If you're visiting Martha's Vineyard, this is one of the island's hidden gems. It's about a…read more25-minute drive from Oak Bluffs, but absolutely worth the ride. This is where the locals gather to watch the sunset. Unfortunately, the night I went was a bit overcast, but the vibe was still perfect--calm, laid-back, and relaxing. Pro tip: arrive around 6 p.m. if you want to snag a parking spot since space is limited. Bring your chairs and blankets, settle in, and enjoy the evening. What really makes Menemsha special is the food. There are about five or six clam shacks/seafood spots right nearby where you can grab fresh lobster and other treats to enjoy right on the beach. Bonus points: they have enclosed bathrooms (no dreaded port-a-potties). Whether you're planning a romantic evening with your sweetheart or a family night making s'mores on the sand, Menemsha Beach is a can't-miss Vineyard experience. I eat. I judge. The fork stops with me.

This is a great place to watch the sunset. Grab a bite to eat at one of the fresh fish markets a…read morefew feet away from the beach, and eat on the beach. Parking is very limited but there is some street parking but will require you to walk a bit. Great place foe families and there is also a place to fish. There arw some large rocks near the shoreline so be careful. Unfortunately a marine layer rolled in about an hour before sunset so we weren't able to see the sunset, but we still had a great time eating lobster on the beach.

Wild and windy…read more How can you not love a place called Lobsterville? Lobsterville Beach is one of my favorite beaches on Martha's Vineyard. It's way out in Aquinnah in a quaint and quiet place actually named Lobsterville. Even in the summer it's not crowded and in the off season you seldom will see another soul. One of the reasons this beach is frequently so quiet is because there is very little parking that is restricted for residents only. However the beach is open to anyone and it's a great place to stop when biking out to Aquinnah and the great lighthouse at the tip. In fact going down Lobsterville Road and then up Lighthouse Road is a nice way to avoiding the busy South Road when biking to the lighthouse. The beach is and water are shallow and protected by land so it's warmer than many of the other beaches but realistically speaking the water is still cold as hell. The beach sometimes has lots of rocks that seem to come and go but sandy areas can usually be found. Great fishing and wind surfing out here during the summer and great views are in every direction. During the colder months the wind frequently howls through this area, agitating the water into angry whitecaps and giving the impression of a wild and pristine place. Not the most gentle, kid friendly or most convenient beach, but definitely one of the most beautiful and ethereal.

Really nice beach. No waves. Great for kids. Quiet and out of the way. The beaches on this island…read moreare all just fine but also a little different from each other. There are places to park, (especially if you have a permit). It's not too crowded. The beach has smallish waves if any at all and it slopes out very gently so this would be great for younger children to splash around. As with all beaches on the island, it is very clean. It looks like dogs are allowed as there were several on the beach when we were there.

Beautiful beach that abuts the red cliffs of Aquinnah. We spent about 2 hours here in the late July…read moreafternoon and it was pretty empty. Nice big swath of soft sand, some rocks in the water. Easy parking - $30/day with a well groomed path to the beach.

Go on a cloudy day mid week by car. Parked at lookout and walked down path to beach. It was low…read moretide and we could walk far under the cliffs. The beach and views are beautiful. Shore is rocky but we did see a couple of people swimming. Need to scout out a place with no rocks to swim. Love finding the path and walking the beach where very few people know you can go.

NOT FAMILY-FRIENDLY…read more The beach itself is excellent. The overall experience is not. The town of West Tisbury permits only one car *per house* to park at the beach. So if you have multiple families (with little kids) sharing a house, and everyone in the house wants to go simultaneously, then they must be shuttled. Which potentially means adding & removing car seats. The town also doesn't seem to have accounted for the case where multiple families from the same house may arrive at different times. (Ex: One family in the permitted car, another family dropped off by someone who doesn't want to go to the beach.) The town gives only 1 set of credentials. Fine, allow only one car. But why not give one beach access card to each family? Finally, this information's buried. We learned it at the pass office; it wasn't in the guidebook we bought, the websites we'd checked, nor our rental's info packet. Hopefully this review will help other families avoid this pitfall. ‍

At least for summer 2020, this beach now bears a "no dogs" sign. Dogs used to be allowed before 10…read moream for non residents and it was a big draw for us and our beach-loving pup on our annual summer visit. Really hope they open to dogs again, post-COVID.

Before our visit to Martha's Vineyard, I did a little research on-line to determine what is worth…read moredoing during our 4-day stay. Hiking and biking are our main activities, with possibly a day of kayaking thrown in. I decided that one day of hiking would consist of hiking both the Great Rock Bight and the Menemsha Hills Reservation. I wish I had put as much time and effort into researching HOW to do the hikes as I did in selecting which hikes to do, as these trails are not so easy to find. We asked at our hotel (Pequot) for maps of hiking trails and found that they didn't have any. I drove west on N Road assuming that there would be signs for these popular hiking trails, but there were none. We made it all the way to the Menemsha Beach and parked. As we knew that the hiking trail ends at the beach, we figured it would be just as nice of a hike to start at the beach and end on the hilltop. There is a Texaco Station across the road from the end of the hiking trail and I asked them for a trail map. Can you believe not only did they not have maps, they didn't know about the hiking trail or so they said. So we winged it and began hiking from the statue of the man spearing a swordfish across the marsh and up the hill until we somehow lost the unmarked trail. We eventually came out to N Road and asked several people until we finally got lucky and asked a local on a bicycle. He directed us to take Prospect Hill Road saying it leads to the hill and the trail to the beach. We never would have guessed because of the signs that said "private property" and "no trespassing". Apparently the locals want to discourage the tourists enjoyment of this natural beauty. Once on this road we never saw any signs in English for trails, but we did see one tree that had a series of trail markers, which were useless without a map showing the key. We hiked all the way to Gosnold's Way as far as we could go. We saw some trails meandering here or there off the road, but none seemed to call to us, "this must be it". So we turned back toward N Road. Less than a quarter of a mile before we reached N Road, we noticed a steep incline on our right leading to a hilltop. It turned out to be Prospect Hill which is one of the highlights of this trail. We had unwittingly hiked miles past it. There were no signs, just one lonely bench at the summit. We rest there an hour or so and then retraced our steps back to the beach. As for beauty, the place is excellent. But the only signs are to discourage rather than help hikers. Plus I don't recall seeing anyplace on Prospect Hill Road or Gosnold's Way you can park. If you do this hike I strongly advise you to do your homework.

A hidden jewel…read more Prospect Hill in Menemsha Hills is either the highest or second highest point on the Vineyard. I'm not sure because I have heard both. It's only 300 feet high, yep it's not exactly a mountain but since the whole island is basically a glacial moraine, not bad. Heard all kinds of tales about people putting dirt and rocks on the top to keep it the highest point. As with most island tales I am somewhat skeptical but there are a bunch of boulders on the summit that do look like someone took the trouble to move them there. The entire reservation is over 200 acres and a absolutely fantastic place to hike. Anyone interesting in nature will love this place, ancient oaks, cherry trees, maples and a lot of shrubs and plants with names I'm not familiar with. Plus tons of obvious glacial evidence and debris. The whole trail is probably a little over four miles but with a lot of ups and downs. Two hills to negotiate and lots of curves and rocks to go over. Not very many flat places so the four miles is longer than it seems. Bring tick repellent because the nasty little things always seem to appreciate cool places like this. At the eastern most part of the trail you arrive at the magnificent Great Sands Cliffs, with incredible views in every direction. You can then climb or more likely slide down the slope to the beach. A great place to swim if you respect the water and don't get yourself killed. Menemsha Reservation and Prospect Hill are hidden jewels, even in the busy tourist season virtually no one goes here. The best places on the island always seem to be the ones least frequented.

John was an amazing guide. He took us to some spectacular beaches on Chappy Island. Really…read moreknowledgeable, giving us some great advice on what to look for in order to get on the fish. A really excellent day, we'll be contacting John again when we get back to Martha's Vineyard - Highly recommended.

Exceptional Vineyard experience! We caught 2 sharks + 2 bluefish with Captain John out on Chappy…read more Very professional + communicative...easy booking process on the website. John met us at the Chappy ferry + drove us out to a secret beach location. He brought all the supplies + bait...the whole beach was captivated watching him reel in the sharks -- we will definitely book again! Highly recommend!

I absolutely love this beach, there's something special about those quiet mornings when the wind…read morewhips across your face and that ice-cold water jolts you awake, sending a shock through your whole body. Although it's been a few years since my last visit, The Inkwell remains close to my heart, a place that calls to me with deep sentiment and powerful history. What drew me to The Inkwell wasn't just its beauty. It was the feeling of stepping into a space where African Americans have gathered for generations--a sanctuary where families and friends could unwind freely and simply belong. The Inkwell got its name because it was the only beach area where African Americans were allowed during segregation. Today, that name carries deep emotional and historical meaning for our community. The Inkwell isn't a massive beach, but it's just large enough to be whatever you need it to be--whether it's lounging in a beach chair with a good book or hosting a beach party with friends. It's a place where families who bought homes generations ago return year after year. Many still spend their summers here, and some live here year-round. It's always been a space to feel at ease, to be yourself, and to be surrounded by a true sense of community. This place taught me what it really means to relax and have fun. Just shorts and a T-shirt, no need to dress up. I came to appreciate how freeing it is to feel accepted without judgment based on appearance. Long walks on the beach and early morning yoga were the highlights of my day. Oh Yeah, if you enjoy exploring nature trails like me, bike riding is another low cost activity that you'd appreciate. Whenever we visited Martha's Vineyard, we'd always stay in Oak Bluffs for a full week, close enough to the water that it felt like the beach was part of our backyard. From there, we explored the island: the fishing village of Menemsha, the harbor town of Vineyard Haven, downtown area Circuit Ave., and of course, the nightlife. I loved it all, the ocean, the sand, the sun warming your skin, the rocks beneath your feet, the boat rides, the fresh seafood (oh my goodness, the lobster!). And the people-watching? Top-tier--especially if you're not local. You'll see such a mix of families, longtime locals and visitors from all over the place. A perfect blend of laid back and POSITIVE VIBES. The world may have changed, but places like The Inkwell still matter, for so many reasons. Pro Tips for Visiting:    *   Getting There: Drive into Woods Hole and take the ferry--it's part of the charm. If you're flying in, rent a car if you can. You'll thank me later. It makes seeing the island much easier and less exhausting.    *   Plan Early: Book your trip months in advance if possible. A week goes by fast! Whether you plan to Netflix and chill the entire time or do a little sightseeing, having flexibility makes all the difference.    *   Recs for Downtown: I'd recommend Nancy's Restaurant, The Oyster Bar, Martha's Vineyard Chowder Company, and Linda Jean's Restaurant. If you like Asian cuisine, Bangkok Cuisine is a fav. Don't miss the clothing and souvenir shops - you'll love browsing around.    *   Arts & Culture: Visit the Cousen Rose Gallery and the Martha's Vineyard Museum for a taste of island culture and history.    *   Must-See Sunset: Head to Menemsha for one of the most breathtaking sunsets you'll ever see. While you're there, stop by Menemsha Fish Market for some of the freshest lobster and seafood around. So to all my fellow beach lovers: go and enjoy yourself, no matter your background. The Inkwell is a place to make memories that last a lifetime. It's warm, welcoming, and filled with soul. I promise--if you love the water, sand, and sunshine, The Inkwell will love you right back in the most unforgettable way. Muah!

Excellent hospitality and accommodations! Such a warming and great place to stay for the weekend…read more The hospitality and quality of rooms clearly stands out. The location cannot be beat with Inkwell Beach directly across the street with the house offering beach towels, morning yoga, breakfast, and a fun happy hour. Truly a well run and gem of Oak Bluffs. My family will be continuing to stay here for years to come.

PROS: This park reminds me of a smaller Boston commons park! Landscaping is good, parking is free…read moreand plentiful, and it has a nice view of the water CONS: the fields are riddled with goose droppings so it's not good for field activities OVERALL: as long as you stay on the sidewalks throughout the park you'll be fine

Great park by the ferry. Relax while waiting for the ferry. There's a gazebo and a nice ocean…read moreview. Nice open space to relax and end your day on the island before heading home or even just spend part of your day relaxing once you get to the island.

Teenagers enjoyed the strong waves. We paid $20 fee online for afternoon 2-7 spot. You drive down a…read morenarrow dirt road which has pretty views. I dropped off family and beach gear at path to beach and parked (not too far). We came to beach because we heard it had good waves and that was true. Only issue was they were strong and broke close to shore. A bit dangerous to use boogie boards near the shore. Most beaches are free on MV but we were ok with paying to ensure parking and also beach did not feel crowded. We were told ahead of time that pond closed due to algae.

Very hard to find. The instructions for the parking lot were unreliable and inaccurate. Be sure to…read morevisit the website to buy a parking pass in advance or else they won't let you in. Had trouble finding the hiking path but the beach area - though small - was nice and serene. Good place to bring kids or to just relax with some beach time. Must bring umbrellas or something covered - no shade or covering.

Beautiful beach with calm waters and nice sand. Jaws bridge is attached to beach and people enjoy…read morejumping from the bridge. There's public parking down the entire beach but can be hard to find a spot on a sunny day. Water was a cool comfortable temperature and beautiful views of ocean and a pond on the other side of the road. Great beach if looking for a relaxing non wave beach.

Beautiful beach with calm waters! Great beach for a fun, but laid back day. The jumping bridge is…read morefun but always gets crowded. Go for the calm waters and to swim around in peace.