An Insider's Guide To Martha’s Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard beach shore
After so many years of going to Martha’s Vineyard, instead of saying we’re going on vacation, we just say, “We’re going home for the summer.” At this point, we’ve spent so many years heading to the island that it just feels right to call the Vineyard home.
Our parents first took us here when they were young, and now we’re keeping the tradition alive with our families. The Vineyard is a special place. And while it’s changed a lot since those early days, that’s really just the names on the storefronts and restaurants. Everything below the surface, the things that make it truly special, have remained the same.
The Vineyard is a place for everyone, with something for everyone—quaint towns, interesting people, and families getting away from the hustle and bustle of daily life to actually spend time together. On the water or at the beach, riding bikes or chasing the bite, all of the things that we couldn’t wait to do for 10 months out of the year were what drove us to start vineyard vines.
Just like we love sharing the Good Life with our vineyard vines community, we also love sharing the Vineyard with all of our friends and family. If you get a chance to visit, make sure to check out some of our favorite people, places and activities.
Vineyard 101: What To Do
Martha's Vineyard downtown

Check Out The Town

The Vineyard is dotted with charming towns, quaint fishing villages and a seemingly endless supply of art galleries, restaurants and shops. Whether you’re strolling through the hustle and bustle of downtown Edgartown or checking out a salty tackle shop in Menemsha, make sure you don’t spend all your time on the beach—the towns are just as cool.
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sailboat in the water

Get On The Water

Whether you arrived on the Vineyard on your own boat or you just want to get out on the water, you haven’t truly experienced the island until you’ve cruised the harbor, gone out for a sail or chased the bite offshore.
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Jeep on beach shore

Hit The Beach

Martha’s Vineyard is, of course, an island, so it’s not lacking for beautiful stretches of pristine beaches. Whether you’re looking to surf, swim, kiteboard or just relax with the family, hitting the beach is an essential part of every Vineyard vacation.
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For Food And Drink
The Port Hunter employee preparing oysters

Great Food & Good Tunes

The Port Hunter

Upbeat, laid-back seafood joint famous for its local, seasonal fare and live music. theporthunter.com.

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family in front of Among the Flowers Cafe

Flower Power

Among The Flowers

Healthy, delicious meals, made fresh, for over 40 years. amongtheflowersmv.com.

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Sharky's Cantina logo

Mexico, Vineyard-Style

Sharky's Cantina

South-of-the-border inspired food, beachy vibes and the best margaritas on the island. sharkmenu.com.

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Katama General Store storefront

Your Local Beach Bodega

Katama General Store

A foodie destination, market and gathering spot a short walk from downtown Edgartown. katamageneral.com.

Gourmet On-The-Go

Edgartown Meat & Fish Market

Pick up quality steaks, seafood, produce and more at this convenient one-stop shop. nantucketsmarket.com.

Quick Bites & Killer Coffee

Espresso Love

The place to go for coffee and a bite before heading out for the day espressolove.com.

Eat. Drink. Chill

Nomans

Stop in for good food, cold refreshments, beach provisions and even house-made rum. nomansmv.com.

For Some Island Culture
wooden sign on beach
One of the best things about the Vineyard is the people. From the salty locals to the endless flow of summer tourists, the island plays host to people from all walks of life. Here are a few of our favorite stops.
owner and son of Coop’s Bait & Tackle

Friendly Faces

Coop’s Bait & Tackle

Father/son duo and Martha’s Vineyard locals Danny and Cooper “Coop” Gilkes are guys that really know how to live the Good Life. Coop is the owner of Coop’s Bait & Tackle, where we’ve gladly spent way too much time over the years. If you’re looking for insider info on the fishing scene (or if you just want to chat with some salty locals), make sure to check it out. coopsbaitandtackle.com.

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The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks players

Catch A Game

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks

Nothing says “summer” quite like catching a ball game under a warm, starry night. And sure, Vineyard Baseball Park isn’t Fenway, but watching these young-guns hone their skills and move up in the leagues is one of our favorite summer pastimes. And, since the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks is part of the MLB-endorsed New England Collegiate Baseball League, you never know what future star you’re watching. mvsharks.com.

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North Water Gallery storefront

Get Inspired

North Water Gallery

Right next door to our Edgartown store is the North Water Gallery, which offers a great collection of contemporary and traditional artwork. We’ve lost track of how many great pieces we’ve picked up from the North Water Gallery, but if you’re looking for a way to take your Vineyard trip home with you, you’ll definitely want to stop in. northwatergallery.com.

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Visit Our Stores

Vineyard Haven, MA

44 Main Street
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
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Edgartown, MA

27 North Water Street
Edgartown, MA 02539
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Oak Bluffs, MA

56 Narragansett Ave
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
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To Catch Some Sun
wooden post on beach dunes
Martha's Vineyard is known for having some of the best beaches on the East Coast—it is an island, after all. Here's a cheat sheet of our favorite places for fun in the sand and surf.
Martha's Vineyard silhouette with Menemsha Beach pin

Western Shore

Menemsha Beach

Free and open to the public, this sandy stretch is a great spot for families looking for a relaxing place to spend the day. Easily accessible from the town of Chilmark, it’s said to offer the best sunset views of any beach on the Vineyard.

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Martha's Vineyard silhouette with Katama/South Beach pin

Southern Shore

Katama/South Beach

Located on the southern tip of the island, Katama (aka South) Beach is known for its picturesque views. The Atlantic Ocean side offers big waves, while the bay side has much calmer water. It’s the largest public beach on the island, but also very popular, so come early!

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Martha's Vineyard silhouette with Wasque Point pin

Eastern Shore

Wasque Point

A 200-acre nature reserve on Chappaquiddick Island, Wasque is well-known as the best place for recreational fishing on the Vineyard. It’s also a great spot for bird watching or casual strolls along the shore.

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Martha's Vineyard silhouette with Tisbury Town Beach pin

Northern Shore

Tisbury Town Beach

As the name suggests, this beach is located near the town of Tisbury. Open to all but with limited parking, it's set on the inner harbor, so the waters are quiet and warm, with plenty of interesting views of boats coming and going.

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The African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard plaque

Take A Stroll

The African American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard

Founded on the Vineyard in 1998, the African American Heritage Trail’s mission is to educate the public on the Black community’s rich history on the island, which has hosted some of the nation’s most prominent African Americans, from Frederick Douglass to Senator Edward Brooke to former President Barack Obama. mvafricanamericanheritagetrail.org

Martha's Vineyard lighthouse

Show Us Your Vineyard

We all have those special places we love to visit. The ones where cherished memories are made and lasting friendships are formed. The spots we return to, year after year, as a getaway from the day-to-day and as a reminder that Every day should feel this good. For us, it’s Martha’s Vineyard.
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We’d love to know about your “Vineyard” wherever it may be. Post a picture or story on Instagram sharing your favorite place and tag @vineyardvines or @vineyardvineswomen. We’ll feature your posts on our account and, who knows, it may even inspire our next collection or adventure!
Plan Your Trip

Hop On The Ferry

The Vineyard Ferries company is the go-to ferry service for most visitors to the island. There are many options for departing the mainland including multiple locations in MA, and also departure locations in NY, NJ and RI.
vineyardferries.com

Book A Flight

It used to be that if you wanted to fly to the Vineyard your options were few and far between. Now, there are several options for travelers, including major carriers like JetBlue and Delta. However, if you’re looking for the true island-flying experience, check out Cape Air.
capeair.com

Beach Permits

If you have a vehicle on the Vineyard and you want to hit the beach, there’s no better way to do it than with an Over-Sand Vehicle pass, which will give you vehicle-access to Cape Poge, Wasque and Norton Point beaches. To get a pass, talk to our good friends at The Trustees.
thetrustees.org