PROS: This park reminds me of a smaller Boston commons park! Landscaping is good, parking is free…read moreand plentiful, and it has a nice view of the water CONS: the fields are riddled with goose droppings so it's not good for field activities OVERALL: as long as you stay on the sidewalks throughout the park you'll be fine

Great park by the ferry. Relax while waiting for the ferry. There's a gazebo and a nice ocean…read moreview. Nice open space to relax and end your day on the island before heading home or even just spend part of your day relaxing once you get to the island.

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!

Excellent hospitality and accommodations! Such a warming and great place to stay for the weekend…read more The hospitality and quality of rooms clearly stands out. The location cannot be beat with Inkwell Beach directly across the street with the house offering beach towels, morning yoga, breakfast, and a fun happy hour. Truly a well run and gem of Oak Bluffs. My family will be continuing to stay here for years to come.

A great family run small business that will make you feel like old friends. We had a mixed group of…read morethose who had done this elsewhere and those new to it. Mark and his son made us feel at ease. After our parasailing we rented jet skis and spent an hour in the surf. A great way to spend some time on a warm day.

Simple online reservation, easy booking, very friendly employees, overall a quality experience…read more $300 for an hour including tip, but was a very memorable experience.

This place is incredible. The perfect group of people running this place, most have been there for…read moreseveral seasons. I rented one of their 15 Ft sail boats here and took it out with my Girlfriend and we went right out and sailed the entire lagoon over the course of about 1.5 hours. The boat was in good shape and handled in the water well. The sail was in great shape too. The prices are very affordable and it took literally no time to get out on the water, they rig for you and send you off. The sailboats would fit 4 adults comfortably and the views in the lagoon are fantastic. Highly recommend this if you are in MV for any amount of time. I noticed they have good kayaks and other adventure options as well. 5 stars, thanks Winds Up !

Jeff is the man. We rent kayaks every year from Winds Up. We got in a late today and Jeff helped…read moreus out getting everything we needed. And reserving online was super easy.

BLUF: A 150+ year old community of historic and colorful cottages with Victorian styling…read more The neighborhood of Oak Bluffs is home to 318 "gingerbread cottages" - small homes that were built starting around the 1860s to house members of the Methodist church during their summer camps. Fast forward 150+ years and there is an entire community of brightly colored cottages featuring ornate details or "gingerbreading." The houses were purposely built close together and with porches and balconies to encourage a sense of community and conversation. The cottages also often have a double front door to emulate old tents with double flaps. In the summer months one of the cottages is open as a museum and walking tours are available. Year round, there are residents that live in this community and vacationers that rent the whimsical homes. Originally when I heard about the Gingerbread Cottages I had visions of the "Painted Ladies" (Victorian row homes) in San Francisco but the cottages, although also colorful and ornate, fill an entire community. I was mesmerized as I admired the community of little cottages - this is such a neat piece of history! I hope on my next trip to visit the museum or join a walking tour.

Nothing to this area. An interesting thing to see. But it's just walking around and looking at…read morehouses. Nice to mark off the to do list on MV but not much to it.

Captain Jo was great this past weekend with our bachelorette party! He is highly experienced and…read morefriendly. Took many pictures for us and had waters and nice comfy furniture! We had so much fun.

Captain JoJo couldn't have provided better service for our sunset cruise. He worked hard to ensure…read morethe cruise fit exactly what we were looking for. We could play our own music, drink our own drinks and eat our own food all while he educated us in the ways of the water and the history of MV. Would recommend for any type of event/party. Jumping into the water in Lake Tashmoo was my highlight!

Wonderful time kayaking on Sengekontacket Pond. Booking and release forms all easily done online…read more Plenty of parking and staff got us right on the water with quick and simple instructions. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Island Spirit Kayak for making the process of renting Kayaks incredibly simple and…read moreeasy! The dropped the kayaks, texted us a picture of the location that they dropped them and we texted when we had returned them. SO easy and they were exactly what we expected. Thanks again for your great customer service!

We rented a lovely homes from MV Vacation Rentals twice now,…read morethe latest last October. The home was as listed and beautiful, the agent went above and beyond to assist us. Great service two times now. I highly recommend this company.

We have rented here for multiple years without issue. This year, while we had a great agent who…read morewas quite kind, we did not have a good customer service experience. We rented a luxury home for a significant price. We were locked out of our home with my toddler after bedtime because they gave us the incorrect key and not offered so much as an email apology let alone compensation. Further, they had poor communication post-rental and it overall left us quite disappointed. We won't plan to rent from them in the future based on this experience.

Stayed here this past weekend, and its in a prime location on Circuit Ave. It's walkable to pretty…read moremuch everything. I liked that you can store your belongings before check in, and they offer a fully stacked back patio with snacks, coffee, and drinks. The room was very spacious, well stocked and clean. Also, the staff I interacted with were all very friendly too. I would definitely recommend and stay here again!

The rooms are beautiful. Everything is so comfortable from the beds to the couch even to the chairs…read moreoutside. The Solarium is very nice its like being at home in my sunroom. My other favorite parts are the beach room hot tub/outdoor shower.But the best part about this beautiful inn is the staff!

Really cool houses. All of them with a cute gingerbread kind of look to them. Most of them are…read morereally well taken care of or recently renovated, it's a lot of color. It is a cute little area to go for a nice walk and enjoy some cute houses. In addition in the middle is the tabernacle which was under construction while we were there, but looks like a cool meeting area.

It's okay. It's really not much to see. It is an island I've been to other islands that were better…read morelike Mackinac Island but if it's on your bucket list, you can go. It's not too much. That'll be memorable from an island once you're on the island. It doesn't seem like an island