On Tisbury Great Pond, Martha's Vineyard

Rent this if you want a Vineyard place that has the real feeling of the island. I have been there 4 or 5 times, and I hesitate to submit a review because I like the idea of it being just mine, but that’s not reality. So… to the place itself: it has always been spotlessly maintained, and the responsive and friendly owner comes from generations of Vineyard experience. Fifteen minutes down a sandy unpaved road you arrive at the house, surrounded by oak and huckleberry with a flowering garden. Up to the deck and inside the wide doors, you enter the main room, ringed by windows and comfortably furnished, a dining table for eight or so, built-in couches and an ingeniously designed kitchen. The house is well thought out and everything seems falls right to hand when you want it. Walls have hidden closets and the queen-size beds are nestled into the two downstairs bedrooms; you sleep to the sound of surf from South Beach and wake to views aligned towards the ocean or into the forest. The loft with two twin beds is bright and fresh with plenty of room. The kitchen is stocked with all you need for serious cooking, if that is your thing. The decks have great views and furniture. There’s an outdoor shower for summer days, and a nice indoor bathroom with full tub and shower too. One year I went in the fall, and the wood stove keeps the whole house warm. The solar power system provides ample juice, even through the night with lighting and power to charge gizmos but not for high wattage devices like a hair dryer. There’s a landline phone and cell coverage, but otherwise, you’re off the grid. To go down island for restaurants or whatnot, its @ a 15 minute drive to Edgartown, once drive get back out the dirt road to the main road; Alley’s General Store with basic groceries and local produce is even nearer. We also go up island to the fishing hamlet of Menemsha for lobsters, swordfish or oysters. Back at the house we paddle the canoe or kayaks into coves past swans and cormorants or across the Great Pond to the miles-long South Beach. Barring a longish walk, this part is only reachable by boat, so it always feels private. If you’d rather drive to a beach, the one at Long Point Wildlife Refuge is @15 minutes away. Swimming or lounging at the nearby pond beach is 150 paces. This place is not for being near the honkytonk or the yacht harbors, but if you want a real vacation with peace and beauty, this is it. Go.