A sunny year-round cottage on Block Island, which is protected from over-development, for $895,000

If you're looking for a lovely little retreat, you can take a ferry 14 miles east of Montauk Point to Block Island. (It's part of Rhode Island and just 13 miles off the coast of that state.) The island is less than 10 square miles, but about 40 percent of it has been set aside for conservation and so is protected from development. As a result, there's lots of nature to enjoy—beautiful beaches (there are 17 miles of beach in total), along with steep bluffs, ponds, and hiking and biking trails. 

Popular spots include the breathtaking 200-foot Mohegan Bluffs (there's a wooden staircase you can climb to get to the top), the white-sand Crescent Beach, and the more secluded Mansion Beach, which draws a large number of surfers. You can visit historic sites like the brick Southeast Lighthouse, which was built in 1875, or bike through the Block Island Wildlife Preserve or neighboring Hodge Wildlife Preserve. Other highlights include include the Block Island Farmer's Market and local eateries like Winfield's and the romantic Atlantic Inn.

Block Island's real estate includes a slew of multi-million dollar beach houses, but you can also find more affordable cottages. Take, for instance, the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath cottage at 380 High St., now on the market for $895,000. The house was built in 1880 and looks like it's been remodeled recently, featuring a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

It's not clear whether this is the dining room or the eat-in portion of the kitchen.

Here's the living room, which has sliding doors leading out to the deck.

And here's the other dining area.

There's a cheerful little sitting area with lots of windows.

And a half-bath with washer/dryer hookups for laundry.

In addition to a pantry.

There's also a full bedroom on the first level, painted a lovely shade of blue.

There's also a full bath with a standing shower.

The master suite is on the second level, featuring a massive bedroom with space for an office.

There's also a walk-in closet.

And a private bath.

There's a big third bedroom with cathedral ceilings.

And there's a hall bath as well.

Outdoor space includes a big deck overlooking the backyard.

Note the two large solar panels, which heat the house's water (there's also a backup system).

Here's a shot of the yard.

And here's the front porch.

To get to Block Island from NYC, you can drive, or take the Long Island Rail Road or Hampton Jitney to Montauk, then take the Montauk/Block Island Ferry to the island. The trip takes about six hours total.