Tag Archives: things to do on marthas vineyard

Activities, Events, Families, Feature, Food, Getting Here, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, News, Shopping, Vineyard Towns

New to Martha’s Vineyard This Spring

April 10, 2013 Anne Mayhew Leave a comment

What a gorgeous day today on Martha’s Vineyard! This is perhaps my favorite time of the year – next to Derby Season that is. The weather is turning in our favor, stores and restaurants are opening up again, and boats are slowly going into the water. After months of holding its breath the island is finally exhaling, bringing with it fresh hope and new adventures.

There’s a lot happening this spring. On the construction front, the Oak Bluffs Steamship Authority pier is currently being worked on to fix the damaged caused by Hurricane Sandy. Also the Roundabout has started, and in theory, should be ready for traffic by April 15. Construction workers will still be working on it through Memorial Day, then stop for the summer. They will continue working after Labor Day weekend where they will finish the bike paths, sidewalks, and the last of the landscaping. Also, please note that East Chop Drive is currently a one-way street due to massive damage from Hurricane Sandy. We are quietly waiting to hear what will happen to the road.

Vineyard Haven will be getting a new restaurant on May 1st. Restaurateur, JB Blau, owner of Sharky’s, Chowder Company, and Dreamland, is now bringing us Copper Wok. Located where Zephrus use to be, Copper Wok will be a Pan Asian restaurant that will serve lunch and dinner 7 days a week all year round. Vineyard Haven can now claim that they are the first town to have a pizza place that delivers. No, that wasn’t a typo. The island now has a pizza place that delivers Porto Pizza, located across from the steamship terminal, first opened late last season so many people didn’t know that they deliver. This will be their first full season delivering to the tri-town area, and won’t deliver past 9 PM, but hey, at least there’s delivery now! Finally, Vineyard Haven will be home to a “reality” tv show this summer. “The Vineyard” will start filming in May at newly renovated Black Dog Tavern, and is set to air July 24 on ABC Family.

In Oak Bluffs, all your favorite restaurants are opening this month. The Lookout Tavern recently opened with a bang. There was standing room only for a couple of hours there. On the harbor Coop Deville is set to open April 19th, and Nancy’s is set to open shortly after that. The popular nightclub, The Lampost opened its doors on April 1st. They are now partnering with Skinny’s Fat Sandwiches. Now you can play pool, watch your favorite Boston team, and grab a bite to eat.

Edgartown has its fair share of new restaurants and shops as well. Eleven North is a semi-upscale restaurant located at 11 North Water Street. After opening last fall they now have a new chef with daily specials that will make your mouth water. The second restaurant to open last fall is Lucky Hanks, serving farm to table fare. Lucky Hanks is located on Upper Main Street, near Stop and Shop, and everything served there is fresh, organic, and locally grown. Espresso Love, one of our favorite places to go for coffee and a bite to eat, got a complete renovation over the winter. Along with new plumbing and electrical, they have laid out a new floor and extended their counter space, it will still be the same great Espresso Love, only better. Not Your Sugar Mama’s is opening a second location this season. calm your sweet tooth at their new Winter Street location. Don’t worry about not fitting into a bikini after indulging here; all their products are gluten free and made from organic sugar. You’ll notice a few changes with stores as well. Vineyard Vines flagship store is moving out of Nevin Square and into a location on N. Water Street. moving in to their old space will be a luxury food store.

We’re excited to see all these new things happening all around us.

Activities, Chilmark, Families, Feature, Food, Getting Here, Kids, Martha's Vineyard, Menemsha, Menemsha Town Beach, Vineyard Beaches

Vineyard Beaches ~ Menemsha Town Beach

February 5, 2013 Anne Mayhew Leave a comment

Menemsha Town Beach is a small, less than a half of a mile long, beach located right next to the Menemsha Harbor and at the end of Basin Rd in the town of Chilmark. The beach is a little rocky, and the water is a little colder due to the northern location on the island, but it is one of the lesser visited beaches, with one of the best views of the Ocean and Vineyard coastline.

Menemsha is one of the best spots on the island to watch sunsets. You can grab dinner, and have a pic-nic on the beach with your family while viewing a natural, technicolor masterpiece. The colors of the sky vary depending on what time of year you’re visiting. Earlier in the summer you’re more likely to see beautiful pastel pinks and oranges through the fading sky, but in late August / early September the colors are more vivid and intense.

Here’s some insider knowledge for your visit: Parking for the beach is only an hour long. So if you want to come during the day we suggest taking the bus run via the Vineyard Transit Authority. The bus is scheduled for hourly service during the summer season, and only costs $2 per transfer, giving you plenty of beach time without worrying about getting a parking ticket.

If you’d like to stay in Menemsha, we have some wonderful options available to you. Please Click here to start searching.

We welcome your questions or comments.

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc. Email

Activities, Feature, South Beach, Vineyard Beaches

Vineyard Beaches ~ South Beach

January 22, 2013 Anne Mayhew 1 Comment

Located on the south side of the island, South beach is one of the more popular and largest beaches on Martha’s Vineyard. With three miles of pristine shoreline you’ll find people of all ages here. There’s families spending the day together, teenagers escaping their parents, twenty somethings on break from college, and adults of all ages hanging out with friends they haven’t seen in ages.

Here’s a local’s tip: if you’re here for a week or more, make sure you come on a week day. This way the beach won’t be as crowded as they are on the weekends.

Recently beach volleyball nets have been erected so if you have a ball you can challenge your family and/or friends to a friendly game. The losing team has to cook dinner though 😉 But as much asI love beating my friends, my favorite South Beach activity has to be body surfing. The waves here are perfect for it.

Here’s another local’s tip: if you go to the “left fork” of south beach and you have a truck or SUV you can actually drive out on to Norton Point if you purchase an over the sand permit for the day. Perfect if you love shore casting for fish or if you want to get away from the crowds.

We have some lovely rental homes available with close proximity to South Beach available for the Martha’s Vineyard 2013 season. Start your search here.

We welcome your questions or comments.

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc. Email