New England is known far and wide for its many beach-side towns and cities and fresh seafood restaurants. Each summer season families from all over the country flock here for a memorable vacation filled with rest and relaxation. When you think of classic New England vacation spots places like the Jersey Shore, Long Island, and Rhode Island immediately jump to mind. However, if you’re planning a summer vacation to New England, Martha’s Vineyard is far and away the best place to visit! Today, we’re running down exactly why Martha’s Vineyard is so much better than places like the Jersey Shore for your New England getaway.

 

Clean Beaches with No Entry Fees
Chances are if you’re eyeballing New England as the area for your summer vacation, you’re looking to spend some serious time at the beach. While the Jersey Shore might seem like the best in class location (it does have shore in its name after all), Martha’s Vineyard is a much better spot in New England for a relaxing day at the beach! The majority of beaches along the Jersey Shore require a $10+ entry fee per person per day to get on specific beaches during the morning or afternoon, and it's common for those packed beaches to end up with trash floating in the ocean. Is there anything worse than paying for entry to the beach and then seeing an empty bag of chips floating alongside you in the water? You don’t have to worry about that here on the island! While some beaches are private, there are dozens of beaches with crystal clear water free to entry for all who visit. 

 

No Chain Restaurants or Shopping Centers
For many people, a getaway to New England is about a change of pace from their everyday lives. One major aspect that makes Martha’s Vineyard a truly unique getaway spot is that it's free from major chain restaurants and shopping centers. When you’re exploring the island’s quaint towns you’ll see that everything is locally owned! So instead of another strip mall with a Wal-Mart and McDonalds, your shopping and eating experiences will be brand new and unlike anywhere else in New England.

 

Excellent Night Life Scene
Even though the Vineyard doesn’t have any chain restaurants or shopping centers, the nightlife scene is just as thriving as the popular vacation spots on “mainland” New England. Concentrated in the towns of Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, you’ll find dozens of bars and places to dance with your friends in the evening after a day at the beach. Also, if you’re traveling with your family and have younger kids there are plenty of spots to quickly jump in for a few slices of pizza, fried seafood, or ice cream without needing to sit down so you can explore the downtown areas with a snack in your hand!

 

Peace and Quiet
Like we said at the beginning of this blog post, rest and relaxation are crucial parts of any summer vacation. When you come to Martha’s Vineyard you get to have your cake and eat it too: Even though there's a happening nightlife scene, when you return to your rental house for the night you’re not bombarded with the sound of cars along a highway, you’ll only hear sounds of nature. Furthermore, since there's nothing resembling skyscrapers on the island we have no light pollution, so on clear nights you can check out the stars as far as the eye can see. Truly, there’s no better place in New England to find some peace and quiet after a stacked day of vacation activities.

There you have it, that’s why we think Martha’s Vineyard is the best summer vacation spot in New England. If you’re planning a summer trip to the island then make sure to check out our variety of vacation rentals or reach out to us directly for any questions about the best places to stay on Martha’s Vineyard!

It’s finally coming: summertime on Martha’s Vineyard. The past few months have seen the island slowly starting to open back up, but June is when things kick off for real. Admittedly, June isn’t as stacked with summertime action as July and August tend to be, but there is still tons of fun to be had for vacationers looking to visit in the early days of summer. Let’s jump in and look at what to do on Martha’s Vineyard this June!

 

Take the Kids to a Farm Animal Meet & Greet

The Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society is best known for its annual ag fair celebration in late August, but if you’re coming to the island with younger kids in early June then don’t miss an adorable farm animal meet & greet! Taking place on June 4th from 10 am - 1 pm friendly animals big and small will be there and waiting for your visit. While this is great for families, if you’re an animal lover of any age this will be a great start to your day. Learn more about this and other events on the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s website.

 

Catch an MV Sharks Game

I’m willing to bet that first-time visitors to Martha’s Vineyard wouldn’t think the island has a thriving summer baseball scene, but believe it or not, it does! The MV Sharks are the island’s own collegiate summer baseball team and their season kicks off in June. If you’re a baseball fan, this is a no-brainer and a perfect early evening activity before hitting the town with your friends or shutting it down for an early night. Learn more about the MV Sharks and their June games here.

 

The Taste of the Vineyard

For many people, the Taste of the Vineyard event is what signals the true beginning of summer on Martha’s Vineyard. The Taste was originally launched as a fundraiser for restoring the famous Flying Horses Carousel,  but this small event has grown to be a huge two-night affair, with many of the island's best restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues appearing on the scene. Tickets are a bit pricey, but if you’re looking to enjoy a night stacked with great food and entertainment then it's worth it! Check out more about the Taste of the Vineyard on their website.

 

FILMUSIC Festival

The MV Film Society is closing out the month of June with a bang by putting on the FILMUSIC Festival from June 23 - 26. The festival will showcase feature films and musical performances that celebrate the convergence of music, culture, and film. The final lineup will be available in the coming weeks, but this is a must-see activity for all of you movie buffs out there. Learn more about the MV Film Society and their other events on their website.

 

These are just a few great activities awaiting you on Martha’s Vineyard during June. If you need a place to stay for your visit, regardless of the season, take a look at our many rental properties today!

Martha’s Vineyard has something for every kind of visitor, but if you’re planning a trip to the island with your family then you’ll want a very different itinerary versus coming with a group of friends from college! It can be extremely stressful to plan out a vacation that everyone remembers fondly - especially so if you have young kids. To help take some of that stress away, we’re going to share five of the essential activities to do as a family on Martha’s Vineyard.

 

The Flying Horses Carousel
This is the perfect activity for a family with younger children. The Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest platform-style carousel in the country. One of the longest-lasting attractions on the island, the Flying Horses Carousel has been a mainstay for visiting families since 1884. The carousel itself is an incredible piece of history and includes stationary carved wooden horses with manes and tails of real horsehair and inset glass eyes. Each horse is brightly painted and fixed to the rotating platform by a metal post. The operators do their best to keep the experience as close to the original 19th-century era tradition, and if you get the brass ring you’ll get to ride again for free!

 

Discover Your Favorite Island Beach
Above all else Martha's Vineyard is known for its excellent selection of beaches, so you'll have to find your family’s favorite one before you leave. If you’re visiting Martha’s Vineyard in the summer and you have toddler-age children with you the Owen Park or Oak Bluffs Town beaches are perfect places for you because of their calm waters and close proximity to plenty of different spots to eat. On the other hand, if your family is really into the beach and you want to come packed and set up for the day, then Edgartown’s expansive South Beach or the famous State Beach are both places to check out. 

 

The Island Alpaca Company
Don’t miss out on this truly adorable destination on Martha’s Vineyard. The name says it all, when you visit you’ll be treated to dozens of friendly alpaca - an especially fun time for animal lovers! While even a quick visit here is worthwhile, if you’re interested in a longer stay you’ll have opportunities to learn more about these extraordinary animals from the on-site staff, take a self-guided walking tour, and watch an informative video-presentation.

 

The Gay Head Cliffs
It's hard to imagine any trip to Martha’s Vineyard without making the journey over to the island’s most iconic scenic destination. The major caveat for parents here is that this is going to be a 30 - 40ish minute drive from the most popular hotels in towns like Oak Bluffs and Edgartown and that’s if you’re driving the car yourself. Relying on the island’s bus network, the VTA, will take even longer. You won’t find a prettier family photo opportunity on Martha’s Vineyard but just make sure you have everything you need to keep your kids entertained while making the trip to the Gay Head Cliffs.

 

The Sunset at Menemsha Beach
In many ways, seeing the sunset at Menemsha Beach is just as key to a visit to Martha’s Vineyard as experiencing the Gay Head Cliffs. They’re both incredibly scenic outdoor locations, and crucially for parents they’re both a bit of a drive from many of the primary hotels on the island. That all being said as long as you and your family are up for the drive, watching the sun set is the perfect way to close out a day on Martha’s Vineyard. Of course, if you’re traveling with toddlers who have earlier bed times, you might not want to shake up their sleep schedule by keeping them up and away from bed this late, but this is an ideal spot for every other age group!

Those are our picks for some essential family activities here on Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re looking for a place to stay on your upcoming trip check out our many rental properties available today. We can’t wait to see you and your family on the island this summer season!

From the fictitious beaches stalked by a certain shark in the classic movie "Jaws",  to the real-life ones covering the island, if there’s one thing Martha’s Vineyard is known for it's the array of incredible beaches that come to life in the summer months. Some folks might think “a beach is a beach” but there is so much variety across the numerous beaches waiting for you on Martha’s Vineyard, and you’ll have a much better time on some beaches depending on what you’re looking for in a visit by the sea. Today we’re going to run down five must-see beaches when you visit Martha’s Vineyard in the summer, so let’s jump in!

 

Oak Bluffs Town Beach

The Oak Bluffs Town Beach is probably the least “picturesque” of the beaches on this list, but it's still better looking than just about any beach on the Jersey Shore! Big waves and amazing views aren’t the reasons you visit this beach - the Oak Bluffs Town Beach shines because of its proximity to downtown. Are the kiddos getting hungry and you didn’t pack a sandwich? You’re a 5-minute walk from a dozen restaurants. Had a few drinks with your friends on a hot day and want to cool off in the ocean? The Oak Bluffs Town Beach is just a short stroll away. 

 

Menemsha Public Beach

Looking for some epic views on your trip to the beach? Well, then you have to visit the Menemsha Public Beach in the afternoon and stay until the sunset! This is the beach where everyone flocks for the perfect skyline view of the sunset. The skies light up many different shades of orange and pink as the sun makes its descent, and you’re close to a handful of good seafood spots in the summer months. The Menemsha Public Beach is a bit out of the way if you’re staying in Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, or Edgartown but if you come on a day with clear skies you won’t regret it!

 

South Beach

South Beach spans a massive amount of the southernmost end of Martha’s Vineyard. This is a big wave beach so bring your boogie board and ride them in! It's best known for attracting a large number of families and group beachgoers with its large waves and volleyball courts. Even though erosion has worn down areas of South Beach, this is the ideal spot if you’re looking to spend a long time at the beach with your family or friends. Unlike the other beaches we talked about above, South Beach is far away from all but one restaurant so make sure to have lunches packed and a cooler full of water before you make the journey.

 

Edgartown Lighthouse Beach

The appeal of this beach is just as much about the journey to get there as it is the experience of relaxing on the beach itself! You’ll enter this beach from the top of a hill with the iconic Edgartown Lighthouse in full view, and take a relaxing walk down some winding sandy paths. After a brief stroll you’ve got a wide open beach beside the lighthouse, perfect for a photo op with your vacation crew.  This is a shallow shore for most times of the day, so the water is very warm and perfect for younger ones to sit and splash in the sand and water.

 

Joseph Sylvia State Beach

If you can only visit one beach on your stay to Martha’s Vineyard, this is the one to see. Spanning the entirety of the gorgeous stretch of beach road that connects Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, State Beach blends South Beach’s expansive feel and “stay all day” vibes with the more relaxed waters of the Oak Bluffs Town Beach that makes the ocean perfect for younger kids to play in (while supervised). There are tons of different areas to setup across State Beach, but the go-to spot is by the Jaws bridge or “second” bridge that was famously featured in the classic horror flick. The bridge has gotten some updates since the time of Jaws and is still a great place to setup for some sun and swimming!

 

That’s our list of five must see beaches on Martha’s Vineyard. When you visit this summer, one of them is sure to be your new favorite! If you’re looking for a place to stay when you visit the island, be sure to check out our rental properties or reach out to us directly on our website.