Children’s Beach

Children’s Beach, also known as Burton Cove: This beach is good for people with zero transportation because it can be easily reached on foot from the ferry docking point in Old Harbor. Upon getting off the ferry turn right onto Water Street.. At the end of the street you will see the Surf Hotel, a shingled, Victorian-style building with a wrap around front porch. Directly below the hotel there is a beach with very small waves. It has scattered largish rocks and usually some seaweed and pebbles but this makes it all the more intriguing for toddlers who are often less interested in swimming and more interested in small-scale excavations and exploring. This beach is the southernmost end of a two-mile swath of sand that runs along the island’s eastern coast facing Block Island Sound called Crescent Beach.

Getting There: From Old Harbor Ferry Parking Lot: turn right on Water Street and follow it for a short distance. The street turns sharply to the left becoming Dodge Street. At the corner stands the Surf Hotel, a big shingled, Victorian-style building with a wrap-a-round front porch. The fastest way to reach Children’s Beach is to climb down the rocks here and cross the jetty. The beach is on the other side of the jetty. If that seems too tough, make a left on Dodge St. and take the next right on Corn Neck Road. Follow Corn Neck Road until you come to the dunes behind the beach. There are many paths here where you can cross the dunes and access the beach.