Block Island is a wonderful tear-shaped island 13 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. This was our first visit but we hope to be back! It is surprisingly varied both in people and scenery, with interesting architecture and good food, and thankfully is not as overbuilt as many such areas due to an active nature conservancy effort.

The island simultaneously offers remarkably untouched rough, wild beaches as well as the quintessential classic beaches with sublimely soft sand. There are two lighthouses and the whole island can be biked in a day. (The large brick lighthouse is a national landmark that has been moved back 250 feet to save it a while from erosion.)

The bottom quartet of photos are of the tiny cottage we stayed in with a central outdoor living space; it had a view of the Atlantic Ocean as well as a sunset view. Blog entries will follow of Block Island sunsets, flowers, architecture, wildlife, stone walls and cairns, as well specific beaches (Mohegan Bluffs Beach and Vail Beach). I haven’t had such good photo fodder in a while! As you can see our weather was perfect…