Happy Thursday from Nantucket, friends!
If you missed my earlier post this week, I’m recapping our trip in progress this time!
You can already catch the first post when we visited Chatham on Cape Cod (all of the details about where we stayed, what we ate and what we did are in that post) and now today, it’s my first post about the first part of our trip over to Martha’s Vineyard!
If you’re not familiar with the area, I thought I’d post a map…
We flew into Boston on Monday, July 12th and drove down to Cape Cod and stopped in the town of Chatham for two nights (it was about a two hour drive).
On Wednesday, July 14th, we got up super early and left the hotel by 5:45 to drive to Falmouth (about an hour and twenty minute drive) to catch the ferry to take us over to Martha’s Vineyard…
Here we are waiting in line for our car to board the ferry.
I have a lot to say about this:
1: I will do an entire post at some point soon about the differences between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, but we did feel like we needed a car in MV, and I’m so glad we had one.
2: When we rented our car, we had to let them know that we were taking it with us to the island and dropping it off there…not all places want you to do that…they want you to return the car back to Boston (which we could have done but we weren’t going back to Boston, so we had to find one that let us keep it in MV).
3: We actually had ferry tickets for later in the morning but the day before, we decided we would rather get up earlier and head to MV versus sleeping in a bit later, so we called the ferry terminal and they told us we could get on “stand by”. I was a little nervous about this, but it worked out just fine! We arrived at the ferry terminal right around 7:15 for an 8:00 ferry (not the Hy-Line fast passenger ferry, but a ferry that takes cars over).
Here we are in line with all of the other big trucks and stuff about to board the ferry.
This process moved so quickly! I bet we drove on, parked and were disembarking in under ten minutes.
The ferry ride from Falmouth to Vineyard Haven (in Martha’s Vineyard) only took 45 minutes, so we just stayed in the car the entire time. It was so easy!!!!!
At one point, we were cracking up at Madeley’s iPad background. This really sums up our very sweet little relationship. Bahahaha! She loves me so much.
The ferry ride was only 45 minutes, so it was nice and quick. The ride was really smooth and the weather was great, so I didn’t get sick. Here we are arriving in Martha’s Vineyard.
I’ve been going to Nantucket since 1995, but this was my first trip to Martha’s Vineyard. I was really excited to check out the other island!
We drove off the ferry and drove straight to our hotel for the next three nights…
…we stayed at the GORGEOUS Winnetu! We loved every single thing about this place!! (More pics to come in the next post!)
Since we had woken up so early, we hadn’t enjoyed breakfast yet, so we walked in and headed straight to their restaurant The Dunes to eat.
Awwwww! I love my boy so much!!
We ate, we checked out the cool lobby…
…they played a little chess and then we drove to Oak Bluffs for the afternoon…
Where Nantucket is not only the name of the island but the one and only town as well, Martha’s Vineyard is an island made up of six towns.
We had a great afternoon walking around Oak Bluffs and checking everything out. This town very much gave us a college town feeling…lots of brightly colored buildings, a lot of younger people, a huge park in the middle and lots of casual dining options.
Of course, it was right on the beach too 🙂 .
Love these two.
For lunch, we ate on the patio at Lookout Tavern and it was DELICIOUS!! It was right on the water and the menu said it had been voted the best lobster roll on the island for like the last decade. So. Good!
After lunch, we headed back to Winnetu to check out our room. We stayed for three nights, and had two different rooms. On the first night, we had a two bedroom cottage on the first floor right by their huge outdoor lawn with a…
…hot tub. Now, you know my thoughts on hot tubs (they gross me out), but my kids were so pumped! They swam and then…
…they played in the “yard” the rest of the afternoon. Winnetu has so many amenities and outdoor activities plus, it’s on the ocean, so there are really a plethora of things to do.
After an early morning, some car riding, a ferry ride and looking around town, they were excited to spend a few hours outside running around.
Later that night…
…we cleaned up…
…and took the free shuttle from the Winnetu resort into Edgartown (the cuuuuuute little downtown by the resort). They offered the shuttle twice an hour so that you didn’t have to find parking in Edgartown (which we later would try to do and realize it was harrrrrd)…
Agh! Edgartown was ADORABLE!!! This little town was by far my favorite. I mean…look at Lululemon, how cute is that storefront?!
I will have more pics to share in the next post, but seriously, I loved this town!
We ate dinner outside at…
…Atlantic and loved every bite! The weather was gorgeous, the food was delicious and the setting beautiful. It was the perfect way to end our day.
Awwww! It was a long day for sure 🙂 .
After dinner, the kids got ice cream and we headed back to the hotel.
That’s PART ONE from our trip to Martha’s Vineyard! Again, if you missed the first leg of our trip when we visited Cape Cod, check that out HERE! I will have many more MV details to come!
See you tomorrow!
Elspeth says
Looks so fun!!!! Love it! Have the best time away!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Peyton Cline says
Two questions – does Mix & Match travel agency plan trips to this area? I have been dying to explore this section of the country! Second, do you have a link for your jean jacket? Enjoy the rest of your trip!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
We do not! Outside of Walt Disney World, we do not plan trips within the continental US. Annnnnd it’s unfortunately an old jacket.
Lauren D says
Where is Kensington’s white dress from? Love it.
Mix and Match Mama says
That was mine!! I actually was wearing that dress last year the night my house flooded. I decided it was time to pass it on after my 24 hours in it. Agh!
Kathy says
What a picturesque area! I like and appreciate that you’re posting about your vacation during your vacation! I read that you got to the ferry boarding area at 7:15 for an 8:00 ferry right to Martha’s Vineyard, Rhe next picture shows the line your rental car was in to board, and there were a lot of cars in front of yours! How early should people arrive to get on?! You mentioned you were on stand-by, so I understand wanting to be early, but do you have to wait to see if there’s room and get to the back of the line? Just curious as to how the process works if we plan a trip like this. Love all the pictures!
Mix and Match Mama says
All good questions! So, when we called, they suggested getting there about an hour early for standby. When we “checked in” that morning, they put us in the standby lane in the parking lot. There were maybe four or five cars ahead of us, but we got right on.
Sheaffer Sims says
Everything is just so dang charming!!!!
Kate says
So fun! I noticed the kids had their own table at dinner. We have 4 kids too, is this something y’all typically do to have two tables? Would also be interested in tips for hotel rooms for bigger families. I seem to run into 5 person maximum at most I look at. Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
It’s not! Hahaha! In fact, I think it’s a first. They only could fit us outside in that arrangement, so we just pretended to be on a date 😉 .
Kelly says
Looks like so much fun! Are you needing to make dinner reservations or are walk-in’s okay?
Mix and Match Mama says
We almost always have dinner reservations! All three areas have been super crowded!
Kelly says
Also, I hope you are keeping a running tally on how many lobster rolls you’ve had this trip:) Haha!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Approximately 84. 😉
Kelly says
haha!! 😉
Karen in Virginia says
This was your best recap so far. Really love the “real time” recap and found it very helpful. Also, liked knowing your time spent doing each thing and all the places you went to. And lots of pictures of the island were also helpful. Can you do the same exact thing for Nantucket? Thanks!!
Mix and Match Mama says
I can!!! Thank YOU!!
Jess says
Looks like a great trip! Can I ask a potentially silly question? Have you been doing laundry at your hotels? I can’t imagine packing clothes for six people for such a long trip, but I also hate doing laundry on vacation!
Mix and Match Mama says
Great question! Yes! We’ve done laundry multiple times!! We even had a washer and dryer in the hotel at this Winnetu resort!
Kandi Barber says
Loving hearing about a part of the country I visited as a kid but probably won’t visit as an adult. I love your descriptions especially the most important thing, food. Haha! Enjoy!
Patty Anderson says
Nantucket, Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard have called out to me for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never visited any of them. Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you. Looks like another wonderful vacation!
Shawna says
Love this! Have you read Martha’s Vineyard, Isle of Dreams by Susan Branch? Sooo cute and sweet! I would love to visit after reading her story!
Mary Jane McNeill says
If you’re not driving to MV, it is very easy to fly into Boston and get a Peter Pan bus to Woods Hole and catch the ferry there to Vineyard Haven. My sister has a house there and we have done that many, many times. I hope you visited Bunch of Grapes bookstore! We saw Elin Hilderbrand speak there a few years ago promoting “Beautiful Day”. There were only about 10 people that showed up!
Kay says
Hi Shay! I’m so glad you are enjoying the Cape and that finally there is some nice weather! I love your blog and have followed along for years. I live in Newton MA (outside Boston) and am at the Cape each summer, so it’s so wild to see you blogging from here-I love it! Hope you have the best time on your vacation and I love your New England posts!
Donna C says
I cannot tell you how happy I am to see you traveling and posting all the details. From where you stay to all the great places you eat to all the cute clothes you are wearing these posts are inspiring me to start travelling again! Thank you for showing that there is life after a pandemic!
Kristen says
Edgartown is my favorite and I hoped you loved the gingerbread houses in Oaks Bluff!!
S. S. Ross says
Why did you feel you needed a car on MV? It doesn’t seem like you’re driving it on the island.
Mix and Match Mama says
We drove it a ton both the first day and the third (you’ll see pics of the third day coming up!). MV is pretty big. For instance, from the ferry to our hotel took 30 minutes and then about 30 minutes each way to Oak Bluffs and back. We actually used it a lot and I would recommend anyone visiting MV to have one or I guess be okay relying on Uber.
Lilly says
So much fun and will love to see MV one day. Kensington is growing up so fast and those legs….for miles. I know that feeling when your daughter can start wearing your clothes, then shoes, then jewelry, etc. Mine is 15 and she fits into my shoes now…sigh…. Thank you for the great tour….love your travels!
Lolly says
We have great friends who live year round on MV and we love the island. So much variety on a small island. Edgartown is also my favorite. I’ve been to a lot of college towns on the east coast so maybe they are different in the midwest/south, but I’ve never thought of Oak Bluffs to be like one–that’s an interesting perspective.
I had no idea they added a vehicle ferry from Falmouth. They always left only from Woods Hole. Good to learn there is another alternative. You guys got lucky, sometimes that whole standby thing can be a nightmare. At least you had a reservation later if it turned out to be so.
kristen says
Madeley’s screen saver is the best things ever!!! Love it!
Kristine says
I live on the Cape and absolutely love Nantucket. Make sure you are wearing your masks though, I have friends and I do business over there and I’m hearing due to the summer crowds there has been an uptick in the virus ugh!!
Claire says
Your Cape Cod posts have me ready to book a trip! Still have my Black Dog shirt from my visit there in 1999–we were actually on the MV ferry, coming back from Nantucket, on the night that JFK, Jr. and his wife died. Still gets me to think that our paths probably crossed, or were supposed to. Awoke to the island FILLED with news crews, reporters. Also, not sure if Provincetown is on your list of destinations but we highly recommend the Lobster Pot restaurant there! 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
Wow! That is a powerful moment in time for you!
Meg says
As a New England girl, I love how much you love our part of the country! You should add Newport, RI and Portsmouth, NH to your list of places to visit the next time you’re back!
Mix and Match Mama says
Andrew and I have been to Newport and we LOVED IT!!! Portsmouth is on my list!!! I love your part of the country!
WhittyWife says
Then come to Maine!! Ogunquit is gorgeous, as is Kennebunkport near there (where the Bush family spends their summers). Camden and Rockport are also beautiful coastal towns further north. ?
Joanne says
We only went to Martha’s Vineyard once and we didn’t have a car (bit mistake!) plus the president at the time was visiting and they had 1/2 the island shut down and traffic was just awful. I’ve always wanted to give it another shot though I fell in love with Nantucket right away and when given the choice I’d pick Nantucket every time.
Jennie says
So fun! MV looks beautiful. We are going next September for a family wedding and staying at the Winnetu as well. 🙂 Did you come across restaurants in the area that were gluten-free friendly? Any recommendations are so greatly appreciated!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes! Any spot you see here in these posts had GF options and we had great experiences at their establishments!
Liz Thorson says
Ahhh…bucket list for me still at age 71! We lived in Boston for a yr. when my husband was getting his Masters in Taxation at Boston University. We loved day trips to the Cape but could not afford a visit to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket with him in school and me working as a bank teller instead of teaching. We’ve been back to Boston several times, but never visited the islands! Your posts are reminding me how much I’d love to go to both islands to eat, shop, run, bike, hang out on the beaches! Yay! So glad you all had such fun!
Cindy says
Did you make reservations for all your meals or did you wing it and have long waits?
Mix and Match Mama says
We made reservations for almost every dinner but not any of the lunches!
Erin Stache says
Ok! I have a quick question. We are traveling to Boston driving down to MV. Should we get off the ferry in Oaks Bluff if we plan to just walk around and enjoy MV for a few hours? Also doing a Jaws Tour in Edgartown. Is Oaks Bluff close?
Mix and Match Mama says
There are multiple spots to take the ferry to MV. I would go to whichever port you’ll be able to catch the Hy-Line on. You will need to Uber or rent a car as I would say they’re about 30 minutes away.
kellie says
YAYAYAYAY! So glad you made it to MV!
We have been going (and staying in the same house in Edgartown) for 21 years!
We absolutely love it — and yes, Edgartown is our favorite too — we’ll be going back to celebrate our 20th anniversary at the Harbor View Hotel (by the Edgartown Lighthouse) this September.
LOVE Lookout Tavern in OB, too — their sushi is also amazing and on the best list too — I can’t wait to see where else you explored, there’s so much — we still haven’t seen it all.
I mean, I love Nantucket too — and The Chatham Bars Inn (celebrated my parents’ 40th anniversary there!) but MV has my heart!
Dorothy Walker says
Beautiful family, beautiful pictures and a beautiful vacation venture. I have travelled the same route and so loved it; the seafood was delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa says
So glad I came across your blog! Heading to MV this Sunday for a “Girls trip” week! This will be my first time visiting and I’m soooo excited. You’ve given me a couple of restaurant venues to try and I can’t wait to report my experience with you! P.S. (I love your Gucci, LV crossbody flex?)
Mix and Match Mama says
YAY! I hope you have so much fun!!
Alison Hughes says
I love this! I hope to one day be able to go to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Janet says
I took a bike trip to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket several years ago. I liked them both, but really enjoyed my time on Martha’s Vineyard. Love your photos. They bring back fond memories!
Abby says
Your travel posts are so interesting and filled with details-thank you! I’ve never been to MV, but it looks so adorable that we need to put it on our list. Ashby’s arm is looking so GOOD! I hope this is the case and will keep her in my prayers.
Randi Lounavaara says
Random question – where is Andrew’s Polo Pony shirt from?
Mix and Match Mama says
The Polo website!
Michelle says
Hi there! We are planning our first visit to Boston, Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, at the end of September. We are hoping to see a lot of sights! Do you recommend that we stay on the islands, or do you think that a day trip to each will be enough? Thanks so much for your input and recommendations!
Mix and Match Mama says
I think a day trip is better than no trip, but I would totally suggest staying on each island!
Kim E Thomas says
I was born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard and loved you sharing your trip with us and seeing all the familiar places. Thank you
Leslie Susan Clingan says
Absolutely precious. When did your babies get so grown up? So glad you had such a wonderful time. I was raised in Brookline, a suburb of Boston, but haven’t been back since 1968. Hoping maybe this fall we can finally get back up that way.