Day 1058 Block Island & Trivia

 

Block Island for the Day and Trivia at the Beach Club at Night—Not a Bad Way to Spend a Weekday!

The ride over to Block Island on the traditional ferry wasn’t exactly smooth—both my son and I felt queasy and quickly decided we’d switch to the fast ferry for the trip home. I could’ve toughed it out on the slow boat again, but I was more than happy to trade in the rocking ride for a quicker return.

Once we docked, we set off on foot toward Mohegan Bluffs—a solid mile-and-a-half walk through the island’s hilly terrain. After being tossed around on the ferry, we welcomed the feel of solid ground beneath us. The bluffs themselves were spectacular—far more impressive in person than any photo can truly convey.

Most people probably breeze right past the small monument there, but it’s worth reading:
Mohegan Bluffs Elevation 163 ft. In 1590, a war party of 40 Mohegan Indians was driven over these bluffs by Block Island Indians—The Manisseans. Along this shore, many vessels were wrecked...
Yikes! Can you imagine jumping off a cliff being the better option? The stairs leading down to the beach are steep and intense—there’s even a sign halfway down warning you to be mindful of your abilities. It’s not for the faint of heart!

After exploring the bluffs and visiting an old lighthouse, a taxi pulled up just as we finished the long climb back up. While I don’t mind walking, the ride back to town felt pretty amazing after all those stairs.

Lunch at the National Hotel is a must when visiting the Block. We strolled along the main street shops, grabbed ice cream, and soaked in the laid-back New England summer vibes.

The fast ferry ride back was smooth and quick—definitely the way to go. That evening, we all met up at the beach club for trivia night, with both my boys there I was left wishing my daughter could have joined us.  Our team was doing great... until the final round, when we started second-guessing ourselves. The question: What state is known as "Almost Heaven"? I knew it was West Virginia, thanks to John Denver’s "Take Me Home, Country Roads." But Tim insisted it had to be Florida—“heaven’s waiting room,” he said. I should’ve stood my ground; it was the only question I felt instantly confident about. Ironically, minutes later, we outvoted him on a different answer, and our team spiraled into a 6th-place finish.

Thankfully, Sam and Miriam were our pop culture and post-90s music ringers, keeping us competitive. Trivia, dinner, the company, and the relaxed beach atmosphere were all made even better by a spectacular, glowing pink sunset over the water.

All in all, it was the kind of summer day you want to bottle up and revisit in your mind once the seasons change. Block Island never disappoints—and neither does a night of friendly competition under the stars.