Tag Archives | beaches

The Glorious Bucket List: The Beaches of Block Island

By on April 29, 2013 in Beach Vacations, Family Travel, Glorious Bucket List, Rhode Island, Romantic Vacations, Trips with Friends

Bluffs Beach

 

Where: Block Island, a 7,000 acre, pork chop-shaped island off the coast of Rhode Island

Why: Often called “the Bermuda of the North”, much of the 17-miles of beach front on this island offers clean, powdery sand and clear, turquoise-blue water similar in feel to the beaches of the Caribbean.

How: Most visitors arrive to the island via ferry from New London, CT or Point Judith, RI, and New England Airlines offers daily shuttle flights, too. Rent a bike or a moped from Aldo’s on Weldons Way—the best way to navigate the island’s winding, country roads.

The main beach on the island is Crescent Beach, which stretches along the island’s east coast from the ferry landing at Old Harbor to Clay Head. It includes Town Beach, a best bet for families as this busy stretch includes a pavilion with food, restrooms, and changing rooms, as well as life guards during peak hours.

Fitness fans will appreciate the journey to Bluffs Beach at Mohegan Bluffs marked by the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse, accessible via a long, steep staircase. Our favorite time to visit is first thing in the morning when the beach is nearly empty, and visitors can wander along and take in the dozens of stacked rocks placed there by previous visitors, and maybe create one themselves.

Vacationers looking for a bit of privacy should bike down the dirt road to the Clay Head Preserve, where a short hike leads to Clayhead beach. On the way back to the trail head, visitors should take time to explore “the Maze”, a series of interconnected pathways offering spectacular viewpoints of the island.

Best of all, admission and parking at all beaches is free.

More: For maps, photos, and travel info on the island, check out the Block Island Tourism Council’s super-helpful website.

Town Beach

 

Bluffs Beach

 

A couple enjoys the quiet of the beach accessible via the Clay Head Preserve’s nature trail

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Glorious Getaway: Bungalow Hotel

By on June 1, 2012 in Beach Vacations, New Jersey, Romantic Vacations

Thanks to Snooki and the gang, the Jersey Shore may not be the first location that comes to mind when imagining a restful, chic beach vacation. But the Bungalow Hotel, a stylish boutique property nestled in Pier Village in Long Branch, begs to differ. Designed by GA favorites Robert and Cortney Novogratz (check out their site, it’s super Glorious) the property feels decidedly fashion forward thanks to it’s modern, beach-house-meets-gallery decor starring over 50 pieces of original art. Rooms here offer plushy extras like king sized beds, kitchenettes, and fireplaces, and all guests gain access to Le Beach, the nearby beach club that has a glamorous, Mediterranean vibe with private cabanas, chaise-side service, and a rooftop pool.

 

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Glorious Getaway: Ruschmeyer’s

By on April 25, 2012 in Beach Vacations, Family Travel, New York, Romantic Vacations, Trips with Friends

It’s starting to warm up for good, and with summer on the way we’re looking forward to a few weekend trips to the beach. One spot that’s definitely on the list: Ruschmeyer’s in Montauk. While the King & Grove group recently renovated the property, which was originally built on three lakeside acres in 1952, the hotel still has a delightfully old-fashioned, nautical summer camp vibe. There are a host of activities to keep visitors busy, like bicycling, bingo, paddle boarding, and yoga. Guest rooms, designed as modern takes on the classic cabin, circle the central lawn (aka “The Magic Garden”) with teepees, ping-pong tables, and grills guests can use whenever they like. Hungry? Head to the onsite restaurant where the culinary team behind one of our favorite New York City eateries Fat Radish has created a sustainable, seafood-focused menu paired with a wine list focused on biodynamic, sustainable, and organic wines. The hotel is open from May to September, and is accepting reservations for the summer now.

Restaurant at Ruschmeyers

 

Queen Deluxe Room

 

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Glorious Getaway: Four Seasons Hualalai

By on April 3, 2012 in Beach Vacations, Family Travel, Hawaii

While I’m waiting for warmer weather in the Northeast, I’m channeling sunny days and sunbathing temperatures with these photos from the Four Seasons Hualalai on Hawaii’s Big Island. The hotel’s location along Kona-Kohala Coast is just beautiful, and works particularly well for families thanks to seven swim areas and a long list of activities ranging from ocean canoe trips to surfing to snorkeling—there’s even a kids treasure hunt along the beach. Guests here can learn a little something on vacation too at the Ka’upulehu Cultural Center, which offers lessons on hula, ukulele, lei making, and the Hawaiian language. Kids aged 13-17 can also opt for a three-day program on all things water related with the property’s Alaka’i Nalu “ocean ambassadors”, during which they’ll learn to fish, get outrigger canoe training, and instruction on jet ski rescue, basic CPR, and more. Check out the hotel’s complete list of family-friendly activities here.

 

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