Yes, it is off season and may not be the warmest climate for the first day of Spring but I wouldn’t swap it for anything!  Off to Squibnocket on this bright crisp day, sun shining and kites in hand.

Kites on the Beach

I know most people think of the summer months when they hear Martha’s Vineyard and I wanted to share some of our pre-season delights:

• Having the whole beach to your self.  Kite not necessary! Great for walking and treasure hunting (shells, sea glass maybe even an arrow head)
• No crowds in the restaurants…more limited in availability but will see more locals out and about.
• Shops are very welcoming and you will be sure to run across a number of sales.
• Hiking – so many hidden places to explore and so wonderful to be in the great outdoors without the winter parka.
• Search for that perfect vacation rental while your here and plan your in-season Martha’s Vineyard Vacation.

Squibnocket Beach, Martha's Vineyard

Squibnocket beach is located in Chilmark and requires town permit for access during the summer months.  It is one of our up island treasures that makes a Chilmark rental quite appealing.

Chilmark Rental Options: SEARCH

The front porch is covered and the back deck is perfect for lazing around in the sun. And the colors, art and furniture of the house compliments the Victorian stylings with a classic Vineyard look. The property also includes an historic barn and a two bedroom guest house which is also available for rent, but not included. The surrounding land is perfect for evening strolls or a pick-up Frisbee game before dinner – a wonderful place for children to run around and enjoy the glorious Vineyard sea air!

The inside of the house is just as glorious as the outside with open, bright colors, clean lines and all the nooks and crannies that Victorian’s offer. The circular turret and the bump outs allow for cozy spots within and gorgeous architecture from without.

Important to note: The entire first floor is wheelchair accessible and includes a first floor king/double-twin bedroom and a fully wheelchair accessible bathroom.

I look forward to booking this house for you! Contact me for details on this or any of our properties here.

This very cool apartment rental in Edgartown has it all: it’s right in the heart of the village, very close to the beach and the price is definitely on target.

At 450 square feet, the space is used incredibly well with an open kitchen/dining/living area with cathedral ceilings. Off the living room, you’ll find a bedroom with a queen-sized bed, and up the spiral staircase is a great loft space with a king water bed. The property comes with a rooftop deck and an outdoor shower. Parking for one car is available for overnights and the first floor is occupied by a professional office.

Right outside your door is Edgartown village where you’ll find everything:

• Incredible stores – boutique clothing, a cozy independent book store and even the Black Dog for your yearly t-shirt;
• Restaurants – L’Etoile for something fancy, Among the Flowers for something casual and Mad Martha’s for something ice cream.
• Events – movies, music, festivals, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum…and more!

And, don’t forget the beach! Fuller Street Beach is only a 3/4 of a mile away. Fuller Street is a quiet Beach that overlooks the water between Edgartown’s shores and Chappaquiddick – which Fuller gives you a clear view of.

The weekly rates are $1600-1800, but – as I wrote the other day - last minute bookings are proving to have flexible rates! Give me a call if you’re interested in this or any other property!

Image credit (beach photo): Diana E.

Lambert’s Cove Sunset

Farmland, rolling hills and sweet beaches define West Tis, and it’s the only town that spans the island from the north coast to the south shoreline. Officially considered up-island, because of its size, the eastern edge borders the down island towns and doesn’t feel quite so far removed as Chilmark or Aquinnah. Still, the majority of West Tis is rural and forest filled – inviting you to get lost in the delights of the island.

Some things that you won’t want to miss:

West Tisbury Farmer’s Market. Every Saturday and Wednesday morning all summer, the farmers pick their best and bring it to the West Tis center for the market. Not only is their fresh seasonal produce, but you’ll also find baked goods, meat, jams, salsas, wool – and the best spring rolls ever!

The Artisan’s Festival. Vineyard artists including glass blowers, weavers, jewelry makers, clothing designers, painters, potters and more head to the Grange Hall every Thursday and Sunday for one of the best summer fairs around.

As you drive up State Road from Vineyard Haven, you’ll come upon a wonder strip of stores. At Glass Works, you can watch the fascinating art of blowing glass. Both Citrine and Banana’s Gallery have very cool women’s clothes that you won’t find anywhere else. Fiddlehead Farm has local and organic produce and incredible gourmet treats including the best smoked salmon and tuna ever. Coming soon, the owners of Oak Bluff’s popular restaurant, The Slice of Life, are about to open up a new restaurant in West Tisbury – very exciting.

And don’t forget the beaches! Lambert’s Cove is the town beach (sticker required) on the north side. It boasts calm waters and gorgeous sunsets. Almost across the street, you’ll find Seth’s Pond the perfect spot for little ones. Long Point Beach is on the ocean side and is part of the Trustees of the Reservation – so you do need to belong or pay a fee to enter. West Tisbury holds the island’s commercial airport and miles and miles of bike trails as well.

Of course, we have a wide variety of rental properties in West Tisbury as well. On the water, tucked in the woods, near town, in the middle of nowhere…just let me know what you’re looking for!

Image courtesy of petersbar

For all of the ‘glitz’ the Vineyard offers…(and by ‘glitz’ I mean manicured, rose covered streets in old whaling villages)…the village of Menemsha offers the most charming absence of glitz this side of the Mississippi.

It starts with a long ride down Chilmark’s North Road winding by farms, up and over gently rolling hills. And then the road sort of stops…and you get to the water. The village sits right there on a thrust of land, called a bight, extending out into the ocean.

The first thing you’ll see on your left is the famous Home Port restaurant. A great place to take the family and get a homestyle, full, seafood dinner. And across the street, you’ll find great burgers at the Galley and everything else you need at the Menemsha Market.

Head down the street and you’ll find a few great boutiques and stores full of Vineyard treasures. And then, you’ll come to one of my favorite places – The Bite. Hands down the best fried clams on the island. This clam shack was also featured in the movie Jaws, much of which was filmed in Menemhsa.

Most notoriously, Menemsha is known as a fishing village. As you head down the bight, you pass a few seafood shops where the fish is the freshest you can imagine. Literally, if you look through the front door, you can see out the back – to the dock where the boats are pulling up and unloading that day’s catch.

As you pass the fish shops, stay left – and you can walk along the docks to see all of the fishing boats, their equipment and, most likely, some real live fishermen.

The end of bight features a beautiful public beach…a favorite for picnics, drum circles and the most beautiful sunsets you’ve ever seen.

Image courtesy of jlrotner

At my house, you don’t have to look very far for some real and authentic Martha’s Vineyard-ness. You see, I happened to have married a Mayhew – the Island’s founding non-native – family. And my hubby Jonathan’s a longtime commercial fisherman to boot.

So, I sat him down and got him to spill the beans so that I could share my personal slice of this island with all of you…

Anne: How long have you been fishing on Martha’s Vineyard?

Jonathan: I grew up in a fishing family. So I’ve been at this for 50 years – since I was 7. My father and grandfather, and my great grandfather too, they were all commercial fisherman.

Anne: What kind of fish do you mainly target?

Jonathan: My favorite species to fish is harpoon swordfish. But in my life, I’ve caught them all: sea scallops, squid, cod, haddock, yellow tail flounder, grey sole, monkfish, fluke – my father was a lobsterman – bay scallops, quahogs (clams). Honestly, it would be easier to tell you what I haven’t caught!

Anne: Tell me about the camaraderie of the fishermen on the Vineyard?

Jonathan: We actually have great camaraderie here. In other places in New England there’s a lot of conflict between fishermen of different species – because their gear can get mixed up – nets and traps can get tangled, etc. But on the Vineyard – we supply bait to each other and we have good communication about gear use – so this doesn’t happen.

We even formed the Martha’s Vineyard Duke’s County Fishermen’s Association. We work together to preserve the environment of our waters and our fish. For example, we’ve agreed collectively not to use harmful gear – like the gill net.

Anne: You’re a Mayhew – the founding non-native family on the Island – what does this mean to you?

Jonathan: I’m an 11th generation Vineyarder…that and 50 cents will get me a cup of coffee on the docks of Menemsha!

There’s always been discussion about the wash-ashores being the newcomers – but the truth is that we were wash-ashores too – just a little earlier than everyone else! The only true natives on the island are the members of the Wampanoag Tribe. Some people put stock in how long your family’s been on the island, but most of the Mayhew’s don’t put any stock in it at all. My dad used to say, ‘The mayhews are like a hill of potatoes – the best of them are underground.’ Today there are at least 20 families above ground.

Anne: What’s your favorite thing about fishing in Vineyard waters?

Jonathan: It had always been the freedom of making your own choices and the challenge of making a living out of fishing here. But that’s changed a lot with government regulations. Some of them are good, don’t get me wrong – but they’ve really hurt the small fishing communities along the east coast. Maybe it wasn’t their intention, but it’s been the consequence. We’ve lost a lot of access to the big fisheries, the corporations. It’s been painful and destructive. Similar to agriculture and the damage done to the small farm. Sadly, it’s been a long fight with little satisfaction.

Anne: Where’s the best place to take kids to fish?

Jonathan: Up-island, I have to go with off the dock’s in Menemsha. Dutcher’s dock is public, has easy access, not a large expense – all you need is a small rod and a pack of frozen squid. You can also fish off the jetties. Another option is beach fishing – you need a little more knowledge (like sunrise and sunset are best). And even if you don’t catch anything, it’s still fun.

Down-island I’d hit the bridges between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. You can get striped bass and bluefish, and if you’re lucky you’ll get a bonita – they’re fast action, big fight, you need a good rod and reel.

Anne: And the best place for a seasoned fishermen?

Jonathan: I’d go with the charters. There are fantastic fishermen taking folks out all over the island.

For a list of great Martha’s Vineyard fishing charters click here.

Katama Rental

What more can you ask for?  The ultimate vacation house with great proximity to South Beach, one of the best beaches on the East Coast!  This property offers all the bells and whistles with great play areas as well as a great floor plan for multi-generational occupancy.

Katama Rental with waterviews from deck

Enjoy summer afternoons and evenings on the upper level deck basking in the sea air while enjoying the Edgartown Harbor Views.  This houses offers another deck off of the kitchen with an open fireplace/grill for the cooler nights.

Master bedroom, Katama Rental

photostoryhedleymusic

It’s spring – and I just can’t stop blogging about all of the glorious places to explore the nature of Martha’s Vineyard. Today, I’m thinking about Sheriff’s Meadow – an incredible organization with beautiful properties sprinkled across the island.

Some of my favorites are Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary, Cedar Tree Neck and Packard Preserve – don’t miss ‘em when you come to visit!

The mission of Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation is to conserve, administer and manage natural habitats for wildlife, and all other lands that represent the beautiful, rural, natural character of Martha’s Vineyard.

The foundation takes great pride in preserving our island through conservation…and educating our residents and visitors about this precious hunk of land.

Summer 2009 marks the Meadow’s 50th anniversary, they’ll be celebrating on July 20th with a gala edition of their annual summer benefit. Held at the beautiful Allen Farm on the Atlantic Ocean in Chilmark, dinner will be catered by Tea Lane Caterers and feature locally-grown foods – some right from Allen Farm. The party is a special fundraising opportunity for Sheriff’s Meadow, they’re inviting one and all to purchase tickets to the party and to consider becoming a sponsor.  Check the Foundation’s website for more info!

I could decide to write about the many natural gems and places to explore on Martha’s Vineyard every day for a year and not run out of material!

Today, I’m picking two of our family’s favorite spots up in Chilmark: Fulling Mill and Squibnocket.

Fulling Mill is a fantastic hike through a 46-acre reserve that runs between Middle Road and South Road. For those of you who haven’t been to the Vineyard, don’t be fooled by these ‘street names!’ Sometimes, I think these two roads were named so mundanely as a smokescreen because they are among the most beautiful roads on the island.

This trail follows a beautiful brook, complete with bridge walkways. You’ll walk through woods and open fields – the scenery changing quickly as it tends to do on the Island. As you get close to South Road, there are some great rocks in the water that my kids love to play on, getting their feet wet and splashing around. In season, there are loads of blueberries and huckleberries along the way and the brook is a great spot for trout fishing.

Right now at the Chilmark School, my kid’s are doing a fundraiser and getting sponsors for every trail walk they do this month – what a great way to inspire kids to get outside!
Sunrise on Squibnocket is pretty hard to beat – but it’s one of our favorite beaches. The best part is that the landscape of the beach changes regularly. Depending on storm patterns and other weather, the beach is sandy or rocky or loaded with shells. The kids love to hunt for arrowheads, sea glass, stones and shells. My sister-in-law collects agar, the seaweed alternative to gelatin in jello. I like to walk the beach and find that perfectly balanced mental place that I like to call ‘home.’