There are plenty of reasons to make Westerly, RI, your next vacation destination, as the community is full of activities for the entire family. Booking a vacation rental in Watch Hill, Misquamicut, or Weekapaug ensures you’re never far from the action, especially if you visit in the summer.
Westerly is also home to HeliBlock, a tour company offering helicopter rides throughout Southern Rhode Island and into Connecticut and New York. Reserving a spot on one of these tours allows you to see this beautiful region from the sky and adds an element of excitement to your vacation.
All South County-based tours depart from Westerly State Airport. Here’s a look at your helicopter tour options when vacationing in Westerly, Rhode Island.
The Romantic Lighthouse Tour
One of the most popular excursions HeliBlock has to offer is the Romantic Lighthouse Tour, which offers views of eight historic lighthouses in Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New York. The trip also includes a bottle of champagne and some chocolates as you enjoy the sights.
The Lighthouse Tour costs $379 per couple and is a great way to spend Valentine’s Day or an anniversary with the love of your life.
The Watch Hill Experience
Even if you book a vacation rental in Watch Hill, seeing it from the air is an entirely different adventure. The Watch Hill helicopter tour will take you over Watch Hill Point and down the shoreline to Misquamicut Beach, giving you a new vantage point of the community.
You’ll pass Weekapaug and the world-famous Ocean House along the way, and the trip even takes you over Taylor Swift’s vacation home in downtown Watch Hill.
The Watch Hill Experience costs $69 per person or $159 for a private two-person charter.
Fishers Island to Weekapaug
The Fishers Island to Weekapaug tour takes you over Watch Hill and the Westerly shoreline before heading out to New York State. You’ll have the rare opportunity to view Fishers Island from 2,000 feet in the air before returning to Rhode Island to complete the trip.
This tour costs $109 per person, or you can book a private charter for two people for $249.
The Block Island Crossing
If you don’t have time to take the ferry to Block Island during your time in South County, you can check it out via the Block Island Crossing tour. This tour begins by taking you over Watch Hill and Misquamicut before continuing over Block Island Sound.
Once you reach Block Island, you’ll enjoy views of downtown New Shoreham, the Great Salt Pond, and the Mohegan Bluffs before returning to Westerly.
This trek will cost you $209 per person or $459 to book the entire helicopter for a private two-person tour.
VIP Dinner and Helicopter Tour
You can take things to another level with the VIP Dinner with Helicopter Tour to Block Island. This tour includes a round-trip helicopter trip to Block Island, a shuttle to and from a first-class restaurant of your choosing, and a sunset helicopter tour of Block Island.
This experience will take three hours and costs $317 per person or $635 for a private two-person charter.
The Ultimate Block Island Getaway
You can also opt for the Ultimate Block Island Getaway, an all-day experience on beautiful Block Island. This package includes a round-trip helicopter ride to Block Island, an unlimited shuttle service while on the island, and a helicopter tour of Block Island. The tour company will also make you a reservation at a restaurant of your choosing, giving you one less thing to worry about as you plan your excursion.
This tour costs $449 per person or $899 for a private helicopter ride for two people.
Fall Foliage Tour
When the leaves in Southern Rhode Island start changing color in late September, HeliBlock begins offering Fall Foliage tours. These tours take you over the Connecticut River, through the Connecticut countryside, over some local parks, and around Arcadia State Park.
Depending on your selected option, these tours are either 30 or 60 minutes long and cost $212 to $425 per person.
Book Your Tour in Advance
Reserving your spot on a HeliBlock expedition before you arrive in South County is advisable, particularly if you’re visiting in the summer, because they tend to fill up quickly. Most tours are available year-round, though, with the winter providing some breathtaking views of the region.
Booking a vacation rental in Westerly provides a convenient way to check out a tour because HeliBlock offers a free shuttle service to the airport from Misquamicut. That way, all you have to do is show up at the pickup point and let the pros at HeliBlock take care of the rest.