Vacation rentals in Martha's Vineyard

This fabled, iconic summer island retreat beloved by several generations of US presidential couples is a Cape Cod gem of a destination close enough to New York City or Boston to fly in for an incredible summer weekend, downtime getaway surrounded by exquisite, stately, white,18th century Revival architecture. Spend a perfect weekend in gorgeous Edgartown! You will find high end luxury and style in the gorgeous small boutiques and organic diners, cafes and restaurants where you can sample New England classics such as clam chowder and smoked blue fish.

There is much to enjoy on a chic, friends or family group vacation getaway on this tranquil Cape Cod island where there are no traffic lights, parking meters or traffic jams! You will find that your vacation rental is delightfully close to a host of attractions and activities such as kayaking and surfing. Martha’s Vineyard has splendid beaches and while many are private access for residents only there are numerous public beaches too. Enjoy unique fishing and clamming experiences at Lobsterville and Tashmoo beach. Meneshema beach is a popular destination for laying out delicious picnic fare on a blanket for a spectacular ocean sunset supper!

This idyllic 20 by 10 mile Atlantic Ocean island features heritage harbor towns, iconic New England lighthouses, stunning acres of farmland and glorious sandy beaches. Martha’s vineyard is only accessible by boat or air with regular ferries departing from Falmouth Harbor, Wood’s hole and Hyannis Harbor on the Massachusetts mainland. Enjoy the sunshine, summer sea breeze and magnificent ocean vista on the 45 minute ferry journey to your island retreat with the ferry landing at Oak Bluff. Light aircraft, domestic commercial flights land at Martha’s Vineyard public airport in the center of the island while there are two smaller airports for small private planes. Flight times of only 1h 15 minutes from New York and 40 minutes from Boston make this an ideal weekend escape from the hubbub of city life!

From the fresh, classic preppiness of lovely Edgartown to the atmospheric beach town vibe of Oak Bluffs to the pastoral beauty of Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tilbury, Martha’s Vineyard has something for everyone. The rolling hills and exquisite dry stone walls around Chilmark make this a local pastoral treasure. Admire elegant, white stately mansions, hike and bike around Menemsha Hill Reservation and visit the delightful West Tisbury Farmers Market in Edgartown. This popular destination is packed with history and heritage landmarks and features fine dining in upscale eateries. Chappaquiddick Peninsula of the Eastern shores of Martha’s Vineyard offers multiple opportunities for biking, hiking, birding and boating.

Edgartown has the best shopping and is a playground for exclusive luxury boutiques and specialty stores. You will find a multitude of unique, upscale shops on the main street. This is a vacation resort spot of renown where affluent vacationers have spent their summers for generations and this is reflected in the array of upscale, stylish eateries, fashion and home goods stores and art galleries that will delight shoppers and browsers alike. There are no chain stores on Martha’s Vineyard making this a haven for sourcing rare one of a kind treasures. Expect to find the kind of beautiful high quality items that would grace high end shops in New York’s affluent Tribeca and Soho neighborhoods!

You have to sample a bowl of traditional New England chowder and Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company is the place to do so! Relish a bowl brimming with fresh clams and flavor at this wonderful restaurant. Every meal out on Martha’s Vineyard is a guaranteed taste sensation as there are no franchise eateries on the island. From clambakes to the finest Java coffee brew to boutique fudge and exquisitely refreshing cocktails, you will find it all on Martha’s Vineyard! Top notch, brioche bun beefburgers, boutique breakfast sandwiches and pancakes, chocolate coconut donuts and massive menus on sundrenched patios that include quick bites and shareable plates all compete for your attention in this food lover’s haven!

One of Martha’s Vineyard’s lesser known secrets is the series of coastal ponds that ring the island that have a unique habitat making for an exhilarating morning of wildlife and bird watching. These pristine pools are best explored by kayak and adventurers will delight in exploring the small inlets and hidden coves that lead off the ponds! Edgartown Great Pond has 15 miles of shoreline with amazing rocky coves just waiting to be explored. You will get to see otters, herons, swans and ospreys up close here, while Poucha Pond is filled with soft shell clams, scallops and eelgrass beds that attract a multitude of waterbirds.

This unexpected, unusual attraction will delight both young and old alike. Situated in Oak Bluffs this charming 19 acre farmstead is home to a herd of 70 alpacas and even a llama! These gentle creatures are a delight to pet and to interact with. Stroll around the farm and admire the 100 year old hand hewn oak barn imported from Pennsylvania and browse the gift shop for handmade alpaca loveliness!

Embark on a thrilling six hour sailing adventure that will take you into the chilly, Atlantic waters of Vineyard Haven Sound and Nantucket sound that surround Martha’s Vineyard. Here you will hear the waves lap at the keel of the magnificent two masted sailboat you will be traveling on as you relish the salty seabreeze on your face! Sail out into deep water on a nautical adventure to remember on the Tandemeer, a classic 1980’s ketch sailboat that was famously seen in the 1982 movie Trading Places with Eddie Murphy!

This stunningly beautiful wildlife sanctuary is a haven for conservation and it is here that you can partake of some of Martha’s Vineyard’s most splendid nature panoramas, natural habitats and wildlife sightings. Savor 4 miles of lovely walking trails that manadar past meadows, pass through woodland, by deep pools and along the shoreline. This is a great place for learning about birds. On a February evening you can take part in a full moon owl prowl to observe spectacular nocturnal owls out and about and on the hunt.

Take a trip down memory lane by paying a visit to this vintage campground that was originally set aside by 19th century Methodists for church camp activities. Over time a profusion of wildly painted, extravagantly Gothic designed colorful cottages sprang up. There is a delightful green, memorabilia filled museum called The Cottage Museum that is open for visitors during the summer months. The more than 300 quirky properties are now privately owned.