Are you looking for fun things to do on Martha’s Vineyard?
Martha’s Vineyard is a small island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. It’s always been a popular tourist destination, and even more so in recent decades.
There are more things to do on Martha’s Vineyard than you realize! Even though there are plenty of beaches to enjoy the sun and surf, the island offers a lot more.
We visit Martha’s Vineyard every summer and have learned of some fun “off the map” places from locals. Now, we’re sharing them with you!
Some of the below activities are in the towns of Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Other activities are “up island”.
No matter if you’re spending a week or just a day on Martha’s Vineyard, the guide below will give you plenty of places to see and things to do!
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What to Do on Martha’s Vineyard For FREE
1. Sundays in the Park Concerts
Every Sunday from Memorial Day Weekend through September, the Oak Bluffs Park Department sponsors a FREE concert at Ocean Park.
The concerts start at 5:30 PM and are performed in the bandstand in Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs.
The Vineyard Haven band plays alternating Sundays, while the other days are various performers.
Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket, and some chairs, and sit back and enjoy the show!
2. Attend a Sing-Along in Oak Bluffs
Every Wednesday night in July and August, the Martha’s Vineyard Campground Association hosts a FREE community sing-along in the Tabernacle.
The hour-long concerts start at 7:30 PM and feature folk songs, patriotic tunes, and other family favorites.
3. Riding Bikes
Martha’s Vineyard is one of the most bike-friendly places we know!
Every visit, we make sure to bring our bicycles with us. It is easy to bike from many locations on the island into towns like Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown.
Even if you get tired, the buses on the island are equipped to carry bicycles, so you can easily catch a ride back to your starting location!
Over 40 miles of paved bike paths are located throughout the island. In addition, there are off-road dirt trails available within the State Forest. You can definitely spend a whole day exploring the island on two wheels!
We recommend bringing your own bicycle. However, there are several bike rental companies located throughout Martha’s Vineyard. Bikes make it easy to explore the island, even if you are visiting for the day!
4. Stargazing at South Beach, Edgartown
One of the best things to do on Martha’s Vineyard is stargazing! The reason is that there are many locations on the island with limited light pollution, making it easy to see even the tiniest stars!
South Beach is the perfect place on Martha’s Vineyard for star gazing.
Arrive just at sunset to set up your beach chairs and blankets, and wait for the show to begin!
On our visit, we were able to see Jupiter and Saturn quite easily, even during civil twilight. However, as the evening grew darker, the stars really started to shine.
Check the weather for the evening to ensure skies will be clear. And bring a sweatshirt and blankets! The wind and surf can be rough at South Beach, making for cooler temps than what you may feel elsewhere on the island.
Look for shooting stars! We saw a few while we were enjoying the celestial skies.
Remember to leave your dog at home when you head to the beach to view the stars. No dogs are allowed on South Beach.
5. Take the Cross-Island Hike
The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission designed a 16-mile hike that crosses the northern parts of the island. The hike is broken up into 8 segments, ranging from 2-3 miles.
Adventurous types should be able to complete the full hike in about 6 hours. Of course, you can break up the hike, and complete a segment or two. No one would blame you for stopping your hike in Oak Bluffs. You can treat yourself to some ice cream or donuts as a reward!
The trails wind through some beautiful parts of the island. The cross-island hike is another unique and fun thing to do on Martha’s Vineyard for any nature lover.
Visitor’s Tip: Wear a good insect repellent and tall socks as you enjoy any trail on Martha’s Vineyard since there are many ticks on the island.
6. Enjoy the Island Folk Pottery & Sculpture Trail
Located in the Chilmark, the Island Folk Pottery & Sculpture Trail is a fun, short trail through the woods featuring unique pieces of art that blend in with their natural surroundings.
About a 1/2-mile long, the trail showcases fairies, dragons, and other fantasy creatures like tree spirits. It’s open daily from May- November, 9:00 AM until dusk.
7. Watch the Planes Take Off at Martha’s Vineyard Airport
One of the activities we love on Martha’s Vineyard is taking a bike ride to the Martha’s Vineyard Airport to watch the planes arrive and take-off!
There is an outside area with seating next to the runway, where you can rest and enjoy the view.
And recently, they added a small playground for little ones!
Inside the airport, you can get some classic clam chowder or sandwich at Plane View restaurant (either eat in or to-go). They serve breakfast and lunch year-round.
8. The Field Gallery and Sculpture Garden, West Tisbury
Located close to both Polly Hill Arboretum and the Grey Barn and Farm, the Field Gallery and Sculpture Garden make for an excellent addition to the events of the day.
The sculpture garden offers a dozen fun sculptures that children love to imitate. Inside the gallery, you can view and purchase work made by artists connected to the Vineyard.
Parking is available next door, at the West Tisbury Library. Or you can park across the street. Hours vary throughout the year. Visit their website for the most updated information, and to learn more about the artists featured in the gallery.
Fun Things to Do on Martha’s Vineyard
9. The Grey Barn and Farm, Chilmark
The Grey Barn and Farm in Chilmark is a small, working dairy farm. In addition to learning how the milk eventually becomes cheese, tours also include a walk around their property. The tour consists of learning about their chickens, sheep, and pigs. If you visit at the right time, you may even get to see piglets as we did!
Before visiting the farm, check out their website to find out more about tour times and costs. Keep in mind, the tour is not wheelchair or stroller friendly, as you will be walking on various surfaces, including grass and gravel. And wear shoes that can get a little dirty! You never know what you might step on!
After the tour, be sure to stop into their market, where you can purchase some of the most delicious cheeses and meats!
10. Island Alpaca, Vineyard Haven
Island Alpaca is one of those places I kept wanting to visit, but never had over the many years of visiting the island. After we visited recently, I knew I had to include it on this list of fun things to do on Martha’s Vineyard!
Visiting these soft, fuzzy animals are a unique way to break up the day. Perfect for an early morning visit before you hit the beach in the afternoon. Or even a quick stop before you head into Oak Bluffs or Edgartown for dinner.
A small entry fee allows you to visit and pet the many alpacas on the farm. They have a caretaker present to answer any questions you may have about these docile animals.
Also on premises is a gift shop full of amazing blankets, scarves, and toys that are made from the fleece of the resident animals.
11. Kayaking on Sengekontacket, Oak Bluffs
If you want to be on the water, but aren’t in the mood for a beach day, consider renting a kayak or stand up paddleboard for an hour or two! Sengekontacket Pond straddles both Oak Bluffs and Edgartown (and was even featured in the movie Jaws).
It offers the perfect location to kayak or paddleboard while on Martha’s Vineyard. The pond connects to the Nantucket Sound for those who want to work a little harder and enjoy the beauty of State Beach.
Island Spirit Kayak is the only kayak and paddleboard rental facility on Sengekontacket Pond and State Beach. They even offer tours and kid clinics! Visit their website for more information and pricing.
12. Polly Hill Arboretum, West Tisbury
Polly Hill Arboretum is a living example that you are never too old to start something new!
At 50 years old, Polly Hill decided to turn her family farm into an arboretum. She did this by exchanging seeds with other people around the world! The arboretum has many plants and flowers that are not native to the island or even the United States.
Exploring the 70-acre public garden takes a lot of time, but some exciting and beautiful areas cannot be missed. Our favorite area of the arboretum is Polly’s Play Pen.
Take the time to look at the identification cards for each of the plants. They will give you the name of the plant, as well as the year it was planted.
The arboretum is open year-round, with occasional closures for maintenance. Always check with their website before visiting to make sure they are open.
13. Take a Pirate Cruise
Has your child dreamed about becoming a pirate and sailing on the open sea? Well, they can do that for a few hours on a pirate cruise!
Pirate Adventures on Martha’s Vineyard lets kids (and adults!) live out their pirate dream. Before the cruise, kids will dress up like pirates and learn pirate lingo. Then they’ll board to ship to look for treasure.
Pirate cruises set sail in the summer on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday at various times. Visit their website for the most up-to-date information.
14. Attend a Baseball Game
Every summer, the Sharks descend on Martha’s Vineyard. No, not real sharks, but the baseball team!
The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks, a New England Collegiate Baseball League team, arrive every summer to showcase their hitting and fielding talents.
The season starts in the beginning of June and runs through July before the young men have to return back to school.
Visit their website for schedule and ticket information. Tickets are FREE for kids 13 and under.
15. Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven
Martha’s Vineyard has some fascinating history. The Wampanoag Tribe made the island their home. Methodists met here for a summer, religious encampment. And of course, the whaling and fishing industry has contributed to the development of the island that we know today.
You learn all about this history, and more, at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum. The exhibits are interactive, and kids will love the area dedicated to their learning and imagination. The museum hours vary. Visit their website for information on hours and admission fees.
16. Go on a Day or Sunset Sail
There is nothing like being out on the water on a beautiful tall sailing ship! The Black Dog Tall Ships are the perfect way to experience that.
They offer three-hour long sailing cruises during the day and at sunset, allowing you to see Martha’s Vineyard from a new perspective.
Cruises are offered daily. Visit their website for times and prices.
17. Go Windsurfing or Sailing
If you want to try your hand at windsurfing or sailing (or other boating), Winds Up! in Vineyard Haven offers lessons and rentals for all kinds of watercraft.
You can take the boats out on Lagoon Pond in Vineyard Haven or have them delivered to your location. Boats can be rented by the hour, day, or even week, so you can take the time to master your new favorite activity.
18. Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah
Built in 1796, the Gay Head Lighthouse was the first lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard. Since then, it’s been moved twice from the eroding clay cliffs of Aquinnah, and its lens replaced (see the original at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum).
If you are a Jaws fan, you may recognize the lighthouse! It stood in the background in one of the famous scenes.
You can enter the lighthouse and climb to the top to enjoy the beautiful views of the Vineyard Sound. Visit their website for up-to-date information regarding hours and fees.
19. Take a Walking Tour of “Cottage City”
Visiting the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs is one of our favorite things to do. You can walk around and the enjoy the many colors and themes of each unique home on your own for FREE.
However, if you want to get a little more history of the campground, walking tours are offered every Tuesday and Thursday in July and August at 11:00 AM.
20. Attend a Vineyard Sound Concert
Since 1992, this all-mall acapella group has been serenading the island with their beautiful harmonies.
The Vineyard Sound performs every summer, multiple times a week in Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, and Chilmark.
Best Places to Eat on Martha’s Vineyard
There are a lot of restaurants on Martha’s Vineyard, but some are better than others. We have a few favorites that we always visit every time we visit.
Best Breakfast Spots
- The Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven
- Linda Jeans in Oak Bluffs
- Dock Street Coffee Shop in Edgartown
Best Sandwich Spots
- Black Dog Bakery Café in Vineyard Haven (this one is on State Street)
- 7a Foods in West Tisbury
- Vineyard Takeout in West Tisbury
Best Dinner With a View
- The Lookout Tavern in Oak Bluffs
- The Seafood Shanty in Edgartown
- The Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven
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