Block Island has been on my bucket list for a long time. Block Island is an island off the coast of Rhode Island. A large percentage of the island is wild/protected, which is pretty cool.
I had been nervous to go to Block Island during the summer months, because it seemed to be a very popular destination in New England during the summer months. However, this particular year that we went, my son’s spring break fell on the last full week in April, so we decided to attempt a day trip to the Block Island to our New England spring break trip itinerary. The main thing I wanted to see on Block Island were the Mohegan Bluffs.
Block Island and Mohegan Bluffs: How to Get There
Our full trip was about a week long – we did four nights in Boston (see my post on great winter activities to do in Boston, because it basically rained our whole visit) and two nights in Narragansett.
We chose Narragansett because it was only a short 5 minute drive to the ferry port in Galilee. I scheduled our Airbnb for two nights, so we would have one full day dedicated to exploring Block Island. We found a great location, right on the bay that had its own private dock to enjoy the view.
Narragansett Beaches
Because we were there during the shoulder season, there wasn’t a lot of restaurants open in Narragansett. We were able to visit Salty Brine State Beach, which was a short drive from our Airbnb with lots of parking. The water was FREEZING, but my son still played in the waves.
Ferry to Block Island
We took the ferry from the Point Judith port in Galilee. The ride takes about an hour each way. During the high season, starting mid-May, there is a high-speed ferry that takes about 30 minutes each way, which I would recommend.
You can see the current ferry rates and schedules here. We left around 11 AM and came home on the 6:30PM ferry, which gave us about 6 hours to explore the island. There’s a discount for same day return tickets.
I booked our tickets online. I didn’t have access to a printer, so I had to get there early to get our tickets printed at the ticket window.
There are parking lots near the ferry. There’s no street parking to leave your car. Most places are cash only.
For the ferry: if you’re going to ride on the deck (which my son insisted on for the trip there), bring a wind-resistant jacket. The ride is beautiful, albeit windy.
Things to do on Block Island: Block Island Taxi, Car and Bike Rentals
As soon as you dock on Block Island, I would head straight to the visitors center. We went there and there was a very informative person working who told us exactly which restaurants were open (since it was off season, many were closed) and gave us great recommendations on different routes to get to the Mohegan Bluffs and what we could see along the way.
We also got information on taxi cab companies, as there’s no Uber or Lyft on Block Island. You can also get bike or car rental information.
Mohegan Bluffs: How to Get There
We opted to walk to the Mohegan Bluffs and take a cab back to the ferry port. It was a bit of an ambitious walk for a 5-year-old, but it made for a fun day.
If I had to do it again, I’d probably take a cab straight to the Mohegan Bluffs so that we could spend more time enjoying the beach. But the walk was really nice too.
Block Island Points of Interest on the way to the Mohegan Bluffs
Block Island Things to Do: Abrams Exotic Animal Farm
This was recommended to us at the visitor center. It’s on the way to the Mohegan Bluffs and was a fun (and FREE!) stop along the way.
You can learn more about the animal farm here.
Things to do on Block Island: Seal Watching
The woman we spoke to at the visitor center showed us a point on the map where there are seals. April is a shoulder season for seals – they’re more common in the winter. We saw one, single seal, which sounds like it would be a letdown, but it was still VERY exciting for my son.
This is a great article on seals and safe viewing tips on Block Island.
Block Island Beaches: The Mohegan Bluffs
This was the main reason for our visit. Once you get to the parking lot, there’s a long staircase that leads down the trail to the Mohegan Bluffs. You can get some stunning views, just from the top of the stairs.
Because we were there in the shoulder season, there were very few people there, so we really got to enjoy the peacefulness and beauty of this location. We probably spent an hour or two playing on the shore and stacking rocks. It was a bit chilly by the end of the day, but the solitude of the shoulder season is definitely a huge perk.
Block Island Ferry: Heading Back to Narragansett, Rhode Island
We walked a little down the road until I could get cell service. Then we called a cab to take us back to the port to catch our ferry. The cab was a little pricier than I expected and cash only, so plan accordingly! It was worth it though to get some extra time to enjoy the Mohegan Bluffs.
Looking for more on traveling to New England with kids?
See my posts on:
- Great winter activities in Boston with kids
- Hiking Vermont’s Green Mountains with kids in the winter