Martha's Vineyard 2012

 

Near East Chop Beach

For our anniversary together, Kevin and I often like to plan to do something fun together instead of buying gifts. (Though those are sometimes nice as well.) This year, fr our 3rd anniversary we decided we wanted to go to Martha's Vineyard since we hadn't been. It made sense to wait until we were visiting the Cape, so that we'd be closer and have Grandma Kathy to watch James. Getting onto the ferry, and particularly parking for the ferry, was a ridiculous mess. But we felt ready to "vacation" once we were on the ferry. It was a two-hour ride over.

The two of us on the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

We docked in the town of Oak Bluffs, so pretty much as a consequence of inertia, we spent the rest of the day there. Next time we visit (and we liked it enough that there will probably be a next time) I hope to see the other towns. There are 5 main things to do in Oak Bluffs: go to the beach, eat delicious seafood and drink tasty beverages, go shopping, admire the houses, or go look at a light house. Also, you can go ride on the oldest platform carousel in the country, but it's originally from Coney Island.

Where we landed in Oak Bluffs.

Flying Horse Carousel

We walked around a little before grabbing lobster rolls at Nancy's and tropical drinks at Donovan's Reef. Then we went to the Oak Bluff Town Beach just long enough to dip our toes in and walk along the water.  Then we went to Ocean Park and wound our way around the tropical-colored Victorian houses that crowd the island.

Kevin at Oak Bluffs Town Beach

The beautiful Ocean Park

We window shopped a little before we decided to walk out to the closest lighthouse, which was deceptively far away and uphill.  Kevin said something about it being a fun anniversary trip and not wanting to take me on a death march, but in 90 degree weather, it definitely got a little questionable. I'd like to say the light house was amazing and totally worth but you, know, it looked basically like a light house.

The East Chop Lighthouse

After that I was too exhausted to even take more pictures. We got some beers and chowder at the Offshore Ale Company, which is kind of cool because the floor is covered in peanut shells. We got ice cream at Mad Martha's, only to discover 4 better ice cream places immediately after that. And finally, to complete our gluttonous tour: fried food, yummy sushi, and drinks at the Lookout Tavern. We might have a bit of a problem with food on vacation. 

Oh and speaking of eating too much, to kick off our anniversary celebrating, when we were in Quincy the day before we stopped by the bakery that did our wedding cake and purchased the slice that most resembled what we served at our wedding.  We had white cake with raspberry coulis at our wedding, but Montillio's strawberry shortcake is pretty close. It was nice because when we tried to eat our cake on our first anniversary it was freezer-burned, so it's nice to know we can just get it fresh anytime we're in the area.

At Montillio's in Quincy eating our "wedding cake"