Block Island

Our trip to New England started with Alison and Brian's wedding, but it did not end there. Fortunately for us, the day after the wedding marked the beginning of the Balestracci annual vacation on Block Island. We simply invited ourselves along and luckily Katie, Chris, Michael, and Brendan decided to let us stay. For four glorious days we got to know the island and spent time with the Balestraccis and Grandpa Jay and Nana Taffy.


The adventure definitely started on the ferry ride from Point Judith. Callie really seemed to enjoy the boat ride, but the boat and the ocean were no comparison to her cousin Brendan. Thankfully, Brendan did not mind accepting all of the responsibilities and burdens that come with such worship. It was very cute to see.


The weather was great while we were there and we got two great days in at the beach. Callie loved jumping in the waves and playing in the sand. She couldn't get enough of either activity. Below is just one of many pictures we have of Callie frolicking in the Atlantic Ocean, an experience she just doesn't get in the Bluegrass.



But our vacation was not just a day at the beach. We also had a great time biking around, playing board games, and enjoying the fine products of the local bagel shop. Let's be honest, food can sometimes make or break a travel experience. So it's good that Block Island has a number of options.

Here is the whole crew before we enjoyed dinner at the Naragansett Inn. We got to sit outside on the porch and ate good food while enjoying the view. It was fun, but we all missed the presence of Suzy, who was either riding an elephant or a bike through Thailand at the time. It's tough being a world traveler.


On the last day Katie and Chris took us to see Mohegan Bluffs, which is a really cool part of the island. Here is a picture of our gracious hosts and tour guides at the top of the long staircase that descends to the ocean below. It was a great way to end a wonderful time. We can't wait to get out there again.


To get home that day from Block Island to Lexington we had to go by boat, car, plane, train, and finally car. And we even had a detour due to a torrential downpour in New England to add to the mix. Through it all, though, Callie was a trooper as usual. It helps when you have fun travel companions like Nana Taffy. This is a really cool picture, isn't it?

So that ended our New England adventure for this part of the summer. But it certainly was not the end of the fun. Stay tuned for another update soon.