For a real taste of New England, there’s no place more authentic than the spot Jackie Kennedy preferred to summer in—Martha’s Vineyard. Now that more Americans are getting their vaccine shots, by the time you get there, it’ll even be safer for long walks, shopping, and enjoying the incomparable seafood outdoors. Whether you could use a day trip with your girlfriends or a getaway to one of the most charming places on earth, let yourself be swayed by some of the best reasons to plan a trip to Martha’s Vineyard.
Celebrity Sightings
The well-toned and wealthy gravitate here in the summer, and you never know when you’ll glimpse a celebrity getting coffee. Part of the appeal of Martha’s Vineyard is privacy, so try to be cool if you bump into one. These stars, who own estates there, are likely to be around:
- Ted Danson and wife Mary Steenburgen
- The Obamas
- Diane Sawyer
- David Letterman
- Seth Myers
- Larry David
Unique Shopping
Spend a day noodling around the endless galleries, bakeries, gift shops, and markets. Martha’s Vineyard is known for its five lighthouses, so you might want to pick up something beacon-related as a souvenir. Once you’ve experienced the lifestyle there, you might want to buy some striped pillows and Adirondack chairs to recreate a beachy interior design vibe at home.
- The Consenses art gallery
- Oak Bluffs open market
- Chilmark Chocolates
- Alley’s General Store
- Bunch of Grapes Bookstore
- Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks
Seafood Sunsets
The fish here is so fresh that you won’t be able to even look at a frozen fish stick again. Some of the top dining is in the part of the Vineyard known as Menemsha, so if you’re short on time, don’t mess around—make a reservation now. You should visit:
- Fish markets Larsen’s and Menemsha.
- The Menemsha Galley, a local “shack.”
- Home Port Back Door for fried clams, lobsters, and more.
There’s a lot more here, particularly some of the most beautiful beaches in the country. But one of the best reasons to plan a trip to Martha’s Vineyard is because you simply deserve a change of scenery—and you won’t find any better.