A Week On Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard is my happy place! There’s a reason you see so many people retreat there for the summer and that reason was quickly revealed to me from the moment I arrived: it’s EVERYTHING. My friends who extended the invite *waves to Brittany and Craig* assured our group as much.

Since this was my first trip, I blocked out plenty of time to just hang out on the beach, shop, eat ice-cream every day, and share lots of laughs on the porch of the adorable house we rented.

Note: grab some tea and get ready for an unusually long post! I tried to share as much info as I had and highlight my favorite experiences. Comment below if there is anything I didn’t answer or if you just want to chat about how much you too miss MV every day that you’re somewhere else!

WHEN TO GO: 

We went during the first full week of August and found the island buzzing with events: an art festival, a film festival, and tons of parties. Parties aren’t really my thing, but it was nice to know there was so much to choose from each night if I decided to go out. I’ve heard that one of the best times to visit is during Illumination Week and am hoping to experience that next year!

HOW TO GET THERE: 

There’s a saying about things that are easy to come by aren’t worth having. Well, there’s not much that’s easy about getting to MV. You have a few options:

• Fly directly to MV: expensive but convenient option for those not interested in the headaches associated with multiple flights, driving, or taking the ferry
• Fly into Boston: fun option to spend a bit of time exploring the city then heading to Woods Hole to catch the ferry. Take the Peter Pan bus, Uber, or rent a car (note: passes to drive onto the ferry must be purchased well in advance)
• Take the Steamship Authority ferry: it’s an island, folks! If you don’t fly directly in then you will end up on the ferry. Make sure to double check the date, time and destination of your ferry. While it wouldn’t be the end of the world to end up in Vineyard Haven when you’re tying to get to Oak Bluffs, it might feel like the end if you purchase the wrong ticket dates to bring your rental over —it happened to a few peeps in our group!

WHERE TO STAY:

You generally have three options: stay at a hotel, rent a house, or rent a spare room. We chose to rent a house in Oak Bluffs and it was as close to perfection as I could have imagined! Well, at least until the third day when a heat wave came through and we realized we were far away from both the beach and AC. I think we were all in agreement by the end of the trip that the next house would either be a beach house or one with AC!

Luckily, there are a ton of websites with listings for MV rentals:

• Home Away
• Airbnb [get $$ off your first stay]
• We Need A Vacation 
• VaCasa
• VRBO
• MV Landmarks

As for hotels, I definitely want to check out Summercamp Hotel in Oak Bluffs one year. Pics from the site leave me feeling that it would be impossible to have anything but fun there.

HOW TO GET AROUND:

You don’t necessarily need a car if you are planning to mostly stay within your neighborhood. We got around just fine on foot and exploring by bike, but it’s fair to note that we stayed in Oak Bluffs and spent the bulk of our time there. When we did venture off to Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, and Aquinnah, we used Uber, taxis (not recommended due to inflated rates and bad service), and chose to rent a car for one day of exploring across the island. I also noticed that the bus system seemed to be inexpensive and efficient.

If you don’t bring a car over on the ferry, be prepared to pay some pretty insane prices for rentals! You’ll find quite a few rental places along main streets. I would definitely recommend comparing prices, even if it means only saving a few dollars. Also, beware that scooters are cheaper but also seem to be the more dangerous options. Drivers and pedestrians alike tend not to look out for them on busier streets.

WHAT TO PACK:

Layers, layers, layers, and rain gear! I’ll be sharing a few tips here for packing. You’ll find that everyone is mostly casual and just enjoying their time in the sun in some nice basics: dresses, shorts, v-necks, swim suits, cover ups, and sandals. If you’re planning to attend festivals or parties then definitely throw in some dressier options, but keep in mind that it gets HOT by mid day and can usually turn into a VERY COOL evening. Throw in a rain jacket, beach bag, and plenty of sunnies while you’re at it!

Also, keep in mind that a lot of places are cash only and ATM fees get to be pretty steep. Make a stop before hopping on the ferry or use the ATM inside the ticket office before heading over.

WHAT TO DO:

– Head to the beach: I recommend State Beach, Menemsha Beach, and the Inkwell!

– Shop ’til you drop: Get ready to part with all of your coins! While I didn’t buy a lot of clothes, I did pick up some shoes and accessories. Here are a few of my favorite places:

• Behind the Bookstore – good eats and good books
• Shirt Tales – my favorite place to buy MV shirts and sweaters
• Edgar – Instagram- worthy boutique
• NRO Edgartown – gorgeous accessories
• The Black Dog – no MV trip is complete without a stop here
• Mikel Hunter– gorgeous art and unique acessories
• Captain’s Club – another fun option for MV shirts
• Nell – my favorite place to pick up shoes and accessories
• Vineyard Vines – my prep days have mostly passed but you can’t resist this fun store

– Activities: Don’t just hang on the beach all day!

• Charter a sailboat
• Explore Main Street shops and restaurants in Edgartown
• Rent a bike and hit one of the bike trails to see a different side of the island
• Check out the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs
• Visit the lighthouse and clay cliffs at Aquinnah
• Spend an afternoon at Eisenahauer Gallery and North Water Gallery in Edgartown
• Blend in with other tourists hanging out on Circuit Avenue
• Join film enthusiasts for a day of movies, workshops, and panels at the MVAAF
• Go jet skiing or paddle boarding
• Visit sites along the African-American Heritage Trail
• Catch a movie and old Hollywood vibes at the Strand Theatre in Oak Bluffs

WHERE TO EAT: 

Food is typically my favorite part of any trip. I mapped out places I wanted to try while planning activities for the day. Seriously, I made it a goal to hit every single coffee shop/restaurant/ bar on my list and almost made it— there’s always next year!

I highly recommend stocking up on food when you first arrive. It’s cheaper, quicker, and will save you some frustrations knowing you can just grab something to eat while staying in your pjs at home. Consider picking up specialty food items before hopping on the ferry (Wegman’s in Boston had tons of options) then grabbing your larger purchases at one of the Stop & Shops on MV. If you’re driving a car onto the ferry, consider stocking up on food items to avoid island prices.

Otherwise, do your research before visiting restaurants. Lots of place require/ encourage reservations and the last thing you want to do is wait over an hour for a table when you’re hungry. Here are a few of my picks:

• Behind the Bookstore – Who knew that one of my favorite places to grab lunch would be in a bookstore cafe? The food, people, and decor are all gorgeous. Also, the cocktails are STRONG.
• Nancy’s – My friends told me that Nancy’s is a MUST, at least once. So, I parked my vegetarian self outside of this seafood shack not expecting much and was blown away by the falafel. Yes, the falafel was amazing and I heard the lobster roll, fried oysters, and calamari were rolling too.
• Alchemy – Alchemy is perfect for a date night or nice group dinner. The service is incredible and the cacio e pepe… OMG!

• Black Dog Tavern – Yes, it’s touristy. No, I don’t care. I loved stopping into Black Dog for lunch and picking up a few shirts to bring back for friends. Try the quinoa burger!
• Back Door Donuts– These donuts left a few of us near tears. How could a donut taste this good? HOW? Grab some cash, make friends while standing in the long lines, and prepare for the sweetest experience.
• Net Result – Another solid seafood spot. It’s both a market and a fast casual restaurant. I was shocked to find everything from seafood and kimchi to pies and deli sides on display. I was also caught off guard by the ridiculous goodness of their veggie burger. This was no wimpy, bland, burger!

• Orange Peel Bakery – If you can make the trek, you won’t regret it! Orange Peel has some out of this world baked goods that you can simply walk in, select, drop your cash in a jar, then sit outside and enjoy. Juli, the owner and baker, was in the middle of baking and didn’t miss a beat in her process while also chatting us up.
• Slice of Edgartown – Sometimes you just want a slice of cheesy, greasy, goodness. Well, Slice has you covered! We popped in during a shopping break and were tempted to circle back for another round.
• State Road Restaurant – Our group ventured here on a night the Obamas were dining. Besides the fact that the food was impeccable and the ambiance was perfection, I think I can safely recommend any place that’s good enough for a President.

• Not Your Sugar Mama’s – If you’re looking to recover from days of heavy eating then this will be your vegan, organic, gluten free haven. Oh, and there’s chocolate! Lots and lots of chocolate.

Wow, that’s a lot of info! If you’re still with me, you’re the real MVP. I hope you found these tips helpful and that you don’t think you have to hit every stop in one trip —NO! Relax and enjoy the magic that is Martha’s vineyard. Trust me, once you visit, it definitely won’t be your last trip.

P.S. You can check out my 2017 MV here.                    

     Comment below with places I should check out next year! Oh, and follow along with all of my travels here.