For many years, my family and I have ventured out to Martha's Vineyard for the summer. “The Vineyard” as many locals call it, is a small island off the coast of Massachusetts. It is the ideal beach vacation for any New Englander. When many people will go to the Vineyard for the first time, they never really know where to go or what to do. So I decided to share with you my in-sider guide to my favorite little island! Fare warning this is not your average travel guide - no tacky tourist stops on this route!
Heres a little background on the island!
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Marthas Vineyard is a tiny island off the coast of MA. It covers a whopping 87.48 mi². On the island there 6 different main towns, then a few villages, suburbs etc. Each town has its own unique identity and offers various different activities, restaurants, and people. My family has absolutely fallen in love with Chilmark, but don't let our biases dictate what your favorite vineyard town will be! Hopefully this guide will help you fall in love with everything the island has to offer, as well as find a new home away from home!
Where to go
Ok, so if you really wanted to board a sightseeing bus by all means feel free to do so! But if you really want to experience the island for go that bus and follow me! Out of everything on the island I have picked out my favorite places that you MUST go!
1. West Tisbury Farmers Market
2. Chilmark Flea Market
3. Visit the lighthouses around the island
What to do
While there is so much you can do on the island here is a few ideas of what to fill your days with during your visit! Look at this almost as a MV bucket list! Let see if you can cross them all off!
1. Go shopping in Edgartown
2. Buy a Black Dog t-shirt
3. Eat ice cream before noon
4. Go see the Vineyard Sound (a acapella group)
5. Go see the Jaws movie landmarks
6. Jump off the jaws bridge
6. Go on a bike ride on the path across the island
7. Watch the sunset in Menemsha
8. Eat a piece of island corn
Where to swim
While most of the beaches around Marthas Vineyard are designated by the town your staying in. There are a few public beaches that I think are definitely worth the sandy feet!
1. Menemsha Beach
2. South Beach (other than just brining your towel and a book, South beach allows for cars to be driven onto the beach - with a permit of course - beach going has never been easier!
3. Moshup Beach
4. Lighthouse Beach
What to Eat
While you can honestly never go wrong with any of the restaurants on the vineyard, but here are a few of my favorites!
Breakfast
2. The Art Cliff
Lunch
1. Humphreys (make sure to get the gobler)
3. The Bite (imagine all the fried food, salty goodness!)
Dinner
2. The Chilmark Tavern (the most casual by far, but the pizza is a hot commodity there in Chilmark.
3. State Road
6. The Homeport
Dessert
1. Back Door Donuts
2. Mad Martha’s
3. The Galley in Menemsha
I hope all my suggestions help you craft the perfect vacation to this little island. If you have never thought about going, well maybe this post inspired you! Lucky for you, you have about 8 months until its summer again so start planning!
