This Is The Most Hospitable Town In Rhode Island
Rhode Island's most hospitable town is hidden away in the most unlikely of places on an island just off its shore. New Shoreham sits on the 9.7 square mile Block Island, 9 miles to the south of the mainland. It offers a pleasant New England coastline culture with just over 1,400 residents who love to watch independent films, make quirky art and crafts, and pull up a lawn chair at one of several beaches on the island.
This island is only accessible by ferry, but once you arrive, you'll quickly be greeted by a range of beautiful views, from beaches on the sites of former mansions to historic lighthouses and a painted rock where folks leave romantic or funny messages. To make things even better, each experience is accompanied by neighborly people and oceanside activities. Read on to see why New Shoreham is the most hospitable town in Rhode Island.
History Of New Shoreham
Block Island itself has a long history, dating back to the 1500s. In fact, Giovanni da Verrazzano first sailed by the island in 1524. The Dutch navigator Adrian Block sailed to the island in 1614, and it was named after him. Fifty years later, a group of families moved from Massachusetts to Block Island, and it became a part of Rhode Island officially in 1664. The island's strategic location made it a prime target for privateers hired by the French, who raided it multiple times. Even famed pirates would come to visit the island, such as Captain Kidd, a Scottish privateer hired to harass French ships. During the American Revolution, the island chose to remain neutral so it could trade with both sides.
Throughout New Shoreham, there are a large number of maritime sites to visit. One is the Southeast Lighthouse, a 52-foot brick-and-granite structure built in 1874. It had a powerful Fresnel lens to guide ships. On the North shore, you can visit the 1867 North Lighthouse, which still operates to this day. It sits next to Settler’s Rock, marking the spot where the English settlers came in 1661. The Block Island Historical Society maintains several artifacts of historical importance to New Shoreham, including maritime tools, farming equipment, and Native American tools.
Block Island was a popular summer destination as early as the Victorian era. One of the hotels from that era is still standing, the Spring House Hotel, built in 1852. Its veranda, double-sloped roof, and view of the hills and ocean have enchanted guests across the era, including Mark Twain, Billy Joel, and Ulysses S. Grant. It is still open as a hotel if you plan to check in for a weekend stay in New Shoreham.
Festivals
New Shoreham really comes alive during the summer and early fall months, with festivals celebrating art and culture. For example, the Block Island Film Festival brings in independent filmmakers to put their art on the big screen in late May. The community of artists and artisans in New Shoreham comes together for the Block Island Arts and Artisans Festival every August at the Narragansett Inn. You can pick up many creative products here, such as birdhouses made from old license plates or artisan soaps.
When Rhode Island first became a colony, Roger Williams aimed to treat the Natives fairly and had close relationships with them. Today, New Shoreham keeps those Native cultures alive at the Manissean Intertribal Pow Wow, held every year in July at the Block Island Historical Society, featuring dances and other traditional activities. If you don't come during any of these festivals, you can still go out for community nature works with The Nature Conservancy or purchase goods from 40+ vendors at the Block Island Farmer's Market, held from June to October.
Outdoor Landmarks
As an island town, New Shoreham has beautiful beaches, along with scenic cliffside bluffs. One of its best beaches is Mansion Beach at the northern end of Block Island. Mansion Beach was originally the home of Edward F. Searles, which burned down in 1960. It's noted for its big waves for body surfing.
If you want to find a more secluded beach, go to the southern end of the island for Vaill Beach. It has beautiful sunsets and a Painted Rock where visitors paint fun or strange messages. To the east of Vaill Beach is the 200-foot-tall Mohegan Bluffs. From this sand cliff, you can see as far as Long Island. There's also a beach here that's 141 steps down from the bluffs. On the far western end of Block Island is the Lewis-Dickens Farm Wildlife Refuge, named after Elizabeth Dickens, the "Bird Lady of Block Island." At this refuge, you can look for various birds of prey amid coastal meadow trails.
Shops/Restaurants
New Shoreham entrepreneurs keep up with the needs of visitors and residents alike with general trading shops and boutiques. The Block Island Trading Company is the most popular gift shop on the Island, sitting right on the shore, selling regional gifts and souvenirs. The Star Department Store is another hub spot, known for its affordable t-shirts and fashion. For outdoor goods, you can go to Block Island Fishworks or the Diamondblue Surf Shop. New Shoreham also has stores for niche interests, with the Island Bound Bookstore next to the post office building and Shore Vintage for older styles of fashion.
As for food, some can be found right next to historic sites in New Shoreham, such as the Southeast Light Delights, a food truck parked outside the Southeast Lighthouse that offers lobster rolls and grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also sample farm-to-table food at the 1661 Farm & Garden or eat seafood at the 212 Water Street Restaurant.
Take A Ferry To The Mansions Of Newport
New Shoreham is only accessible by ferry, so you have to start your journey there. Out of all of these ferry towns, the best is the Gilded Age paradise of Newport. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, several magnates built "summer cottages" here that were, in reality, luxurious mansions. The biggest is the 1895 Neo Italian Renaissance style mansion called The Breakers. Just to enter the mansion, you have to go through a baroque-style iron gate and pass by several rare trees like weeping beeches. Within this mansion are breakfast rooms, music halls, and the living quarters of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. One way to see the exteriors of multiple mansions is to take the 3.5-mile Newport Cliff Walk, which hugs the Atlantic Ocean.
Hit The Waves Of This Hospitable Rhode Island Town
It's easy to relax in this hospitable town. After all, you can hit the waves by going in pretty much any direction and easily find secluded beaches to relax or surf in. It's also easy to find events and activities to participate in, from the Block Island Film Festival to the Farmer's Market. The fun doesn't end when you take your ferry out of New Shoreham, as you can ascend the cliffs of Newport and tour its many mansions. Rhode Island may be small in size, but it's big on hospitality, as is evident from New Shoreham.
