Tag Archives: Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard – hello old friend

the trip begins with the ferry ride

it wasn’t the smoothest ride down to woods hole (traffic) or on the ferry (white caps) but still as you leave the mainland behind you can feel your vacation beginning. i’m a big fan of the chowder on the steamship authority ferries – so all my trips to Martha’s Vineyard begin with this! after a semi-bumpy ride we made it to the other side of the sound and were off to get settled in and meet our friends for dinner at alchemy.

i have always loved alchemy – great ambiance, food & drinks. this visit didn’t let me down!

it was very quiet in Edgartown but really this isn’t such a bad thing. some shops and restaurants aren’t quite open yet and others are just starting to set up shop and hold only shortened & weekend hours for being open. nevertheless – if you are summer visitor to the island – you may like this calm before the storm. (and sales!) as always, there were a few changes to things…some places were out of business and many new places are coming into town. espresso love is about to get a run for it’s money with a couple of new bakery-type of places opening up on summer street – nothing wrong with some friendly competition i say! also, NRO (north river outfitters of boston) is setting up 3 shops – WOW! NRO, NRO for kids & the shoe cabana – all on dock street.

Leave a Comment

Filed under martha's vineyard, massachusetts, travel

Martha's Vineyard – hello old friend

the trip begins with the ferry ride

it wasn’t the smoothest ride down to woods hole (traffic) or on the ferry (white caps) but still as you leave the mainland behind you can feel your vacation beginning. i’m a big fan of the chowder on the steamship authority ferries – so all my trips to Martha’s Vineyard begin with this! after a semi-bumpy ride we made it to the other side of the sound and were off to get settled in and meet our friends for dinner at alchemy.

i have always loved alchemy – great ambiance, food & drinks. this visit didn’t let me down!

it was very quiet in Edgartown but really this isn’t such a bad thing. some shops and restaurants aren’t quite open yet and others are just starting to set up shop and hold only shortened & weekend hours for being open. nevertheless – if you are summer visitor to the island – you may like this calm before the storm. (and sales!) as always, there were a few changes to things…some places were out of business and many new places are coming into town. espresso love is about to get a run for it’s money with a couple of new bakery-type of places opening up on summer street – nothing wrong with some friendly competition i say! also, NRO (north river outfitters of boston) is setting up 3 shops – WOW! NRO, NRO for kids & the shoe cabana – all on dock street.

Leave a Comment

Filed under martha's vineyard, travel

making the most of a day

something for everyone - alley's general store

after watching wills & kate make history with their now famous 2 kisses on the balcony – we headed off for an up island tour. first we had to make a pit-stop at alley’s general store in West Tisbury for some refreshments. if you have ever been to alley’s you know it is impossible to get out of there without some unintended purchases. (i’m all set with dish towels for the next couple of years!) if you have never been to alley’s – become their patron – you won’t regret it. they’ll most likely have whatever it is you need but they’ll also have something you didn’t know you HAVE TO HAVE!

beautiful lucy vincent beach

it’s still quiet on the Vineyard and since it’s technically off season you can go to many of the private town beaches with no trouble. thus – i chose the coveted lucy vincent beach in Chilmark. it was a lovely 60 degree day and a great opportunity to take in some solitude on one of the island’s prettiest beaches.

*interesting factoid…Chilmark has the highest median home value of all small towns in America. you have to be a resident or be renting in Chilmark in the high season to go to lucy vincent beach.

TRIP TIP – to make sure you can see this beauty of a beach – go visit lucy vincent in the off season like me!!!

the sign says it all

while we didn’t make it all the way up island to Aquinnah – we did make it to Menemsha! i highly recommend this to anyone visiting the island. the beach is great for kids and adults alike with an active fishing dock to one side & shallow calm waters buoyed off for swimmers. you can crab by the jetties & collect sea glass and some of the prettiest beach rocks on the island. Menemsha town beach is known as one of the best viewing spots for the sunset where spectators clap as it sets. then there’s the fish markets…

Leave a Comment

Filed under martha's vineyard, travel

a word about food & drink

it's lobster roll season - delicious!

it was lunchtime when i arrived in Menemsha – what luck! it occurred to me that it’s that time again to start enjoying a summertime favorite – the lobster roll. as i started to pass the menemsha fish market their sign “lured” me in…lobster roll & clam chowder – $15 – i was hooked! if you go to the Vineyard this summer you MUST go get a lobster roll from the menemsha fish market – might have been my best yet!!! the chowder was awesome too. the owner announced they ship lobsters around the world and threw in a couple of bumper stickers to boot!

cold brew with ms. pac-man

it’s still shoulder season on MV so an afternoon beer looking over the harbor wasn’t as easy as you’d think.  gladly i went to a year round staple – the wharf – where i had a beer at a make-shift ms. pac-man table. there was no room at the bar since this pub is a local favorite – i took a couple of hours getting to know a few – what a great time. i may never have had this much fun in a such a brief time on the Vineyard!

DINNER & DRINKS –

i should also mention that i had a great dinner at henry’s hotel bar in the harbor view hotel. they made a great cocktail – which is key for me! later i headed to the atlantic – they also have a generous pour and a great bar scene – definitely worth a stop if you are near Edgartown.

2 Comments

Filed under martha's vineyard, travel

i survived the ride!

East Chop Lighthouse - Oak Bluffs

it was a nice mid 50 degree morning to do the 30 mile bike ride around Edgartown, Katama and Oak Bluffs this past weekend. i truly enjoyed the enthusiasm and spirit of all the riders in the ‘MS Ride the Vineyard‘. what a great way to spend a morning! next year’s date is already set – may 5, 2012 – i’ll be back for sure.

although most of the day was gray, to end my visit i spent some time taking in the beautiful sunset at the lookout tavern in Oak Bluffs. what a great spot! check it out when you are next on Martha’s Vineyard.  see you later in the summer MV!

2 Comments

Filed under martha's vineyard, travel