Plan Your Getaway to Martha's Vineyard
A short ferry ride from Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard is a special kind of island. Dotted with charming small towns like Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, and Aquinnah, the island is famous for its gourmet farm-to-table cuisine, natural beauty, and beach culture. It's a great weekend getaway for relaxing and chilling by the sea. And for those days when just reading a paperback on the beach makes you antsy, you'll never want for more active things to do in Martha's Vineyard.
01 Follow jaws to Menemsha
A small fishing village within the town of Chilmark, Menemsha is best known as the principal location for Steven Spielberg's iconic film Jaws. Movie buffs can soak up the atmosphere while re-living scenes of the shark thriller. Everyone else can chow down on fresh-caught seafood at a choice of wharf-side restaurants. As you head out of town, be sure to climb the bluffs at Menemsha Hills for spectacular views across Vineyard Sound. The area is part of a protected nature reserve most suitable for sunset picnics.
02 Catch a flick at the Capawock Theater
Vineyard Haven is home to the oldest working cinema in Massachusetts. The Capawock Theater was built in 1913 and restored extensively in 2015. The cinema regularly runs limited arthouse films and rep classics programmed by the Martha Vineyard's Film Society. Every summer they host a week-long, Jaws-inspired shark-themed film festival as well as weekly screenings of the Spielberg classic.
03 Ride the carousel
The Flying Horses Carousel in the town of Oak Bluffs is the oldest working merry-go-round in the US. It became an attraction at Coney Island in 1876 but moved to its current position in 1884, where it has been delighting visitors and hosting children's birthday parties ever since. The workmanship on the painted horses and the carousel's historic hand-painted background panels make them a fine frame for your Instagram photos.
04 Sunset at Aquinnah
Located on the western tip of the island, the multi-colored cliffs of Aquinnah overlook the ocean and a public beach far below. The elevation creates grand vistas over the water, which is particularly entrancing as the sun goes down. A protected National Historic Landmark, the area is the ancestral home of the Wampanoag first nation. During the summer, check for bike and bus tours leaving from towns on the eastern side of the island.
05 Grab a drink in Edgartown
Many of the towns in Martha's Vineyard are "dry" and have been since Prohibition times. Not Edgartown, which picks up the slack with a vigorous restaurant and bar scene. The town itself is also worth exploring as it features galleries, museums, and some interesting architecture, including the island's oldest home, Vincent House on Main Street.
06 Ride a bike on Chappaquiddick Island
Notorious for its connection to the ill-starred Kennedy dynasty, Chappaquiddick is a small island that sometimes turns into a peninsula. When there's water the two-minute Chappy Ferry brooks the distance, and periodic low tides allow for biking across the flats from Edgartown. Once there, beaches, pine forests, and enclaves of expensive cottages beg for exploration. Don't miss the exquisitely groomed Mytoi Japanese Garden.
07 Visit the campground at Oak Bluff
One of the quirkiest and most photogenic sites in Martha's Vineyard is a collection of Victorian gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs. Built by the island's Methodist community, The Campground—as it's known locally—is now privately occupied. You can get a sense of the interiors at the Cottage Museum, or simply enjoy the charming candy-colored exteriors. Watch for The Grand Illumination in August, when each porch is hung with Japanese lanterns.
08 Go on an edible adventure with Farm.Field.Sea
The farm-to-table culinary ethos is big all over Martha's Vineyard. One way to enjoy excellent cuisine made with island-grown products is by booking a tour with Farm.Field.Sea, based in Vineyard Haven. The company hosts seasonal pop-up dinners with local farmers, chefs, and fisherfolk. Many of the dinners are huge alfresco affairs, with everyone sitting communally around harvest tables and soaking up the fresh sea breezes.
09 Bird-watch at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
Martha's Vineyard has a huge amount of protected natural landscape. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary near Edgartown is 194 acres of marshes, beaches, and woodlands that are home to many native species of plant and animal. Four miles of groomed trails make it easy to hike this birdwatcher's paradise. For those who worry about rough seas, there are also kayaking facilities on idyllic and calm Sengekontacket Pond.
10 Visit Morning Glory Farm
Once upon a time, Martha's Vineyard was largely rural and agricultural. There are still surprisingly numerous farmsteads and small-batch fisheries in operation on the island. One of the most charming is Morning Glory Farm, just outside of Edgartown. The 50-year old organic farm produces fruits, vegetables, flowers, and livestock in accordance with traditional agricultural values. Stock up at their on-site market and bakery, or sign up for one of their educational Field Trip tours.
11 Climb to the top of the Edgartown Lighthouse
A trip to the North East simply isn't complete without a visit to an iconic lighthouse. In Martha's Vineyard, the most iconic is the Edgartown Lighthouse. Surrounded by a picturesque backdrop of greenery and flowers, visitors will find plenty of photo opportunities from the ground. The real treat; however, is discovered by climbing to the top of the lighthouse where visitors are rewarded with an unparalleled, breathtaking view of the surrounding Martha's Vineyard area.
12 Go surfing at Katama Beach
Situated in the southern end of Edgartown, Katama Beach is a three-mile barrier beach. It is one of the most popular public beaches in Martha's Vineyard, largely because of its rugged surf on the Atlantic Oceanside. Aside from being a surfer's paradise, the beach is easily accessible from Edgartown by bike which eliminates the hassle of finding parking on busy days.
13 Take photos with the boulders at Lucy Vincent Beach
Statuesque boulders, grass-topped cliffs, and rocky sand merge with the ocean at the shoreline of Lucy Vincent Beach. A favorite beach among locals, it has been declared one of the most beautiful beaches in the country due to its dramatic landscape. Visitors relish the chance to take vacation photos next to some of the most iconic boulders.
14 Get in touch with nature at the Polly Hill Arboretum
In 1957, renowned horticulturist Polly Hill set out to conduct an experiment with nature. She began with one seed and eventually developed a 70-acre arboretum filled with rare plants, shrubs, and flowers that no one expected to thrive in the climate of Martha's Vineyard. Today, her legacy lives on through these meticulously maintained grounds where visitors find themselves in an utterly tranquil environment surrounded by North Tisbury azaleas, monkey puzzle trees, and the Julian Hill magnolias.
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