I came to Martha’s Vineyard with a lot of prejudice and pre-conceived notions: I assumed the island was only for rich people, and heavily overrated. Well, luckily I was proven wrong! In May this year, I decided to take a week off and spend it with my family in Oak Bluffs, the “big” town on Martha’s Vineyard. I chose the island for its beaches, secludedness, and out of sheer curiosity after former President Obama gave praise to the restaurant Nancy’s in his bestselling book “A promised Land” (Are the shrimp really this good?). I had to find out for myself.

We stayed at the Summercamp Hotel, which provides guests with access to a beautiful front porch, a little snack and coffee area, and amazing hospitality all around. The so-called Gingerbread Houses are located at the back of the hotel and allow for leisure walks throughout the day. They are small, fairytale-looking houses with great charm, and if you’re in the market, you might find the occasional one for sale!

You can easily spend a few weeks here and not get bored. We were lucky and arrived right when everything opened up for the season, which goes from late May through September. You can rent bikes at almost every corner (highly recommended!), and take scenic rides to nearby towns, such as Edgartown and Vineyard Haven a.k.a Tisbury. Edgartown is known for its little shops and cafes, as well as the Lighthouse, while Vineyard Haven is slightly less exciting. However, when there, grab some coffee from the Waterside Market and have a nice dinner at Salvatore Restorante, the best Italian place on the island. In Edgartown, dine at the amazing 19 Raw Oyster Bar for fresh seafood and an outstanding Filet Mignon. On a side note: I would avoid the restaurant L’Etoile. They don’t allow children under 6, and unless you love a good snooty place, I would skip it entirely.

For an extended drive, head to Aquinnah, where you can visit the stunning cliffs and their beaches. It’s about 45 minutes by car from Oak Bluffs, but well worth the trip. Make it into a sunset-watching adventure, if you’d like, but bring warm layers, as it can get cold up there.

For a very special excursion, take a short ferry ride to Chappaquiddick Island and visit the Mytoi Japanese Gardens. They’re usually not crowded, due to their private location, and admission is donation-based. The gardens are open at all times and will give you a great sense of serenity.

Now, back to Oak Bluffs: Eat your way through the many establishments that make this town a destination for foodies. Start out with the enormous and award-winning lobster roll at Lookout Tavern, have the local catch of the day from The Red Cat Kitchen, and have a lovely lunch with surprisingly good drinks at the casual Nancy’s. Obama was right about their fried shrimp! They’re seriously the best!

Another great place that gets overlooked sometimes is Noman’s, located on the outskirts of Oak Bluffs. Their menu is fantastic, and there’s a big bonus: A huge backyard that is inviting you to dine and play games, provided by the restaurant. That’s how you end a Friday night on a high note, my friends.

The people we met were incredibly friendly, diverse, social, and fun to talk to. You get to meet folks from all sorts of backgrounds on the island (not only the rich, and plenty of average Joe’s like us!). So that prejudice got debunked for me fast.

In addition, you have the ocean within walking distance, and plenty of other gorgeous scenery to indulge in. In the summer months you can sail, surf, or swim - the choices are endless! For us, it was enough to make daily trips, take long walks, and relax wherever we found ourselves to be at Siesta time.

I think I might have fallen in love enough with the island to make annual returns - what about you? Interested in exploring the island from head to toe?

Martha’s Vineyard

A getaway with extra layers of coziness

Worm’s Head, Wales