THE BEAUTIFUL AND COMFORTABLE DUCK CROSSING COTTAGE ON BLOCK ISLAND

We've stayed at four different places on Block Island over the past decade, and this property is our favorite by far, though it was not the most expensive. We came early in the spring, the year before last, when the Island was still quiet and remained chilly even in the afternoons. It was the first place we'd rented only from internet views, and I was a bit apprehensive not to have scouted it out first. From the moment we opened the door we were enchanted. Richly colored wood floors and ceilings, and a big open great room, decorated with bright yellows and blues, gave the cottage a warm and cozy feel (along with a heating system thet kept the actual chill well at bay). It was easy to imagine, though, that later in the season it would feel breezy and open to the Island's winds on long hot summer days, and that the outdoor shower would be in regular use. I was pleased by the 'little things' that made us feel as if we were staying in a friend's well-appointed home, rather than a rental pooperty. The furniture, wall hangings, linens, kitchen items - everywhere you turned there were nice quality furnishings, artfully arranged . . . not the mish-mosh leftovers or plain servicibility that sometimes makes do in furnished places. It was a place of quiet, calm beauty, inside and out. The grounds were lovely, casually landscaped with an old-fashioned sensibility that reminded me poignantly of my grandparents' New England country home in spring, with its stone fences, blooming forscythia and budding fruit trees. Getting to the beach was an easy walk, even for those of us who aren't as athletic as we once were; it was great to have it right there. No need to plan a trip or find the car keys. Just wake up in the morning and wander down before breakfast if you like. The propertys' owners weren't at home next door while we were there, but they were helpful on the phone when we wanted advice about living on the Island -- a nice balance of inobtrusive availability that allowed us to enjoy the cottage as our own, but with help if needed. The only complaint I could muster was that the queen sized mattress was past its prime, but I see that it has now been replaced. Photos, books and notebooks from other visitors made the cottage seem alive with the energy of many seasons' vacationers. For us, it was a magical place that enabled us to truly escape life's stress and pressure for a time. We plan to return often.