Edgartown, Massachusetts
Edgartown, Massachusetts, located on Martha's Vineyard, is a wonderful choice for your next vacation. Islanders refer to the island simply as "the Vineyard". The origin of "Martha" is unknown; she may have been the mother or daughter of the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold, who discovered the island. Edgartown is the tourist hub of the island, a quaint little town filled with mansions built by successful sea captains. A day can be filled with walking the town's streets, shopping the stylish boutiques, or sampling the excellent local cuisine. If you are looking for more active fun, a day's itinerary can include fishing, swimming, sailing, parasailing, bicycling, or soaking up some sunshine on one of the many gorgeous island beaches.A trip to the Vineyard is incomplete without taking a stroll along the streets of Edgartown and seeing the homes that are excellent examples of Greek Revival and Federal architecture. The Dr. Daniel Fisher House is an opulent Federal mansion. Dr. Fisher was a Renaissance man: a doctor, whaling magnate, banker, merchant, and miller. A home befitting the owner's stature, the house has an enclosed cupola, roof and porch balustrades, a shallow hipped roof, large windows, and a portico. Another can't-miss sight is the Vineyard Museum, operated by the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society. Buildings on site include the Thomas Cooke House, a pre-Revolutionary structure that once served as a customs house. The museum has had little renovation since the 19th century, and houses relics of the Vineyard's whaling heritage, including scrimshaw.
If it is beach time you crave, Edgartown offers some wonderful options for soaking up the New England sun. Outside of Edgartown is the wonderfully scenic Lighthouse Beach. This is a great spot for watching the boats drift in and out of the harbor. Joseph A. Sylvia State Beach, located between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs, is a great place for a dip due to the calm waves and warmer water. Pretend you are a local and take a plunge off of the wooden drawbridge, a local landmark. If you want some beach time far from the madding crowds, head to Chappaquiddick Island and visit the Wasque Reservation. East Beach is a Vineyard secret, with enough sand to satisfy you for a month of vacations. Mountain biking on "Chappy" is one of the Vineyard's best known pastimes.
A great way to see the Vineyard is by putting your car in dry dock and puttering around the island on a bicycle. The Vineyard is full of smooth, well-maintained paths. A good route is the Circle the Island Tour through the up-island towns and out to Aquinnah, stopping in the working fishing village of Menemsha (which you might recognize from the movie Jaws), before looping back down-island. It is a one-day loop, but well worth the physical investment. You can traverse the many trails that run through the Manuel Correleus State Park by bike, on foot, or on horseback. The 500-acre park, located in the center of the island, is filled with tall evergreens that form a canopy over the trails.
Bird watchers and nature enthusiasts will enjoy the island's commitment to nature preservation. The Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, just outside of Edgartown, is a 350-acre haven for wild animals and all manner of flora and fauna. It is maintained by the Massachusetts Audubon Society and the visitor's center is staffed with naturalists who take visitors on guided bird watching walks.
