Last week, my family and I went on our annual summer vacation to Martha's Vineyard. The island has so much to offer families including a super family friendly boutique hotel that has always exceeded our expectations! With the Vineyard just being a short drive and a fun ferry ride away, it is a great place to get away for a couple of nights with your family! Read on for our top picks on where to visit when on island and the best place to stay!
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Summercamp is part of the Lark Hotel group and is as whimsical as its location. Located right in Oak Bluffs with a gorgeous view of the harbor, this hotel is the perfect destination for families. The charming decor evokes childhood memories of summer camp while the amenities offer everything you would need to be comfortable during your stay. From the moment you walk into the lobby, the spark from the magic of Martha's Vineyard is ignited. With the fun hanging chairs, a canteen with snacks and a game room filled with all the classics (everything from twister to ping pong), it becomes difficult to want to leave the property when you instantly feel right at home. The rooms are bright and airy with fun, nautical themed decor. With several types of rooms and suites to choose from (including a dog-friendly one if a family vacation includes your pup!), there are options for all family sizes.
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Now that you know where to stay, here are our top 5 must-visit places when on island. All of these are super family-friendly and fun for both the littles and the adults!
1. Ryan Amusements in downtown Oak Bluffs is always a big hit. A two floor arcade equipped with the best arcade games for the whole family (I spent way too much time playing skeeball!). We save the arcade for either a rainy day or a way-too-hot day.
2. Nomans is also in Oak Bluffs and falls at the top of the list for mom and dad. With incredible drink and food choices (still dreaming about the painkillers and fried chicken sandwich!), live music, lawn games and a large outdoor space for the kiddos to run around, this is hands down the best place on island to make the entire family happy! With an all day menu (breakfast to dinner), I promise you will be back more than once!
3. Did you even visit the Vineyard if you didn't go on the Flying Horses Carousel? Right in downtown Oak Bluffs, the Flying Horses Carousel is the oldest continuously operating carousel in the nation. To make it extra fun, riders reach for rings to collect on their horses. Whoever wins the lucky brass ring gets a free ride! What are the chances that both of my boys got the brass ring this year?!
4. The MV Pirate Adventure will fall at the top of the list for my boys! The whole experience is unmatched and so exciting for the littles. They dress the kids up as pirates, give them a pirate name and then head on the pirate ship for a ride around the harbor and to take down a pirate with water cannons. The staff stays in character the whole time and are so, so good! The boys were obsessed!
5. You can typically always count on a brewery to provide a family friendly atmosphere. When on the Vineyard, we always make sure to visit Bad Martha's Brewery in Edgartown. The brewery sits amongst beautiful flowers, mature trees, plantings, and native grasses on the Donaroma’s Nursery property. They have a great staff, games and typically live music! On top of it all, they happen to have what we think is the best pizza on island. Do not leave without ordering one!
Martha's Vineyard will always be a special place to us. While our pre-kid visits looked a little different, it has been so fun to discover these family friendly locations and see the magic of the island through our boys eyes. I highly recommend getting over there at some point, even if it's for a day trip! As always, feel free to shoot me an email or send me a message on social media if you have any questions about our stay!
