Martha’s Vineyard: Nature’s Paradise
Featured Stories & Articles from Cape Cod Travel Magazine: Martha’s Vineyard: Nature’s Paradise
Known for
their vibrant personalities and distinct differences, Martha’s Vineyard and its
towns make a lasting first impression. The bucolic island with miles of sandy
beach, whose early inhabitants subsisted on raising sheep and fishing, sits
sturdily just seven miles from Cape Cod. Named for its excess of wild grapes,
the island’s first white settlers came ashore in the mid-17th century looking
for badly needed supplies.
The island’s
fortunes arose with lucrative profits from the whaling industry and luxurious
Federal and Greek Revival houses popped up all over Martha’s Vineyard. While
the dangerous industry was destined for decline on the island, sea trade and tourism
took off after the Civil War; the latter still remains an important economic force. Towns are still designated as
“up-island” and “down-island,” terms that were used by sailors moving
longitudinally in the 19th and 20th centuries. Martha’s Vineyard’s low-key
demeanor, sandy beaches and miles of biking and hiking paths have attracted
tourists for decades. Celebrities, presidents
and islanders shop alongside each other at the farmer’s markets with little fuss
or fanfare. Rustic cottages and historic inns placidly share space with larger,
newer homes.
Today, many
visitors opt to fly to the islands while many also get there by ferry from
Woods Hole and disembark in Vineyard Haven (ferry service is also available
from Hyannis and off-Cape locations), just steps away from picturesque Main
Street, which is lined with shops, restaurants and beautiful homes, many of
which are listed on the National Historic Register.
The island’s
vast appeal is immediately obvious. Rent a bike and pedal between working historic
lighthouses in West and East Chop. Oak Bluffs, home to the thriving Wesleyan
Grove in the late 1800s, a
Methodist meeting camp, now has a lively nightlife and
restaurant scene. Several of the 19th century Victorian “gingerbread” cottages
that were built to replace the original tents are available to rent. Oak Bluffs
has a long history of artistry, and its galleries still overflow with beautiful
one-of-a-kind pieces. Sink your toes into Nantucket Sound or test your luck on
the Flying Horses Carousel (the oldest operating one of its kind in the
country) and reach for the infamous brass ring. The mid-August illumination
Night in Oak Bluffs, a decades-old tradition of lighting various styles of lanterns,
is a must-see for both residents and visitors.
Enjoy Greek Revival-style sea captain’s
homes, the sturdy Old Whaling Church that doubles as a performing arts center
and the Martha’s Vineyard Museum in elegant Edgartown. Throughout the seasons,
spend a day or take a walk along Katama or Lighthouse Beaches. From Edgartown,
take the On-Time ferry to Chappaquiddick Island (locally known as Chappy) and
revel in the natural beauty of Mytoi Gardens, Wasque Resort Reservation and Cape
Pogue Wildlife Refuge. Walk up the sandy path to the Cape Pogue Lighthouse or enjoy
a guided natural history tour of the refuge.
Up-island Chilmark has a decidedly different,
more relaxed vibe. Private and public beaches share space with working farms
and hand-built stonewalls. Take a hike in Menemsha Hills Reservation or visit
the harbor that was used in Jaws. Pay a visit to Aquinnah Light and the
nearby 150-feet high clay cliffs, owned by the Wampanoag tribe and designated as
a National Historic Landmark, in Aquinnah (known as Gay Head until 1997). Stop
by the venerable Allen’s General Store in West Tisbury, selling everything from
kitchenware to local fruits and vegetables, and then enjoy wandering through
the 70-acre Polly Hill Arboretum.
Whether it is known for its famous movie
backdrops, endless miles of sandy beach and quiet unpaved roads, or knack for
attracting high-profile figures, Martha’s Vineyard remains true to its original
roots. The island is simultaneously a nature lover’s paradise and a source of
inspiration for generations of poets, writers and artists.