Martha's Vineyard 101

Where are you? Martha's Vineyard is less an island and more a land of its own. From the mainland seven miles away, one can take it all in visually without even turning his head. Yet, after landing on the Vineyard, the wider world melts away like the lemon drop of song and the island encompasses us all, gaining proportions beyond all reckoning. Perhaps this sense of 'apartness' is evoked by the need to either fly or sail to reach it. Whatever the reason, it is a sense which people happily aspire to.  Whether one's approach to the Vineyard is by air or land, the island is equally imposing and welcoming. There is no way for anyone to drive to the island and all motor vehicles must be ferried over by Steamship. But since the island has a year-round transit system and 44 miles of bike trails, a car is not really necessary.

Around the Island.  Martha's Vineyard is an intriguing triangle of land nine by twenty miles wide, 100 square miles big and comprising six glorious sibling towns with about 125 miles of coastline. From its triangular tip nearest  Cape Cod at Vineyard Haven (aka Tisbury), clockwise, the towns run Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah. Vineyard towns are distinguished as being 'up island' (as in higher longitudinal reading) towns— less populous Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury—and 'down island' and more populous Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven. With a year-round population of less than 15,000, the Vineyard is the third largest island on the American east coast. Swaddled between the Elizabeth Islands to the west, Cape Cod to the north and Nantucket to the east, Martha's Vineyard is sheltered from elements and intrusions.

What Happened?  Martha's Vineyard was discovered and named in 1602 when English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold sailed here. It was settled starting in 1642 at Great Harbor (now Edgartown). Generally, relations between settlers and the Wampanoag were peaceful. In 1835, the first Methodist “campmeeting” was held in a part of Oak Bluffs then known as Wesleyan Grove. Subsequently, as the congregations grew enormously, attendees were housed in what were called “society tents” (mainland congregations maintained their own) erected in a semicircle around Trinity Park. Conditions were cramped and, in the 1860s and 1870s, smaller family tents were replaced with wooden cottages after worshipers began leasing small lots. At one time, there were 500 cottages, although today 300 glorious gingerbread cottages surrounding the imposing Tabernacle remain.  In the 19th century, whaling was the island's prominent industry, like Nantucket's, but around 1870 with the discovery of petroleum as a cheaper source for lighting oil lamps led to an almost immediate collapse of the whaling trade. When the railroad extended to Woods Hole on nearby Cape Cod after the Civil War, summer residences began developing on the island. In 1974 Steven Spielberg catapulted Martha's Vineyard to national, even international, prominence with his mesmerizing movie about a killer great white shark Jaws. Subsequently, the island became sort of a haven for celebrities although many celebrated personalities already lived there. Today, it is a place where poets, presidents, peasants, painters, politicos and people of every rank and description are drawn—and equally welcomed.

Lay of the Land:  Despite Martha's Vineyard's claim-to-fame beaches, its verdant and rolling interior does not pale by comparison. There are literally dozens of conservation and expanses of natural terrain and reservations relatively untrammeled by civilization. From the low-lying east end of the island to its uplands in the west, one traverses outwash plains, forests cloaked in hardwoods and pines, glacial outcroppings, rolling farm and grasslands culminating in perhaps the Vineyard's most iconic treasure, the dazzling, eye-popping polychrome Clay Cliffs at Aquinnah.  Martha's Vineyard also represents one of the two major Massachusetts island watersheds and includes 13 named streams, 42 lakes and an astounding 8,777 acres of estuaries.

Touching Your Heart and Mind.  Natural gifts are merely the tip of the iceberg here. The Vineyard, as it is affectionately know, has bounteous cultural, architectural and historical significance. Originally, this island was known by its native Wampanoag name, Noepe ("land amid the streams") and today, many of the town of Aquinnah's 400 year-round residents are descendants of the original native people. The Aquinnah Cultural Center details their history. Throughout the island, there are many Wampanoag place names for ponds, beaches, natural areas and reserves, reminders of the early origins of this diverse and captivating land. Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust owns and manages 18 historic properties central to the island community. In addition there is the Vineyard Museum with more than 30,000 items relating to all facets of life on Martha's Vineyard. The Museum also maintains stewardship over three of the island's five lighthouses. While in Oak Bluffs, tuck into the minuscule Cottage Museum, housed in a typical Campground cottage, replete with period furnishings and offering a glimpse of life back in the day as well as vintage photographs, documents and clothing. There are also more than two dozen art galleries plus scores of crafters and artisans studios to explore.

Martha's Vineyard is a treasure chest of architecture. One can readily attest to this by driving around the island. Each seems to have its signature brand of architecture. From Vineyard Haven's many Colonial style homes to its municipal building, one of the Island's most handsome architectural legacies of whaling days, this bustling town is most visitors' first point of entry to the island. Street after street of glorious and pristine architectural gems alone are worth a trip here.

Don't Sit Still.  There is an endless selection of recreation—soft to hard core experiences—throughout the Vineyard. More than 125 miles of coastline translate into the island's providing every sort of recreation that can be done along the shore, from swimming and fishing to surfing and kayaking and everything in between. As one takes his or her measure of the island, the sheer diversity of terrain— from seal level outwash plain to more than 300 feet in Chilmark—one can only imagine new activities for every day of the year. Hiking, cycling along the island's 44 miles of trails, exploring nature reserves, conservation land, sanctuaries and arboretums, farm visits, camping, visiting historical sites and museums, golf, film festivals, scavenger hunts, carousel rides, antiquing, shopping, visiting the alpaca farm and world of reptiles and bird park, lighthouse and island tours, explore the African-American Heritage Trail, horseback riding, beachcombing, charter fishing and catamaran excursions and more. An exciting day trip is the exploration of Chappaquiddick Island, across the narrows at the foot of Dock Street for 527 feet to the island. Here one can explore Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, Wasque Reserve, Mytoi Japanese garden and the wild, wonderfully serene landscape.

Sweet Dreams!  A wide diversity of lodging options—approximately 1,110 guest rooms island-wide— comprise 71 individual lodging establishments (28 bed & breakfasts, 26 inns, 13 hotels and four resorts). Many bed & breakfasts and inns are former sea and whaling captain's homes, beautifully restored and offering 21st century conveniences; others are grand old hotels which provide the ambiance of the Vineyard's halcyon days; the resorts are full-service and feature a wide array of guest and business services, such as on-site restaurants, room service, modern meeting space and business centers, shuttle service, concierge service as well as all the modern conveniences. Several properties is more rural locations feature small cottages set amidst rolling landscapes as well as many creature comforts in addition to serenity and the opportunity for solitude. The opportunities to mix and mingle with other Vineyard visitors over breakfast or afternoon teas and wine mixers at various properties allows one to share experiences and delight over that great piece of art, huge fish or wonderful Vineyard treasure found in an antiques shop. Timeshares and house rentals further diversity the lodging mix.

Dine In or Out. There are approximately six dozen restaurants on the island offering the full spectrum of dining experience. Seafood, as one would expect, is a key ingredient in every Vineyard kitchen, but the sheer diversity of culinary experience is remarkable for such a small island. From local fish fry and fried clam stands to the ultimate haute cuisine are all available, sometimes within a block or two. There are incredible spots renowned for their artful breakfasts, outstanding sandwiches, fried clams and lobster rolls, fish and chips and, at the other end of the spectrum, sophisticated French and continental cuisine which are matches for the finest dining experiences New York or Boston have to offer. In addition, there are also a number of superb farms and stands where outstanding island-grown fresh produce is readily available throughout the growing season. In addition, there are many seafood markets where just-caught fish, clams, lobster and crabs are available for those with self-catering units or house rentals or who want to make use of grills available at many properties.

For additional information about Martha's Vineyard, contact the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce, regional tourism council for the island at www.mvy.com or 508-693-0085.

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Media contact:                 Bill DeSousa-Mauk bill@demapr.com 508-790-0566

High resolution art available upon request

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