Visit Block Island, The Bermuda of the North

Visit "The Bermuda of the North" this Summer Amy Block-Muzekari

Block Island, Rhode Island is included in the book "1,000 Places to See Before You Die". It is referred to as the Bermuda of the north. My family has vacationed there for four summers. We pack up the wagon with beach gear, bikes and food and head north, from the Philadelphia, PA area, to the New England coast, where the air is crisp, refreshing and invigorating. Where it's so cool at night, there's no need for air conditioners. Where few cars dare to leave their beach house parking spots; instead, people walk, bike and ride scooters.

Now that most weekly rentals are booked for this season, shorter stays (1-3 nights) at one of the island's inns or hotels are probably your only possibility and are a great way to check out this special little place for the first time. If you love it, as so many families and couples do, you can collect weekly rental information for the following season while you're there. Be sure to book a cottage by next February or March (2008) for your summer '08 trip.

There are several quaint inns and B & B's for shorter stays, as well as numerous cottages (and larger homes) which can be rented by the week or longer. If you are planning a last-minute, short visit, here is a short list of some of the island's beautiful hotels and inns: The Hotel Manasses, Champlin's Hotel, Spring House Hotel, The Anchor House Inn, The Inn at Old Harbor, and The Water Street Inn; each has its own website. For a complete listing of hotels and other types of lodging, visit www.blockisland.com.

Block Island is simple and sophisticated, a true escape from all things commercial or "cookie-cutter". Board the ferry at Point Judith; park your car on the first level, if you are bringing it and staying for longer than just a day, and head upstairs for a relaxing one hour ride to BI. As you head further and further from the mainland and towards this magical little island, you'll get a sense that you are truly escaping from everyday routines and responsibilities. The island's scenic shoreline is dotted with tasteful cafes and boutiques that have a European flair.