Beaching with a Baby - Long Beach Island, New Jersey

I went to Long Beach Island, New Jersey for three days/two nights with the hopes of writing a weekender's guide. But the reality? It was a few days spent relaxing at a beach house with friends - days spent on the sand and evenings spent back at the house cooking dinner together. 

It's a family-friendly beach vacation destination, the place you go to be with friends and family, to relax and unwind. 

I can't tell you a ton about what to see, where to eat, or what to do on the island but I think that's the beauty of it all. I can tell you a bit about the beaches and the island, a few popular things to do, and most importantly, how to make a beach vacation with a baby a little bit easier.

Best of the Boardwalk - Ocean City, New Jersey

There is something so innocent and youthful about a weekend in Ocean City, New Jersey.  This "Beach Resort Town" has been rated the #1 family beach community in the country by the Travel Channel and let's face it, you can't help but feel like a kid again as you stroll down the boardwalk and play in the surf. 

For starters, it's a dry county meaning no alcohol is served within the county.  No package stores/liquor stores here and the restaurants do not serve alcohol either.  By default, this sort of keeps a lot of the riff-raff out as you will not see spring breakers or bachelor parties roaming the boardwalk at night.  This part of Dry Jersey helps keep the town cleaner, safer, and family-friendly. 

Diving Back Beach - Rockport, Massachusetts

Back beach, Rockport

If you missed Monday's post, I talked all about New England diving and our first dive site on Sunday morning, Folly Cove.  After a great dive at Folly Cove and a quick surface interval, we made our way back to the cove (without our gear) to see how the entry would be as the tide receded.  They were NOT kidding about that dive site at low tide, its nearly impossible to get across those slippery rocks with heavy gear.  

After the tide was too low and the rocks FAR too slippery for a second dive at Folly Cove, I headed south to Back Beach in Rockport, Massachusetts with fellow divers Corey, Emily, and Chris. 

East Beach - Charlestown, Rhode Island

February probably seems like a weird time to post about the beach. Stick with me for a few more paragraphs and I promise it will all start to make sense.   The small state of Rhode Island is known for its beautiful wide sandy beaches, steady surf, and seafood shacks. Beaches like Watch Hill, Block Island and Misquamicut are always popular spots for beach lovers from June to September.

While summer is the season here in New England, there is something to be said for these beautiful (and virtually empty) beaches in the off season.  For starters, many of Rhode Island's state beaches allow dogs in the off season.  East Beach in Charlestown, Salty Brine Beach in Naraganset, East Matunuck State Beach in South Kingston and Misquamicut in Westerly all allow dogs on their beaches from October 1st to March 31 (ban from April 1 to September 30).

While I have been to many of the areas beaches, East Beach was so different from all of the area beaches I have visited. The main reason is simply that it is one of the least developed of Rhode Island's State Beaches. The real shining star here is that you can even go horseback riding on the beach (BYOH of course). Three miles each way, you have six miles of perfect flat sandy beaches to enjoy a sunny day on horseback.  East Beach in Charlestown with its beautiful beach and critter friendly atmosphere is my kind of hidden gem.  

Ferry and Attractions on Block Island

Ferry

The most popular way of getting to the island is by Ferry.  Yes you can take a personal boat over (which I have a few times) but the ferry is the easiest way to get to the island. The ferry leaves from a few different places and has a few different rules and schedules.  See below!

Block Island Ferry 

• Ferry Point Judith RI High Speed (30 minutes)
• pets in the cabin in pet carrier only, on leash outside deck  
• Ferry Point Judith RI Traditional (1 hr 15 min minutes) 
• pets permitted (on leash or in carrier)
• Newport RI (60 minutes)
• pets in the cabin in pet carrier only, on leash on outside deck 
• Fall River MA (2 hr 15 min)
• pets in the cabin in pet carrier only, on leash on outside deck 

Block Island Express 

• New London (1 hour 15 minutes) pets in carriers only 

Rates depend on the weekday/weekend, round trip, same day, one way and season.  Check the website for rates and the schedule.  

You can also fly over from Westerly

Getting Around

The best and most popular way to get around the island is by bike or moped.  Although the roads are not particularly "bike friendly", bikes and mopeds dominate the road and take over.  A bike is a great way to see the island on your own time, stopping wherever you want, and enjoy the day.  Be warned, the island does a lot of rolling hills so you will be getting your workout in. 

 General Prices:

Bike rental rates start at $15 for 2 hours or $30 for the whole day. (Prices vary depending on the style of bike.)

If renting a moped is more your style, bring your driver's license. Rates range from $60 for 2 hours to $85 for 4 hours (longer rentals possible). 

There are a lot of rental places around the island, and many of them situated right at the ferry terminal. 

Island Bike and Moped, Aldo's Moped (bike, car, moped), Beach Rose Bicycles (bikes only), Block Island Bike and Car Rental, 

You can also rent a car, and take a taxi ride around the island. 

Once you figured out HOW you are getting to the island, HOW you are getting around the island, now you want to know what to do.  

Well, there are 17 miles of beaches on the island, but if you missed my post on Block Island Beaches, you can find it here. 

There are a lot of hiking and walking opportunities on the island. 

Hikes/Walks 

For such a small island, there are some great hikes and walks on the island.  We stopped for a nice walk around the Hodge Family Wildlife Preserve. Nice cleared trails wandering through a gorgeous field of flowers with views of the ocean. 

There are also some great walking trails at the north end of the island by North Light. 

Rodmans Hollow is another popular spot for hikers.  It is a 230-acre glacial outwash basin, located in the southwest part of the island with great hiking trails. 

You can find a list of more great hikes on this page. 

North Light

The lighthouses on the island are a main attraction.  There are two lighthouses on the island full of history. 

Block Island North Light (Lighthouse), built in 1867, is a historic lighthouse on Block Island, Rhode Island (New Shoreham). The light was deactivated in 1973 and United States Fish and Wildlife Service acquired the lighthouse. The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.  After years of neglect, the lighthouse, along with two acres of land, was sold to New Shoreham in 1984 for 1USD. Following much renovation by the North Light Commission, it was relighted in 1989, and a museum opened on the first floor in 1993. Then, in 2008 the light underwent restoration at Georgetown Ironworks in Massachusetts and was returned in 2009. Finally, on 23 October 2010, a relighting ceremony took place.

Southeast Light 

Block Island Southeast Light is a lighthouse located on Mohegan Bluffs at the southeastern corner of Block Island, Rhode Island. It was designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1997 as one of the most architecturally sophisticated lighthouses built in theUnited States in the 19th century. The light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1990, and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1997.[4] The latter designation was made in recognition of the light's historic importance as an aid to navigation, and for its sophisticated architecture.

In 1990, the Coast Guard deactivated the light and replaced it with a nearby steel tower. Because of ongoing erosion of the bluffs, in 1993 the entire 2,000 ton structure was moved about 300 feet (91 m) back from the cliffs. 

Other Attractions

Of course, there are a ton of water related activities on Block Island.  Fishing, diving, banana boat rides, parasailing, surfing, you name it, Block has it.  There is also a zoo, North Light fibers, and various other attractions like visiting the Mohegan Bluffs.  If you are more into the social scene, there are a ton of popular restaurants and bars on the islands.  Mudslides at Champlins are always a favorite, or drinks at the Yellow Kitten or Mahogany Shore.  You can even stop at the Oar for a Lobster BLT.  

Block Island is surely a piece of paradise right off the coast of Rhode Island. 

Beaches of Block Island, Rhode Island

I know it's the first day of fall, but it is still 87 degrees here. And I just got back from a few days on the Atlantic Ocean.  Let's be honest, who is ready to say bye to summer?   In celebration of a wonderful summer, I am so excited to share some Block Island posts with you all.  I have been visiting this island for years and I just got back from another great trip on Sunday. Let's get started! 

Block Island was formed from glacial deposits that made their way down the East Coast.  Block Island is actually part of the state of Rhode Island and you will see a ton of BIRI car stickers along vehicles of the East Coast. It is located in the Atlantic Ocean about 13 miles south of Rhode Island and 14 miles east of Montauk Point on Long Island.  Block Island is only 7 miles long and 3 miles wide, shaped like a pork chop covering 7,000 acres.  Technically, the only town on Block Island (New Shoreham) is the smallest town in the smallest state in the U.S. 

This tiny island is paradise found.  

Two gorgeous lighthouses, 250' bluffs, 17 miles of beaches, and unique geography of the Island make this spot one of its kind. Block Island is often noted as the "Bermuda of the North" and its vibe can sort of be compared to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.  Weekends are full of tourists on bicycles and mopeds, venturing around this island. Days spent at the beach, and nights spent at many of the great bars and restaurants around the island.  The population rises from 900 in the winter to an estimated 12,000 people in the summer.

Block Island means a few different things to a few different groups of people.  Whether it be the party crowd on the fourth of July (an infamous Block party weekend), or the weekend warriors who make their way to Ballards before renting a moped.  For me, Block is relaxing at a gorgeous house with the best of company, spending as much time as possible on the beach.  It is a place where we make wonderful group dinners based off of BJ's shopping trips, and pollish off a few books in a week. 

Rest and Relaxation is the name of my trips to Block Island.

We stay in this beautiful family home that belongs to Thatcher's grandfather.  At the dead end of the island by North Light, it is the definition of complete solitude with stunning views of the ocean below. With windows like this you never miss a sunset.  You can read more about the 1967 prefab Jens Risom house in this Dwell article

This gorgeous house, the insane view of the ocean and North Light, the wonderful company and the beaches of Block Island make it something I look forward to at the end of summer.  Admission to all beaches, as well as parking, is free and dog-friendly. Huge sandy beaches, and with 17 miles you can avoid the crowds.  Town Beach is popular among the tourists, and Mansion Beach is definitely a favorite.  No lifeguard, dogs allowed, it is a spot where you can relax on beautiful perfect sandy beaches, crystal clear water, and enjoy the day. 

 Beaches of Block Island 

From AboutBlockIsland.com

Fred Benson Town Beach is Block Island’s fully equipped bathhouse and pavilion. Once called State Beach, it’s now owned by the town and leased to a management company that has upgraded the facility. “Town Beach” is one of two island beaches staffed with lifeguards. Showers, lockers, and such rental items as chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards are available. Hot food and drinks are sold, and there’s plenty of free parking. Admission is free. Corn Neck Road.  

Ballard’s Beach is the other B.I. beach staffed with lifeguards. This deep-sand beach—located on the south side of the Old Harbor breakwater and behind Ballard’s restaurant—is popular because of its many offerings. Drinks are served by beachcombing waitstaff. There’s live music on the patio, and volleyball and other beach recreation are offered daily. Those seeking solitude be warned: this beach can be crowded on hot days.  

Black Rock is named after a large dark rock. Hidden under 20 feet of water, it has been the demise of many ships. You’ll want to hike or bike into this area; it’s not accessible by car. There are a couple of beaches at the base of the bluffs. While certainly not the best place for lying on the beach, sandy stretches can be found here. Black Rock is the end point of a few trails through Rodman’s Hollow. Use caution when swimming; the surf can be very rough here.

Charlestown Beach is a sandy, peaceful beach that is popular with fishermen, especially along the jetty at its north end. For beachgoers, the jetty is a challenging walk. The beach is quite large and the waters are usually tranquil. From here, you can watch boats entering New Harbor and get a look at the former Coast Guard Station (now town-owned). Limited parking is available at the station.

Dorry’s Cove is a black-sand beach. It is small and generally uncrowded, with nice sunset views of Long Island. The waters are usually calm and access is easy, making this a good swimmer’s beach. It is also popular with snorklers, and it’s a great place for picnics.

“Kid Beach” is a well-sheltered beachfront at the south end of Crescent Beach. Here, kids can play in shallow waters, catch small crabs, find mussels, wrestle with seaweed, maybe even find a sand dollars. Adults can wade out for a peaceful swim while the kids play in the sand. This is also the closest beach to town, which may be the primary reason why so many adults bring their little ones here.

Mansion Beach is at the end of a dirt road by the same name. The island’s biggest home once sat here like a jewel on a hill overlooking the beach and nearby Jerry’s Point. Fire destroyed the mansion, but the beach lives up to the name—by being B.I.’s grandest. There is parking, but the spaces fill up on busy weekends.

AMusicalVision.com

"White Hall," the Searles Mansion on Block Island was nicknamed the "Mansion House" shortly after its completion in 1890.  Seales spent over one million dollars on the project (about 24 million dollars today). On April 23, 1963, it mysteriously burned to the ground. Arson was suspected, but no one has ever been implicated.

Pieces of the stone walls that currently mark the beach parking lot is all that remains of the White Hall. 

Scotch Beach is a quarter mile north of Fred Benson Town Beach. The sand is usually deep here, and the bottom—depending on recent weather—is generally devoid of rocks. This is a sandbox for big kids—the domain of the island’s summer workers, but tourists love this stretch, too. Bring a cooler, an umbrella and chairs, and dig in for the day. There is a small parking lot off Corn Neck Road.

Vaill Beach is at the bottom of Snake Hollow. A steep, slippery trail through the hollow is accessible at the first bend in Black Rock Road. Vaill Beach is to the left at the end of the trail, beyond 50 yards of rocky terrain. The surf at Vaill can be heavy, and there are some rocks in the shallows. Depending on winter storms, Vaill in summer can be either rocky or deep in fine sand.

West Beach presents a truly different experience. The beach here is lightly trafficked, has calm surf and offers perhaps the island’s best beach walk. To the south is Beane Point; this area is part of a bird sanctuary (no dogs allowed). To the north, dunes lead to the North Light (watch out for nesting seagulls). There is parking at the end of West Beach Road (past the Transfer Station).

Below are some of my pictures from gorgeous days spent on the beaches of Block Island.

 Enjoy!

Mansion Beach, Block Island 

Mansion Beach, Block Island

Block Island has wide beautiful sandy beaches.  After labor day, we basically had the beach to ourselves.  Dog-friendly less popular no lifeguard Mansion Beach is our favorite. This beach is less tourists and more locals and families.  Most of the day and weekend trippers stop at Town beach because it is close, Mansion is a little farther and less known to tourists.  

Mansion Beach, Block Island

Mansion Beach, Block Island

Mansion Beach, Block Island

Mansion Beach, Block Island

The water at the beaches is pretty crystal clear.  No seaweed, some rocks, but basically a beautiful sandy beach that is perfect for swimming.  With some wind, it is also a popular spot for boogie boarding and surfing. I can't even explain to you how good it felt to get into the water.  Living land locked gave me a whole new appreciation of the ocean.  I could have spent all day every day in this water. 

Mansion Beach, Block Island

One of my favorite things to do is to take a long walk down the beach mid-day.  After sitting in the sun, it feels so good to walk barefoot down the sandy beach and marvel at the beautiful homes of Block Island.  

Mansion Beach, Block Island

Vail Beach, Block Island 

Path to Vail Beach

Some of the beaches have a tricky walkway.  This is the pathway to Vail Beach.  I promise the trip down to the ocean is always (always) worth it.

Vail Beach, Block Island

These little rock sculptures are all over the island.  These were all along the beach.

Crab at Vail Beach, Block Island

Long walks on the beach were full of various critters and my favorite, sea glass and sea shells. 

Crab shell at Vail Beach, Block Island

Staircase at Vail Beach, Block Island

The stairs coming down the bluffs from the houses above are iconic Block Island.  Beautiful bluffs, and then these wooden staircases can be found all over the island.  Mohegan Bluffs are the most visited bluffs on the Island. 

Lobster pots at Vail Beach, Block Island

Dog-friendly Vail Beach, Block Island

One of my favorite parts about Block Island is how dog-friendly the island is.  Expansive beaches that your dog can play at any time of the day.  Dogs are supposed to be leashed on the island, but it is very very common to see unleashed dogs playing on the beaches. 

walking the beach at Vail Beach, Block Island

Check back in for posts about the gorgeous lighthouses and the ferry to and from the island. 

Pfeiffer Beach, Big Sur California

Pfeiffer Beach, CA

I looked up dog friendly beaches in the Big Sur area and came across Pfeiffer Beach.  I didn't look into the beach at all, just saw DOG FRIENDLY and BEACH in the same sentence, did a happy dance, and put it on my GPS.  

Well, this beach FAR exceeded any expectations I had for West Coast Beaches.

USA Today readers chose Pfeiffer Beach to be in the Top 10 Beaches in California.  And I totally see why.   "Private property and Big Sur's steep terrain makes most of its coastline inaccessible to the public. Fortunately for the visitor, however, several State Park and U.S. Forest Service beaches are open to the public all year. Pfeiffer beach is one of them". Despite its popularity it was still relatively quiet. 

Sign at the top of the entrance.  Stop and talk to the guard to see if there is parking down below. 

"Pfeiffer Beach is located in Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, which is off the Pacific Coast Highway about 37 miles south of Carmel, down a narrow, one-lane dirt road. If you have an overly large or overly small vehicle, you might have issues navigating this road, especially if your vehicle is large and there’s oncoming traffic. At the end of the road is a paved parking area with restrooms, and from there, the beach itself is a leisurely 10 minute walk."

Pfeiffer Beach is a Day Use Area, and no overnight camping is allowed.  Hours are 9:00 AM - 8:00 PM 7 days a week.  There is a $10.00 entrance fee to access the park and beach.   Parking can be an issue and there is a guard at the top and bottom of the road to let you know if there are spaces down by the beach. If not, it is a long walk down the dirt road to access the beach.  It was a long drive down this bumpy dirt road. 

The best part, it is a dog friendly beach (on leash). 

Fido can come relax on the beach with you as long as he is on leash. 

Dirt road to get to Pfeiffer Beach 

The worst part? It is a long windy drive down a dirty road that really only has room for cars one way. Drive slow and be patient as there will be a lot of walkers on the road, and cars coming in both directions that you will have to pull over and let pass by at times. 

Finally at the end of the dirt road (I felt a little bad for everyone walking) you will see the parking area, bathrooms, and the welcome sign 

Arches at Pfeiffer Beach 

But when you get there, you are in for a surprise.  The views are phenomenal.  Wide perfect sandy beaches, and these amazing arches and caves. 

Napping Sea Lion on the beach 

Oh, and an extra surprise.  This sea lion decided he was going to haul out and take a nap on the beach.  He ignored everyone around him (his area was coned off) and scooted up on the beach whenever the waves came in too close.  This marine mammal lover was pretty happy at another critter sighting.

That face though! 

Kids watching the napping Sea Lion on the beach 

It was a really fun experience for the kids even though  A: they were farrrr too close and B:  they all thought he was dead or dying.  I am pretty sure he was just hauled out and sunbathing.  I took the time to give a quick lesson on seals vs sea lions.  Everyone should know. 

Arches at Pfeiffer Beach

The caves and arches off these beach are beautiful.  Like holy moly we don't have this stuff back at home.  Watching the wave roll through theses caves was so calming and peaceful.  It was the perfect treat after a long day in the car. 

Arches at Pfeiffer Beach

The beach area was also really nice and relatively empty.  Of course, being the Pacific, the water is quite chilly, and there was an adorable family playing in the surf, all wearing matching wet suits. 

Olive on Pfeiffer Beach 

I wasn't the only one enjoying the day.  Sometimes you just need to feel the sand under your paws and the wind in your ears.  She was so happy sitting on the beach.  This girl loves scampering along the beach and dipping into the water (we did keep her on leash as it is an on leash only area). 

Keyhole Arch, Pfeiffer Beach 

One of the most beautiful (and popular) features on this beach is Keyhole Arch.  This beautiful arch just sitting in the surf zone.  Waves rolling through the key hole and spilling onto the beach.  This picture doesn't do it justice. This is a beach and arch you need to see for yourself. 

Keyhole Arch, Pfeiffer Beach 

It is a really well known feature along the Pacific Coast, and well documented/photographed feature.  I mean, I knew Pacific had great beaches but this beach was really fully of surprises.   Pacific you are soooooooooo beautiful.

This article talks about the special time of year when photographers swarm the beach to get the perfect light through Keyhole Arch.

Yoga on the beach 

This guy was sitting on the rock, in total zen mode.  What a spot to watch the sunset and reflect.   Big Sur was more beautiful than I could have imagined.  The drive down Highway One, to walking along Pfeiffer Beach, watching the waves roll through caves and arches.  We even spotted some dolphins playing in the surf off the beach

Footprints at Pfeiffer Beach 

 If you are heading to Big Sur and want a beach you can relax on,

 and even bring your dog, this is it.