HI hello wow, does time fly when you’re electing a new president and watching women enter the White House and spending all of your time watching ABC competition shows or what? I mean our long-awaited Bachelorette Clare has met, gotten engaged and possibly even dumped in the time since we last chatted!
Anyway, I’m back because we’re back on our off-season train and I just had to share. A couple months ago, desperate for a change of scenery, we started scoping out Northeast towns we could escape to for a few days…Upstate New York, Western Mass, North Conway, Portland…in the end, we couldn’t resist the prospect of seeing fall on Martha’s Vineyard, an island that’s been so special to us for years.
We’ve visited as late as September, but had never seen Martha’s Vineyard in November. Knowing it would be quiet this time of year anyway, and feeling confident with everything the island has been doing to keep tourists and residents safe during the pandemic, we felt very comfortable with this destination. All that being said, we still found plenty of socially-distant things to do and food to eat to fill five days.
If you’re considering a Martha’s Vineyard fall getaway, or a safe escape for any time of year (who knows how long we’re in this for?! spoiler: a long time), here’s the cuatro-uno-uno on safely vacationing on the Vineyard during COVID:
[ travel ]
While there are multiple ferry options for May – October, the Steamship Authority‘s Woods Hole–>Vineyard Haven route is the only year-round service. It’s a 45-minute ride and available for passengers, bikes, and cars. While I fully trust the precautions Steamship Authority is taking, you do have the option of never even leaving your car. Doing so allowed me to wear a Harry Potter sweatsuit and flip flops for the voyage. Win win.
[ stay ]
Because Ellie is quite literally insane, and because I planned on working a couple days of the trip and wanted space to spread out, we opted for a rental property. Had we not had a wild and screechy (albeit beautiful) 16-month-old in tow, I 100p would have been down for one of these hotels, all of which are open year-round and enforcing strict safety regulations.
Harbor View Hotel | Edgartown
Hob Knob | Edgartown
Mansion House | Vineyard Haven
Nobnocket Boutique Inn | Vineyard Haven
Y’all know I love me some Lark Hotels (evidence)—The Christopher, The Edgartown Inn, The Richard, The Sydney, and Summercamp have all closed for the 2020 season, but I highly recommend should you plan a 2021 trip.
(But like, how do you pick just one?)
[ play ]
‘Tis extreeeemely easy to fill your days with socially-distant activities on MVY. While these are fall- and COVID-friendly, they’re also some of our favorite things to do anytime of year on the island.
Lighthouse “Tour” | Lol shocker, right? On our very first Vineyard jaunt, when we had been dating but a year and he had no idea what he was in for, I made Matt take me to all five of MVY’s lighthouses. Though you won’t be able to get in any at the mo’, they are each a beautiful sight to capture.
Cape Poge | Chappaquiddick
Edgartown Harbor Light | Edgartown
Gay Head Light | Aquinnah
East Chop Lighthouse | Oak Bluffs
West Chop Lighthouse | Vineyard Haven
Great Rock Bight Preserve | Every time I visit this cove, I can’t believe we’re still in New England, with its boulders reminding me someplace you’d see only on the Pacific. It’s about a mile-long moderate hike from the parking lot, and sunsets are especially clutch from this beach (but bring a flashlight for the return!). We also recently discovered the TrailsMV app that guides you through all of the island’s outdoor trails.
African-American Heritage Trail | With 30 sights all over the island, this could be a full day’s excursion. Tours are currently paused, but it’s easy enough to lead yourself.
Gingerbread Cottages | The teeny colorful cottages of Oak Bluffs are straight out of a storybook. We took Ellie to the campground every day and had to drag her home screaming every day, if you’re wondering whether or not she enjoyed them.
Shopping | My In the Pink days make this especially important to me. Small businesses are the heart of MVY. Whether you’re physically on island and able to shop in person or not, there are so many sweet retailers I love supporting, with Island Outfitters, Nell, and Edgartown Books being a few of my favs.
PS. Check out my friend Nikki’s Martha’s Vineyard Gift Guide featuring local shops & makers!
Honorable mentions: Aquinnah Cliffs, Menemsha, and as many beach picnics as you can fit in!
[ eat ]
Though I am extremely sorry to have missed a Nancy’s Dirty Banana, there are still plenty of takeout and sit-down options for insider season, and this is the best source for confirming what’s open at any given time. Between Mocha Mott’s, Espresso Love, and Back Door Donuts, I am always way too hyped up on caffeine and baked goods. For more substantial meals, these guys all take the cake for having outdoor dining with heating:
La Soffita (Italian) | Vineyard Haven
Salvatore’s (Italian) | Vineyard Haven
Sharky’s Cantina (Vacation cuisine) | Edgartown & Oak Bluffs
Town (Gastropub + sushi) | Edgartown
Waterside Market (Counter service cafe) | Vineyard Haven
We also had A+ takeout from The Pawnee House which is new(ish) to OB!
All in all, we couldn’t have asked for a better, or safer, fall week on the Vineyard. All of the towns are enforcing masks, and I didn’t see a single soul, in or outside, not sporting one. And if you do make the trip, please dear please do the same and help keep this gem of a place safe.
Out-of-state guests: this guide shares everything you need to know about quarantining and/or testing prior to your arrival.
SO, we can now check Martha’s Vineyard in November off our list. Next, I’m dying to see the island at Christmastime. It’s all about to go down, so if you can sneak in a trip before the end of 2020, have a look at the island’s holiday guide!
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Full disclosure: This post was created in collaboration with Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.
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