Enjoying Martha's Vineyard with Kids

Shila:  While travelling anywhere, I love to eat like a local and I encourage my kids to do so too. Check out the Menemsha Fish Market while visiting Martha's Vineyard with kids for some of the freshest east coast seafood on the island. Enjoy lobster rolls, clam chowder, crab cakes, tuna, and more. If you choose, too, kids can pick out their own lobster and the market will steam it up, bright and red, right there for you!

Amanda Banta:  Lifeguards and a gentle surf, Menemsha Beach sounds like the perfect place for a family beach day, but the beach actually draws the crowds in for its sunsets. Menemsha is known to be THE place to take in a Martha's Vineyard sunset.

Don't rush to leave right away. Stay for a while because the colors in the sky will continue to turn spectacular shades even after the sun has set. Make sure to bring your camera as a picture of the family at sunset could be holiday card material! The beach is accessible via public transportation.

Amanda Banta:  When visiting Martha's Vineyard with kids, be sure to stop by the Island Alpaca Company to say hello! This farm is an awesome destination for families as it provides a combination of fun and educational activities. Kids will love interacting with the friendly, cuddly alpacas! The animals are especially gentle, which can make for memorable moments. Families can take a self-guided walking tour of the farm and participate in one of the special events held throughout the year, such as alpaca yoga.

Amanda Banta:  Ask anyone for a recommendation about Martha's Vineyard and most, if not all, will recommend Mad Martha's Ice Cream for a sweet cold treat. The first time I stepped inside the charming Oak Bluffs location, I immediately loved the fun names they give their unique flavors.

Kids will love grabbing a cup of their favorite flavors and, since it's vacation, after all, parents definitely should indulge in a scoop or two as well.

Amanda Banta:  If you've been anywhere in the Eastern half of New England, chances are high that you've seen the profile of a black dog on a T-shirt, sweatshirt or coffee mug. The ubiquitous dog is the symbol of the Black Dog Tavern Company, which, in addition to selling its Vineyard-style apparel, runs a tavern and several cafes and bakeries on the island. Grab a fresh baked goodie for breakfast one morning and you will not be disappointed.

If getting some Black Dog gear is on your to-do list, make the Water Street Bakery a stop during your visit. This is where the Black Dog T-shirts were first sold.

Amanda Banta:  Explore and learn about nature at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, which features nearly 200 acres of scenic woods, fields and waterways and several miles of connecting trails. The trails are wide and stroller-accessible; a great bonus for families with young ones. Felix Neck also has a Nature Play Area and butterfly garden, giving kids a hands-on experience. Watch their calendar for special nature-based events, too.

Amanda Banta:  The Gingerbread Cottages, Victorian style summer homes in Oak Bluffs, are iconic. When I first looked upon a row of these vibrantly painted houses I felt like I had stepped into a fairy tale. The area is maintained by the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, which runs the Cottage Museum. Pop in there to see inside a cottage and get a feel for 1800s summer life. Walking tours of the Campground are offered during select months. The cottages are privately owned and some are available for rent.

Amanda Banta:  Fresh seafood, frozen drinks and spectacular waterfront views. Could you ask for anything more from a restaurant while on vacation? Nancy's Restaurant and Snack Bar is a popular destination for Vineyard tourists for these reasons and more. Take a break from the fun at Oak Bluffs with a cool drink and a snack of clam strips (my favorite) at an outdoor picnic table or head inside for some shade and lunch. Nancy's can get quite busy so go for an early dinner if you want to beat the crowds in the evening.

Amanda Banta:  While visiting Martha's Vineyard with kids, a trip to Oak Bluffs is not complete for any child without a ride on the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest platform carousel in the country and a national landmark. The carousel has been on the Vineyard since 1884 and the horses's tails and manes are made from real horsehair.

The highlight of every ride is trying to grab the brass ring, as the Flying Horses is one of only a few remaining carousels to retain this feature. Families can rent the space for birthday parties, too.

Amanda Banta:  Stop by the Morning Glory Farm, where you will find beautiful produce along with a variety of freshly baked muffins and goods, soups, quiches and entrees. Bring a Morning Glory pie back to your rental home or hotel to have for the night's dessert! The kids will love it!

Amanda Banta:  South Beach, also known as Katama Beach, in Edgartown is a gorgeous three-mile stretch of sandy beach. The public beach is long and narrow, providing plenty of space for families to spread out and mark their spot for a day of beach bumming. The beach is on the Atlantic, which means the waves can get big and rough, but this is a part of what makes South Beach attractive to visitors of all ages.

Amanda Banta:  Vintage biplanes take off from and land at Katama Airfield in Edgartown and you can easily watch them in action from around the area. Kids love vehicles of all kinds and these planes are no exception to that rule! If seeing the Vineyard from the air is on your ultimate summer bucket list, then consider taking a ride in an open-cockpit biplane! You'll get a bird's eye view of the island and a memory sure to last a lifetime.

Amanda Banta:   With its shallow entry and calm waters, the Joseph Sylvia State Beach is a great beach option for families with young ones, but it's the history of the beach that draws many in. Fans of the 1975 movie Jaws may recognize the sandy shores as the site of many of the beach scenes in the film. The movie was filmed on the island and features various Vineyard locations. Adventurous families can head down Seaview Avenue to the American Legion Memorial Bridge, also more widely known at the Jaws Bridge, and join other thrillseekers in a short jump off the bridge!