Block Island vs Martha's Vineyard
 

My wife and I will be visiting Rhode Island for 4 days in June, staying in Providence. We've never been anywhere in New England before. We had agreed to make a daytrip to Block Island, but recently she's also enthusiastically mentioned going to Martha's Vineyard. I did some research, and the trips just seem too similar to do both. I think the busy, glamourous/prestigious/wealthy atmosphere of MV is more what my wife is looking for, but I think I had my heart set on the quaint Old Harbor and exploring more secluded areas on BI. The hour and a half drive to catch the MV ferry is also bugging me. Any advice?

There is a MV "fast ferry" out of N. Kingstown, RI...so you could avoid the drive to the Cape.

http://www.vineyardfastferry.com

While you can certainly visit both MV or Block Island for a day, you may become just as enthused about visiting Newport for a day. From any of the downtown Providence hotels, the drive would be about 45 minutes. Newport offers beautiful beaches, great scenic vistas, the opportunity for many outdoor activities, sailing, fishing, hiking, etc. There is also the opportunity to view the mansions. There is the Thames Street area that gives you the harbor feeling, and there is the very upscale shopping on Bellevue Avenue. A collection of top notch restaurants could round out your day for a great dinner overlooking Narragansett Bay or Newport Harbor.Best of all, you won't be tied down to return back to Providence at any particular time.

and keeping with the ferry theme....there's one from Providence to Newport too...

www.ripta.com/schedules/ferry.php

If you decide to go to MV, you can also take the "other" fast ferry from New Bedford, MA. The ferry trip is a little shorter (1hr vs 1.5hr from Quionset Point), and a little cheaper ($48 roundtrip vs $58). The drive is a little longer from Providence, but not by much.

Forgot to give you the website for New Bedford - MV:

www.nefastferry.com

My choice is Block Island of the two. I must admit that I have never been there during the "season", (I never travel anywhere during the season -- usually right before or right after). You didn't mention if you are taking your car over. I never have to Block Island. Have rented bikes and mopeds. MV is great, too, but I'm not a good judge as far as how these places change once the tourists/yachts hit in droves.

It's hard to recommend one over the other - MV is MUCH bigger and varied. BI is almost like a small chunk of Ireland - lots of open fields with stonewalls. MV has better beaches, deep forests, spectaular cliffs, some very scenic farmland, and some busy and not so busy little towns. They both have their share of quaint harbors and wealthy atmosphere.

Zootsi is right on the money. If you are just doing a day trip, go for BI. MV is great but you can't do it any justice without more time. If you are staying at least a couple of nights, MV is worth the money as it is many times larger with differing towns and areas. On the down side, you really need a car and it's about four months too late to make reservations unless you want to try standby.
You can walk much of Block Island or to really burn up the day, rent a bike or scooter and see it all.
One other note, June 19-25 is Race Week on BI. Busy and kind of wild.

I'm impressed! Thanks all for the replies. Newport will definitely take up one of the days if not more. We were thinking of renting a moped once we reach BI or MV.

Sounds like we're probably leaning towards BI. We now have to decide whether to avoid Race Week or not...

I have scootered on Block, Martha's and Nantucket. Block was my fave for scooter touring! Glad you're going to Newport. Walk the whole Cliff Walk!!! And visit at least one Mansion, and visit Castle Hill and sit on an adirondack chair watching the boats come and go. Good times!!!

I would recommend a spending a day touring Newport - perfect time of year for this.

With such a short stay do not think it is worth going to MV. You really need to spend more time there to do it justice. BI being much, much smaller is a nice place for one night or even a day trip. It is lovely there. Be sure to bring sweater/sweatshirts as it can get cool there!

Martha's Vineyard is much nicer than Block, but it is not worth doing both. The Vineyard is bigger, less touristy (because it is much, much bigger) and more upmarket/charming. Block is more crowded (because it is smaller) and slightly downmarket (more tshirt shops etc). But both are nice New England Islands, and don't really differ dramatically.

Race week would put a different spin on things - really crowded, but a blast.

Both Islands are very different from Newport, which is much more touristy and much more of a small city.