Top 15 Things To Do in New Shoreham, Rhode Island

Compact, wind-swept, and defiantly coastal, New Shoreham — the town that covers Block Island — concentrates a surprising range of scenic and cultural sights into a boat-ride’s distance from the Rhode Island mainland. Sightseeing tours here are less about long hours on the road than about layered perspectives: viewing the island from sea, walking cliff-top trails that expose ancient glacial scars, pedaling lanes between Victorian cottages, and learning a maritime history threaded with lighthouses, fishing traditions, and migratory birds. This guide focuses on the sightseeing experiences that help visitors see the island with intention — morning birding cruises, sunlit lighthouse visits, sunset drives along the clay cliffs, and guided walking tours of Old Harbor’s compact, storied core. Expect gentle terrain with short spur hikes, frequent ocean breezes that affect clothing choices more than stamina, and a seasonality shaped by ferries, summer crowds, and strong spring/fall migrations.

New Shoreham—better known as Block Island—sits like a weathered jewel off Rhode Island's south coast, an intimate maritime landscape where wind, tide, and shoreline conspire to make sailing feel essential. From sheltered anchorages in the Great Salt Pond to open-water reaches in Block Island Sound, the island offers a compact, rewarding cruising ground for daysailors, liveaboard cruisers, and those chasing dramatic coastal scenery. This guide focuses on the craft of sailing here: planning for fickle Atlantic weather, choosing between protected harbors and exposed passages, and pairing time on the water with swimming coves, coastal hikes, and local seafood stands.

New Shoreham—known to most as Block Island—shrinks travel to two wheels. The island’s compact road network, low vehicle traffic, and a patchwork of hard-packed dirt trails make it one of the most accessible places on the Eastern Seaboard to rent a bike and spend a day exploring. Rentals range from upright cruisers for casual loops to robust e-bikes for longer coastal runs; families, day-trippers, and seasoned cyclists all find a rhythm here. This guide focuses on getting you rolling: how island terrain and weather shape the ride, where to pick the right bike, and which routes turn a rental into a small, unforgettable adventure.

New Shoreham—better known as Block Island—condenses coastal New England into a tidy, walkable archive of salt-stained cottages, working harbors, and low dunes. City tours here are less about skyscrapers and more about maritime rhythms: ferry arrivals, clapboard storefronts, lighthouse silhouettes, and the steady migration of shorebirds. A well-planned tour stitches history, geology, and local food into an afternoon or expands into a full day of beaches, bluffs, and shoreline trails.

Boat rentals in New Shoreham (Block Island) unlock a compact, endlessly varied marine playground: sheltered harbors for easy departures, exposed Atlantic stretches for open-water cruising, and a coastline mottled with hidden coves, offshore rocks, and seabird colonies. Whether you want a calm day on the Great Salt Pond in a small powerboat, a sail around the island, or a guided fishing charter to troll the island’s productive slopes, the town offers a tight cluster of rental options tailored to every comfort and skill level. This guide focuses on the practical details—where to launch, what to expect from sea conditions, how to plan trips by tide and wind, and how to match vessel type to the day you want to have.

New Shoreham—better known as Block Island—condenses everything a bike tourer could ask for into 7 square miles: low rolling hills, a handful of gravel lanes, car-light paved roads, and ocean views around nearly every bend. The island’s compact geography makes it ideal for single-day loops and multi-loop exploration on upright cruisers, touring bikes, and gravel rigs. Expect salt air, featherbed sand, and a pace that nudges you toward slow discovery rather than speed.

Small in miles but vast in variety, New Shoreham — better known as Block Island — is a walking-tour playground where coastal geology, maritime history, and village life fold together in easy, memorable loops. Stroll bluff-top trails for Atlantic panoramas, wander shingled streets lined with clapboard cottages, explore salt-scrub dunes, and trace lighthouse lanes where sea breezes rewrite the day. This guide focuses on walking tours: curated routes and self-guided ideas that illuminate terrain, seasonality, accessibility, and the practical planning details that turn a seaside walk into a day you’ll keep returning to.

Small in scale but enormous in character, New Shoreham (Block Island) is an e-bike playground—where paved coastal roads, compact village streets, and sand-dusted dirt lanes stitch together beaches, bluffs, and quiet conservation tracts. This guide focuses on e-bike experiences: gentle coastal loops for newcomers, gravel and sandy offshoots for mixed-surface riders, and longer point-to-point crossings that reward range-conscious planning. Expect tidal breezes, iconic lighthouses, and a pace that favors sightlines over speed.

Block Island's small scale and dramatic coastal variety make New Shoreham a concentrated playground for kayak travelers. From protected paddling inside the Great Salt Pond to wind-scoured ocean routes past sheer clay bluffs and offshore rock gardens, this is a place where shelter and exposure sit just miles apart—perfect for day trips, guided tours, and adventurous self-supported outings.

New Shoreham—better known as Block Island—concentrates the coast’s compact drama: protected salt ponds, wind-buffed ocean passages, and sculpted bluffs that drop to pale sand. For stand-up paddleboarding, that diversity translates to everything from glassy beginners’ loops to wind-charged point-to-point runs. This guide focuses on where to paddle, when to go, what to pack, and how to layer complementary experiences—surf, snorkeling, and island cycling—into a SUP-centered visit.

Ferries to New Shoreham (Block Island) are more than transit — they’re the first chapter of a maritime escape. Whether you’re gliding across a choppy Atlantic swell on a high-speed catamaran or rolling aboard a vehicle ferry that smells faintly of diesel and salt, the crossing sets the tone for beaches, bluffs, lighthouse walks, and lazy coastal village life.

New Shoreham—better known as Block Island—compresses the Atlantic coast’s raw, changeable energy onto a tight island stage. Offshore swells, shifting sandbars, and a handful of reliable beach breaks create surf that punches above the island’s small footprint. Accessible by ferry and intimate enough to feel like a secret among locals, Block Island surf rewards travelers who read tides, dress for variable water temps, and accept that wind is a character in every session. This guide focuses on catching waves, linking surf with coastal hikes, wildlife watching, and the practical details you need to plan a surf-focused escape.