Be prepared for lots of rocks and seashells! Definitely bring a beach chair…read more Plenty of lifeguards on duty. Water is shallow for the most part so you can go out pretty far. Also, note the BLUE flag means white shark was spotted. They have yoga on the beach in the mornings and the 7:30a polar bear swim.

I absolutely love this beach, there's something special about those quiet mornings when the wind…read morewhips across your face and that ice-cold water jolts you awake, sending a shock through your whole body. Although it's been a few years since my last visit, The Inkwell remains close to my heart, a place that calls to me with deep sentiment and powerful history. What drew me to The Inkwell wasn't just its beauty. It was the feeling of stepping into a space where African Americans have gathered for generations--a sanctuary where families and friends could unwind freely and simply belong. The Inkwell got its name because it was the only beach area where African Americans were allowed during segregation. Today, that name carries deep emotional and historical meaning for our community. The Inkwell isn't a massive beach, but it's just large enough to be whatever you need it to be--whether it's lounging in a beach chair with a good book or hosting a beach party with friends. It's a place where families who bought homes generations ago return year after year. Many still spend their summers here, and some live here year-round. It's always been a space to feel at ease, to be yourself, and to be surrounded by a true sense of community. This place taught me what it really means to relax and have fun. Just shorts and a T-shirt, no need to dress up. I came to appreciate how freeing it is to feel accepted without judgment based on appearance. Long walks on the beach and early morning yoga were the highlights of my day. Oh Yeah, if you enjoy exploring nature trails like me, bike riding is another low cost activity that you'd appreciate. Whenever we visited Martha's Vineyard, we'd always stay in Oak Bluffs for a full week, close enough to the water that it felt like the beach was part of our backyard. From there, we explored the island: the fishing village of Menemsha, the harbor town of Vineyard Haven, downtown area Circuit Ave., and of course, the nightlife. I loved it all, the ocean, the sand, the sun warming your skin, the rocks beneath your feet, the boat rides, the fresh seafood (oh my goodness, the lobster!). And the people-watching? Top-tier--especially if you're not local. You'll see such a mix of families, longtime locals and visitors from all over the place. A perfect blend of laid back and POSITIVE VIBES. The world may have changed, but places like The Inkwell still matter, for so many reasons. Pro Tips for Visiting:    *   Getting There: Drive into Woods Hole and take the ferry--it's part of the charm. If you're flying in, rent a car if you can. You'll thank me later. It makes seeing the island much easier and less exhausting.    *   Plan Early: Book your trip months in advance if possible. A week goes by fast! Whether you plan to Netflix and chill the entire time or do a little sightseeing, having flexibility makes all the difference.    *   Recs for Downtown: I'd recommend Nancy's Restaurant, The Oyster Bar, Martha's Vineyard Chowder Company, and Linda Jean's Restaurant. If you like Asian cuisine, Bangkok Cuisine is a fav. Don't miss the clothing and souvenir shops - you'll love browsing around.    *   Arts & Culture: Visit the Cousen Rose Gallery and the Martha's Vineyard Museum for a taste of island culture and history.    *   Must-See Sunset: Head to Menemsha for one of the most breathtaking sunsets you'll ever see. While you're there, stop by Menemsha Fish Market for some of the freshest lobster and seafood around. So to all my fellow beach lovers: go and enjoy yourself, no matter your background. The Inkwell is a place to make memories that last a lifetime. It's warm, welcoming, and filled with soul. I promise--if you love the water, sand, and sunshine, The Inkwell will love you right back in the most unforgettable way. Muah!

This is a gorgeous Beach. After a delightful walk through the woods you will see a variety of…read moresandals, shoes , and sneakers. Left on the side of the path. Feel free to leave yours here too.. Now you will climb a sandy incline . When you reach the top you will think you are in the Caribbean. The ocean is cerulean blue..and the sand is softer and lighter than most New England beaches. There are tidal pools on both the far left and far right of the the beach. In the the summer high season ithe beach is only open to West Tisbury residents. In the past , it was possible for non-residence to use the Beach in the off-season. I believe it is the best beach on the island.

NOT FAMILY-FRIENDLY…read more The beach itself is excellent. The overall experience is not. The town of West Tisbury permits only one car *per house* to park at the beach. So if you have multiple families (with little kids) sharing a house, and everyone in the house wants to go simultaneously, then they must be shuttled. Which potentially means adding & removing car seats. The town also doesn't seem to have accounted for the case where multiple families from the same house may arrive at different times. (Ex: One family in the permitted car, another family dropped off by someone who doesn't want to go to the beach.) The town gives only 1 set of credentials. Fine, allow only one car. But why not give one beach access card to each family? Finally, this information's buried. We learned it at the pass office; it wasn't in the guidebook we bought, the websites we'd checked, nor our rental's info packet. Hopefully this review will help other families avoid this pitfall. ‍

Parker's River Beach is a cute family beach and a nice place to spend a few hours…read more You'll have to get a day pass for parking until 4 PM. The day pass also gives you access to other nearby Yarmouth beaches. They also host concerts some evenings so there's more going on than just the beach. One thing that really makes this beach unique is the number of seashells. There are thousands of them. If you enjoy collecting shells or just looking for unique ones, you'll have a great time. My son absolutely loved it. We visited in July and there was quite a bit of seaweed in the water so it wasn't the clearest beach. If crystal clear water is what you're after, there are probably better options nearby. That said, we still had a lot of fun collecting shells, building sand structures, and just enjoying the beach. There is also a small concession stand and an outdoor shower to rinse off before heading home.

Good family beach with swings and a decent snack bar. Not many waves the day we were there and…read morethere was more seaweed than other beaches we have been to (which means wading thru crabs to go swimming)!

This is a good spot to get in the water. Beach is not majestic but significant. There is parking @…read more20.00. Bathouse and swings. Rocky to get in but good near the jetty. Water is protected and warm. Lots of limpet and jingle shells at shoreline. Benches w sea view and stairway to get onto the beach and benches.

Wild and windy…read more How can you not love a place called Lobsterville? Lobsterville Beach is one of my favorite beaches on Martha's Vineyard. It's way out in Aquinnah in a quaint and quiet place actually named Lobsterville. Even in the summer it's not crowded and in the off season you seldom will see another soul. One of the reasons this beach is frequently so quiet is because there is very little parking that is restricted for residents only. However the beach is open to anyone and it's a great place to stop when biking out to Aquinnah and the great lighthouse at the tip. In fact going down Lobsterville Road and then up Lighthouse Road is a nice way to avoiding the busy South Road when biking to the lighthouse. The beach is and water are shallow and protected by land so it's warmer than many of the other beaches but realistically speaking the water is still cold as hell. The beach sometimes has lots of rocks that seem to come and go but sandy areas can usually be found. Great fishing and wind surfing out here during the summer and great views are in every direction. During the colder months the wind frequently howls through this area, agitating the water into angry whitecaps and giving the impression of a wild and pristine place. Not the most gentle, kid friendly or most convenient beach, but definitely one of the most beautiful and ethereal.

Really nice beach. No waves. Great for kids. Quiet and out of the way. The beaches on this island…read moreare all just fine but also a little different from each other. There are places to park, (especially if you have a permit). It's not too crowded. The beach has smallish waves if any at all and it slopes out very gently so this would be great for younger children to splash around. As with all beaches on the island, it is very clean. It looks like dogs are allowed as there were several on the beach when we were there.

Beautiful beach with calm waters and nice sand. Jaws bridge is attached to beach and people enjoy…read morejumping from the bridge. There's public parking down the entire beach but can be hard to find a spot on a sunny day. Water was a cool comfortable temperature and beautiful views of ocean and a pond on the other side of the road. Great beach if looking for a relaxing non wave beach.

Beautiful beach with calm waters! Great beach for a fun, but laid back day. The jumping bridge is…read morefun but always gets crowded. Go for the calm waters and to swim around in peace.

SURFSIDE BEACH is amazing…read more First of all, it's beautiful. Look at all that sea grass! Second of all, it's free. Third of all, there is a large parking lot. Fourth of all, there is VERY large parking lot for the bicycles. Fifth and not the least, it has SURFSIDE BEACH SHACK. This beach is understandably busy; not to worry, they have a lifeguard on duty. How lucky are the houses whose backyards are right on this beach?!

Heaven on earth. Immaculate beach with chair rentals, restrooms and the surf shack (who knew a pb&j…read morewas $8.....definitely pack a lunch). Must see when on the island.

Large parking lot that is free…read more Close to Millie's. Beautiful beach to watch the beautiful sunset in. As evidenced by the number of people heading this way when the sun was getting close to the horizon.

Beautiful and desolate in its own right. This beach makes you feel like you're on a different…read moreplanet. The rough tide makes it nearly impossible to swim or do anything, but our dog went nuts and LOVED every wave that came crashing into him; nearly sweeping him away at times. The beauty of being isolated and alone with no facilities, no people or lifeguards or anything, gives this beach a very particular feeling of freedom and peace. Initially thinking we made a mistake going out to the west end of the island, we greatly enjoyed it, and made some unique memories strolling the shoreline.