Family Travel Guide to Martha's Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard has become our family’s favorite destination and this year was no exception. Although we considered cancelling due to quarantine and restrictions, we decided that we would maintain our family routine while taking the necessary social distancing restrictions.

Martha's Vineyard is one of the most serene, picturesque destinations we've visited as a family. With the hustle and bustle of life, you can physically feel the stress melt away as you take a ferry to the island. The Vineyard has some amazing beaches, yummy food, and gorgeous sunsets. It's the perfect place for family bike ride, dining al fresco, or just beach bumming all day.

Our family of four enjoys to travel. We’ve traveled to many places with the kids but nothing compares to our annual trip to the Vineyard. So as planned, this year we set out to make the most of our annual family trip and let me tell you, I am SO glad we did.

If you're planning to visit Martha's Vineyard please be on the look out for specific restrictions/ requirements by state. However, once on the island, there are a few things you should know.

1. You must wear a mask in any indoor establishments

2. Most restaurants are either take out or have outdoor dining; for the ones that have indoor dining, they'll ask your preference for seating. In these instances, you are seated 6 feet away from any other guests and are required to wear a mask when you get up from your table

3. Grocery shopping is very organized - they limit the amount of people in the supermarket and have directional signs so that you enter/ exit through the lanes in a consistent flow of traffic

All in all, I felt very safe, as did my hubby and kids.

So let's talk about getting to Martha's Vineyard

This is where it get's fun! (said sarcastically) Ha! You can get to MV by flight. Although the options are pretty limited and can be somewhat pricey in peak season. This however is a convenient option if you want to avoid a 4+ hour trip in the car (depending on your starting destination). The good news here is that Martha's Vineyard has several options for transportation on the island - public bus, Uber/Taxi, or car/bike rentals. So if you chose to fly, you wouldn't be stuck once you arrive.

Our preferred method of travel is to drive to the Steamship Authority ferry station in Woods Hole. We make it part of the vacation experience. We pack snacks, listen to music, play games, etc. The drive is typically about 4 hours to get there and we always pre-arrange to have our car brought over on the ferry itself.

Where to Stay

Martha's vineyard is comprised of six different towns all of them have a slightly different vibe. My family and I typically stay in Edgartown and spend lots of time in Oakbluffs. There are several options for lodging when visiting the Vineyard. Our family typically rents a house. We prefer this option because it allows us the flexibility to prepare our own food for certain meals like breakfast and or packing lunches for the beach. That way when we go out to dinner, we can really enjoy ourselves. There are also several other options including bed and breakfasts, hotels, inns, etc.

Things to do

There are so many things to do when traveling to MV. While you're not going to turn up at the club, you'll definitely enjoy some good low key relaxing moments. Our family goes fishing every year with The Skipper it's a family run business that is fun and safe for the kids to enjoy. We also rent bikes and ride all over the island. Also, did you know that Martha's Vineyard is where the movie Jaws was filmed? So if you're into it, many people go to "Jaw's Bride" and jump into the water to swim. Looks like fun.... I've never tried it! We also love grabbing a lobster roll and heading to Menemsha Beach at sunset. It's a great option for the kids and the views are stunning.

Before COVID-19 there were so many other activities that took place over the summer; from film festivals, to fireworks, to yoga on the beach which were cancelled for safety precautions. A lot of those activities as well as venues like arcades and the famous carousel were not open during our most recent visit.

Favorite places to eat

Now this is my favorite part! I could write an ENTIRE post about where to eat but I'll just pick my top 5 restaurants and tell you why I love them!

Nancy's Restaurant (Oak Bluffs) casual dining, indoor/ outdoor seating and great for the kids. I LOVE their lobster rolls and their cocktails.

Lucky Hanks (Edgartown) this is one of

my absolute FAVORITE brunch spots! Get the cod cakes and eggs - you won't be disappointed! And oh, don't forget to get a bellini as well

Right Fork Diner (Edgartown) another one of my absolute favorites! This is a favorite for the kids too because there is an airport right next to the restaurant where they fly old bi-planes - the kids love watching them take off and land while we eat. Get the Katama - the chunks of lobster on your poached eggs are SO fresh and so yummy!!

Copper Wok (Vineyard Haven) if you're tired of seafood, this is a great spot as well. Good Asian food and great cocktails. Can't remember what i ordered here last time but it was good! LOL

Back Door Donuts (Oak Bluffs)... Ok, so listen, if you get NOTHING else from me in the post. Understand that going to Back Door Donuts at night to get fresh baked donuts is an entire vibe! You have to do it once! There is nothing quite like it.