A few years back we took our dog, Mac to Block Island on the ferry for the day! We had a blast and the whole process was really easy! We took the high speed ferry from Port Judith, Newport to Block Island Rhode Island. If you bring a dog, and they're too big for a carrier (Mac is 95 pounds), they have to stay outside on the deck with a leash. We put a red 'do not pet' vest on Mac because he doesn't love strangers. It worked out just fine and he tucked under my seat for most of the ride.
The ferry ride was quick and really beautiful! It was a calm sea and we had a nice trip.
When we arrived on Block Island, we walked to towards the Block Island Beach House hotel because if you take the stairs down to Crescent Beach, you can rent chairs and umbrellas so you don't have to carry them on the ferry.
Right at the bottom of these stairs are the hotel chairs & umbrellas, which are only for hotel guests, but if you walk just a bit further, you'll find a few guys renting out chairs and umbrellas to the public. They were very affordable too!
We got ourselves set up on the beach, and we were surrounded by families with young children and dogs. It was truly EXACTLY what we hoped for when we planned this day trip. The weather was fantastic, the beach was clean, the surf was low and great for kids. The only thing we didn't expect was how hot the sand was. Mac at the time was only a year old, so not quite his full 95 pounds that he is now, and so Brent was able to carry him across the hot sand. I would plan ahead for some paw protection if you have a large dog because the sand in the summer can get hot.
Mac normally doesn't love other dogs, but at the beach he was much calmer than when he's home in his own territory. We didn't get too close to any other dogs, but he behaved beautifully and even did some swimming! (on his leash). Dogs do have to be leashed the whole time, but Block Island is one of the only locations in New England that welcomes dogs year round, including during the summer. Most beaches in MA, NH, RI, etc only allow dogs in the off season - which makes Block Island even more of a destination for dog families!
The Block Island Beach House has a fantastic outdoor restaurant called The Surf . The food was delicious and they are very dog friendly! They brought Mac a water bowl, some sliced watermelon and his own cheeseburger. For human food and drinks, we had no complaints. Everything was wonderful!
After lunch, we walked around the downtown a bit, however the sidewalks and cement were hot and we didn't want Mac to burn his paws, so avoided the peak sun. We headed back after shopping to the beach for a little longer, then packed up and caught the ferry to get home for dinner. It was a perfect quick day trip!
If you've been, please feel free to share your Block Island tips in the comments! :)
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