Category Archives: Kids

Families, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Beaches

Best Kid-Friendly Beaches on Martha’s Vineyard

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Beaches are certainly the main attraction on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer. Some of them have big waves, some don’t. Some of them are pure sand, some are rocky where the waves break. This is your guide to the best kid beaches on the Vineyard. Don’t forget sunscreen, drinks, umbrella or tent, chairs, towels, toys and boogie boards! Here are my favorite kid beaches:

  • Lambert’s Cove Beach is located in West Tisbury. You need a sticker to park your car here or a walk-on pass to enter. Lambert’s Cove  is located on the Vineyard Sound so the water is warm and calm and there’s lots of great rock and shell hunting! Dogs are allowed on the beach in the morning and evening and life guards are on duty until 5 pm.
  • State Beach is found along the border of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, this picturesque public beach is a wonderful place for swimming, building sandcastles and making new friends. Parking is plentiful and it’s an easy walk over the dunes and onto the beach. Your kids will want to stay here all day!
  • Menemsha Beach rests at the end of the main road in Menemsha, one of the last working fishing villages in New England, this stretch of public beach is a favorite for families. No fee or stickers are required and the water is calm and clear. There are also many great spots to grab lunch so leave the picnic baskets at home.
  • Long Point is in West Tisbury on a beautiful wildlife refuge, Long Point is a wonderful experience for the whole family. Arrive early during the height of the season as parking lots fill up quickly.
  • South Beach is the happening beach in Edgartown with some big Atlantic swells, beach volleyball and tons of families. The walk isn’t too bad from the car with various entry points along the road, and the beach is public so you’ll have easy access. There’s a great bike path from town through Katama to the beach.

Events, Families, Food, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, West Tisbury

Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair: Reason 423 to Visit MV in August

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One of the highlights of the summer on Martha’s Vineyard is the West Tisbury Agricultural Country Fair with Mid-Way sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society. Every August for four days (Thursday – Sunday), the fairgrounds host the classics at this real old-fashioned fair.

Kids and adults alike enjoy rides, games, shucking and fiddle contests, the skillet throw, horse pull, woodsmen competition, the fiber-arts tent and dog & livestock shows. There is no resisting the live music, puppet and dance shows…and, of course, the tournament of all tournaments – Cow Chip Bingo.

NOTE: Come to the fair hungry. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find: local restaurants have booths showcasing their best recipes, the MV Fire Departments grill hotdogs and burgers, local schools provide ice cream and there’s kettle corn, fresh lemonade and cotton candy galore.

The Ag Fair is just one of the many summer traditions on the island, making August a fantastic and event-filled time to visit Martha’s Vineyard.

Prices and dates for the annual Ag Fair can be found here.

Families, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs

The Flying Horses on Martha’s Vineyard: a Must Do for Kids!

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When people ask me to describe Oak Bluffs, I tell them about the Flying Horses because, to me, the carousel illustrates the flavor of the town perfectly. It’s colorful, historic, loud, full of laughter & fun and unlike any other place in the world.

The Oak Bluffs carousel is the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel and a National Historic Landmark cared for by the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. Built by Charles W.F. Dare in 1876, the Flying Horses arrived on Martha’s Vineyard in 1884.

Featuring small and large horses, as well as carriages to ride on, the Flying Horses challenge you to catch the brass ring as your circle round. The lucky rider who captures the brass ring wins a free ride. Rides are $1.50 and you can buy a season pass if you know you’ll be climbing aboard again and again. Around the carousel is an arcade complete with games and snacks and open windows pulling the nearby ocean breeze inside to cool the riders.

The carousel is located at the bottom of Circuit Ave – the town’s main drag featuring great shopping, movies, ice cream, fudge and restaurants ranging from pizza to oysters on the half shell – an extension of the excitement and energy of the Flying Horses.

Cool fact: check out your horse’s eyes…you’ll find a surprise!