Martha's Vineyard, MA Attractions
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Many of the island's beaches are private to the houses and communities dotting the shore, but there are still plenty of beaches open to all guests, including Owen Park Beach on the harbor of Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs Town Beach on Nantucket Sound and South Beach, Edgartown. Make a point to head west to Menemsha, where crowds gather to watch the sunset, applauding when it finally sinks into the ocean. Aquinnah, on the southwestern shore, is a great spot overlooking the Cliffs of Aquinnah, and the family can visit Gay Head Lighthouse before shopping in the Native American Reservation's arts and crafts stores. John Adams commissioned the nation's first lighthouse on this spot in 1799, but this red brick lighthouse didn't make its appearance until 1856.
Best For: Tots (0-2)Kids (3-6)Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
Martha's Vineyard, MA
Martha's Vineyard is dedicated to enjoying the outdoors, and its miles upon miles of bike trails are a testament to this fact. Three- to seven-mile loops are well marked in various areas of the island, and bike ferries help riders get to Chappaquiddick and Aquinnah. Many of the paths are multi-use paths and welcome walkers, joggers and baby strollers.
Best For: Tots (0-2)Kids (3-6)Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
14 Aero Avenue
Edgartown, MA • 508-627-7007
The Farm Institute helps connect kids to agriculture with fun, educational experiences. Farmers-in-Training, for example, is a two-hour program for kids 10 and up to give them a chance to experience being a farmer. Wee Farmers works with younger children to teach them to tend to a garden and care for animals. Everyone is invited to try the Farmer for a Day, where the entire clan will feed livestock and garden. Barnyard Movie Nights provide movies under the stars, or just enjoy a simple barnyard tour.
Best For: Tots (0-2)Kids (3-6)Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
Oaks Bluff
Martha's Vineyard, MA
The nation's oldest operating carousel in the country is a must-visit for any island visitor. Built in 1876 and moved to the island just a couple of years later, the ride of 22 wooden horses features real horsehair tails and even a brass ring to catch.
Best For: Tots (0-2)Kids (3-6)Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
386 State Road
Vineyard Haven, MA • 508-693-2611
It's not a quintessential New England vacation without a stop for some miniature golf and ice cream. Island Cove provides both, as well as a 24-foot climbing wall. A new cabana on the back deck houses an outdoor grill for lunch and dinners of burgers, grilled chicken breast, grilled cheese sandwiches and grilled veggies. Packages are available to include mini golf, climbing, lunch or dinner and ice cream.
Best For: Kids (3-6)Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
Martha's Vineyard, MA • 508-693-9727
Island Spirit Kayak provides beginner, advanced and kids' programs, from sunrise kayaks at the cliffs to moonlight paddles under the stars. Four-day kayak "kamps" are available for kids for 2.5 hours, and kayaking adventures can last 2.5 to five hours. Or, if renting a vacation home, you can also rent kayaks for half or full days, three days or a week; the company will deliver and pick up kayaks to and from your specified location.
Best For: Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)
Martha's Vineyard, MA • 508-684-4860
C'mon mom, you're not in the know if you don't know the cool sport to try right now is paddle boarding, where you stand on a surf board and paddle with oars, learning balancing and working your core muscles. Kids will just think it's cool so take them to wuzSUP for the Vineyard's only dedicated paddle boarding company. Rent a board for an hour, a half day, a full day, three days or a full week, and try group or private lessons from one to two hours in length, as well as 1.5-hour tours.
Best For: Kids (7-9)Tweens (10-12)Teens (13+)

  •  
    FREE Family Travel Newsletter
  • Family Travel Tips   (10 New)

    Family Planning and Tips

    • 10 Best Hotel Amenities for Kids
      Sure, free drinks and complimentary Wi-Fi rank high on the lists of most desirable hotel perks among travelers in general, but when it comes to visiting with kids in tow, which hotel amenities are most revered by families? From onsite airline check-in to in-room babysitting and kid concierges, con...
    • 10 Best Biking Vacations for Families
      Favorite family biking locales in North America combine stunning scenery with a relatively easy grid of bike trails and uncongested backcountry roads. All of these locales offer exhilarating rides, guaranteed to inspire all ages to travel on two wheels. Many of the cities on the list, like San Anton...
    • 21 Perfect Summer Vacations
      1. Celebrate a Historic Anniversary. Boston's historic Fenway Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year -- the perfect time to take in a ballgame while enjoying the history of America throughout the city. Give your school-aged children an up-close and personal history lesson by visiting some ...
    • 7 Memorial Weekend Deals
      The unofficial start to summer is nearly here, and this May 25 to 28 weekend is filled with enticing deals for families. Get out there and start your summer! Broadmoor Resort, Colorado Springs, Colo. Escape to the Colorado mountains for a two-night Memorial Day Family Escape at the Broadmoor. ...
    • A Beginner's Guide to Family Camping
      There are few rites of passage as exciting as taking a child on his or her first camping trip. Families bond while roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, making shadow animals on the tent wall, chasing after fireflies and inhaling fragrant whiffs of pine. Whether you are an experienced camper from pre-...
    • 12 Places Kids Should See Before They Grow Up
      1. The National Mall There's no question that the National Mall, the two-mile strip of wide-open green stretching between the Lincoln Memorial and the U.S. Capitol and surrounded by Smithsonian museums and national monuments, is a must-see destination for kids. "The Mall," chock full of our nation'...
    • 7 Must-Have Travel Essentials for Families
      1. gogo Kidz Travelmate If you're traveling with a child weighing less than 50 pounds, you won't want to leave home without this ingenious contraption that in seconds lets parents convert most car seats into a stroller. With the gogo Kidz Travelmate, there's no more lugging both a heavy car seat ...
    • 9 Best Places for Families to Unplug
      On a recent ski vacation, my family of five traveled with five cellphones, three laptops, three iPads, two iPods and just for good measure, a GPS! Given the prevalence of electronic devices in our daily lives and our somewhat compulsive reliance upon them, taking a true vacation feels almost imposs...
    • Treat Your Family to a Tour Group Vacation
      The 1969 film, "If It's Tuesday, This Must be Belgium," depicted a funny, but sometimes all too true, look at a tour group of Americans traveling through Europe so quickly they barely knew where they were and what they were seeing. Today, tour groups are quickly becoming an attractive option for ...
    • 10 Best All-Inclusive Family Resorts in the U.S.
      When you think of an all-inclusive vacation, your mind goes straight to the Caribbean, doesn't it? But you don't need to leave the country to get an all-in-one vacation -- resorts in the U.S. also provide all-inclusive getaways with accommodations, meals, and activities all packaged in one easy pric...
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Username
Password
Remember Me