Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Rental: Chilmark Waterfront

If you’re looking for a quiet vacation rental…but you still want to take advantage of the Vineyard and all it has to offer, look no further. This gorgeous Chilmark rental is all about water, up-island and good living. And it’s being offered for a few select weeks in August at a discounted price! Contact me for details.

Water. Located right on the water (about 200 yards!), you get to enjoy your own private beach on Quitsa Pond and Clam Point Cove – perfect for clamming, kayaking, sailing and swimming. Ideal for young children and families because you also get a private dock and mooring. Your views take in both Quitsa and Menemsha Ponds and look out to the Elizabeth Islands.

Up-Island. It’s quiet, it’s easy. You don’t have to wear shoes if you don’t want to. And even the most posh dinner is fine eaten in khakis or jeans. The pace is just slower up here, everyone’s on beach time. This part of the island also features some of the best beaches, and this Chilmark rental comes with stickers (access) to the prized Squibnocket and Lucy Vincent beaches – spots so special that you practically need a map and a secret password to find them!

Good-living. Open spaces, bright sunlight, a fireplace for those cool and cozy Chilmark nights! This house sleeps eight and the dining room table seats ten. Honestly, the house is just beautiful and the land around it is plentiful – and so very green during the Vineyard summer.

July Fourth on Martha’s Vineyard 2009

The summer is just flying by…I’m so excited that the 4th of July is this weekend! There’s always so much to do on the Vineyard to celebrate our country…

• If you live in New York City, you have to check this out. For the weekend of the fourth only, the New England Fast Ferry is running a boat from the City to the Vineyard. It departs on July 2 and returns on July 5.
• Check out the clam bake in Menemsha if you’re up-island – hang out on the beach and enjoy great food from the Homeport restaurant. There’s usually some good music going on as well. Very kid friendly!
• Of course, there are always the fantastic parade and fireworks in Edgartown! (and a barbecue at the Old Whaling Church)

We still have some great vacation rentals available all over the island…there’s nothing like a last minute adventure to Martha’s Vineyard – and your very own cookout complete with fresh island lobster, maybe a raw bar, greens and roasted potatoes from a local farm stand. Don’t forget the sparklers!

Village Spotlight: Menemsha

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

My Martha’s Vineyard Fisherman

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.

Ten Must Do’s During Your Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Week

A week on Martha’s Vineyard can pass in the blink of an eye.  There is so much beautiful scenery and so many activities you could fill many weeks with great experiences.  Here are a few that you should consider.  Even if you just want to lounge at the beach, take some time to travel to various beaches and enjoy the sites along the way!

1. Chilmark Chocolates
2. Aquinnah Shops
3. Menemsha Sunset w/ Lobsters on the Beach
4. State Beach bridge jumping
5. Kayak with the Trustees – Cape Pogue (chappaquiddick)
6. Tour a Lighthouse
7. Shop for fresh veggies at Morning Glory Farm or West Tisbury Farmers Market
8. Walk on the beach and then Ice Cream in town one or more evening(s)
9. Carousel in Oak Bluffs, even if you don’t have kids, take a ride!
10. Biking from town to town

Hope to see you out there next season!

Retail-Therapy: Martha’s Vineyard Style

When you walk through the shopping districts here on Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll notice the absence of a few of the standards you may be used to. You guessed it – no Gap, no Old Navy, no Anne Taylor, no Nine West. Believe it or not, you won’t even find a Starbucks or a Barnes & Noble on the whole island.

There are virtually no chain stores or restaurant franchises anywhere here. Instead, locally owned bookstores, coffee shops, restaurants and boutiques offer shoppers a wide variety of options and a whole lot of personal attention. And for those of you out there who are in need of a little retail-therapy or just a dress for an unexpected special occasion, you’ll be wonderfully surprised at the quality of the boutiques scattered all over the island.

Heading Up-Island to Menemsha for fried fish and sunsets? Don’t forget to stop by Pandora’s Box – one of our favorite places to shop for gorgeous dresses, designer jeans and even some good sales. This two-room boutique on Basin Road has a dedicated following of some of the island’s most stylish garb and once you step inside you know why shoppers return here year after year.

If you’re in Vineyard Haven, shop at the Green Room on Main Street – winner of the Best of the Vineyard for the past three years. This fantastic shop offers everything from lingerie to shoes to designer swimsuits to super-stylish jeans. Men can shop here too and the downstairs is filled with everything for the surfer in the family from boards to Roxy Girl bikini’s to shades.

In West Tisbury, you’ll love Citrine – a boutique/home accent store/bead-shop combined. Located on State Road in West Tisbury, you can shop the small, but tastefully chosen clothing racks or check out the gorgeous lamps, textiles and jewelry brought in from all over the world while the kids choose from an array of amazing beads to make their own bracelets and necklaces.

On Dock Street in Edgartown head straight for The Great Put On. This true Vineyard standard has been in business since 1969. However, no other boutique on the island could claim to be as up-to-date or as stylish as this very high-end shopper’s paradise. Carrying lines such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Moschino and Vivienne Tam (to name a few) there is no event too sophisticated for an outfit from The Great Put On.

Where to Shop for Food on Martha’s Vineyard

As you plan your vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, your mind is, most likely, already lying on the beach – probably not shopping at the grocery store. But one of the greatest benefits of renting a house on the island is that you don’t have to dine out for all of your meals or rely on hotel restaurant hours. Your house comes equipped with a complete kitchen – so you can eat your lobsters whenever you like.

Here’s where to shop for groceries:

Down Island
Stop and Shop (Vineyard Haven and Edgartown)
Two convenient locations for this good old, standard supermarket, includes a large organic/natural section and features competitive prices.

Cronig’s Market (Vineyard Haven)
A Vineyard landmark with everything you need. Cronig’s has a great organic/natural section, supports the Island Grown Initiative (Buy Local!) and carries many local items – food and body care. Healthy Additions, found in a separate building to the left of the main store, is stocked with natural snacks, health and beauty products.

Reliable Market (Oak Bluffs)
Classic family store in its 3rd generation, known for its great meat and fantastic butcher and conveniently located in the heart of Oak Bluffs on Circuit Ave.

Katama General Store (Edgartown)
A perfect stop on the way to the beach with groceries, a deli and even catering services.

The Chappy Store (Chappaquiddick)
Right on the main road, about 2 miles from the ferry. Just the basics and sandwiches for the beach.

Up Island
Up Island Cronig’s (West Tisbury)
Smaller version of the Vineyard Haven store conveniently located in West Tisbury – perfect for up-island renters who choose to stay on the quiet side of the island. Up Island Cronig’s has everything you need.

Fiddlehead Farm (West Tisbury)
Great produce, much of it organic, and tasty specialty items with a european flare like crackers, cheeses, sausages and sauces.

Alley’s General Store (West Tisbury)
Right in the heart of town, basic groceries plus all the old-fashioned general store amenities and charm including toys, games and beach fare.

West Tisbury Farmer’s Market (West Tisbury)
Not a ‘store’ in the classic sense, but offering an incredible spread of island grown produce, meats, baked goods, infamous vietnamese springrolls, medicinals and crafts every Saturday and Wednesday all summer. Don’t miss it!

The Chilmark Store (Chilmark)
Staple groceries and goods attached to an island-renowned pizzeria and deli. Pull up a rocker on the front porch and watch life at Beetlebung Corner float by.

Menemsha Market (Menemsha)
Small, quaint and full of little treasures, just like Menemsha. Goods for the beach and books for kids included. Perfect for the groceries and pie when you are all the way up-island.

Tea Lane Caterers & The Phantom Chef (Chilmark)
If you don’t feel like cooking, don’t have time to get to the market or you’re planning a party, call Chef Dee Smith, the Phantom Chef. The food is amazing and the gourmet drop-off meal service is the perfect compliment to your Vineyard vacation.