Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Rental: Adorable Aquinnah Retreat

 

This charming Aquinnah oasis is perfect for honeymooners or a romantic getaway.  Tucked away in the woods, this quaint home offers all the luxuries and amenities needed to enjoy your Up-Island vacation.

 

 

 

 

 

This unique property offers three different levels to enjoy. The open kitchen located on the ground level allows dinner seating for six.  The screened in porch, also located on the ground level, allows even more space for entertaining. Climb the stairs to the second story where you will find the living room area. Also, located on the second story, is a fabulous deck located above the screened in porch.

 

 

 

 

 

Keep climbing and you will find yourself in the bedroom. Located on the third floor, the bedroom offers a queen size bed with a full bathroom located at the bottom of the stairs on the second floor.

Located just over a mile from Philbin Beach and around three miles from the famous Aquinnah cliffs this will surely be a vacation to remember.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this vacation rental or about all the beauty Aquinnah has to offer!

Discover Chappaquiddick

Chappaquiddick Island is one of the most beautiful and remote areas of Martha’s Vineyard. The name Chappaquiddick originates from an Indian word “cheppiaquidne” which means “Separate Island.”  Accessible only by ferry, Chappaquiddick is a quick journey across Edgartown Harbor and well worth the trip!

The One Time Ferry, which runs all year long, is the only way cars can access the Island.  The ferry provides transportation for pedestrians and bicyclists as well. On a sunny August day do not be surprised to see long lines of beachgoers who have already caught on to the beautiful beaches located on Chappaquiddick!

The colorful cabanas at the privately owned Chappaquiddick beach club will greet you when you first get off the ferry.

The Trustee’s of the Reservation run the majority of the beaches located on Chappaquiddick.  You will have to pay a fee to enjoy these beaches, but trust me it is well worth it! Wasque Point is a great place to enjoy ponds, the ocean and Katama Bay.

Mytoi, a Japanese garden located on Chappaquiddick is another highlight of the island.  It’s a great place for reflection and mediation. Set among beautiful trees, bushes, and flowers it offers a totally unique experience. Also run by the Trustee’s this garden is free to enjoy.

Chappaquiddick is definitely a place to explore during your stay on Martha’s Vineyard. There are many vacation homes also located on Chappaquiddick that provide you with the same amenities as other vacation homes located on Martha’s Vineyard If your looking to experience a true “getaway” Chappaquiddick may be just what your looking for!

Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Rental: Downtown Edgartown

This newly constructed home located in the heart of Edgartown is the perfect Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental. Offering 4 bedrooms with 3 bathrooms this home provides you with all the amenities necessary to enjoy your Vineyard vacation.

The state of the art kitchen opens to a beautiful dinning and living  area.  With one bedroom located on the ground level, two located  on the second and one bedroom located on the third floor with a  bath en suite, this home is sure to accommodate everyone in your  party.

Located within a great proximity to town, shops, and restaurants this home is sure to please.  Enjoy Fuller Street beach, a sunset sail on the Mad Max or dinner at Chesca’s and take advantage of everything else Edgartown has to offer! This home is great for first time visitors and returning visitors alike!

Please feel free to contact me for more information on this home or with any other questions you may have!

Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Rental: Classic Vineyard Charm

This Gambrel style home located in Katama is the perfect Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental. Located in the perfect location in Edgartown you have the ability to enjoy the surf of South Beach, the shopping of downtown or even a bike ride to the Katama General store. This home is sure to please everyone in your family.

This 3 bedroom with 2 bathroom home offers an open kitchen and dining area with a fireplace. This home offers all the amenities that you would expect from any Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental.

What makes this rental truly special is the outdoor living area.  With its own in-ground pool, this home is sure to be a hit among family and friends! The large deck and lawn provide the perfect place to entertain and enjoy a summer barbeque!  Ideal for families, this home offers you the option of going to the beach or providing a more controlled environment for the kids to cool down from the summer heat.

Between the location and the pool this property is the perfect vacation rental!  Please contact me for information on this property or any other of our wonderful listings!

Take A Ride Over To Chappaquiddick

Hop on the On Time Ferry and take the journey across Edgartown Harbor to Chappaquiddick. Learn all you need to know about the ferry and also tour one of the fabulous rental homes located on Chappy.

Please contact me for more information on this ultimate escape and Chappaquiddick rental properties!

Photo Courtesy of: Jeff Nickerson

Looking For a House on Martha’s Vineyard? Yeah, We’ve Got That.

In a time of rapid change in the economy and the real estate industry, I’ve been thinking about how lucky I am to be part of a real estate firm that values and demonstrates two things: reliability and ingenuity.

There’s something to be said for the fact that this will be Sandpiper’s 40th year on Martha’s Vineyard.  We have a solid reputation, and an on and off island community that knows us – just like we know them. Being part of this group of full time real estate agents, makes me feel confident about our future – because our past and our present is so strong.

But, we haven’t been around for 40 years because we’ve done the same old thing. Learning, changing and growing. It’s what makes my blog so much fun for me – I get to be myself (the same person I am with clients) but online.

It’s funny, though, because the blog let’s me get so detailed about the Vineyard and what it’s like to live here and vacation here…all the island has to offer. So, sometimes I forget to mention that we have over 600 Martha’s Vineyard houses in our inventory. To remind you all that we probably have exactly what you’re looking for – to rent or buy. All you have to do is ask! I’m all ears…

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.

You Know It’s Spring on Martha’s Vineyard When…

1. My kids catch their first wild brook trout and make me swear on my life that I will not publish the secret location!

2. You hear the first Pinkletinks (peepers) – I’m quite sure that I was the first islander to hear them on Saturday evening.

3. Local school kids are wearing shorts even though the thermometer has just broken the 50 degree mark.

4. The grass is so green, you have to touch it (and sometimes roll around in it) to make sure it’s real.

5. The Osprey’s are flying, diving, hunting and playing across the Vineyard sky.

6. The Quahogs are being dug, shucked and simmered for the first chowdah of the season.

7. Main Street’s stores are getting gussied up, the windows filled with cool goods.

8. Ah, the huckleberries! I found a bush bursting with teeny ones this morning!

9. The ferry schedule starts to add some extra trips.

10. Our fiery pink, orange and purple sunsets can be enjoyed on a leisurely stroll after dinner.

11. You can feel it in your bones that summer is right around the corner!!!

Places to Explore on Martha’s Vineyard: Sheriff’s Meadow

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!

Plum TV Martha’s Vineyard

Have you ever heard of Plum TV? Plum is located in incredible spots around the U.S. and helps those of you who don’t live somewhere like Martha’s Vineyard, Aspen, Miami Beach or Telluride get a dynamic bite of what’s happening around town. I talked to Tina Miller, the General Manager of Plum’s Martha’s Vineyard branch about all things Plum and Vineyard. Here’s the scoop…

Anne: What is PlumTV?
Tina: Plum is Hyper local TV in some of America’s most treasured locations.

Anne: What types of thing do you feature?
Tina: Plum’s local morning show features the Island’s diverse year-round and summer residents. Plum has great local programs as well as the shared content from our 7 other stations (Aspen, Vail, Telluride, Nantucket, Miami Beach, Sun Valley and The Hamptons).

Anne: Do you create videos all year long? or just seasonally?

Tina: We create content all year long, Plum is a year-round business.

Anne: Why is the Vineyard such a perfect setting for Plum TV?

Tina: The Vineyard is perfect for Plum because of the people, the beauty, the arts and the optimism.

Anne: Who have been some of your most famous guests?
Tina: There have been so many! Tony Shaloub, Dan Aykroyd, Hillary Clinton, Howard Dean, Carly Simon, Arlen Roth, Bill Murray, Keith Lockhart, The Neville Brothers, Geraldine Brooks, Jim Belushi, Cam Neeley, Norman Bridwell, Charlane Hunter Gault. I could go on and on!

Anne: Care to share one of your most interesting guests or stories?

Tina: I’m going to have to go with Dan Aykroyd speaking about UFO’s check out plumtv.com (clip at bottom of the post!)

Anne: And, your favorite thing about the Vineyard?

Tina: The community. We simply wouldn’t be what Plum TV without this outstanding community of people – the people we highlight on the show and the viewers. It’s the people that make the Vineyard so special.

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