Just a ferry ride away, I took a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard. A short walk to the Steamship parking lot in Falmouth and then a shuttle bus to Wood’s Hole brought me to the port. Forty-five minutes later, on the good ship Nantucket (named for the other popular island off Cape Cod), across Vineyard Sound, I was in Oak Bluffs, the picturesque town where the ferry lands. The town and beach front Nantucket Sound to the east.
Martha herself is a bit of a mystery. The original inhabitants, the Wampanoag tribe, descendants of which still live there, called the island Noepe, “land between the streams.” It’s believed to have been renamed by British explorer Bartholomew Gosnold for his daughter or mother-in-law. Inhabitants call it the Vineyard.
The original Methodist settlement was a camp in tents surrounding a meeting building. The Meeting Hall is in the center of the preserved Camp Ground. Over three hundred Victorian houses surround the park. Most were built in the 1880s and 90s, similar to the time frame of the development of my little mountain town in Colorado. We do have many Victorian homes, but not as ornate and colorful as these. Wandering the green space and old buildings felt like a walk into the past.
Camp Ground
The Flying Horses carousel is reputedly the oldest platform carousel in the United States. It was moved to Oak Bluffs from Coney Island in 1884. The twenty two carved wooden horses, with real horse hair manes and tails, seem almost lifelike.
Around town
And of course, a walk along the beach
Cape Cod July 2023:
Falmouth bike path to beach, Martha’s Vineyard, Heritage Gardens
An earlier Cape Cod trip (Fall 2021):
Yarmouth and Hyannis, Chatham, National Seashore, Provincetown, Yarmouth, Chapin sunset, Cape Cod Canal, Sandwich, Nor’easter, Falmouth, Woods Hole
Please do not download or reproduce images from this site. ©
Your comments are welcome!
Popular posts/stats/categories
Email me at: Ruth@RuthRosenfeld.com
Ruth Rosenfeld 
Gorgeous! I’ve heard of Martha’s Vineyard and have seen my peers go there, but I’ve never been. I’d love to return to the East Coast to check it out. Looks like a lovely time for you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! It was a delightful day, such a pretty town.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Howdy. Fine essay. My wife and I honeymooned on MV. It’s a wonderful place.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How nice. I recall you gave spent time on Cape Cod, a favorite place. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
While viewing your photos, I can almost smell the salty sea air.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the smell of that fresh sea breeze is intoxicating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh so this is the famous Martha’s Vineyard I hear on some TV series. And those Victorian houses are just like in the movies. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much for your visit and comment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hey you’re welcome! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The place lools beautiful – the beach, the houses. I heard about Martha’s Vineyard and even read fiction books set in it. Glad to see and read about it from your post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, it is a charming, lovely place to wander.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love all the colours and details of those houses – very like the Painted Ladies we saw in Cape May 🙂 Our own London home is of a similar age (1889) but in a VERY different style 😆
LikeLiked by 1 person
These houses are so well kept too. It was a delight to walk among them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely place, the houses are so beautiful and it looks like a great option for a day trip in the sunshine 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was a delightful little town to explore.
LikeLike
Looks like you had beautiful weather to visit Martha’s Vineyard for the day. The houses are so charming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was fortunate during those two weeks in Massachusetts to have very little rain. Good walking weather.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh what a pretty town! I’ve only ever heard of it from novels. I had no idea what it looked like.
Alison
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I was curious to see it. I now understand why it is popular!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow, just look at that gorgeous blue sky! What a wonderful place to explore, Ruth. I am in love with those gingerbread cottages that seem to be painted with every colour under the rainbow and have cosy front porches with quaint furniture and small balconies. Thanks for sharing and have a good day! Aiva 🙂 xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your lovely description, Aiva! I was surprised to see a person sitting out on a few of those pretty porches. I suspect most are just there seasonally.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve been to Cape Cod but never to Martha’s Vineyard. It’s such a famous place I find it funny that its name origins are a mystery. Your pictures are gorgeous and make me want to walk down this streets to see the pretty Victorian homes. Maggie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks so much, Maggie. It was delight to wander around there.
LikeLike