MARTHA’S VINEYARD

Martha’s Vineyard always seems like an odd place for somebody as chaotic as I am to vacation, but it works. I desperately want to spread the message that it doesn’t have to be the Vineyard Vines-wearing intimidating blonde family experience and can actually be super cool.

(Though those people do exist and you will want to push them down sometimes)

The first rule of having a MV trip with vibes that aren’t so suffocating is to center yourself out of Oak Bluffs. It feels more like a real town rather than a page out of a magazine, but still in a picturesque way. Like, one of my favorite things to do here is to go space out in the hardware store and it somehow still feels like I’m on vacation.

One of the coolest, weirdest parts of the island is Chappaquiddick. And while this is primarily known for an all timer Kennedy scandal, the island has a weird energy in general. There’s even people who refuse to be over there at night and of course I am begging you to believe with me that it’s for supernatural reasons.

The island within an island is pretty rural and can only be accessed by a small ferry that only holds about 3-4 cars, which even has a feature in Jaws. Plus with absolutely no cell signal and an every day fog rolling in around 4pm, it all really adds to the experience of overall spook. 

Here is where you’ll find one of the best beach walks you’ll ever take along the Wasque Reserve, which features some gnarly looking trees and seaweed that has no business being so pretty.

And onto another one of a kind beach, we have Aquinnah. Not only are the clay cliffs a total stunner and make for some majestic photo moments, but this is a full nude beach which makes for some far less majestic photo moments but some shock factor is generally always welcome.

For such a loud and proud beach hater, I’m finding a lot of exceptions to the rule on this island. Menemsha is my next favorite photo spot, as it gives off more of a fishing village energy than the others do.

Specifically I found myself resonating with this COVID era gas station operating on a window service for any snacks or drinks. I also eavesdropped and listened to the man behind the window explain it was a family business that he inherited and I’m now bitter I’m not a gas station heiress. 

To wrap up my last trip to the northeast, I had time to kill before my flight out of Boston and spent a couple hours in Salem. of course it wasn’t enough but here’s the whirlwind mood board from my afternoon.