Hotel at a Glance: Avonlea

Every so often, you want to run away to some place quiet and remote—someplace like Block Island, off Rhode Island’s coast. Avonlea, a beachside B&B, is perfectly suited for such escapes. From here, you can walk to a number of restaurants, pubs, coffeehouses, and shops, or simply enjoy the view from the wraparound porch.

• Where you’ll stay: Each guest room has its own decor, but all have free WiFi and TVs. Ask for the Sapphire room for a memorable view of the ocean and Crescent Beach.
• Start the day right with a complimentary New England breakfast
• Warm up at night next to the fireplace in the common room
• Walking time to the beach: less than a minute from the porch
• Recent award: a 2015 TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

Block Island, Rhode Island: Peaceful Retreat with Wildlife Refuge

It’s a tiny island—not even 10 square miles—but Block Island has been the preferred retreat of some big guests, including Presidents Grant, Franklin Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and Clinton, as well as Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindbergh. Located 14 miles from Long Island’s eastern tip and 13 miles from the Rhode Island coast, Block Island packs astounding diversity into its limited space—marshlands, soft beaches, undulating sand dunes, and serene salt ponds all have a home here. For the best scenic view, head to the island’s southern end to the Mohegan Bluffs, 150-foot-tall clay cliffs that overlook the Atlantic.

Block Island was named “one of the last great places” by the Nature Conservancy, which noted that 43 percent of the island is protected. More than 40 endangered or rare species live here, many in the Block Island National Wildlife Refuge. Many visitors come to the refuge for fishing or viewing wildlife, especially piping plovers, a rare, sand-colored shorebird.

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