Lazy summer days in Rhode Island

To find a destination on Labor Day weekend away from crowds without having planned it in advance? How's that possible?

That's what I thought when Brady told me he was going to get a few days off and would like to go to some place away from people. He is not known for being a guy who makes plan, he is more like 'going with the flow' type, and I am the opposite, I like to make plans.

I had been looking forward to go to some place with him, he's really the best companion to be away from home, but where could we find accommodations calling at the last hour?

Then I remembered of Block Island, it could be a perfect destination, a countryside-like island off of the coast of Rhode Island. We have been to Block Island a few times on daily trips only, and I thought to stay there for a few days would be fun and relaxing.

We could not find a place to stay from Sunday through Thursday on Block Island so we stayed first in Providence and went to Block Island on Tuesday, and it worked pretty fine.

When we got to Providence Brady called his good friend Frank, and we went for a walk at a park and then had dinner together at an Asian fusion restaurant. 

They've been friends since childhood, do you believe that? It's always good to listen to them swapping old stories and remembering all the silly things they did together. 

"Let's spend the day in Newport?" I asked Brady the next morning. "What about a drive to Jamestown?", he asked me back. 

This small island has a special place in his heart, he lived there for a short while when he was stationed in Rhode Island during his time in the military. 

So we took a ride to Jamestown, stopping as we pleased to take pictures and for short walks.

When we spotted this hawk-like bird in its nest on a solar panel pole in a beautiful field we drove back looking for a place to pull over so we could take some pictures of it. So majestic it looked. 

On Tuesday morning we went to Port Judith to take the ferry to Block Island. We wanted to take our car with us, but to bring it on the ferry we were told we would have to have it scheduled months in advance, so we left it in Port Judith along with our beach chairs, bringing only two bags with us.

When we got to the village of Old Harbor we walked to the B&B where we would stay for two days. A charming place tucked away from the busier streets near the harbor and yet walking distance to the restaurants and ice cream stores. Can you imagine summer without ice cream?!?!?!

If you are an outdoor person, Block Island is the place to be. Gorgeous sanded beaches, hiking trails, untouched natural beauty, a quietness not easy to find in trendy summer spots, so packed with our photo gear and water, we rented bikes and off we went to enjoy our days in Block Island, gawking at the beautiful sceneries of this picture-perfect island.

At the Mohegan Bluffs

At the farmer's market

At the end of summer we were blessed with bright sunny days. Away from home feeling at home. 

For a not planned short vacation we were pretty lucky with our choice, don't you agree?