Tag Archives: Aquinnah

Spring is here!

Spring is in full swing here on Martha’s Vineyard. The grass is green, trees and plants are blooming, and a bevy of cows, sheep, and goats have been born within the last month or so. Perhaps the most exciting news is that the Striped Bass are back! I saw the first fisherman fishing off of Jaws Bridge yesterday on my way home from work, and there’s been plenty caught up-island in Menemsha and Aquinnah.

 

Photo by Joe Rodgers
Photo by Joe Rodgers

 

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Getting to Martha’s Vineyard

 

the "Martha's Vineyard" docked in Vineyard Haven

Some of my favorite memories from my childhood and into my teen years are of coming to the Island. Whether it was the ferry ride where it was tradition to always get a cup of chowder no matter how full I was, or taking Cape Air and seeing the island from high above trying to spot my house, or landmarks I know so well.  I wanted to talk to you today about all the different ways to get to the island.

Island Queen
There are multiple ferries you can take to get here. The most traveled is The Steamship Authority because they are the only boats that can take cars to and from the island.  If you plan on coming to the island with a car I suggest making your reservations early because they book up fast for the summer. Another famous ferry out of Falmouth Harbor is The Island Queen. They run hourly and take only cash, but will get you to the island in less time than the Steamship Authority boats because they don’t hold cars so they are much lighter. Perhaps the fastest option is also the smallest public option. The Patriot Party Boats is located at the end of Falmouth Harbor next to the Clam Shack. They run roughly every hour during the week and gets you to the island in record time. Be aware though that they don’t always follow the schedule due to deliveries they make, and could get off schedule due to packing the boat full of items for deliveries to the island. If you can’t make the drive to Falmouth, there’s always the Hy-line from Hyannis, MA. Coming from Rhode Island? Catch the Fast Ferry is Quonset. These were the first Catamaran style boats to take passengers to and from the mainland.  Their strong powerful engines and double pontoon style boat make them incredibly fast over the water. Another Catamaran group is The Sea Streak with ferries running out of New Bedford, New York, and New Jersey.  No matter where you are coming from make sure you book in advance (with the exception of The Patriot Party Boat) because the closer you get to the summer the harder it is to get a reservation.

SONY DSC

The other option of getting to the island is flying into our tiny two gate airport. Four airlines fly in and out of Martha’s Vineyard Airport (also known as MVY). Cape Air; Delta; Jet Blue; and US Airways. Cape Air has year round service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS), White Plains Westchester County Airport (HPN), New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB), Hyannis’ Boardman-Polando Field (HYA) and the Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK). They also offer seasonal service to Providence’s T.F. Green Airport (PVD), and Provincetown Municipal Airport (PVC). Delta and Jet Blue offer seasonal flights from John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York. Finally US Airways offers daily flights to Martha’s Vineyard from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA).

SONY DSC

 

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Plan Ahead Activities and Events For Your Vacation

Before I get to my blog post, I would like to take a minute to remember the 4 people who lost their life (Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi, and Sean Collier) as well as the injured from the horrible events that transpired last week, and to thank the BPD, FBI, ATF, MSP, MBTA, WPD, ICE, NEMLEC, EMS, BFD, MIT, SWAT, and the civilians who ran into danger to help those injured. Thank you for your heart, dedication, and perseverance over the last week. We are Boston strong.

 

 

Last week I spoke about some great family activities. This week I want to talk to you about some amazing opportunities and activities that should be planned in advance of your visit.

If you’re planning on being here for more than a week with smaller children, I recommend looking into some of the amazing camps we have here on island. I strongly suggest booking in advance since the fill up quick. With some many camps on island there’s something for everyone, including sailing camps through Sail MV and Black Dog Tall Ships to mention a few. MV Adventure Camp, is a camp where everyday is a different activity geared towards the outdoors, such as mountain biking, hiking, and kayaking. Have a horse lover in the family? Contact Pond View Farm, Arrowhead Farm, or Red Pony Farm. They provide week long camps where your child learns all areas of the horse world.

Biplane, MV

 If you’re a family of thrill seekers, I would call Classic Aviators to schedule a biplane ride for two at a time. They will take you up over Katama and do barrel rolls, dives, and more, giving you an experience of a lifetime, and a view of the vineyard few often see. Another extreme activity would be learning how to kite surf, a fast growing sport here on Martha’s Vineyard. A good company to learn from is Skyhigh Kiteboarding.

One of the more popular family activities is fishing. Sure you can get a fishing pole and some bait from the tackle shop and shore cast, but if you want a unique experience, fish with a local. They know these waters better than anyone else. Some local charter boats include, Smokin Eel Charters out of Oak Bluffs, Porky’s Bait and Tackle out of Edgartown, and Tomahawk Charters out of Menemsha. If you’re looking for a charter who will take you diving My Brother Charters is a great option.

 

Finally make sure you plan ahead for all the amazing events on island, including Harbor Fest, Summer Solstice Celebration, Taste of the Vineyard, 4th of July celebrations, Grand Illumination, The Ag. Fair, August Fireworks, and many others!  Certain events require tickets purchased in advance (usually available on www.ticketsMV.com) or at least registration, especially all the road races happening throughout the summer. Plan for a lot of traffic on those days and consider taking the bus or cab to events, you won’t have to fight for a parking space, and will save you a lot of time.

 

 

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