Issues → May/June 2009 → Interact → 10 Things to Do → Yankee Recommends: Ten Great Weekends →

Martha's Vineyard, MA, Weekend

by Annie B. Copps

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A year-round community thrives on Martha's Vineyard, and its presence keeps the many local businesses going, from bakeries, farms, and restaurants to art galleries, specialty shops, and truly unique shopping and dining experiences. There's no shortage of raw material--whether it's fresh local oysters on the menu to the works of stellar artisans crafting everything from sculpture to photography.

Nor is there a shortage of things to do. The Vineyard offers miles of beaches, whether you're a family with small children or a hearty surfer looking for a good curl. Hop on a bike (bring your own or rent one from one of the many shops) and tour the island by pedal power, or charter a fishing or leisure boat for a different perspective. History buffs can stay busy with boatloads of stories and artifacts from the island's once-booming shipping, fishing, and whaling industries, as well as the long and rich Wampanoag Native American legacy, which is alive and well on the island.

Martha's Vineyard is compact enough that the small-community vibe is real, but it's also big enough to accommodate vacation options for every mood, inclination, and budget. The island is made up of seven distinct towns: West Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Chilmark, Menemsha, and Aquinnah. You can be close to the center of town or "out in the boonies," with options that include exclusive retreats to family-friendly inns and well-kept campsites.

Yankee picks for Martha's Vineyard. Click on any destination below for a map and more information.

Steamship Authority

The Steamship Authority is the Way to Go to the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Offering several daily, year-round ferry departures from Woods Hole to Martha's Vineyard and from Hyannis to Nantucket. Or, take the passenger-only Flying Cloud to Nantucket -- dock-to-dock in just an hour. Visit www.steamshipauthority.com or call 508-477-8600. [DETAILS]

Hy-Line Cruises

The only mid-Cape connection to both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, accommodates bikes, windsurfers, surfboards and canoes. New Hyannis terminal provides the Coffee Table Cafe, the Raw Bar, and the Ships Belle ice cream shop. Hy-Line Cruises also offers Hyannisport harbor cruises, fishing trips, Cape Cod Canal cruises and private charters. [DETAILS]

Cape Air

[DETAILS]

Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha's Vineyard

Winnetu Oceanside Resort is located at South Beach in Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard and offers 50 hotel suites and 80 private townhouse/home rentals. Complimentary activities include children's day program, heated pools, tennis club, fitness facility, fire truck rides, putting green and outdoor life-size chess. Also available: Lure Restaurant with family options, massages, children's evening program, bike rentals and more. Winnetu Oceanside Resort was voted the "#1 Family Resort in the Northeast" by Child Magazine.

Outermost Inn

True to its name, this seven-room inn sits on 35 acres of grassy dunes. Sparse furniture shows off rich woodwork; the house is owned by members of the famed Taylor singing clan. Double room rates $250-$285, including full breakfast. Lighthouse Rd., Gay Head; 508-645-3511. [DETAILS]