Life today moves faster than ever, and somewhere between the noise, deadlines, and endless scrolling, we’ve forgotten how to truly rest. We take vacations hoping to recharge, but often return just as tired—because what we really need isn’t time off, it’s time to heal. That’s where places built on wellness and balance make all the difference. They remind us to slow down, breathe deeply, and reconnect with ourselves. Surrounded by calm, nourished by real food, and cared for with genuine warmth, we begin to feel whole again.
At the heart of this vision is Ann Law, Owner and Manager of Block Island Inns, which includes Blue Dory Inn and Avonlea Inn, who has turned a charming seaside inn into a peaceful haven for wellness, healing, and renewal. With her background as a family nurse practitioner, Ann understands how deeply health, nutrition, and balance influence well-being. She has woven these principles into every part of the guest experience, creating a place where comfort meets care.
Under her guidance, Block Island Inns has become more than a getaway.
Guests can experience:
- Plant-based, nutrient-rich dining designed for healing and vitality
- Wellness programs that blend mindfulness, nutrition, and movement
- Tranquil spaces that calm the mind and restore inner balance
Leading with compassion and purpose, Ann ensures every detail reflects the company’s values of harmony, authenticity, and love for nature. Her bestselling book, The Law of Wellness, has further strengthened this philosophy, inspiring guests to live more mindfully and find balance in their everyday lives. Through her dedication and vision, Ann has transformed Block Island Inns into an award-winning sanctuary where every guest can rediscover peace, strength, and the joy of true well-being.
True Wellness Come From Resilience And Purpose
Ann Law’s philosophy for creating restorative guest experiences is deeply rooted in her life journey. Her entry into hospitality was almost accidental—during a family visit to Block Island, she was captivated by its serenity and sensed it was the perfect place to build something meaningful. When the opportunity arose to purchase the Blue Dory Inn and Avonlea Inn, she and her husband decided to take the leap. The path forward, however, was far from easy. In the wake of the 1987 economic crash and early financial challenges, Ann found herself taking over operations with no prior experience in hospitality.
Through sheer perseverance, faith, and hard work, she transformed the inn from a struggling business into an award-winning destination within a decade. That experience shaped her belief that true wellness and success come from resilience, purpose, and a willingness to grow through adversity. Today, she carries that philosophy into every aspect of her work, ensuring guests experience the same sense of renewal, calm, and inner strength that guided her journey.
From Innkeeping to Wellness Advocacy
Ann Law has owned inns for many years, but her deeper journey into wellness truly began with the writing of her book The Law of Wellness, which became an Amazon bestseller. With a background as a family nurse practitioner, she recognized a significant gap in the healthcare system—its lack of focus on prevention and nutrition. Her perspective shifted even more through a personal experience with a loved one who had suffered two cardiac events and required four stents.
When his cardiologist suggested adding more medications, such as statins and anti-inflammatories, Ann’s medical knowledge made her question why the system focused so heavily on treatment instead of prevention. Determined to find better answers, she immersed herself in medical and nutritional research, exploring how chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer could be prevented rather than managed.
What she discovered was transformative—up to 85% of chronic illnesses are preventable through simple lifestyle changes, especially diet. This realization became the foundation of her book, The Law of Wellness: A Comprehensive Guide to Achieve Ideal Weight and Lifetime Health, which serves not just as a guide to better living but as a call to action to rethink how we nourish, move, and care for ourselves.
The Birth of Wellness Retreats
After publishing The Law of Wellness, Ann Law realized that true wellness isn’t just something to understand—it’s something to live. She found that people often need more than knowledge; they need structure, support, and an environment that helps them put wellness into practice. This insight led her to bring her philosophy to life through immersive Wellness Retreats at her inns.
The first retreat, scheduled for October 24–27 at the Blue Dory Inn and Avonlea Inn on Block Island, offers guests the opportunity to experience holistic living in a practical and restorative way. Through guided programs and mindful activities, participants learn how simple, sustainable lifestyle choices can boost energy, prevent disease, and improve overall well-being.
Each retreat includes:
- Hands-on cooking and nutrition sessions
- Guided mindfulness and meditation practices
- Expert-led wellness workshops
- Personal time for rest, reflection, and connection with nature
With plans to expand these retreats nationwide, Ann Law aims to create sanctuaries where people can reset, recharge, and realign—embracing a way of life that supports lasting health and balance.
Nourish, Breathe, Restore
Ann chose Block Island as the heart of her wellness retreats because it embodies everything she believes true healing should feel like—peaceful, natural, and deeply restorative. Surrounded by the ocean and blessed with a calming rhythm, the island allows visitors to truly disconnect from the pace of modern life. Accessible only by ferry or small plane, it creates a gentle sense of separation from the mainland, inviting stillness and reflection.
Ann Law first discovered Block Island while living in New York and working as a legislator and nurse practitioner. The moment she stepped onto the ferry, she felt the weight of her responsibilities lift—a feeling of freedom and renewal she had never experienced before. That powerful moment became the inspiration for establishing her wellness retreats there, turning Block Island into a sanctuary where guests can reconnect with nature, find inner balance, and begin their journey toward healing.
Lifelong Commitment to Health
Ann believes that true wellness extends far beyond food—it’s a complete sensory experience that touches everything a guest sees, feels, and breathes. At Block Island Inns, she ensures that every element, from design to service, reflects this holistic vision. Starting with nutrition, Ann has replaced traditional high-calorie breakfasts with fresh, plant-based, nutrient-dense options that nourish the body and support long-term health.
She also encourages guests to take time to slow down, read, and reflect, offering her book The Law of Wellness and other health-centered literature at the inns to inspire mindful living. During a recent library event, Ann asked attendees if they believed lifelong health was possible—and nearly every hand went up, a moment that continues to fuel her mission. Beyond food and education, she’s carefully shaping the inn’s ambiance to promote peace and restoration through soft colors, natural light, soothing music, and a culture of harmony among staff.
Culinary Collaboration for a Healthier Tomorrow
Block Island Inns’s team is actively working on exciting new collaborations to expand its wellness offerings. One of the key initiatives is a partnership with a chef to develop a line of wellness-inspired food products, starting with healthy sauces that will soon be available in stores. These products are thoughtfully created to help individuals maintain a nutritious, plant-based lifestyle long after their retreat experience.
The company’s nutritional philosophy is rooted in evidence-based research supported by leading organizations such as the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association. Even Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest healthcare organizations in the U.S., promotes plant-based eating for long-term well-being. Guided by these proven principles, the team aims to make healthy living easy and enjoyable—turning wellness into a natural part of everyday life.
Strong Teams Create Exceptional Experiences
Balancing the roles of owner, manager, and wellness advocate requires a foundation of trust, teamwork, and open communication—values that define Ann Law’s approach to leadership. She credits much of her success to her dedicated team, who manage the inns with care, professionalism, and a shared passion for creating exceptional guest experiences. Their reliability allows her to focus on what she loves most—developing new wellness programs and continuing her work as an author.
Ann’s belief that “no one succeeds alone” comes from her years serving as a legislator in New York, where collaboration was key to achieving meaningful results. She brings that same philosophy to Block Island Inns, where every team member contributes to the company’s vision of holistic well-being. From preparing wholesome, nourishing meals to fostering a calm, welcoming atmosphere, the staff embody the spirit of wellness in everything they do. This collective dedication enables Ann to keep expanding the brand’s wellness initiatives and retreats, offering guests transformative experiences that restore balance and inspire lasting change.
Focus On Building A Supportive And Connected Team
Ann believes that leadership in wellness hospitality begins from within. She advises new leaders to focus on building a supportive and connected team. True wellness, she says, isn’t just what guests see; it’s also the positive energy that comes from the people who work behind the scenes. If the staff feels stressed or disconnected, guests will notice it right away.
A peaceful and caring atmosphere should be felt the moment someone walks in. Whether running a retreat, an inn, or a hotel, Ann Law encourages leaders to create spaces that help guests feel cared for in body, mind, and spirit. When the team works well together, that same sense of peace and warmth naturally reaches every guest.
Final Message to Readers
Ann Law’s message to readers is a heartfelt invitation to slow down, reconnect, and experience true peace. She encourages everyone to visit Block Island and feel its natural tranquility firsthand.
For those who wish to learn more, she invites them to explore blockislandinns.com to discover the company’s beautiful seaside properties and lawofwellnessretreats.com for details about their wellness programs. Even a glimpse of these spaces online can bring a sense of calm and inspiration, but visiting in person brings that serenity to life.
