While Martha's Vineyard may seem like a small island off of the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, don't let its dot on the map fool you! The New England island's 100 square miles lends to its diversified geography that includes dramatic clay cliffs along the island's western shores to miles of sand dune-lined beaches along its southern shores, as well as its surf-filled ocean settings to its quiet marshy areas ripe for slow kayaking, and to its fields and pastures and farms to its wooden landscape providing plenty of shade while biking along the miles of paved bike trails.
A quintessential New England setting, Martha's Vineyard also features six distinct towns. Vineyard Haven, the main port of entry, was once a bustling whaling town. Today, the actual town of Vineyard Haven refers to the harbor area, while the surrounding town is known as Tisbury, named after the hometown of English settler Thomas Mayhew Sr., who purchased Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket for $200 in 1641. (What a steal!) Edgartown, the island's first settlement, also grew as a whaling town, filling its streets with Greek Revival and Federal style homes that remain today. Oak Bluffs originated as a tent city for a Methodist revival meeting and quickly became the island's first resort town. Where tents once stood, tiny and eclectic cottages were built, earning the town the nickname Cottage City before being renamed as Oak Bluffs in 1907. West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah (formerly Gay's Head) round out the triangular-shaped island's shopping and dining areas. Despite the bustling towns, most visitors to the island skip on resort life and elect, instead, to rent a vacation home on a quiet little spot on the island.
Martha's Vineyard isn't your typical beachfront vacation destination. This island is for families who want to spend time together enjoying the simplicity of a quiet evening at home, lobster bibs tied around their necks, butter dripping down their arms, and relishing in the fresh-caught lobster and seafood before taking an evening stroll along the beach or playing a rousing game of Gin. Days are spent idling away the hours on bicycles, paddling away in kayaks, and building sand castles on the beach. An afternoon ice cream cone is a must before pulling up a chair and reading a book. On this island, even the kids relax and fall in love with the slower pace of the days. One visit here and it's easy to see why so many families, including presidential families, return to Martha's Vineyard again and again.
Martha's Vineyard, MA Family Vacations
Martha's Vineyard, MA Family Vacations
Families will love:
- A slower paced beach and family bonding vacation
- A quintessential New England setting and quaint historical town
- Biking along the miles of paved bike trails
Written by Lissa Poirot
Read more about Martha's Vineyard, MA Attractions
Best Martha's Vineyard, MA Family Hotels
© Copyright 2012. The Independent Traveler, Inc.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
All rights reserved. This file may be downloaded for personal
use only. Other copying or reproduction is expressly prohibited.
- Independent Traveler independenttraveler.com
- Cruise Critic cruisecritic.com
-
FREE Family Travel Newsletter -
Family Travel Tips (10 New)
– Family Planning and Tips
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...
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...
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 ...
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. ...
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-...
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'...
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 ...
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...
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 ...
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...