Martha’s Vineyard

Author: Jane K.
Date of Trip: July 2006

One of our favorite places in the whole wide world is Martha’s Vineyard and this year was no different than any other. In years past, we used to rent a home for a week but we go for long weekends now as our children have grown.

This year, as in the past five, we have stayed at the Shiverick Inn. This is a lovely B&B in Edgartown. The rooms are elegantly appointed, many with antiques in them. All with private baths and showers. The Inn has been kept up very well. The service is just great. Kristen, one of the proprietors, is a wiz in the kitchen. We had some amazing breakfasts and those 4PM teas with freshly baked goods were beyond compare.

Culinary delights on the island are abounding. One of our favorite bistros is Le Grenier in Vineyard Haven. The menu is full of traditional French food and cooked to perfection. Another staple on the island is the Homeport in Mememsha. Family-style dinning with BYOB. Lobsters abounding. Prices are reasonable.

This year we chose two new restaurants to try and we were not steered wrong…One delightful dinner was at the Outermost Inn. The food was fantastic and the view of the cliffs of Gay’s Head was unbelievable. Our hosts Hugh and Jeannie Taylor were just as helpful as could be. The fish was fresh and you could have swore that it jumped right out of the water and on to your plate.

After many years of not going to the Lambert’s Cove Inn, we were redirected there by our Shiverick Inn proprietor who raved about the new chef and owners. Well, she was right. The renovations left me speechless. The restaurant was open and airy. The menu was spectacular. Normally when at the Vineyard I dine on fish and this was the first time I had beef…the filet mignon was butter to my lips.

The beaches on the Vineyard are top notch. Parking can be a problem if you get to them after 11AM, but the public transportation system on the island has improved tremendously over the years and makes the beaches much more accessible.

Each town on the Island has its own special ambience. We love Edgartown for its art galleries and always find time to go to Willouby’s to see many New England artists and their wares. Marg and Rick are wonderful art mavens and can give you the history of each painting…Rick is now starting to dabble in his own paintings, which I must admit are rather good.

Take a ride over to Aquinnah the far end of the Island (especially if you are in Edgartown)…the views from the cliffs are spectacular and there are many kiosks that have local art and wares there too.

You can’t go wrong for a long weekend or even a week at the Vineyard. We haven’t.