Joe:
Have noted some good comments on Block. We're out of Mystic and have been regular visitors for 25+ years. A few additional points to consider:
If sailing, try and run with the tide both east and westbound. If heading westbound to Fisher's Island sound, I typically try and leave 4-5 hours after low tide at Great Salt pound (GSP).
When entering GSP one is often temped to sail through the entry, it's often an exhilarating, close hauled, sleigh ride, with good wind, and smooth water. But beware you can get pinched and into major trouble as you approach and pass the coast guard station, and lots of boats get knocked down a bit or round up just after passing the coast guard station and hitting an additional 10+ knots of wind.
The mooring situation varies year to year and protocols are subject to the Harbor Master's rules and implementation. One point many don't know: of late boats can pick up private moorings, for a night, which are unoccupied after 3-5 PM, subject to fee paid to the Harbor Master and "discussions" if the mooring holder shows up.
Recently, the Harbor Master has limited anchoring within the established mooring fields, which we support, as the holding is variable to poor, the eastern field shoals quickly, and there is rarely sufficient room for sufficient scope to swing on chain and almost never on rope/chain.
On mooring or anchor be careful about trying to raft up. You might find yourself in trouble in the middle of the night if there's a blast. Have seen many rafts have to break up in the middle of the night, often with twisted rodes.
Also think carefully about leaving your boat unattended and going into town. The above mentioned "harbor blast" plus evening thunder storms and 180 degree wind shifts are not uncommon, and are often neither predicted or evident when your enjoying your sun downers. The dangers include both pulled unoccupied boats or as bad having some other fools unoccupied boat come down on your boat.
Make sure you observe the holding tank and pump out requirements. Enforcement is omnipresent and fines are severe. The good side being that GSP flushes well, is often very clear and has become reasonably clean for swimming over the past decade.
All that said, Block remains a wonderful destination. Scotch Beach, accessible form the dingy beach on the east side of GSP is one of the best beaches in New England for a warm summer day. There's much to explore. The food, drink and crowds are often about what you'd expect, but as always, the best food, drink and entertainment is right on your boat.
