If there is such a thing as "downtown" in Block Island, Old Harbor is it. Most of the venerable , turn-of the century hotels are located within a half-mile of the
Rebecca at the Well statue, erected in the 1890's by the Women's Temperance Society in the hope that it would curb the drinking on the island.
The statue forms a rotary at the intersection of High Street, Spring Street, and Water Street. Most sets of directions to visitors begin with the words, "You pass the Rebecca statue and then..."
A short walk along Water Street bring you to two of the larger hotels, The National Hotel (left) and the Surf Hotel (right). By mid-October both had closed for the season, although the National was hosting a wedding. The Surf is currently for sale; the asking price is $12,000,000.
Also located along Water Street are some smaller accommodations, such as the New Shoreham House and the Water Street Inn. The Inn houses the Mohegan Cafe, one of the few restaurants to continue full service after Columbus Day.
Nevertheless, even the Mohegan was preparing to close for the season, so bartender Coelbie had to scrounge to create drinks from a dwindling liquor supply. She reported that her van was already packed for her return to Massachusetts for the winter. The food was fine, though, especially the onion soup. We relied also upon G. R. Sharkey's on Corn Neck Road, where they served up some excellent specials, including rib-eye with scampi, and pasta with fresh seafood.
The statue forms a rotary at the intersection of High Street, Spring Street, and Water Street. Most sets of directions to visitors begin with the words, "You pass the Rebecca statue and then..."
A short walk along Water Street bring you to two of the larger hotels, The National Hotel (left) and the Surf Hotel (right). By mid-October both had closed for the season, although the National was hosting a wedding. The Surf is currently for sale; the asking price is $12,000,000.
Also located along Water Street are some smaller accommodations, such as the New Shoreham House and the Water Street Inn. The Inn houses the Mohegan Cafe, one of the few restaurants to continue full service after Columbus Day.
Nevertheless, even the Mohegan was preparing to close for the season, so bartender Coelbie had to scrounge to create drinks from a dwindling liquor supply. She reported that her van was already packed for her return to Massachusetts for the winter. The food was fine, though, especially the onion soup. We relied also upon G. R. Sharkey's on Corn Neck Road, where they served up some excellent specials, including rib-eye with scampi, and pasta with fresh seafood.
