suggestions - except for Montauk, where we stayed a week last fall. I'll take books and plan on biking and kayaking and hope that fills our days. My husband is a huge biker, but I am no, so we'll see how that goes.

I can see 2 or 3 nights, but 5 is a little much. 2-3 days there is plenty. There's not much to do, and if you're not a bike enthusiast, it's very hilly and gets tiring fast. You might consider Newport for the other nights. There is SO much to see and do there. We were just in Newport for a weekend, it's a great destination.