New England sea captains' houses, white picket fences and ice cream shops trim an authentic fishing village. Lighthouses pierce the fog with their signals. A Native American community preserves its identity amid miles of pristine beaches and rolling farmland. Martha's Vineyard is a picturesque island indeed. The down-island towns of Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown are fairly compact, with shopping, beaches and attractions in town. Up-island towns, like Menemsha and Chilmark, are quaint and quiet villages that evoke the island's maritime past.
Things to Do
Bicycle the shaded paths that hug the coastline. Stroll down to lively Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs for a Mad Martha's ice cream cone and then ride the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest working platform carousel in the country. Cheerful Victorian gingerbread cottages enliven its bustling harbor. Wander past the manicured lawns of regal 18th-century homes in gentile Edgartown before taking a short ferry ride to visit the peaceful preserves of Chappaquiddick Island. Or just soak up the sun at Aquinnah Beach, against a backdrop of dazzling red clay cliffs.
Shopping
Stop by the Edgartown Scrimshaw Gallery for a hand-carved ivory memento of the sea. Afterward, walk Main Street for island wear, souvenirs and trinkets. Head down-island on the country roads to West Tisbury, where you can buy bread at the Scottish Bakehouse, and Chilmark for a stop at Allen Farm to buy sweaters made from the wool of their flock of over 200 sheep.
Nightlife and Entertainment
All towns except Oak Bluffs and Edgartown are dry, and the last call at bars and clubs is midnight. In Oak Bluffs, Circuit Avenue is the center of the rowdiest bar and live music scene and the best nighttime street life. In Edgartown, you may have to hop around a few wine bars and low-key pubs before you find the evening's most happening spot.
Restaurants and Dining
Restaurants tend to be expensive on the Vineyard, but the stiff competition has produced a bevy of places that offer excellent service, evocative settings and creative cuisine. Try fresh lobster or bay scallops on Main Street or smoked salmon in a Victorian house in Oak Bluffs. It wouldn't be New England without a lobster roll, especially those in the fishing village of Menemsha. When you want a break from seafood, stop for a juicy burger at the humble harbor shack Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven -- a true Vineyard experience.
New England sea captains' houses, white picket fences and ice cream shops trim an authentic fishing village. (©iStockphoto/Thinkstock)
