Summer in Rhode Island can be idyllic... the beaches, the rivers, the salt ponds, fishing, hiking, kayaking.... but summer on Prudence Island is idyllic plus. "As soon as people get off the ferry, you can see the stress just melting away," says Kristin Van Wagner, education coordinator for the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve, based on the island.

Kristin and the rest of the NBRR staff welcome visitors to Prudence, and are happy to show off its many assets. Generally, they are on the island Monday to Friday, and that is actually the best time to visit -- their visitor center offers the only public rest rooms on the island, and it is closed on weekends! They also have an education shack on the waterfront, with aquarium creatures that kids can see up close. 

Deer ticks are still a concern on the island, though Kristin notes that most visitors now are familiar with the needed precautions -- long pants, no open shoes, bug repellent. Wide concrete roads through the woods -- a relic of the old Navy days -- offer a chance to explore without hiking through the long grasses that harbor ticks. Beach walkers and bicyclers can avoid most tick habitat.

To reach the island, take the ferry from Bristol or head there in your own boat -- there is no public dock to tie up at, but boats can anchor offshore. Details for travelers can be found at the NBRR site.

Click on "More..." for lots more photos from NNN's recent island visit, plus info about an upcoming event that you're invited to, and a photo contest you can take part in! 

A view across the Bay toward the Mount Hope bridge. 

The Prudence Lighthouse, site of many stories from island lore. 

One of the island's largest farms, it was a vineyard until recently. 

Beautiful summer weather. 

One of several villages on the island, this one dating to Victorian times. 

A network of well-maintained and marked hiking trails criss-crosses the island. 

The only way to reach Prudence is via ferry from the dock in Bristol, or take your own boat. See the link above to the NBRR site for details for travelers.

On July 19, the Research Reserve hosts a Narragansett Bay Block Party, and you are invited! The event runs from 11 am to 3 pm, and will feature live music, food, kids activities, nature walks, art demonstrations, and an art show. Contact Kristin and she can arrange transportation for you from the ferry landing to the Reserve.  Send email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 401-683-1478. The Reserve is also running a fishing tournament and a photo contest, contact Kristin for details.