Top 15 Things To Do in New Shoreham, Rhode Island

Why New Shoreham (Block Island) Belongs on Your Adventure Shortlist

Block Island reads like the shorthand for coastal New England adventure: short distances, big sea, and a seasonal tempo that rewards early risers and slow afternoons alike. Step off the ferry at Old Harbor and within minutes you can be on a rented cruiser, an e-bike climbing a dune road, or launched into the Great Salt Pond in a tandem kayak. The island compresses the best coastal activities—boat tour panoramas, hands-on fishing trips, refined sailing days, and small-group sightseeing tours—into a place you can sample in a long weekend yet return to again and again for new weather, tides, and swell. The cliffs and beaches are the stage: Mohegan Bluffs offers vertical perspectives and quiet scramble lines; Crescent Beach and Fred Benson Town Beach serve up sand-for-days stretches for beachcombing and surf attempts; the north shore bait-and-boulder coast is where anglers and tidepoolers meet.

Practicality makes Block Island feel generous. Outfitters cluster near the ferry and harbor with bike rental and e-bike options so you can swap a vehicle for something slower and cleaner. Boat rentals and charter operators run short loops or half-day sails, and kayak and SUP launches on the pond or sheltered coves shelter beginners from open-ocean conditions. Guided fishing trips range from family-friendly bottom fishing to full-day offshore excursions; local captains know when to chase bass, fluke, or the seasonal runs that make for a memorable afternoon. Walking tours and city tours of Old Harbor and the small inland conservation areas offer cultural context—lighthouse histories, maritime lore, and the island’s evolution from summer colony to protected refuge. Evenings reward low-effort pursuits: a sunset sail, a harbor-side seafood dinner, or a quiet beach walk under a wide, starry sky.

Because the island’s infrastructure tightens in peak months, planning is part of the pleasure: book ferry and rentals early for holiday weekends, check tide and swell forecasts before surf or open-water paddles, and use e-bike or shuttle services for longer point-to-point trips. For travelers who like to layer activities, combine a morning bike tour with an afternoon kayak and a twilight boat tour for a full coastal day; if you prefer slower exploration, pick a theme—one day of fishing, one day of paddle, one day of island walking—and savor it. The blend of accessible water activities, compact trail and road networks, and hospitality-focused outfitters makes New Shoreham an ideal coastal destination for families, couples, and solo explorers seeking an island that’s both vivid and manageable.

Access is refreshingly straightforward: ferries from Point Judith and New London anchor the itinerary rhythm, while private boat rentals and charter operators create flexible windows for fishing, sailing, or sunset cruises. Outfitters are experienced with transient visitors and can advise on everything from tide-safe kayak routes to shore-based surf breaks.

Pair the island’s wild edges with pleasant town time—Old Harbor’s small galleries, seafood shacks, and historic markers add texture between outings. Shoulder seasons (May–June, September–October) reward early-booking adventurers with gentler crowds, cooperative weather, and lower rates.

Choose Your Adventure Level