Can I go back yet? I absolutely fell in love with the all-American charm, the endless opportunity for lobster and my favorite flower, hydrangeas, lining every road and home. The perfect summer escape, I hope to make Martha's Vineyard an annual summer tradition!
Oak Bluffs vs. Edgartown
The two most populous areas of Martha’s Vineyard include Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. We stayed in Oaks Bluffs but spent equal time in both areas.
Oaks Bluffs steps you into a throwback, New England beach town of fun-colored homes, lively community and night life! It’s a diverse town featuring everything from the oldest operating merry-go-round to colorful “gingerbread cottages” and more ice cream parlors than you can try in a week.
Edgartown is the definition of a quintessential, charming town. The best way to enjoy the town is stroll up and down the main streets to explore high end boutiques, fine art galleries, amazing restaurants, historical inns, and picture-perfect homes. I was in awe of the real estate, gardens and charm!
Transportation
Martha’s Vineyard has a few main methods of transportation if you do not bring your own car on the ferry. You can rent a car or a bike, take the public bus transportation, or uber/lyft. When planning the trip, I read how easy the bus was to use and figured we would stick to that. Unfortunately, it turned out to be more of a hassle than it was worth. Taking the bus in the morning was a good bet – many were running, low cost, and not too long of wait. That diminished as the day went on. Bus after bus was at max capacity, leaving us on the side of the road longer, forcing us into an Uber. The buses only take cash and if you do not have exact dollar amount, you do not get change back, you get a credit. Lastly, waiting for a bus in the cold rain was miserable. (Can you tell I wasn't a fan? lol) We resorted to Uber or walking for the majority of the trip. Uber was just… okay. Rides were very expensive with long waits due to limited availability and high demand. It did save us throughout out the trip. When I added up all of our Uber expenses, it would have been more cost effective, saved transportation time and easier to have rented a Jeep for the weekend.
Hotels/Airbnb
Like I said earlier, do not wait to book. When you hear peak season, they mean it. With most hotels completely booked OVER a month in advance, searching for a hotel/airbnb wasn't easy. Typically on airbnb when you see “one room in shared house” that is not the vibe you want for a getaway. (Or ever in my book) However, don’t rule this out of your search, you will be pleasantly surprised. A great majority are Bed and Breakfasts or large historic homes featuring renovated, hotel like rooms. When talking to the host before booking, ask for the name of the house is if not listed and search on google. I booked a random “one room” and it turned out to be perfect.
I stayed at the Attleboro House right in the heart of Oak Bluffs for the second half of our stay. The home had a beautiful front porch looking out over the water with rocking chairs, a queen bed room with a private bath, and attentive owners that went the extra mile. We really didn’t have any set expectations but we were thrilled. I would 100% book again at the Attleboro House!
The first half of the trip we stayed at the Island Inn on the same property as Nomans. The location was nice because it was right in between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, however nothing was in walking distance which causes for many Ubers and bus rides. To put it nicely… I would not recommend this Inn. For the price, it was not well maintained, had a horrible smell and not one thing was comfortable. However, we spend the majority of our time exploring so it was simply a place to sleep at night.
Restaurants
If you haven’t noticed from my other travels, I love food. Trying new restaurants is probably one of our favorite things to do on vacation! Here are some of my top picks for casual and high end restaurants in Martha’s Vineyard.
Casual
Nancys – Great spot right on the water in Oak Bluffs. We were able to walk right in but trust me, Nancy’s gets packed especially in the evening and around happy hour!
Giordano’s Restaurant – Family-owned restaurant established back in the 1930’s, Giordano’s is the perfect spot to grab a pizza for the family!
Seafood Shanty – Located right on the water with a beautiful view of the boats in Edgartown, Seafood Shanty is a must eat. With amazing drinks and great food, we had one of my favorite lobster rolls on the island and a lobster quesadilla. It worked out perfectly to grab lunch before hopping on the boat!
High End
State Road – Touting on their website as a favorite of the Obama family, I figured we had to try. Turns out the Obamas have great taste in food! Make sure you make a reservation in advance – demand is high! Not only did we have an amazing dinner, dessert and wine, we also happened to run into quite a few celebrities!
Bettini - Celebrating my birthday at Bettini was the perfect way to end an already amazing day. Personal touches go a long way, even if it’s the littlest thing. My menu was personalized wishing me a happy birthday! I highly recommend arriving early to enjoy the resort as it has a beautiful view of the water.
Must – Do
Besides spending time on the beaches or biking around the towns, there are so many amazing things to do!
Boating and Martha’s Vineyard go hand in hand. Whether you charter your own boat for a day or do a group sail, take the time to get out on the water. Check out Mad Max Sailing when you get there! Their office is located right next to the Seafood Shanty for the best price. Operating for 29 seasons, they are a memorable must do!
Shop, shop and shop some more. Pro tip: “Accidently” forget to pack at least one or two outfits. You’ll find enough cute clothes for a whole new wardrobe, let alone a few outfits. I brought a book with me on the trip, but I wish I didn’t. The island has a few locally owned bookstores featuring every title you could ask for and all the new summer reads. Support a local business!
Explore the art galleries and museums on the rainy days. Between local artists work and history of the island, get a whole new appreciation for the culture of Martha’s Vineyard!
Make sure if you do not plan on staying in Nantucket for a few nights, take the ferry over for the day! Check out my blog post, A Day in Nantucket, to help plan the perfect day trip!
I've talked about going to Martha's Vineyard for years... and clearly built up huge expectations. Every single one of those hopes was exceeded! Already looking a homes to rent for next summer, I found my new favorite summer escape.
ความคิดเห็น