Get Outside! Family Friendly Activities
Martha’s Vineyard is a magical place for families, no matter the season or the reason. Families with kids of all ages are eager to get back outside and with spring in full swing, it truly is the best time to come together as a family and get outside!
We all know nothing exerts more energy than a toddler that runs around for a while, breathing in that fresh island air. The teens might say they just want to be left alone in their rooms, but get them outside with a family activity that’s fun and interesting, and they’ll get on board quickly! For the parents themselves, any moment when they can relax for a minute and breathe in the crispy Vineyard air is reward enough for all the parenting they do.
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.
We hope this list gives families a sense of all the activities there are on Martha’s Vineyard!
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!
We all know nothing exerts more energy than a toddler that runs around for a while, breathing in that fresh island air. The teens might say they just want to be left alone in their rooms, but get them outside with a family activity that’s fun and interesting, and they’ll get on board quickly! For the parents themselves, any moment when they can relax for a minute and breathe in the crispy Vineyard air is reward enough for all the parenting they do.
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.
We hope this list gives families a sense of all the activities there are on Martha’s Vineyard!
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!
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!
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!
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. Plant a Vegetable Garden: eager to get outside, you don’t have to go far to have some fun! Try your hand at gardening - decide with the family what crops you’d like to grow and call up a local gardening store for seeds, soil, and anything else you might need. Come July, you’ll be biting into your very own tomato or making iced tea with your very own fresh mint.
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!
6. Plant a Vegetable Garden: eager to get outside, you don’t have to go far to have some fun! Try your hand at gardening - decide with the family what crops you’d like to grow and call up a local gardening store for seeds, soil, and anything else you might need. Come July, you’ll be biting into your very own tomato or making iced tea with your very own fresh mint.
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!
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!
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!
