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Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, doesn’t get as a lot consideration because the extra well-known cities on Martha’s Vineyard like Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. For many vacationers, Vineyard Haven is solely the place the ferry arrives. They get in and get out.
But in case you skip Vineyard Haven, you’d be making an enormous mistake. This small city on Martha’s Vineyard, which is technically the city of Tisbury, is an excellent place to discover, with fabulous outlets, restaurant, a museum, and extra!
Beyond that, Vineyard Haven has a low-key really feel and is dwelling to a pleasant year-round inhabitants.
For my first journey to Martha’s Vineyard, I spent my journey based mostly in Vineyard Haven on the Nobnocket Boutique Inn and obtained to study every part fantastic about this city. Let’s check out what makes this place particular.
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
Vineyard Haven feels extra lived-in than Oak Bluffs or Edgartown. This is a city with facilities that locals want year-round, not a spot that caters in the beginning to vacationers. If I lived in Martha’s Vineyard, I might stay in Vineyard Haven, simply.
Vineyard Haven is dwelling to the Vineyard Haven Harbor Cultural District, a sustainable initiative preserving waterfront industries, like shipbuilding and fishing, in addition to the cultural heritage and financial vitality of the waterfront space. As a end result, it is a beautiful, photogenic place to wander for a day.
And I really feel like I ought to point out that there aren’t any precise vineyards in Vineyard Haven, nor are there wherever on Martha’s Vineyard! (Charlie was shocked to study this. He thought the island was lined in them!)
Things to Do in Vineyard Haven
There are numerous issues to do in Vineyard Haven. Here are some things to place in your itinerary:
Enjoy Downtown Vineyard Haven
Do you want old style New England downtowns the place you will get in all places you want on foot? I grew up in a type of cities, and I at all times take pleasure in wandering them on my travels. Downtown Vineyard Haven is an excellent place for a stroll.
Here you’ll discover principally native manufacturers and an absence of chains. Be certain to take a look at Rainy Day, Off Main, and Beach House, every a present store carrying numerous clothes, jewellery, and residential treasures.
Bunch of Grapes makes a stunning impartial bookstore on the island, Island Music sells musical devices, and Martha’s Vineyard Made is a good spot for merchandise made by island locals. And sure, you’ll discover Vineyard Vines, the favored Vineyard clothes model that went nationwide.
I like to recommend stopping at close by Waterside Market for lunch. More on that within the eating places part.
The Black Dog
The Black Dog is a logo of Martha’s Vineyard. When I used to be a child within the 90s, tons of my classmates would put on Black Dog t-shirts in school — and I had no concept what they meant!
The Black Dog started as a pub in Vineyard Haven, opened by Captain Robert Douglas in 1971 and named after his beloved canine.
Today you’ll be able to go to the pub at its unique location in Vineyard Haven, in addition to the Black Dog General Store, the Black Dog Bakery (with so many scrumptious cookies on show), and the Black Dog Cafe additional down State Road. You may even choose up a t-shirt to take dwelling!
The Black Dog Tall Ships additionally affords crusing journeys on the historic schooner Alabama.
Martha’s Vineyard Museum
The Martha’s Vineyard Museum is an excellent place to go to in Vineyard Haven. This museum tells the historical past of Martha’s Vineyard because it was first shaped as an island (NOT since colonization, like many different museums).
Exhibitions cowl subjects just like the historical past of lighthouses, the hazards of maritime exploration, and the tradition of the Indigenous Wampanoag folks.
The area can also be very particular. Set in what was the Maritime Museum, you could have expansive views over the harbor, and a stunning yard with sculptures.
This museum is a good place to go to on a wet day in Martha’s Vineyard — however don’t let good climate hold you away, both!
See a Show on the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse
The Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse, an expert nonprofit theater, is on Church Street in downtown Vineyard Haven and places on a wide range of occasions year-round. It could possibly be a play or musical, a workshop, a live performance, Monday Nights on the Movies, even a trivia evening.
This theater has numerous character, and since Martha’s Vineyard is such a small place, you may get an opportunity to mingle with the performers afterward, particularly within the low season.
Relax on the Beach
Vineyard Haven has just a few seashores to take pleasure in. They aren’t the most effective seashores on Martha’s Vineyard — my prime picks could be Moshup Beach in Aquinnah and Wasque Point on Chappaquiddick Island — however they’re good locations to calm down with a guide or a sandwich and watch the ferries are available.
You have Owen Park Beach and Town of Tisbury Beach near the ferry terminal, and on the opposite facet of city previous West Chop, you could have Lake Tashmoo Town Beach. The Tashmoo Lake Overlook is the most effective place to observe the sundown in Vineyard Haven.
West Chop Lighthouse
You can simply go on a lighthouse crawl round Martha’s Vineyard! There are 5 of them in complete — West Chop Lighthouse, East Chop Lighthouse, Gay Head Light, Edgartown Harbor Light, and Cape Poge Lighthouse. West Chop Lighthouse is the one situated in Vineyard Haven.
West Chop Lighthouse shouldn’t be open to guests, however you’ll be able to take pictures from the road. And in case you’re up for a 40-minute stroll every means, the journey right here from downtown Vineyard Haven will present you plenty of the city that the majority guests don’t see.
Restaurants in Vineyard Haven
Yes, there are many nice eating places to eat in Vineyard Haven. Whether you’re searching for one thing informal or extra upscale, you’ve obtained quite a bit to select from.
On the informal finish: Waterside Market is a year-round market and cafe serving superior sandwiches, together with a BLT completely full of uncured nitrate-free bacon.
The Net Result, a seafood market and take-out restaurant, was one other winner. Charlie LOVED his lobster roll topped with melted butter, and I liked my chowdah.
If you’re searching for extra formal eating: Garde East is among the greatest waterfront eating places on the island, dishing up recent seafood, revolutionary dishes, and native Vineyard produce in a chic setting. Salvatore’s serves the most effective high quality Italian delicacies on the island.
And in case you’re anticipating an Obama sighting…head to Beach Road. It’s his favourite restaurant on Martha’s Vineyard.
Nobnocket Boutique Inn
I stayed at Nobnocket Boutique Inn in Vineyard Haven, who hosted me for 3 nights. What a improbable inn! This is an upscale B&B that will get a lot proper.
Simon and Annabelle Hunton, initially from England, opened Nobnocket Boutique Inn in 2016. The inn is situated in a quiet neighborhood in Vineyard Haven, about an eight-minute stroll from Main Street. A big home sitting on an infinite piece of land, at first look it appears like a mansion to which you’re secretly giddy to have an invite.
Then you get inside, and also you’re struck by the small print. There is an intentionality to every room, from the elegant fashionable artwork to the ethereal structure, dotted with fascinating furnishings. Everything feels fashionable and really top quality, however not ostentatious.
I liked this mattress and breakfast. LOVED it. Let’s check out our room.
Our room featured a luxurious mattress that was as comfy because it was fashionable, topped with Frette linens. Little orange touches appeared across the room — simply sufficient to maintain it whimsical with out going overboard.
I adored our sitting room, full with a comfortable sofa and a eating desk the place we loved our breakfast. The giant home windows flooded it with gentle all day.
I keep in plenty of properties for my work, which you all know, and what struck me probably the most about Nobnocket is how they’ve a contemporary, fashionable aesthetic whereas nonetheless preserving a heat and welcoming feeling to all the rooms. (Someone please go on that sensibility to Italy. Every resort there’s both ramshackle nation or ice-cold 90s fashionable.)
Even strolling into our toilet was a deal with. I imply, simply take a look at that wainscoting. The giant, sq. sink basin. Those are the type of particulars that the majority innkeepers don’t take into consideration, however they made me so completely satisfied.
Clearly Simon and Annabelle invested correctly as they redesigned the inn.
Secondly, the inn itself. Like many inns, they provide free espresso and tea 24 hours a day, and a choice of board video games. But they up the ante with free port, whiskey, or brandy to your night nightcap, and a choice of snacks readily available in case you get hungry.
That gallery wall above, with a mix of maps, classic advertisements, and black and white pictures, is giving me severe inspiration for my very own condominium.
And then there’s the again yard. It’s a very ridiculous quantity of area, with loads of room to dine outdoors, calm down in a lounge chair, and even play a sport of baseball in case you actually wished to!
But the most effective a part of all? BREAKFASTS. Breakfasts at Nobnocket Inn had been on par with Australian breakfasts — every of them inventive and scrumptious. I used to be excited for breakfast each morning!
Oh, these breakfasts! Each morning, we began with a fruit and yogurt parfait that was totally different every day. Then we moved on to the primary course: waffles with mango and sherbet, or avocado toast with poached egg and crispy pancetta, or bread pudding topped with berries.
Each breakfast was served with juice and domestically roasted espresso from Chilmark Coffee Company.
And even higher? TURNDOWN COOKIES.
The better part about coming again at evening was attending to see recent cookies on the bedside desk. Chocolate chip or shortbread. And they had been SO good.
Did I really like my keep at Nobnocket Boutique Inn? Yes. Would I am going again? In a heartbeat. It’s my favourite place I stayed in 2022.
Best Time to Visit Vineyard Haven (and Martha’s Vineyard)
Martha’s Vineyard is a quintessential summer time vacation spot — however after all, summer time brings crowds and excessive costs. You can keep away from this by going barely out of season.
We visited in late September, and I used to be shocked by how “over” the season was! Sure, there have been nonetheless loads of guests, however we at all times obtained our meals rapidly, had a brief look ahead to the tiny Chappy Ferry, and even had just a few seashores to ourselves.
It was denim jacket climate more often than not, so somewhat too chilly to swim, however it couldn’t have been extra nice.
But by way of actions, Vineyard Haven welcomes the Beach Road Weekend competition the final weekend in August. Beck, Wilco, the Avett Brothers, and Jason Isbell headlined in 2022.
And from June by way of September, Vineyard Haven celebrates First Fridays — on the primary Friday of the month, you’ll be able to take pleasure in artists promoting their wares up and down Main Street and stay music in Owen Park.
Getting Around Martha’s Vineyard from Vineyard Haven
I used to be shocked at how straightforward it was to get across the Vineyard! Despite the largeness of the island on the map, the cities are simply related to one another and the driving expertise is extremely nice, with clean roads taking you thru rural farmland.
From Vineyard Haven, it’s a 10-minute drive to Oak Bluffs, 17-minute drive to Edgartown, 23-minute drive to Katama Beach (South Beach), and 33-minute drive to the Aquinnah Cliffs.
And in case you don’t have a automobile, you’ll be able to simply get round by taking the buses or driving a motorcycle. (Or a mix — buses have racks with area for 2 bikes on board.)
There are just a few bike rental spots in Vineyard Haven, together with All Star Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals and Martha’s Bike. Most of the island is comparatively flat, although up-island areas previous West Tisbury (Chilmark, Menemsha, Aquinnah) are a lot hillier.
To get to Vineyard Haven from the mainland, you’ll be able to take the Steamship Authority automobile ferry from Woods Hole on Cape Cod. The ferry takes about 45 minutes. There can also be ferry service to Vineyard Haven from New Bedford and Nantucket.
You can fly on to Martha’s Vineyard from a number of airports within the Northeast US, together with Boston, Washington, and New York.
Is Vineyard Haven price it?
Vineyard Haven is most positively price it! Honestly, I’m perplexed that so many individuals solely see it as a spot the place you get the ferry! It’s such a pleasant city.
I’m so glad we obtained to spend additional time right here and dive in to what makes this place particular. I hope it’s particular for you, too.
More on Cape Cod and the Islands:
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Have you been to Vineyard Haven? Any suggestions?
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