the vineyard blog

One of the best kept secrets Insiders will share is that there’s no better season to enjoy Martha’s Vineyard than autumn.  Now is the perfect time to re-discover the Vineyard. Enjoy the relaxed, less crowded pace of this lovely time of year with tons to do, the riches of the harvest tempting our palettes and Mother Nature calling.  Martha’s Vineyard is open, vibrant and just waiting for you to enjoy the most coveted areas and events.

Martha’s Vineyard businesses offer ample reasons to keep going out, and none are more delectable than our local restaurants and culinary offerings. Savor the flavors of the changing seasons with deliciously curated food and drink experiences and unique happenings to keep you working up an appetite and satisfying it too.  Fall on Martha’s Vineyard means mouthwatering festivals, bold flavors, and abundant local produce and seafood. Be it a restaurant, a farm stand or a food truck, there’s so many ways to get out and enjoy what makes our island so scrumptious. Foodies rejoice!

And because autumn weather is spectacular, with warm days and cool evenings, we invite you to go out and enjoy your favorite outdoor activities. Golf at one, or both, of our two pristine public courses Mink Meadows and Farm Neck.  The fish are running and our coastal waters loaded with strippers, albacore, blues and more.  Charter fishing makes a great adventure for friends and families, and cast fishing from our shores is also very popular.   The Island has miles of pristine hiking and walking trails most of which are dog friendly, as well as fabulous biking trails. 

History buffs will love all the historic architecture that dots the Island, and a visit to the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, the Carnegie Museum and the Aquinnah Cultural Center are definitely in order.  See the Island through fresh eyes by taking a self-guided tour on the African American Heritage Trail and the Deaf Heritage Tour.  General Island-wide sightseeing tours are a wonderful way to get acquainted with the Island and see all six towns.

October and November are loaded with mouthwatering festivals, events, pop-ups and more! October kicks off strong with three iconic festivals First Friday Vineyard Haven,  Martha’s Vineyard Oyster Fest, and  Ladyfest  - all designed to get your feet tapping and light up your taste buds. 
The eclectic and electric year-round arts scene on the Vineyard is amazing, with plenty of galleries and studios to explore throughout the Island. Columbus Day weekend promises to be just as enjoyable thanks in part to the  Vineyard Artisans Festival that exclusively features all Island artisans with handmade fine furniture, sculpture, clothing, fine art, one of a kind jewelry, fine ceramics, and much more.   

Mid-October brings another great excuse to get out on Martha’s Vineyard, by attending the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society’s Harvest Festival, happening on October 16. Sample the flavors of our local farmers during the regularly scheduled Farmer’s Market from 9-12pm plus activities all day long including tractor wagon rides, pumpkin carving, Martha’s Vineyard Hunt Club demos, antique power museum, the all-Island draft horse show, lunchtime live music, the women’s skillet toss and more! Happening at the Agricultural Hall Grounds, home of the Agricultural Fair, an Island institution which has been running 159 years and counting!

Hungry for more? Save the date and make your reservations for an intimate dining experience at the Harbor View Hotel that will tantalize your senses like never before. Executive Chef Alex Pineda of The Landing Restaurant in Marblehead and recent finalist on Bravo’s Food Network TV Show, “Chopped”, joins the culinary team at Bettini Restaurant for their Annual Food and Wine dinner event happening on October 23. Expect a delectable ten course tasting dinner with savory flavors inspired by different countries accompanied by incredible wine pairings.

Visit mvy.com for all the information you need to plan a fun, safe trip to Martha’s Vineyard. Visit mvy.com/lets-go-out for a listing of events and follow @visitmarthasvineyard on social media to hear the latest happenings from Let’s Go Out Martha’s Vineyard. 
Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism.

​It’s no secret that New England has some of the best seafood in all of the continental United States. The crisp, cool waters are the perfect environment for the fresh seafood to thrive in, resulting in us having access to the oceans incredible bounty. If you’re a seafood lover, a trip to Martha’s Vineyard as a foodie destination is a must.
 
The seafood industry on Martha’s Vineyard has been booming for decades and currently in 2018, showcases some incredible local fishermen, oystermen, and overall just incredible islanders that wake up earlier than any of us to get that fresh catch! Below we’ve shared the top five things you should do on island to experience all its degrees of seafood love - whether it’s shopping at a seafood market, going on an oyster tour, or just taste testing as many chowders as possible, we’ve got you covered! 

Visit a local fish and seafood market
The island has its fair share of fish and seafood markets, all owned by local island families that have been in the fishing industry for years. If you’re renting a summer home or Airbnb and have a kitchen to cook meals in, your firsts stop should be one of the following fish markets for supplies: Edgartown Seafood, The Net Result, Larsen’s Fish Market, or John’s Fish Market. Whether you’re looking for the freshest catch, along with ingredients to complement your recipes, these markets are their to supply you with all your seafood cooking needs. Don’t know how to cook a specific species? Ask the person behind the counter - they’ve probably cooked everything in the case hundreds of times over! ​

Dine at these seafood focused restaurants
The great thing about vacationing on the Vineyard is that if you don’t want to cook, you can always eat out and have an incredible meal, no matter your budget. There are dozens of seafood focused restaurants, very much so dock to table but below we’ve shared a couple favorites and our recommendations on what to order and where:

• The Seafood Shanty: known for its massive lobster roll, the Seafood Shanty in Edgartown has a great view of the water;
• Nancy’s: before you head upstairs to order a fried seafood plate, make sure to grab one of Donovan’s famous Dirty Bananas;
• FISH: New to Vineyard Haven's Main Street in 2021, this West Coast inspired taqueria is sure to satisfy any seafood craving offering raw bar bites, poke bowls, and of course fish tacos. 
• Coop De Ville: sitting right on the Oak Bluffs harbor, it’s the place to dine on Tuesdays when they host their Lobster Fest - steamed lobster, drawn butter, and corn for under $20;
• The Square Rigger: if you’re still craving lobster, the Square Rigger in Edgartown is an island tradition - their grilled stuffed lobsters are simply the best;
• 19 Raw: a favorite in the Edgartown dining scene, it’s the perfect bar for a cocktail and a dozen fresh oysters! 

Experience a seafood tour
If you love oysters, an oyster farm tour with Cottage City Oysters is a must while on island. They take you out to the Vineyard Sound (300 feet from shore) to visit the Cottage City Oyster Farm. Their solar powered work raft becomes the stopping point, where they pull up a cage full of market oysters and show you how we cull and put you to work culling your own. It's an experience like no other! ​

Enjoy a clambake on the beach
Typically to enjoy a clambake on the beach, you’re probably attending a private event or have hired a company to put one together for you or your friends, which is such a fun experience! Check out Bill Smith's Famous Clambakes, a beloved clambake caterer for over 60 years. 

Taste as many clam chowders as possible
Clam chowder is a section on all its own - and you’ll taste some award winning clam chowders on Martha’s Vineyard no matter where you go. Some of the best restaurants with incredible chowders include: The Wharf Pub in Edgartown (multiple time winner of the MV Chowder Fest) and  Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Company (rated best chowder in New England by Yankee Magazine). 

As you can see, there are more ways than one to enjoy fresh seafood and fish on Martha’s vineyard, so we hope you get to check a few of them off on your seafood lover’s bucket list!