crescent beach

beautiful, stretching about 2 miles from town to and past Mansion Beach. Some parts can get very crowded, depending on time of day and weather. At low tide a great walk/run. Can walk to town and then sit at an outdoor bar (National, Surf) drink a brew, watch life go by and the ferries arrive and depart.

Seaweed gathers close to the Inn and harbor area but is cleaner the further up the beach you go. Sand is very fine.

There are so many beautiful beaches on the island. Been going to Block Island for over 30 years now. Crescent Beach is the whole stretch of beach that originates by The Surf Hotel in town, and ends after Mansion Beach, a few miles up north. There are different names given to each section of beach. Town Beach has recently been renamed Fred Benson Town Beach, after a wonderful man. You can learn about him at The BI Historical Society. This beach is where The Pavillion stands, and where there is a large parking lot. Inside The Pavillion is also where there are bathroom facilities, changing rooms, showers, daily weather and tide information, and a first-aid station. For made to order fresh sandwiches, burgers, etc, there is Rebecca's take-out, great for lunch. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available to rent, and lifeguards are on duty. This beach is very popular and probably the most crowded all summer long. All beaches on the island are public.

Miles and miles of soft black sand and clear water. Nice to have a snack shack bathroom and showers. A wonderful way to spend a summer day.

This is not only a great swimming beach with clear, clean water but it is also a fantastic walking beach. To top it all off the views of town and the cliffs are phenomenal! 5 stars!

We went during the week, so the beach was not very crowded. The sand right by the beach house bathrooms/snackbar was relatively clean, but the closer you go to the ferry harbor, the sand is more full of seaweed. My biggest complaint was the amount of broken glass in the sand, and the fact the beach is open for dogs (non-leashed, too). Unfortunately, I saw many dogs relieve themselves, and only a few owners actually picked up after them. Not sure what Rhode Island beach laws are about glass bottles and dogs on beach, but broken glass and hazardous waste products do not make for a clean/safe beach :(

Crescent Beach is formally called Fred Benson Town Beach. It is the most popular beach on Block Island because of the large parking area and ease of access (short-cuts across the dunes). The sand is smooth and the waves are usually gentle.You can walk northward for 45 minutes onto Scotch Beach and Mansion Beach - all one seamless stretch of sand.Lifeguards are positioned only in the area near the pavilion.

This is a nice beach with a lot of parking and facilities. There are life guards on duty and a canteen to buy lunch.

Since I don't see "Town Beach" or "Benson's Beach" listed, I am assuming that that "Crescent Beach" is another name for the Town Beach, which is located along the crescent beach. Beautiful, clean beach with a pavilion where you can take a shower, buy a meal or utilize vending machines, rent umbrellas and other beach paraphernalia and be protected by life guards.

A reasonable walk from the New Harbor; a short walk from old Harbor. Along with some rocky sections, there were pleasant sandy sections offering some nice little shore break for body surfing.Definately will enjoy the view and swim again.

It seems as though all of Block Island's shoreline is out of a dream - from the Mohegan Bluffs to Crescent Beach. But we particularly enjoyed the beach - it's serene, crystal clear water, and fairly quiet (though we were there before high season really begins, early June). Shell and rock collectors - many treasures to be found. A must visit.

Beach is in town...short walk from ferry. Has bath house and change area in approx. middle of beach. End by Surf Hotel has shallow water... and is great for little kids.

I highly recommend this beach for a more quiet day. Mid-week the beach is uncrowned and has tons of natural beauty. Depending upon where you sit; there aren't bathrooms/showers etc. Great for photography and walks too.

Crescent beach is a long stretch of beach, almost three miles long, that starts near the town and runs north all the way to Clayhead bluffs. The beach is called by different names at different points, and everyone has their favorite. Our favorite is Innesvale beach.Closest to town is Surf beach. Surf beach has the smallest waves and a very gentle grade to enter the water. It also has more rocks and seaweed than the rest of the beach, but not so many that you can't enjoy the water. If you like to snorkle or have small children who might enjoy wading in shallow water while looking for perriwinkles, shells, hermit crabs, etc. This is the perfect beach for you.Next down (past the rock retaining "wall") is Baby Beach. Baby Beach is mostly named such because of the mild surf and the fact that mild surf attracts lots and lots of families. This is a popular beach with local families and a great place for children. There is no lifeguard though, so you do need to keep an eye on your kids.Town Beach, or Fred Benson Town Beach, is next. This is where the beach pavilion is. This is a great beach for kids, there are lifeguards on duty, a snack bar with great food and ice cream and bathrooms. This beach also has lots of parking.Innesvale Beach is next. The surf here is bigger and it tends to not be quite as crowded as the beaches on either side of it.Scotch Beach is popular because it has some parking (most other beaches require that you park on the road) and it is a very broad section of Crescent Beach, so, very roomy. There is usually a volleyball net here and it is popular with college age island workers and visitors.Further down is Mansion Beach, named for the mansion that once sat above this spot. The mansion burned to the ground in the 1960's, but the foundation is evident in the parking area. This beach has larger waves but, again, no facilities.Crescent Beach is the perfect beach no matter which section you like best; long, sandy and relaxing. Bring a book and a beach blanket, set up your cooler and spend the entire day here. Heaven.

Crescent beach is a three mile stretch of beach on the East side of Block Island.While it is all one beach, each segment of the beach has a different name.When you enter the beach closest to town you are on Surf Beach (named for the Surf Hotel which sits above it). As you walk North you will pass "Baby Beach", "South of State", "Town Beach", North of State", "Innesvale", "Second Pole", "Scotch", "Mansion" and "Clayhead" beaches.The town beach has a beach pavilion with restrooms and a snack bar/restaurant. They have rent chairs and umbrellas here. This is also the only beach with lifeguards.It doesn't matter where you go, Crescent Beach is remarkably clean, both the sand and the water.You can see your feet when you stand in the water.Obviously the size of the waves vary with the weather. Plan to spend the entire day and not want to leave!