Best of Block Island | 2023 Summer Travel Guide

With an eye on what’s new for 2023, Yankee’s editors round up the best attractions, eateries, and hotels on Block Island. For more of our Rhode Island picks, check out our comprehensive Best of Rhode Island 2023 guide.

Editors’ Picks: Best Things to Do on Block Island in 2023

Coastal B&B | Avonlea, Jewel of the Sea, New Shoreham

Named for the fictional setting of Anne of Green Gables, Avonlea inspires musings about the sea that echo the heroine’s—“all silver and shadow and vision of things not seen.” Owner Ann Law has channeled a childhood love of the classic novel into a 10-suite bed-and-breakfast with a sunset porch wrapped around a spread of afternoon nibbles and wine, and a beach that’s literally steps away.

Family Resort | Champlin’s Marina & Resort, New Shoreham

On an island ruled by Victorian inns and romantic B&Bs, Champlin’s stands apart as a haven for families and yachties. Guest rooms are furled in bright nautical patterns, and a full-service marina, swimming pool, trio of on-site restaurants, and an ice cream shack overhanging Great Salt Pond create the island’s only full-service resort, freshly renovated in 2021. Live bands play every summer evening at the dock bar if you don’t want to venture into town for nightlife.

Guided Adventure | Block Island Fishworks, New Shoreham

How do you know if the bluefish are biting? If you haul in a sea bass that’s been chomped in half! That’s just one of the lines unspooled by Captain Hank Hewitt of Block Island Fishworks, who leads guided saltwater fishing charters in pursuit of the stripers, blues, flukes, bonitos, and false albacore teeming in local waters, from the Coast Guard channel to the shadows of the Block Island Wind Farm.

Guided Tour | Southeast Lighthouse Tour, New Shoreham

This emblematic beacon on the southernmost tip of Block Island has a storied, nearly 150-year history. Erosion forced a move 245 feet inland from its original perch atop 200-foot clay cliffs in 1993, and while visitors could ascend stairs inside the 52-foot light tower, they were barred from entering the keeper’s quarters for 28 years after that. A lengthy renovation now complete, this adjoining cottage now houses maritime history exhibits.

Lunch Spot | Persephone’s Kitchen, New Shoreham

Popularity has a price, so lunch lines at this locals’ favorite are a given. But high-energy dance music can turn the queue into a conga line in no time, and it’s a worthy wait for co-owner Persephone Brown’s homemade food. Notable noshes include an apple-dill tuna melt topped with gooey Vermont cheddar and refreshed with a Cococano—an iced blend of fresh coconut water and espresso.

Outdoor Dining | The Oar, New Shoreham

Row after row of brightly painted oars, some dating back to the Age of Aquarius, invite diners to swig down a frozen mudslide and reel in some locally caught calamari, sushi, and lobster. The paddles add charm to the dining room, but the seafood is best savored at sunset on the expansive lawn, where humble picnic tables offer million-dollar views of New Harbor.

Check out our full 2023 Best of New England Summer Travel Guide to find our current editors’ picks in all six New England states.