INFORMATION SHEET 2014

Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

~ MASSACHUSETTS ~

CAPE COD

Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce www.capecodchamber.org

Michele Pecoraro, Vice President michele@capecodchamber.org 508-362-3225

Cape Cod, a 75-mile long peninsula is shaped like an arm contracted into a fist at its terminal end at Provincetown. Cape Cod comprises 15 individual towns, collectively the County of Barnstable, but named Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro.

As home to the world-renowned 44,000-acre Cape Cod National Seashore, the Cape is one of the northeast's premier destinations. But there are more than just beaches along Cape Cod's 560-mile shoreline. The 400-square mile Cape is a place of tremendous physical, cultural and emotional nourishment. These wonderful attributes aside, there are 80 museums, more than 2,200 places to shop, 25 theaters, 14 lighthouses, 40 golf courses, hundreds of antiques shops, 110 miles of cycling trails, 1,200 restaurants, endless charm and majestic beauty. Seaside nature preserves and conservation areas juxtapose with cultural underpinnings such as an impressive collection of stunning architecture spanning four centuries, hundreds of art galleries and craft studios where inspired artists ply their trades.

To experience all this wonder, there are excursions by kayak, sailboat, amphibious vehicle, fishing boat, dune tour vehicles, Cape Cod Central Railroad and even a biplane. An event calendar filled with parades, festivals, musical performances, fireworks, shows and expositions. Between long lazy beach days and performances at night, tuck into one of the Cape's many seafood or other restaurants of many cuisines.

One visit to Cape Cod is never enough. Not only because of its sheer size and all there is to see and do here. The allure is palpable ... just ask anyone leaving the Cape.

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~ WHAT'S NEW Cape Cod ~

Transportation

• JetBlue Airways www.jetblue.com announced the addition of Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis, Mass., the gateway to Cape Cod, to its growing route network with nonstop jet service to New York City. The Capital of the Cape will be the airline's 86th destination. Hyannis also marks JetBlue's 64th nonstop route from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

JetBlue will be the only airline connecting New York City with one of America's most popular summer destinations, offering seasonal service with one daily flight between June 26 and September 9, 2014. JetBlue also serves the Cape and Islands with nonstop flights to Martha's Vineyard from New York and to Nantucket from both Boston and New York.

Customers can now book flights on JetBlue.com starting at $99 one way between JFK and Hyannis/Cape Cod, valid for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between June 26 and July 24, 2014 (a).

"Cape Cod is one of the most iconic getaway destinations in America, but without any nonstop flights from New York City, it has been a difficult place to get to," said Robin Hayes, JetBlue's President. "New Yorkers will now be able to access Cape Cod much quicker, more conveniently and for a lot less money. Together with our seasonal nonstop flights to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, there is no better way than JetBlue to reach the Cape and Islands this summer."

• CapeFLYER Returns to Hyannis www.capeflyer.com CapeFLYER is a seasonal train service, which re-commenced in May 2013, was the first Cape passenger train service from Boston since 1959. CapeFLYER operates in both directions weekends only (Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays) through early September [due to its success last year, the service was extended through Columbus Day weekend] and will offer Wi-Fi, concessions and bike racks. From Hyannis Depot, CapeFLYER riders will have access to connections to buses, island ferries and airlines. The trip will take approximately two hours and twenty minutes. In October 2013, Governor Deval Patrick announced that the CapeFLYER would now become a permanent seasonal service and run from Memorial Day thru and including Columbus Day. The train departs Boston's South Station and ends at Hyannis Transportation Center on Main Street in downtown Hyannis.

Events

• Annual Boatbuilders' Show For seven years on Cape Cod, “the best little boat show in the Northeast,” has drawn a sizable crowd of quality craftsmen and eager water enthusiasts. A warm-weather escape among the Cape's cool temps, the show, presented by the Cape Cod Marine Trades Association, features over 50 exhibitors and includes limited-production wood and fiberglass boat models on display — custom-built sail and power boats not typically seen at big city shows. Whether you're in the market to build your own boat, or just to dream about one day buying one, The Boatbuilders' Show is the perfect launch to meet a “family of builders.” Visitors have the opportunity to 'talk shop' and step on board these unique vessels, as well as compare workmanship and features of the different boat models. Show hours are Friday, February 7th from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $5 and children under 12 are free. For more information, visit www.boatcapecod.org.
• Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival is celebrating 35 years as a highly-renowned presenter of chamber music and major contributor to the cultural life of Cape Cod. This summer, the 2014 season will open with the Summer Gala on Sunday, July 27th at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Twelve additional concerts will be held over the course of the summer in various locations from Cotuit out to Provincetown. All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. General admission is $35 with the exception of July 29th, which is $50. Students are $15; 18 and under are free. Early buyers and series discounts are available. For more information, and a full schedule visit www.capecodchambermusic.org or call 508-247-9400.
• Chelsea Flower Show: Bountiful blooms abound at the annual held at the Royal Hospital in London's Chelsea area. The show takes days to prepare and is visited by royalty, literally. This year the Massachusetts Office of Tourism & Travel will have Susannah Hunter and Catherine MacDonald at the show where they will create The Massachusetts Garden, an interpretation of the region inspired by a trip to none other than Cape Cod. Our gorgeous sand dunes, sand plains and seashore sparked the design of this Cape landscape. Built by Landform Consultants Ltd., the garden includes “bold sweeps of roses and hydrangeas” and building inspired by the artist's retreats near Provincetown. To learn more about The Chelsea Flower Show or to browse the garden directory, visit www.rhs.org.uk.
• Old King's Highway, Route 6A: America's largest historic district is celebrating its 40th anniversary. On November 5, 1974 The Old Kings Highway Regional Historic Act was created and adopted by resident voters to preserve the historic character and natural beauty of the entire southern shoreline of Cape Cod Bay, from Sandwich/Bourne town line to the Orleans/Eastham town Line. The route dates back to pre-colonial times, when Native Americans used it as a trail between encampments and villages. The original European settlers used it to travel here from Plymouth and other destinations almost four hundred years ago. Because of The Old Kings Highway Regional Historic Act, as much of this history as possible has been preserved; you can cruise along Route 6A, through six towns, and view examples of American architecture from the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries as well as the natural scenery.  If you one has not taken a drive down Route 6A in the fall, it is a must!
• Cape Cod Quahog Day: Doug the Quahog, the region's official mascot, is now more social than ever. As many of you know, Doug has been ushering in summer with his trusty weather prognostications since 2009 as part of the annual Cape Cod Quahog Day www.QuahogDay.com. With help of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Doug recently joined several popular social media sites, where uses his funny, friendly voice to highlight unique events, businesses, landmarks and people that make the Cape a great place to live, work and play year-round! You can follow Doug's musings on Facebook (LIKE him at www.Facebook.com/DougtheQuahog); Instagram (DougtheQuahog); Twitter (@DougtheQuahog); and on Vine (Doug the Quahog).
• New Orleans to Orleans (NO2O) Festival: Get your party shoes on! The first annual New Orleans to Orleans (NO2O) Festival will take place April 10 - 12.  The weekend Festival will feature town-wide music, food, film and art events; there will be musical performances at the Nauset Regional Middle School auditorium, free film screenings on Thursday, New Orleans-themed cuisine during restaurant week, art gallery showings and more. For more information as it becomes available, visit www.orleanscapecod.org.
• Field of Honor: This past Veteran's Day marked the first annual Field of Honor® flag display at Johnny Kelley Park in South Dennis. The inspiring display of flags is presented by the Baker-Xiarhos AMVETS Post 333 and the Dennis Chamber of Commerce as a tribute to the “heroes in our lives, whoever they are and for whatever reason,” according the website of the Colonial Flag Foundation, the organization that created the concept. The events are hosted throughout the country. In Dennis, visitors are invited to walk amid the scores of full-sized flags neatly arranged in rows. The event is held for three days – from just prior to until just after Veteran's Day – and it is free of charge.

Services

• Herring Cove Bathhouse, Provincetown: There's a new bathhouse at Herring Cove Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. The new structure contains a host of improvements over its predecessor and is much more environmentally friendly. The building – actually a series of buildings joined by boardwalk – was designed to meet LEED's silver standards, according to Karst Hoogeboom, chief of facilities and maintenance for the park. By incorporating both photovoltaic and solar panels, the bathhouse will likely operate at “a net zero energy consumption,” said Hoogeboom. It was also sited and designed to withstand hurricane force winds and can be disassembled and moved. “As the shoreline changes over time, we can pick it up in pieces and move it to a new location,” said Hoogeboom. Sculptures of whales, seals and sea turtles woven into the shingle siding add to the aesthetic appeal. Concessions in the new building are being handled by Far Land on the Beach www.farlandprovisions.com/1461/far-land-on-the-beach-our-new-concession-at-herring-cove-beach/ which offers beachgoers an opportunity to savor locally sourced, healthy foods . 

Attractions

• Kid's Fishing Excursion: For a kid-friendly, mother-approved activity, try out the Kid's Fishing Excursion, a 90-minute fun-filled fishing adventure designed with little ones in mind. Run by the same folks of Cape Cod Duckmobiles, Kid's Fishing trips start when weather permits and run daily through Labor Day, departing at 9 and 11am, 1 and 3pm from 437 Main St., Hyannis (weekends through September depart at 11am; 1 and 3pm); parking is free. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online or at the ticket office. Refreshments or picnic lunches are welcomed and sun screen, sunglasses and light jacket are recommended! For more in, call 888-225-3825 or visit www.kidsfishinghyannis.com.  
• Big Bugs Exhibit at Heritage Museums & Gardens: For all who are young and young at heart, you won't want to miss Heritage's new outdoor exhibit “Big Bugs,” created by sculptor David Rogers.  It truly is a wondrous sight: picture 25-foot long ants and dragonflies with 17-foot wingspans made from forest materials, cut trees and green saplings—all of which has been sustainably harvested. Other insects in the collection include a damselfly, an assassin bug, praying mantis, spider on a web, ladybug and a grasshopper. Exhibit runs from May 31 through October 26, 2014 www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org.
• Chatham Orpheum Theatre, Chatham: One of the big-buzz news items this year was the reopening of the Chatham Orpheum Theatre (637 Main St., Chatham; 508-945-0874: www.chathamorpheum.org, which opened just in time for the town's 300-year anniversary celebration. The Theatre originally opened in 1916 and was a much-adored movie house where generations of families grew up watching the latest films, until 1987, when the theatre closed.  But in 2011 that would change. The building was bought, restored and, on July 26th, 2013, reopened. The Theatre now boasts two screens with 3-D capabilities, 6.1 SurroundSound© audio, widely spaced aisles  and comfortable seats from which audience members can catch first-run major motion pictures as well as art house films, independent productions and documentaries, including locally produced films. There is also a concession stand and a lobby café, Vers at the Orpheum (508-778-8448: www.verscapecod.com), where guests can grab a hot bite to eat and a glass of wine or beer.
• Plimoth Grist Mill: Located on Town Brook in Plymouth, just minutes from Mayflower II, Plimoth Plantation's full-scale reproduction of the original Mayflower—Plimoth Grist Mill was restored to a fully functioning grist mill. The Mill is a reproduction of the 1636 water-powered mill built by the Pilgrims in Plymouth Colony and features a waterwheel 14 feet in diameter and a 200-year-old French Buhr millstone to grind corn into cornmeal. Get a close look at the highly involved process of turning corn into cornmeal with the onsite miller (check http://www.plimoth.org/mill for schedule) or take a guided tour that provides a close-up of the Mill's mechanical workings with explanations of the structure's history and importance in every-day colonial life. If you are a big fan of the new exhibit, you will not want to miss the second annual Sampe Fest on October 25th, where there will be fall-themed activities, corn-inspired dishes, miller demonstrations, live music, crafts, local vendors and more.
• Plimoth Plantation www.plimoth.org had a big year. A mishoon, or traditional Native American boat, was built as part of the Wampanoag Indigineous Program at the 17-th century living history museum and accepted into the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. Darius Coombs, Associate Director of the Wampanoag Indigenous Program, reached out to the Smithsonian and offered to donate a mishoon to the Museum's collection in Washington, D.C. Work on the 16-foot, three-person canoe began in the spring of 2013 and was documented with a film that will accompany the exhibit in Washington, D.C. Plimoth Plantation also opened a new exhibit last March, replete with its own yearly festival.
• Cape Cod Children's Museum www.capecodchildrensmuseum.org has added a new exhibit to its already impressive lineup of activities for children and families. The Fish Market exhibit launched this spring and is a multisensory, interactive experience where children learn about the sea, its aquatic creatures and the fishing industry through imaginative play. The exhibit includes a fishing vessel, tide pool, lighthouse, herring run, working lobster trap, ice-packing area and an educational resource locker with books and games as well as raincoats and rubber boots for dress-up. More than just fun and games, the exhibit also teaches children about where their food comes from and how it is processed.  The new exhibit joins a roster of regular programs and activities at the Museum, that capture the imagination of young minds.
• Look Books Scavenger Hunts: Remember scavenger hunts? Remember how much fun they were? Well so does Barbara Tibbetts and it was out of this love that she created the Look Book series. Tibbetts, a mother of three and former kindergarten teacher, has been channeling her energy into her picture books that are designed to educate and engage the entire family while visiting specific locations. For the Cape and Islands, Look Books are currently available on Chatham, Sandwich and Nantucket. The paperback books, which include stickers to track the fun progress, can be ordered through Amazon or through www.lookbookhunt.com or downloaded as an app to a Kindle. Hints and clues can also be found at the website. Grab one of these books and have fun taking time to really getting to know the town you are visiting.
• Brewster for Ecotourism: The historic town of Brewster is taking a decidedly modern step in branding itself as an ecotourism destination, broadly defined as 'sustainable travel.' A recent release detailing the logic behind the move was spot-on in saying; “Brewster's unique natural assets of more than 5,000 acres of conservation land with walking and biking trails; salt and fresh water beaches; ponds and forests set the backdrop for the eco-tourist's experience.” Coupled with the natural beauty of the town are many cultural assets – such as the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and Cape Rep Theatre – and quaint inns and a plethora of shopping and dining options. As the town moves forward with the branding, efforts are underway to educate area businesses, residents and visitors on easy ways to make less of an impact on the Brewster's natural resources by recycling and composting, conserving energy and shopping locally.

Restaurants

• Rock Harbor Grill, Orleans: Restaurateur Charles “Chuck” Konner, a former co-owner of the very successful Corner Store in Chatham, just opened this latest venture www.rockharborgrill.net).   The restaurant, which has taken over the former Capt'n Elmer's seafood location, has been renovated to create a “Cape bungalow” feel, with rustic decor and white-washed ceilings. The result is a relaxed atmosphere where customers can enjoy everything from a juicy burger to a melt-in-your-mouth pot roast or a hot and crispy pizza. Chef Stuart Hirsch, who worked with Wolfgang Puck for seven years, has a soft spot for thin-crust, wood-fired pizza and features many traditional and creative pies on his menu, including gluten-free versions. “Whether you spend $10 or $110, you will end up with a great meal,” says Konner, since the eclectic menu covers a wide range of price points.

Restaurant Milestones

• Mews Restaurant & Café: Provincetown hotspot for good food and entertainment (during the offseason there is a well-attended open mic night on Mondays) turns 50. To celebrate, general manager and co-owner Ron Robin has planned a year of fun and enticing events and specials, including new and retro menu items, original drinks, giveaways, and special guest appearances. Festivities kicked off January 5th with “Night of Nostalgia,” where the staff dressed in 1960s attire and items from the original menu were resurrected and made available for the 1964 price. Visit www.mews.com for a list of more events to come.
• The Red Nun Bar & Grill: On the lower Cape www.rednun.com celebrated 10 years in business last year. The neighborhood restaurant, a favorite of both residents and visitors, is known for their casual atmosphere and tasty burgers.
• Guapo's Tortilla Shack: A local restaurant helping out local causes; what's not to love? Guapo's Gives is a year-round fundraising campaign held at Guapo's, a Baja-style restaurant in Orleans. The program seeks to effect change locally through social action. By partnering with area, non-profit organizations, Guapo's owner and Cape Cod native, Kyle Parker, has created a vehicle to back and create to the community that has supported him. With a goal of raising $10,000 annually, Guapo's has committed to donating 10% of the restaurant's daily sales on selected Sundays (typically the first Sunday of every month) throughout the year to a non-profit partner.  With Guapo's support, many of their community partners have also elected to run additional tie-ins that day to maximize their fundraising and outreach efforts.

Lodging

• Winstead Inn: A renovation and expansion project is underway at the Inn www.winsteadinn.com. Its nearby sister property is the Winstead Beach House. The Winstead is adding seven plush and spacious new guestrooms to its main building, each of which will be uniquely designed and will have a fireplace and luxurious bathroom with heated floors and towel bars. An expansion and renovation of the front desk/ check-in area, office space for concierge services and great room for gathering guests and small functions is also planned. Accompanying the new changes at the Inn is a new shuttle service; guests of the Winstead Inn will have an on-call service to quickly access the Beach House location's private beach. A June 1st grand opening of the expanded Winstead Inn is planned.
• Lamb & Lion Inn www.lambandlion.com:  from a major renovation/beautification to our spa & yoga studio, a complete pool renovation and multiple wall murals throughout the inn currently being painted by a local artist, the Lamb and Lion received some great press about our "pet friendliness" toward the end of 2013. We were named "one of the top pet friendly destinations in New England.
• CARE for the Cape and Islands:  Visitors who love Cape Cod and its beautiful, fragile shores have more of an opportunity to get involved in preserving this very special peninsula, thanks to the newly founded CARE for the Cape and Islands. CARE, which stands for 'creating a responsible environment,' seeks to encourage, support, and create opportunities for visitors to donate their 'time, talent, and treasure' to help preserve and protect Cape Cod's natural beauty, plant and wildlife habitats, culture and history—the very things that draw visitors here year after year. Visitors staying at participating Cape lodging can elect to add a $1 or more to their bill to fund local projects. Recent projects funded this way include new educational signage at the Herring Cove Bathhouse in Provincetown and the soon-to-launch greenhouse and farm operation tours program at CapeAbilities Farm in Dennis, which is a nonprofit that provides jobs for the disabled.  In the future, as more programs are developed with the help of the local tourism industry, visitors can perhaps find themselves working alongside naturalists at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies doing seal research and beach cleanup or helping fisherman reseed clam and oyster beds.  For more information on this worthy cause, visit www.careforthecapeandislands.com.  
• Corsair & Cross Rip Oceanfront Resort www.corsaircrossrip.com “Wine, Dine & the Arts” package for two: $325 complete (4/13 - 6/13 or 9/1- 9/28 -10/15) or $425 complete (6/14 - 7/2).

Not every day is a beach day. Some days you just want to get in the car and explore. This new package for two introduces you to all the five senses on Cape Cod.  While exploring the lower Cape you will have tickets to enter an historical hotel built in 1907; Highland Lighthouse is on the same site. Your tickets will have you walking up the spiral staircase to the top where a 360°-view of the National Seashore beaches, Provincetown and a WWII air base awaits you. You will tour one of five Cape Cod wineries, Truro Vineyards, and taste test selected offerings. Tickets to discover Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, a 'must see" on the tour. Evenings are for the arts as well. Enjoy a $25 gift certificate for dinner at one of Wellfleet's best-known restaurants, Van Rensselaer (fantastic salad bar). After dinner two tickets await you at the box office for a professional local theatre production at Cape Rep (actual theater may change due to production breaks or sold-out dates); Sunday is a matinee and Mondays theaters are closed.) Do it all at your own pace but leave room for that beach day! June and September Only Includes:

• Balcony-view accommodations 
• Hearty cold breakfast buffet each morning
• Two tickets to Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis 
• A free Winery Tour of Truro Vineyards  and two tickets to a wine tasting (Valid I.D required.)
• Dinner at Van Rensselaer in Wellfleet ($25 gift certificate)
• Two tickets to the latest production at Cap Rep Theater in Brewster
• Two tickets to tour the Highland light Museum and Lighthouse in Truro
• Rates are per room, for two nights, for two adults Weekday; add $50/package for stays over Friday and/or Saturday nights; additional nights are just $125/night and additional adults are $55/pkg.  

Shops

• Chatham Jam and Jelly Shop has moved. The 30-year-old business, a local staple, will now be creating and selling its beloved jams, jellies, butters and marmalades a half mile away from its former location inside a beautifully restored antique building www.chathamjamandjellyshop.com. The new, larger location features more retail space and a bigger workshop area where customers can peer in to watch as fresh ingredients (much of it sourced locally) is transformed into sweet or savory spreads. One of the great things about Chatham Jams and Jellies is their consistency over the past three decades. “If you bought a strawberry jam here 15 years ago, it will taste the same,” says Carol Cummings. “We don't change the recipes.” But they are constantly working on new ones to add to their catalogue of more than 120. In the upcoming year, because of the new business location, the owners Robin and Carol Cummings plan to bring back their popular line of chutneys and relishes.

Awards

• Harwichport: A Top 10 Happiest Seaside Town: Harwichport, although actually a village of the Town of Harwich, was named one of the 'Top 10 Happiest Seaside Towns' by the readers of Coastal Living which described the town as; “Quiet, charming, and nostalgic - That's the tone struck in this upscale village of 1,644 locals along Cape Cod's southern shore.” Longtime resident and Cape Cod Associates Realtor Bill Silver calls the town “a happy combination of things,” from its quaint town center and bakeries to the new high school and community center. “It's a working town set up to accommodate everyday life,” says Silver, “and everything is within walking distance.” To learn more about this happy town, visit www.harwichcc.com.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD

Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce www.mvy.com

Nancy Gardella, Executive Director nancy@mvy.com 508-693-0085 

The incomparable island of Martha's Vineyard is more than just an island, as visitors will agree. Just seven miles from Cape Cod, here time slows down, allowing visitors to delve deeply into the intangible magnetism the Vineyard exudes at every turn.   Vineyard seafood and local produce is super fresh, sunsets spectacular—and your neighbor might be the president or other celebrity!

Three port towns—Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown—and three up-island towns—West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah—present stark dichotomies of the Vineyard's persona. Port towns are busier with more hotels, restaurants, shops and activity. Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs (seasonal) are primary island entry points; Edgartown Airport offers year-round service to Boston, Hyannis and Nantucket and, seasonally, to Providence and New Bedford.

Historic Edgartown is a renowned yachting center with stately and meticulously maintained   whaling captains' houses. Boutique shops and restaurants surround the idyllic harbor. Vineyard Haven is the Vineyard's year-round port and, as one would expect, it is chocked with fine elegant sea captains' houses, shops and restaurants, all within sight of the beautiful harbor (or a stone's throw away).   Whimsical Oak Bluffs brims with life and energy.   More than 300  Gingerbread Cottages comprise one of the most distinctive architectural enclaves anywhere. The annual Grand Illumination www.mvcma.org/grand.htm is an unforgettable experience and draws tens of thousands to experience the magic. In town, Flying Horses Carousel, oldest continuously operating carousel in America, attracts visitors of every age. After sunset, there is ample nightlife and live music, a bevy of excellent restaurants and Circuit Avenue and Arts District shops and galleries for postprandial strolls.

Up-island, visitors find rolling hills, world-class dining and under the radar beaches. These towns define the vintage New England coastal experience. West Tisbury is where the clocks stop. A venerable general store, stately town hall and dreamy church can all be captured within the frame of one picture.   Chilmark personifies the quintessential New England experience. The further up-island one gets, the more "away" one feels.  It is possible to truly drop off the earth here and settle into a sandy perch on one of town's popular and spectacular beaches. Menemsha, the rapturous fishing village, with a harbor one can only imagine, is Chilmark's very heart. Watch fishermen land their catches, buy a lobster roll or clam chowder and take in the incomparable sunset. Aquinnah, at the extreme western tip of the Vineyard, is inhabited primarily by descendants of the indigenous Wampanoag people. One of the most renowned sites on the island, the Aquinnah Cliffs, a National Historic Landmark, are located along its coast. These remarkable glacial Cliffs of clay, sand and gravel tell a hundred million year old story of a forest-cloaked Aquinnah.  Gleaming above this grandeur is Gay Head Light, open for tours seasonally, which guides seagoing vessels safely past the offshore rocky ledge.

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WHAT'S NEW Martha's Vineyard

• Farm Field Seawww.ffsmv.comis about connecting friends to the simple pleasures of gathering and cooking food as close to the source as possible. The Island adventure will immerse you in all aspects of growing, fishing, harvesting, and foraging for food, and the journey of bringing a fresh, local meal to the table. Attendees will experience firsthand the creativity, inspiration, and passion of growing, fishing, harvesting, foraging and creating a simple, locally sourced meal. Celebrate Martha's Vineyard's thriving community of small farms; seafood from the Island's healthy oceans and ponds; brilliant varieties of quality, organic produce; fantastic wild edibles from the Island's woods and shores; pasture-raised meats; in a setting that is like nowhere else on earth. 
• The Charles W. Morgan, a National Historic Landmark built in 1841, is the oldest wooden American commercial ship still afloat and is based at Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT. From June 21-24, 2014 this vessel will dock at Tisbury Wharf, Vineyard Haven. Accompanied by a dockside exhibition customized for each of several locations to be visited, the ship will also be open to the public. 
• Nathan Gould promoted to Executive Chef at Edgartown's Harbor View Hotel www.harbor-view.com/dining Gould will oversee the daily food and beverage operations of Water Street, the Hotel's signature fine dining restaurant, and Henry's Hotel Bar.  Chef Gould is a passionate advocate of farm-to-table cuisine, utilizing produce and meat from the island's own farms, seafood fished from the surrounding waters, and herbs and seasonal vegetables fresh from the hotel's own garden beds, which he implemented earlier this year. Before he made his way to Martha's Vineyard, Chef Gould, a New Jersey native, worked as a private chef and caterer, consulted on menu designs for a number of restaurants, and interned with the Food Network where he had the opportunity to work under Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali, Bobby Flay and Sarah Moulton. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University and enhanced his culinary studies with wine training at the German Wine and Sommelier School of Koblenz.
• Vineyard Food Experience | Island-wide  Whether one's favorites include oysters, quahogs, just-shucked local corn, lobster in its many incarnations, fresh local organic tomatoes, grilled just-off-the-boat seafood, Martha's Vineyard has something for every palate.  Whether one is on a beach blanket, at a picnic table or at the island's finest haute cuisine restaurant, the Vineyard dining experience is loaded with fresh, local ingredients which means impossibly delicious food on your blankets, picnic table or white linen. Island partnerships between farmers, fishermen, markets and chefs result in visitors and locals enjoying high quality farm-to-table, and ocean-to-table cuisine—and not just in season—year-round!
   
  Thanks to charter fishing captains, the annual Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass & Bluefish Fishing Derby  large, accessible farms like Morning Glory ,the Farm Institute and Island Alpaca, as well as the vibrant Farmer's Market in West Tisbury, you can actually have authentic, hands-on experiences to see exactly where your food comes from, what it takes to get it to you, and enjoy it all in the freshest way imaginable!
  If you're on the Vineyard in the autumn, take advantage of the Derby, the Living Local Harvest Festival ,the Local Wild Food Challenge, and the Food and Wine Festival. In spring, catch a sheering day at Island Alpaca or Allen Sheep Farm, or tantalize your taste buds at The Taste of the Vineyard and Martha's Vineyard Restaurant Week. If you're interested in an in-depth experience, check out classes and workshops offered by Kitchen Porch Catering and Farm, Field, Sea.
• Offshore Ale Company www.offshoreale.comof Oak Bluffs now offers Brewery Tours! Tours are very personalized, limited to maximum of eight people. The 30-45-minute tours are $5 ($10 includes a full tap-room tasting) includes a parting gift. The new Offshore Company Store is located next door at 24 Kennebec  Avenue and specializes in bar-ware, apparel, and brew-beach gear.
• Pink & Green Weekend | Edgartown| May 9-11, 2014 The 3rd annual Pink & Green Weekend, a co-celebration of spring and Mother's Day, will be held in Edgartown and include: the Pink & Green Ball, Mother's Day brunches, sale, promotions and the 2nd Annual Bartender's Drink Contest!
• Martha's Vineyard Restaurant Week  | June 15-21  Come celebrate the cuisine and creativity as Island chefs prepare their fresh new menu items for the season!  Over 30 Vineyard restaurants serving 3 course, prix fixed lunch from $10-$20 and dinner from $25-$45.     
  • Sand Sculpture Contest | Edgartown| August 6, 2014 Beat the heat on August 6th, and head           down to South Beach with your family for Edgartown Board of Trade's Sand Sculpture Contest!            Fun for the whole family, enjoy the sun, sand and water and the chance to win some great pries!
  • International Film Festival | Vineyard Haven |September 11-14 Combine the laid back style of          the Vineyard, a passionate audience of film and culture enthusiasts with the excitement of a       festival celebrating films from across the globe – not to be missed!
  • Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Mid-September through mid-October Great               for anglers of all ages!  Come experience fishing like you never have before! 
  • Fall for the Arts | October  Enjoy the harvest bounty and fall colors during this month-long         celebration of arts and culture!  Every weekend is filled with a fabulous activities and festivals,       including Food & Wine, Art Island, Wild Local Food Challenge, the Art of Chocolate, Vineyard     Artisans handcrafts, gallery strolls and so much more!!  www.artsmarthasvineyard.com
  • Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine Festival | Edgartown| October 16-19, 2014 Treat your senses to this intimate fall weekend on Martha's Vineyard at its annual premier Food & Wine Festival. This four-day Festival attracts food and wine enthusiasts to celebrate, sample and savor the distinct aromas and blends of the world's fine wines and taste decadent foods prepared by top-tier Vineyard chefs and beyond. Food lovers are treated to locally grown produce from sea and island farms and enjoy world-class entertainment.
  • Christmas In Edgartown | Edgartown | December 12-14  A favorite island tradition for more than 30 years, Christmas in Edgartown celebrates the holidays and offers visitors the charm of Edgartown in the winter. Weekend highlights include the Annual Chowder Contest, pictures with Santa, Lighting of Edgartown Lighthouse at the Harbor View Hotel, Christmas parade, shopping and sales and holiday-themed events benefiting island charities. 

NANTUCKET

Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce www.nantucketchamber.org

P. J. Martin-Smith, Executive Director director@nantucketchamber.org 508-228-1700

Nantucket, named the "Best Island in the World" by National Geographic, is a treasure chest, completely filled to overflowing with vast treasures of culture, history, architecture, beauty, tradition and grace. Nantucket is a bastion of elegance and its ambiance hearkens a gentler bygone era, with none of the overt commercial trappings of today's resort destinations.

Nantucket island, off the coast of Massachusetts, harbor to generations of 19th-century whaling captains and haven to 20th-century summer residents, is rich with stretches of unspoiled beach, wooden sailboats and shingled cottages weathered the gray of a widow's hair. With an eye-popping inventory of magnificent architecture that evokes its fabled and historic past, Nantucket is a repository of four centuries of arts, culture, architecture and lore.

Nantucket has no traffic lights, neon signs or fast food restaurants; the entire island is a designated National Historic Landmark with more than 800 pre-Civil War era houses and has more properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places than anywhere in Massachusetts except Boston, Plymouth and Salem. Nantucket was Whaling Capital of the World from 1800-1840, its town was Massachusetts' third largest city (population 10,000) after Boston and Salem.

Main Street, Nantucket is one of America's most prestigious addresses as well as having one of its most beautiful Main Streets, according to Travel & Leisure. Walking along this enchanting thoroughfare from the Harbor, one easily imagines stepping back into the mid-19th century (it's easy to ignore motor vehicles which lurch over the uneven cobblestones). With pristine period houses crowding up to meet the street, a visit to Nantucket is like peering through a time-travel looking glass, so much so that someone transported from a century ago would find much of the 'old town' unchanged. Most of its period houses are covered in untreated weather-beaten shingles, and one often sees first glimpses of Nantucket Town on approach from the water misted by a swirling fog, thus the moniker 'the gray lady.' Of course, whether that nickname is evocative of the frequent fogs or the graying of the houses' signature cedar shake shingles (or possibly both) is cause for conjecture.

Main Street is Nantucket's historic and de facto heart. Here, the drugstore still mixes old-fashioned milkshakes at its nostalgic soda fountain—and its round stools are set before an aging counter. Islanders gather on Main Street and prattle on about island events and news du jour, and then go about their business—seemingly unfazed by the genuine charm and beauty that surrounds them. But scratch an islander just a little, and his pride will surface and he's a kid again, let loose in a land of his favorite toys. The town radiates beautifully outward from its beloved heart to mid-island, S'conset, Tom Nevers, Surfside, Miacomet, Cisco, Madaket and Dionis and their miles of stunning, unsullied beaches. The Travel Channel weighed in, proclaiming Nantucket Island as the third best beach destination in America.

Many of Nantucket's magnificent period houses were built by the wealth which whale oil trade endowed this minuscule, 50-square mile island during its heyday as 'Whaling Capital of the World.' Its whaling fleet grew from a mere twenty ships in 1806 to seventy-eight in 1821. Those seventy-eight ships carried 27,495 tons of oil across the seas to Europe, whereas fifteen years earlier just under 5,000 tons were delivered. American author Herman Melville based his enduring novel Moby Dick on the 1820 ramming of Captain George Pollard's Nantucket whaling ship Essex (Captain Ahab's Pequod in the novel) by a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale.

Within Nantucket's benevolent confines, visitors will find both reverie and reflection as one takes in the bountiful collection of historic houses, churches, grey shingled, distinctively rose-covered Nantucket-style homes and cottages all of which are heady reminders of the island's illustrious past. But none of these living artifacts are found under glass, but are readily accessible for all to enjoy. In addition to the magnificent geography with which the island was blessed, it is also set quite apart from the hustle and bustle of the mainland's frenetic lifestyle, imbuing residents and visitors with a relaxed, reflective experience. Wonderful museums and historic society venues inform, educate and illuminate the glorious island history of one of America's most iconic destinations which, while eminently cultural, also provides a wide range of recreational experiences. 

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~ WHAT'S NEW Nantucket ~

• 21 Broad Hotel: Located on vibrant Broad Street, this unique and unexpected boutique Nantucket hotel will embrace the downtown vibe of Nantucket. Like the neighborhood, the hotel will be historic yet fresh, fun yet stylish, hip yet local. It's where the energy of Nantucket will meet a sleek, modern vibe.  27 room with private baths. Opening Summer 2014 www.21broadhotel.com.
• B-ACK Yard BBQ: Will be located at 20 Straight Wharf offering BBQ cuisine. Opening early spring 2014
• Nantucket Disc Golf: The premise is simple. Instead of using clubs to direct a ball into a hole, disc golfers throw a Frisbee over a similarly designed course, with the hole being a wire basket anchored in the ground. Free and open year round. www.nantucketdiscgolf.org
• Nantucket Bucket: Activities for families and children. Up to date event and activity information promoting what the island offers year-round for families and visitors. Open Year Round www.nantucket-bucket.com.  
• Nantucket Music Festival: A celebration of music including many genres of music, representing world renowned and local artists. Aug 2-3, 2014 at Tom Nevers Field, Nantucket Island. www.nantucketmusicfestival.com
• Tugboat Tim's: Nantucket's only store for everything boat and beach: fishing gear and rental equipment, boat, surf and beach gear rentals. Open Year Round www.tugboattims.com.
• Nantucket Black Book: A new on-line guide connecting on- and off-island with all things Nantucket www.nantucketblackbook.com.
• Nantucket Historical Association's Old Goal (Old English for Jail): Recently restored, this is one of the oldest jails in America. Opening June 2014 www.nha.org.
• Artist Association Of Nantucket Visual Arts Center: Studio space for artists of all ages complete with a large ceramic studio, classrooms  and gallery space. Hours will be seasonal, autumn 2014 opening anticipated. www.nantucketarts.org.
• Nantucket New Years: Nantucket Noel and Christmas Stroll is a big event held on the island every year for the past four decades. To add to the festivities, there is now a “Nantucket New Year,” which held its inaugural event in December 2013.  The five-day community celebration, organized by Nantucket Visitor Services and ReMain Nantucket, featured a Festival of Trees at the Whaling Museum, arts and crafts workshops for kids, ice skating, and a black-and-white masked ball New Year's Eve party at Nantucket Hotel among many other holiday-themed activities throughout town.  For more information about next year's event and line-up of activities, visit www.nantucketnewyears.org

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Press and media contact: Bill DeSousa-Mauk bill@demapr.com