Category Archives: Vineyard Beaches

Food, Vineyard Beaches

Picnic on the beach, anyone?

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picnic

Around the middle of February, us Vineyarders start to get a little antsy. We’re ready for the sunshine, the sand in between our toes…and all of you.

So, I’m giving in to my antsiness and I’m planning for summer – big time! And, lo and behold, my planning includes beach picnics!

I’m giving away Lunch for Four – cooked by the delectable Dee Smith, the Phantom Chef from Tea Lane Caterers. When you book your Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental with me, we’ll set up the delivery of your lunch: fried chicken, salad, cole slaw, corn bread and cookies!

It’s the perfect summer spread from one of the island’s best caterers. Dee always cooks from scratch and prides herself on using goods from the Vineyard’s bountiful gardens.

I’m looking forward to hearing from you and meeting you this summer!

Activities, Martha's Vineyard, Vineyard Beaches, Vineyard Towns

Top 8 Reasons NOT to Visit Martha’s Vineyard

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It’s true, there are reasons that people avoid this incredible island. You ready?

8. Bumping into Jake Gyllenhal and David Letterman while you’re buying fresh peas at the Farmer’s Market in West Tisbury gets really old after awhile.

7. The ocean isn’t always blue, sometimes it’s this majestic shade of green.

6. You have to cross the ocean to get here, forcing you to really let go of life on the mainland.

5. The peace and quiet are deafening.

4. Vineyard locals and our commitment to living local, small family farms, protecting our environment and maintaining a close-knit community of nice people has a tendency to be contagious to visitors.

3. There’s more to do than just go to the beach. The Ag Fair, boutique shopping, summer camps and festivals have a habit of distracting people from their sunbathing.

2. Most of the island restaurants feature fresh caught fish and shellfish, not to mention island-grown veggies, so it’s nearly impossible to be unhealthy here.

And the number 1 reason NOT to visit Martha’s Vineyard…

1. You’ll never want to leave.

Activities, Edgartown, Events, Families, Food, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, MV Rentals, Oak Bluffs, Quiet Getaways, Shopping, Vineyard Beaches, Vineyard Towns

Village Spotlight: Edgartown

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Image courtesy of asterix611

Before Martha’s Vineyard was an extraordinary summer vacation destination, it was a whaling industry mecca. And, in the 19th and early 20th centuries, Edgartown was the whaling hub.

Built around the whaling trade, hundreds of whaling captains constructed beautiful, stately homes in the center of town – along with the picturesque Whaling Church – and today they provide the refined and historical look of the town.

Mainstreet and the close-knit downtown area is full of boutiques, cafes, restaurants, movie theater – along old brick sidewalks. True to the Vineyard, you won’t find any box stores or chains – this is shopping at its one-of-a kind best.

Make sure you make your way down to the harbor…full of beautiful boats and one of the most gorgeous lighthouses I’ve ever seen, the Edgartown Lighthouse, of course.

But, on those sunny days, I suggest you hightail it out of town and head to the beach. You have a few to choose from, but my top picks are:

  • South Beach (surf side) for great waves out in Katama (pronounced Kuh-TAY-muh). Katama is part of Edgartown and it features its own bay and a super beachy feel.
  • State Beach (sound side) is a great kids beach because you can wade right in without worrying about big waves. Also, the trip from car to towel is pretty short which I know is important when you’ve got little ones.

The bike path goes right through town, out to the beach or lets you explore miles of the island through towns and the state forest. Oh, and if you head up-island on the bike trail, make sure to stop at Morning Glory Farm – a wonderful local farm filled with just picked produce, salads, soups and luscious baked goods.

Edgartown is also home to some huge fundraising galas every summer – a great place to really get to know the community and give back to this special island. The most famous, perhaps, is the Possible Dreams Auction where incredible dreams are donated and auctioned off to the highest bidder – all to benefit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services.

Edgartown has the best of both worlds – the hustle and bustle of town and the soulful quiet of the waterfront…