That stairway…I’m quite sure this picture says it all. This Martha’s Vineyard getaway is just steps away from the water. Their is nothing quite like a private beach…it’s an ultimate escape and playground.

That view…From this house, you can see Vineyard sunsets and sweeping waterfront views of the Lagoon, outer Vineyard Haven Harbor and Cape Cod from virtually every room on the second floor, including: the patios, living room, dining room and two upstairs bedrooms.

That charm…A house is a house is a house – sometimes! The slanted ceilings, cozy rooms, brick fireplace and design accents throughout this home make it almost as enticing as the island surrounding it…almost!!!

Contact me to find out more about this great rental!

The summer is just flying by…I’m so excited that the 4th of July is this weekend! There’s always so much to do on the Vineyard to celebrate our country…

• If you live in New York City, you have to check this out. For the weekend of the fourth only, the New England Fast Ferry is running a boat from the City to the Vineyard. It departs on July 2 and returns on July 5.
• Check out the clam bake in Menemsha if you’re up-island – hang out on the beach and enjoy great food from the Homeport restaurant. There’s usually some good music going on as well. Very kid friendly!
• Of course, there are always the fantastic parade and fireworks in Edgartown! (and a barbecue at the Old Whaling Church)

We still have some great vacation rentals available all over the island…there’s nothing like a last minute adventure to Martha’s Vineyard – and your very own cookout complete with fresh island lobster, maybe a raw bar, greens and roasted potatoes from a local farm stand. Don’t forget the sparklers!

Chappy has just about everything you could ever want in an island off an island – sand, sun, and surf. Peace & quiet, good neighbors, a sweet community. But it was missing something (until a few weeks ago)…a great general store called The Chappy Store.

Patrie Grace and her daughters have changed all that. They’ve opened a general store that carries basic groceries with a whole food, organic presence. They’ve got homemade muffins, sandwiches, chipwiches (ice cream sandwiches) and drinks. And it’s not all food! The store also sells planters, wooden toys and sketch books and more. Dedicated to keeping it local, they’ll sell Morning Glory Farms just picked produce.

You can find The Chappy Store two miles from the On Time ferry on Chappaquiddick road. I asked Patrie to describe the store in her own words, “It’s just me and my girls…and a cute and cozy lil grocery store.”

If there is a quintessential Martha’s Vineyard beach cottage, this is it. If you aren’t familiar with Chappaquiddick, it’s a small island off the eastern tip of the Vineyard and part of Edgartown – though the residents of ‘Chappy’ consider themselves to be their own little island and village. And, now on to the perks of this fantastic cottage:

• Like so many Vineyard houses, the cedar shake shingles on this cottage become one with the sand, sun and air. As such, this cottage doesn’t disrupt then incredible views, it really becomes part of the scenery. With the windows open, and the breeze floating through, you get the feeling that you’re living right on the beach. And luckily, it’s only 300 feet away from your door!

• Still – this cozy cottage doesn’t leave you with only the bare essentials. It boasts a beautiful, fully equipped and modern kitchen, beautiful living room, a master bedroom with a queen sized bed and a ‘dormer’ with two bunk beds.

• Don’t forget about deck time! This Chappy cottage offers both a screened in porch so that you can enjoy the beach air without the sun and an open-air deck perfect for barbecues. And the views! Oh…the views. Water and sky as far as they eye can see around this charming slice of heaven!

If you’re interested in this Martha’s Vineyard Vacation Rental, please contact me! If you had something else in mind, I’d be happy to help you with that too.

Deon’s, a fantastic Vineyard restaurant, has moved from Chilmark to Oak Bluffs this season giving folks easier access to its extraordinary food. Also, moving to Oak Bluffs means that alcohol will be served on the premises as Chilmark is a dry town and Oak Bluffs is not.

With his family, Deon hails from Anguilla but makes Martha’s Vineyard home. He’s brought his Caribbean flair to this island, however – and his “Contemporary, Caribbean Fusion” is sooo good. It really is a perfect match…I mean, we have more fresh fish here than you can shake a net at.

Here’s a sneak peak at the 2009 summer menu…

Reggae Mussels with coconut rum, madras curry, soft herbs, thyme, fennel & celery~

Conch Fritter Calypso with avocado, pesto, sprouts, jakanoo sauce~

Miso Crusted Swordfish with sweet batata fries & braised asparagus~

Cinnamon Braised Lamb Rack with Merlot ver jus, green beans and yucca puree

They’re open for dinner and Sunday brunch and you can find Deon’s Restaurant right on the main strip in Oak Bluffs, 53 Circuit Ave. 508.693.0001

And…We’ve got some great vacation rentals just a leisurely walk away from your dinner table! Contact me for more info.

I simply love this house. It’s got charm, history and location, location, location! Check it out:

Main Street, Vineyard Haven is only three blocks away which means some of the world’s best shopping and restaurants are steps away – not to mention the ferry. You can stroll down for dinner…or grab a cone at Mad Martha’s whenever you want. And you won’t have to worry about parking. What could be better than a morning walk along the harbor followed by coffee and muffins from the Black Dog?

Sleeps 10. Talk about spacious! This kind of big family and friend accommodation isn’t something we usually see downtown, but here it is. From the many bedrooms to the spacious dining table on the back deck.

Don’t forget the beach! This property is one block from Owen Park and its beautiful beach. Built in 1898, Captain Henry Stevenson’s House was, of course, located right by the water – with easy access to his ships and still has gorgeous waterfront views.

Contact me for more pictures, rates and availability!

The Farm Stand is open! Locally grown, friendly people, good food, family business, picturesque setting. How much more Vineyard can you get than Morning Glory Farm???

Morning Glory is a working family farm in Edgartown with a ‘farm stand’ – which is really an incredible farm store full of just picked produce (and some shipped in), homemade baked goods, a superb salad bar and steaming soup from their kitchen.

You can grab some food and sit outside on picnic tables looking out at the beautiful fields, letting the kids run around and play in the trees, talking to other picnicers…it’s true Vineyard style!

Morning Glory has a new, gorgeous book as well – so you can take a piece of the Vineyard home with you, recipes, images and all. The photos were taken by world-renowned photog, Alison Shaw and the book is:

…an evocative look at how a once-worthless piece of scrub land became Morning Glory Farm. This book captures in pictures and words the work, the family, and the food of this best known Martha’s Vineyard farm.

The farm is right on the bike trail…perfect for an Edgartown vacation rental…or even West Tisbury – the whole family can ride down through the State Forest and stop for lunch on the way to South Beach. Call me and we’ll find you the perfect Martha’s Vineyard summer rental!

I have a bounty of beautiful, classic Martha’s Vineyard houses available for summer vacation rentals…and I also have some rare gems. This house right on the Lagoon in Oak Bluffs is not a dime-a-dozen! Here are the  highlights:

Original. For starters, there’s a triceratops skull in the foyer! The owner of the house found it on an archaelogical dig. There’s also a very cool swing in the living room. And the design elements throughout make this house one of a kind.

Water, water everywhere. This contemporary house sits right on the Lagoon in Oak Bluffs, giving you 500 feet of private beach. It also has a gorgeous pool in the back yard and a hot tub. Of course, being in Oak Bluffs, you’re never far from the ocean – it’s just a short drive away.

Sunlight. Someone once told me they just wanted to rent land and not a house because they didn’t want to miss a second of Vineyard sunshine. Well, this is the house for you sun worshipers. There are almost as many windows as there are walls! The whole house is light, bright and vibrant.

Contact me for full information on this incredible rental!

When most people think of the Vineyard, they think sand, surf and sun. But the agricultural community on the island is truly thriving – from all of the working farms to the farmer’s markets to the community mantra, ‘go local!’

The FARM Institute takes it one step further, combining farming, education, conservation and kids. Their mission is:

The FARM Institute (TFI) is a teaching farm that educates and engages children and adults in sustainable agriculture through the diverse operations of a working farm. TFI provides year-round educational programs offering learning experiences in:

• The culture and history of Martha’s Vineyard farming;
• Farming (Field crops, produce, fruit, hay);
• Land preservation;
• Nutritional awareness;
• Humane livestock management (cattle, poultry, swine, sheep, goats);
• Entrepreneurial thinking and application

And if you’re coming to visit for the summer or even for a week or two, make sure to check out the FARM’s summer kid programs (download the 2009 brochure here):

WEE FARMERS for ages 2-4 – Info

SPROUTS for ages 4-5 – Info

FARMER FOR A DAY for ages 6-12

FULL DAY FARM-CAMP for ages 5-14 (FAQ)

HALF DAY FARM-CAMP for ages 6-14 (FAQ)

Work Income Sharing Project (WISP) for ages 11-15 (FAQ)

FUTURE FARMHANDS for ages 11-15

VINEYARD HERITAGE WEEK for ages 12-16

The FARM Institute is located in Edgartown’s Katama area where we have some great rental houses…it’s a beautiful area that features South Beach and a great bike path. Let me know if I can help you find the perfect rental.

If you’re looking to really get away this summer, but you don’t actually fancy being in the middle of nowhere, check out this Martha’s Vineyard vacation rental!

Don’t be an island, be a peninsula. This house has water on three sides – as it looks out into Vineyard Sound, Herring Creek and Lake Tashmoo. You’ll be right on the cusp of the Lake’s stone jetty one of the sweetest beaches on the island. The sand is almost white, warm and soft underfoot and the waves are almost non-existent most days. Not only do you have your own private barrier beach 25 feet from your door, the house also comes with it’s own boat mooring – cruise the lake or take your vessel right out into the Sound and beyond…

So close, but still far away. The Tashmoo Pond area is found at the end of a classic Vineyard dirt road and it’s certainly off the beaten path, but the beginning of that tree-filled dirt road is good old State Road, at a juncture about 2 minutes from the grocery store and 5 minutes from Main Street, Vineyard Haven. So, you’ll feel like you’re in a remote island paradise, but civilization is close by.

Don’t forget about the house! It sleeps 6 and features a big open floor plan and tons of Island sunlight. You’ll likely spend just as much time inside as out and that’ll be easy with a wrap-around back and side deck. All that’s left for you to do – besides calling me to book the house – is to plan what you’ll have for your first dinner under the Vineyard sunset.