Having visited Martha’s Vineyard twice, I’ve been fortunate enough to get a feel for a variety of different experiences on the island—both the iconic touristy stops and the more local, niche experiences. From exploring iconic tourist destinations to acquainting myself with locals and their businesses, each encounter was like a brushstroke that helped paint me a vibrant picture of Martha’s Vineyard. The absence of chain stores alone underscores the island’s commitment to authenticity, which makes every corner a one-of-a-kind experience waiting to be unearthed. This list of things to do on Martha’s Vineyard aims to cover all the bases, from the iconic to the local, so that you can get a true sense of what this magical island has to offer. Nothing you’ll do from this list can be replicated elsewhere, well…except for maybe 1 or 2 things! But even then, the essence remains distinctly Martha’s Vineyard.
Quick Navigation: 15 Things to Do on Martha’s Vineyard That Cover All Your Bases
- See the turkeys wandering Vineyard Haven
- Shop at local stores only found on Martha’s Vineyard
- Visit Oak Bluff’s Gingerbread Houses
- See people jump off Jaws Bridge
- Explore Edgartown, “one of the world’s great yachting centers”
- Take a bike ferry across the water
- Eat ALL the local food
- Experience real Martha’s Vineyard at the local farmers market
- Stop by a 6 generation farm
- Buy a pass to visit one of the many private beaches on the island
- Explore the fishing village of Menemsha
- See Aquinnah Cliffs, aka Gay Head Cliffs & Lighthouse
- Take a hike in one of the many nature conservation centers
- Spend a day at the beach
- Shop at Vineyard Vines
1. See the turkeys wandering around Vineyard Haven
Gobble gobble is a sound that is frequently associated with Martha’s Vineyard. It is not uncommon to come across a turkey casually crossing the street, taking up a street, or sitting in a tree on Skiff Avenue. There are many around Vineyard Haven, which is known for having an abundance of turkeys wandering the town all times of year. See the turkey in the above picture? Some claim they are a mix breed of domesticated and wild turkeys. They’re pretty docile as long as they’re left alone. All they really want is to graze on Vineyard Haven locals foods!
2. Shop at local stores only found on Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is an Island that does not have big chain stores because they support local living. The only big chain store on the island is Stop & Shop near Edgartown, which was grandfathered into a larger deal. This means you’ll always find distinctive, one-of-a-kind treasures whether it’s food, fashion or other. Martha’s Vineyard may look like any other New England town, but take the time to talk with some of the locals and you’ll see there is so much more to the town than just it’s quaint streets and unique mom-and-pop shops. Visit these 7 can’t miss local businesses and meet the owners if you want to catch a glimpse of what Martha’s Vineyard means to locals and how it is conveyed through their lives and work. Local businesses vary from a jewelry designer inspired by glass beads from the Czech Republic, to multi-generational charm bracelets that are released ever year or socially responsible and worldly custom products.
3. Visit Oak Bluff’s Gingerbread Houses
If there is one thing to do on Martha’s Vineyard, it’s visit Oak Bluff’s Gingerbread Houses. Oak Bluffs has been home to the African American community for over a century. The first African Americans to settle in Martha’s Vineyard were indentured servants, runaway slaves, and whalers. When slavery was finally abolished in the 18th and 19th century, the African American community settled into Oak Bluffs and made it their home. This settlement was just the start of a thriving and unique community on Martha’s Vineyard with the Victorian style Oak Bluffs gingerbread cottages were at the heart of it. It’s a place where you chat with neighbors, catch up on your reading, or enjoy a glass of iced tea.
4. See people jump off Jaws Bridge
It is tradition to memorialize a visit to Martha’s Vineyard with jump off Jaws Bridge. As you bike by the bridge connecting Oak Bluffs to Edgartown, you will always see a line of people lined up to jump off. This is the famous scene where the movie Jaws was filmed. If, like me, you have a fear of sharks, I wouldn’t recommend you swim much in Martha’s Vineyard as it’s notorious for it’s sharks along with Nantucket. So you can just watch from the sidelines as brave souls thrust themselves into the water. Additionally, it’s not safe to jump off the bridge, in fact it’s technically illegal due to strong currents and tides that can pull swimmers under. If you’re looking for a quick dip and go, I’d suggest you stop right next door at State Beach instead. Much safer!
5. Explore Edgartown, “one of the world’s great yachting centers”
A stroll through Edgartown, the first colonial settlement in Martha’s Vineyard settled by whaling captains, is essential to understanding the vineyard’s culture and history. To this day Edgartown is considered one of the world’s great yachting centers. Spend the afternoon wandering the streets, getting to know local store owners and businesses, and catching a late night sunset from Edgartown Beach and lighthouse.
6. Take a bike ferry across the water
Biking is one of the main modes of transportation on Martha’s Vineyard. Even if you bring your own car, you will want to throw your bikes or your rent some while on the island to explore parts of the island. Trust me when I say some are better done on bike then by car. Martha’s Vineyard is so bike friendly, I can’t think of a single street that doesn’t accommodate for cyclists. You’ll feel very safe cycling around. Of course, the island isn’t small either. So aside from public buses being built with bike racks in the front and back for people to travel around the island easier, there are also miniature bike ferries that can take you from one side of the island to the other. One of these is located in Menemsha. The bike ferry takes you between Menemsha and Gay Head for just $4 one way or $7 round trip. The journey is about 3 minutes, but is the only way to get to Aquinnah Cliffs and Gay Head by bike, unless you want to do a super long bike ride along busy State Road…but trust me, you don’t.
7. Eat ALL the local food
Martha’s Vineyard has a rich farming and fishing heritage, therefore all food in Martha’s Vineyard is focused around the islands treasured ingredients. There’s a reason it’s known as the land of milk and honey, of bluefish and kale. A bounty of crops makes every season special. Because all the food in Martha’s Vineyard is locally grown, you’ll have forgotten that you just ate a few hours ago. The food is so light and sits so well, you’ll always be hungry for more, and that’s a good thing on an island with so much good food…that’s why I wouldn’t come to Martha’s Vineyard looking to be on a diet.
Whether it’s visiting the famous Back Door Donuts at Oak Bluffs, Chilmark’s special chocolates, Menemsha Galley‘s lobster and soft serve ice cream, The Bite‘s fried clams, State Road Restaurants‘ mighty burgers, Behind the Bookstores breakfast sandwiches and caramelized grapefruit, vanilla greek yogurt from Mermaid Farm, or 19 Raw Oyster Bar’s local seafood specialties or Garde East’s feast for the senses…this is not the place to skimp out on food. Come hungry, bike a lot to work up an appetite, and do it all over again.
8. Experience real Martha’s Vineyard at the local farmers market
Farm stands are an art form on Martha’s Vineyard. Forget the Obama’s and Clinton’s, farmers THE celebrities on the island. That’s why a trip to the West Tisbury Farmers Market market in West Tisbury is a must when it comes to things to do on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s a can’t miss event if you want to experience the true locals of Martha’s Vineyard. The event is held Wednesdays and Saturdays in July and August at the iconic Grange Hall. But when you come here, you aren’t just visiting any farmers market, you are listening to the stories of how these local artisans source the produce and make it or pluck it themselves. Local bands play music as locals sit on picnic tables chowing and dancing. It’s a very genuine and unique feel you won’t quite find anywhere else on the Vineyard.
9. Stop by a 6 generation farm
Surrounded by massive stone walls, the grounds of Allen Farm Sheep & Wool Company are a sight to behold. Allen Farm’s white, brown, and black sheep have been grazing on wind-swept grass spiced with salty Clarissa since 1760! Say hello to some of the lamb and sheep grazing on the rolling hills before walking inside the gift shop. You’ll swoon over the vibrant selection of handmade sweaters and other items for sale.
10. Buy a pass to visit one of the many private beaches on the island
Martha’s Vineyard is made up 125 miles of shoreline, which sounds like a lot of beaches! However, only 37.5% of the island’s shoreline is public, the remaining 62.5% is restricted to town beaches or is held privately. The beaches that are up-island are usually private or owned by specific town residents, so plan ahead before visiting a beach. One of the most famous beaches that is in fact private is Lucy Vincent Beach. Luckily, you can access it by purchasing pass from the Chilmark town via an application. And it’s not cheap either…it’s $100 for a parking sticker. Walk on fees are $25 on top of the parking fee.
11. Explore the fishing village of Menemsha
This is probably my favorite of all things to do on Martha’s Vineyard. Menemsha has a strong sense of place, even though it may not have much going on. Menemsha is also known as “Amity Island” in the famous movies Jaws. This is where the majority of the films scenes were shot so you’ll see references of that throughout. Fish markets line up the weathered gray dock, where fishing boats tie up to unload or fill their gas tanks. Walk by fishing shacks and gray shingle shacks. The walk unveils 3 famous eatery institutions that people from all over the island flock to: The Galley, a take out establishment that specializes in chowder, soft-serve ice cream, and lobster, and Larsen’s Fish Market for fresh fish, or The Bite for what is known as the best fried clams on the island. The village also has a few art stores, antique shops, and clothing shops, but it’s the fishing village and food scene that draws the crowd. There’s a tiny beach just off to the side, but I’m usually here for the lobster salad from Menemsha Galley.
12. See Aquinnah Cliffs, aka Gay Head Cliffs & Lighthouse
Aquinnah is as up-island, or South, as you can get on Martha’s Vineyard. Everyone flocks here for a view of the windswept 150 ft cliffs that form a jagged face down to the Atlantic into the 5-mile long beach. They say that the beach area directly below the cliffs is off-limits, but the truth is somehow people still make it down there. As you walk up to the viewing center, the pedestrian street is lined with shops and informations booths maintained by the Wampanoag Native Americans. It’s a great place to learn about their stories and history.
13. Take a hike in one of the many nature conservation centers
40% of Martha’s Vineyard, or about 22,400 acres, is protected open space i.e. nature conservancies and preserves, so there is plenty of hikes to choose from when on the island. For example, there are 400 acres of land in the West Tisbury Nature Preserve. Cedar Tree Hike is only 2.5 miles and goes by a pond before reaching a seaside stroll above the bluffs. From the bluffs you can see views of Cape Cod and Elizabeth Island. You can descend onto the shores of the rocky beach and walk for a few miles or turn around and loop back. Just note that because it is a nature preserve, swimming is forbidden in both the pond and the sea.
Another option is Chappaquiddick Island, also known as Chappy. You need to take a 2 minute ferry to take you there since it’s not connected to Martha’s Vineyard. It is a huge nature preserve where you can spend a day hiking, fishing, picnicking, or off-roading with your on sand permit. It’s also the famous scene of where, sadly, Ted Kennedy drove off a bridge.
14. Spend a day at the beach
Ok, so this made it on the things to do on Martha’s Vineyard even though you could technically spend a day at the beach anywhere…however, Katama beach is a splendor. And when in Martha’s Vineyard, you can’t not enjoy a nice beach day. You’re on an island afterall!
15. Shop at Vineyard Vines
The last thing on my list of things to do on Martha’s Vineyard is visit the famous store Vineyard Vines. Now I told you that there are no chain stores in Martha’s Vineyard aside from Stop & Shop – and that is true! But Sveva…Vineyard Vines is a chain store? It’s located throughout the US. Yes…and no. Vineyard Vines was started on Martha’s Vineyard, so technically it is original to the island, making it the OG location and a must visit when on the island. This is where the inspiration all began.
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