GET OUTSIDE!

Photo: South Beach, M. Bossman

​For adventure seekers, nature lovers, families, couples, and anyone eager to get outside, Martha’s Vineyard is just the place to get away to! The Island, even though small, is mighty in terms of diverse ecosystems that co-exist. Beaches are obvious, but in between those beach days, Martha’s Vineyard has hiking trails along rolling hills, salt marshes, forest, along with freshwater and marine ecosystems. Spend a day floating on a kayak, or paddle board into the night while exploring the island. Plenty of water sports abound, and most of them are paired alongside educational tours where fun and learning go hand in hand. If you’re looking for outdoor wellness activities, Martha’s Vineyard has lots to offer – between beach fitness classes, trail running, biking, and Alpaca yoga, this island offers us many open-space options. With families being eager to get outside, now truly is the best time to breath in the crisp Vineyard air. 

The Island offers a diverse list of activities to do outdoors, and we are more than happy to have non-profit organizations like Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation with their TrailsMV phone app that allows you to easily view and explore island trails, the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank with their properties open daily from sunrise to sundown (except during deer hunting season), and The Trustees of Martha’s Vineyard, with their ever-changing program of outdoor activities are all a must. These organizations make it easy to connect with nature and breathe the fresh air the island has to offer. 

1. Explore the Hiking Trails: walking, running, walking or hiking our island trails is such a fun pastime and one that makes us all feel better almost instantly. With dozens off walkable trails on Martha’s Vineyard, choose a different one to explore every week!  ​​

Photo: Fishing from the JAWS Bridge, N.Freidler

​2. Go for a Bike Ride: cycling, whether as a family or on your own, is a great way to get outside and get a workout! If you don’t have a bike, you can rent one by the hour/day/week at any of our local island bicycle shops. 
 
3. Plan a Picnic: a great way to support local island businesses is to order a picnic lunch! Most places like local markets and restaurants can prepare a takeout picnic order of things like sandwiches, chips, and the likes. Just bring your own blanket and choose a local park or beach to picnic on! 
 
4. Have a Scavenger Hunt: a scavenger hunt can be anything you would like it to be and is for ages 2-100! Make it simple enough for the young kids in identifying items in nature like leaves, bugs, rocks, etc. or make it complicated for the older ones by having the scavenger hunt focused on bird species, a variety of trees, etc! 

Photo: State Beach Stroll, N. Freidler

5. Go Stargazing: not every outdoor activity has to take place during the day! As long as you are safe, stargazing is such a cool activity to do and the perfect way to relax your mind before bed. Slow down and watch the stars!
 
6. Hit up the Farmers Market! This season, the popular West Tisbury Farmers Market is being held on the grounds of the Ag Hall, where the Ag Fair has traditionally been. This sprawling space allows guests to continue to support the Vineyard’s vibrant farming community, with options ranging from the obvious – fresh produce, pies, breads, and other baked goods – to the truly unique-to-MV items, like Grey Barn Farm cheeses, MV Seasalt, and Enchanted Chocolates, all offering small-batch, Island-made and grown products.
 
7.  Go Horseback Riding: there are a few island barns that work to share their horses for riding lessons and the like. If equestrian adventures are what you are looking for, this is the island to do it on!
​
8. Go Geocaching: we are still not 100% sure we understand what geocaching is, but it seems to be all the rage with the people that do understand it! For those of you like us, here’s a definition for it: “Geocaching is an outdoor recreational activity, in which participants use a Global Positioning System receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called "geocaches" or "caches", at specific locations marked by coordinates all over the world.” Apparently, there are many on the island!

Photo: Alpaca on the Beach

​9. Camp Under the Stars: want to really do something out of the box? Camp outdoors! As the weather warms up, it’s such a fun activity to do with kids of all ages, or maybe as a solo activity to reconnect with yourself and nature. Set up a tent, tell scary stories, stargaze - so much fun! Make sure to use caution, only camp overnight on your own property, and be aware of any bugs or wild animals. 

10. Go on a Photography Adventure: anyone can do this, because we all carry a camera in our pockets - our phone! Head out with your phone or actual camera and explore one of our gorgeous island towns. Set a theme - maybe you’ll capture photos of blooming flowers, beach scenes, lighthouses, or anything else that catches your eye! It’s a great way to capture memories!

Photo: Sunset at Fuller Beach Edgartown, Marnely Murray