Its a block island staple for sure…read more Located right off the ferry landing you cant miss it. I only ate at the restaurant and didnt use any of the other facilities so will only comment on the restaurant portion. Its got pretty standard beach eats. Menu is pretty extensive. I ended up ordering the lobster roll. It was just okay. The bread just didnt do it for me. Many people in my group commented that the food was a bit salty. Service was great though. My main gripe was the weak drinks. You feel like you are somewhere in the Caribbean when you are on this resort but the weak slushy drinks were the buzz kill. Oh wait a minute. No buzz kill to be had because I never got buzzed to begin with. Probably best to stick with drinks thst you know have an exact amount of alcohol. Have a good time everybody.

When most people hear of Ballard's Beach Resort, they associate it with getting off the ferry and…read moreday drinking out of pineapples on the beach. You can't beat the lively music, crazy waves, and stunning views. Sadly, if you're not staying overnight on the island, then you probably would not know that they offer an amazing dinner nightly from 7 to 10 PM that is worth way more than they're charging. I ordered the filet special for $19 which included filet mignon, fingerling, potatoes, and asparagus. While the portion size didn't allow for leftovers, it was plenty to fill me up after a day of walking around and beaching it. When our server Diana came over to the table to take our order, I explained my allergies. She wrote everything down and personally spoke to the bartender and the chef who were both willing to accommodate my needs. I love a good dirty martini, but because of my allergy to red peppers, I often cannot have a dirty martini at restaurants because the olive juice has had olives with pimentos in them or the olives have been placed with cherries which I'm also allergic to. Diana went above and on by securing a jar of green olives that did not have pimentos and had the bartender make my drinks using that. Talk about exceptional service! When the food was brought out, Shawn, the manager, personally came over to see to it that I was all set. he conversed easily with my husband and me and had us smiling and laughing in no time. That's a rare gift! Ballards is very lucky to have him as a manager representing their establishment. If you're looking for something other than filet mignon, you'll be happy to know that they also offer a lobster special from 7 to 10 PM that is $20. We saw quite a few plates go by, and let me just tell you they were the biggest lobsters I've ever seen!!! My husband and I will be back for sure. He loved his gluten free Mac and cheese with lobster, and I loved my filet! The sunset dinner deals will have us and our friends coming back. This genius deal, stunning view, delicious food, and exceptional service have turned us into new customers!

A good spot to hang out and chill alone or accompanied. You can observe nature, bike, jog, walk or…read moreget in the water & do kayak, boating, swim or paddle board if you desire. It's a beautiful park. Check it out.

Beautiful hiking spot with easy to navigate trails and stunning ocean views. We were able to see…read moreFisher's Island, Long Island, and Groton. The port-a-potties were a nice amenity too. It was a little loud due to small airplanes taking off and landing at the nearby airport but it added a layer of intrigue. There are picnic tables and plenty of spots to sit along the water. Next time, I'll bring food and a book.

An adventure on Clay Head Trail was the perfect mid-afternoon side quest to get out of the main…read moredrag & enjoy the unique beauty of Block Island. The parking lot at the trailhead is located down a dirt road off which can be a bit treacherous for two wheeled devices, so proceed with caution. It was a dry day when we visited, but I still noticed the remains of squishy spots. I would recommend some sturdy shoes for damper days, unless you don't mind getting your feet a little mucky. The walk to the beach is easy, quick, & gorgeous with lucious nature on all sides. The rocks on the beach are remarkable & well worth taking note of. So many unique shapes & colors. I spotted some of the roundest rocks I've ever seen in my life - Perfect egg shapes & disc shapes. Continuing back on the main path will lead you through a surreal field of rippling, golden, tall grass & to a vantage point where the bluffs are visible. Take caution! Erosion is real & so is the danger of tumbling down the bluffs. Give the edge more space than you might give a super solid cliff. Lastly but certainly not least - L.N.T. Leave No Trace! Protect this beautiful nature sanctuary & the rugged beauty of Block Island.

My friends and I hiked this 3.5 mile picturesque trail along the bluffs on the east side of the…read moreisland, winding its uphill and downhill at various points. The trail was a bit overgrown which is a shame. One of my friends had a branch that accidentally hit her in the face, and my other friend lost her footing at one point. Although there were signs along the edge, warning hikers to not get too close because of the dangerous erosion, I could see kids testing that theory. At the midpoint, the trail features a unique tree and views of the ocean where you can easily see the wind farms and ferry. I'd give it 5 stars if the trail was better groomed.

Beautiful, large park with many different sections. A great boardwalk by the narrow beach. A…read morewonderful place to take dogs, lots of benches to take rests, and an ample parking lot whose potholes were recently fixed, yay! Sometimes it's hard to find out what part of the park you're meant to meet someone in since there are so many sections. You can walk along the long beach or try a woodsy hiking trail. The trails on the right of the beach have either steps or a gradual slope to get up to the top of them, and you can look down over a small cliff to see the water below. The trails on the left of the gazebo are beautiful and give you many options, but people ride horses here, so be mindful of the droppings! This park has fantastic sunsets and multiple picnic areas, plus multi Porta potties that are usually in decent condition to use if needed. The bridge is great to look at, but can get crowded with families doing holiday photo shoots in the fall, so I've become wary of coming here since being stuck on one side of the bridge while a family made us wait to cross until they were done with pictures (ugh). I've come here for walks/hikes and even to wade at multiple times of year and always enjoy a beautiful day and peaceful experience here.

What a great state park. Great trails to take your dogs on. Horseback riding is so fun. They have…read moresuch a big area you can do picnics you can just do a nice walk. There is a small beach not to be like oh my God this is amazing, but it's still a great place to spend the day.

A gentle beach…read more Block Island has over 17 miles of beaches. That's a lot for a small island, You can find crowded, sandy beaches, remote rocky beaches, beaches with cliffs, beaches with dunes or beaches with crashing surf. Just about anything you want. If what you happen to want is a quiet, gentle beach then go to Coast Guard Beach. This beach is located on the breach of the Great Salt Pond so it's sheltered from most of the huge surf or large waves found on most other Block Island beaches. It has a nice sandy beach area with few rocks and great views of both the ocean and the salt pond. Since it is shallow and protected the water is usually a bit warmer than the chilly open ocean beaches and you don't get quite the howling winds of other spots. It's a great place to hang out but the currant does get pretty feisty at times in the middle of the breach so if you attempt to swim across to the other side you better know what you are doing or you'll probably die. It's a bit tricky to find the beach, you have to first find Coast Guard Road and then park at the old Coast Guard Station. Then look for the little and colorful beach sign. It leads through some bushes and beach roses but after a short walk you'll be at the beach. In the winter you'll have the place all to yourself but in the summer months it can be a bit crowded but never as busy as the town beach or the popular Mohegan Bluffs. Always plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy some peace and quiet. Like all beaches on Block Island there is no admission charge and if something unexpected happens the coast guard station is right next door. This beach is a great little spot to enjoy the smell, sounds and feel of salt water when wind, waves and crowds are a bit too much on the other beaches. A gentle beach

A cool lighthouse to stop by and check out. At the front entrance, there's a food truck, but at the…read moretime they were closed, so we utilized the picnic tables set up here to have lunch from the restaurant we bought food from. Plenty of trash cans in the area if you're looking to get rid of some trash. Beyond the lighthouse you can get a nice view of the ocean and the bluffs. The Mohegan Bluffs is just a little further down the road from here.

Amazing views of the water with an educational plaque near the water/far end across from light…read morehouse. Museum walkthrough offered for those wanting to venture within the lighthouse.

Trails, a rose garden, water, a playground, and a dog pound(?). This a little gem of a place…read more Think lincoln woods for those from RI like me. This place is huge and one could easily spend hours here. Very quaint and peaceful.

Beautiful park, lots of trails to walk and the water fountains are a nice touch too! We were able…read moreto sit on a bench and watch the ducks and a few turtles too! Beautiful atmosphere and they even have a playground for the kids.

After driving through Ocean Avenue, that's how I discovered Gooseberry beach…read more Passing by, I was convinced it had to be private. The fact it's small and in the middle of a neighborhood full of mansions made me believe I'd never step foot on this premisses. $20 to park the car, however, there was no additional entrance charge. A small lot, but nowhere near full when we arrived at 11:30 one Thursday morning. I really like this beach and feel it's worth both the drive and price for the following reasons: It has just the right amount of people, neither too crowded nor completely isolated. Rocks not far from the shore were a nice change in scenery, along with the historic Newport mansions off in the near distance. There's a cute snack shack to grab lunch or a little bite to eat as well. A trailer within the lot has a men's and women's bathroom. Two stalls in the ladies room. Clean and just right for this beach. Swimming wise, there weren't many waves. I was also surprised as to how much seaweed floated around. But, I still enjoyed being in the water nonetheless. I also love the fact I'm in Newport. Everyone makes their way to Narragansett Beach or Easton's. The traffic to either place is horrendous, never mind finding a spot to park. Driving in circles for 20 minutes is a given. But not here. It's nice to know there's a 'secret' beach not only in such a high class town, but also close to the heart of downtown Newport as well. The exclusivity Gooseberry beach offers the everyday person is exciting. It's truly a hidden gem, and definitely worth a visit.

Stopped on ocean drive. It was a nice day and nice views of the area. Not sure if the water was…read morecold but the sand was nice.

Part of the Montauk County Park, or, correct me if I'm wrong but they're one in the same... For me…read moreit's one of the most beautiful parks on Long Island. Great for hiking and the scenery can't be matched from the bluffs along the ocean to the calm waters of the sound on the north side. An absolute must if you're coming to Montauk.