What makes Martha's Vineyard famous? The beaches, the history, the presidents and film crews, and an island culture unlike anywhere else.
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Martha's Vineyard is an island off the coast of Massachusetts with a reputation that travels well ahead of it: beaches, gingerbread cottages, presidents on vacation, Jaws. If you're wondering what the fuss is about, here's the short answer, category by category.
Clear, calm water at a Vineyard Haven beach on the Sound side. The south shore has the surf; the north shore has this.
The island's beaches vary more than first-time visitors expect, from the soft sand and open surf of South Beach to the clay cliffs at Aquinnah Cliffs. Popular spots include:
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The buildings tell the story: the whaling mansions of Edgartown, the painted gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, and the weathered fish sheds at Menemsha.
The island's story starts with its Wampanoag heritage and runs through its colonial past. A few places where that history is still visible:
Edgartown Harbor marina from above in summer, boats at the slips.
The island has been a getaway for celebrities and public figures for decades, and famous faces do turn up in summer. Notable visitors and residents have included: Our guide to the island's famous summer people says who lived where and what is open to visit.
A few events anchor the island's calendar every year:
And the food keeps people coming back: lobster and oysters straight off the boats, farm-stand tomatoes in August, and a lobster roll worth the ferry ride.
The island's food reputation is built on fresh seafood and farm-to-table cooking. Highlights include:
What are the top attractions on Martha's Vineyard?
Start with the Aquinnah Cliffs, the Gingerbread Cottages, and the Martha's Vineyard Museum. Between them you cover the island's landscape, its architecture, and its history.
Why is Martha's Vineyard popular among celebrities?
Privacy, mostly. The island is scenic, low-key, and long used to famous visitors. People here largely leave them alone.
What cultural events should I attend on Martha's Vineyard?
The big three are Illumination Night, the Martha's Vineyard Film Festival, and the Agricultural Fair.
Funded, in part, by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.
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