Martha S Vineyard Outdoors

Martha's Vineyard is a well known summer vacation spot. In this collection of columns, former Martha's Vineyard Times editor Nelson Sigelman describes an island preoccupation, less notorious than tourism but more obsessive, rooted in fishing, hunting and waterfowling traditions that shaped the island's character well before a mechanical shark named Bruce and presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama attracted slavish media attention to a 100-square mile speck off the coast of Massachusetts. Martha's Vineyard Outdoors casts a wide net. "The pleasures of Nelson Sigelman's distinctive voice held this non-fishing, non-hunting, feminist, tree-hugging pinko spellbound from the first column to the very last," said Island resident and Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks. The setting is Martha's Vineyard but the stories are rooted in the humor and love of the outdoors found in small communities across the country.

The focus is on Martha’s Vineyard but the information, fishing tips, and stories about Island characters—Bob “Hawkeye” Jacobs jumping off Memorial Wharf to unsnag an albie he hooked—will sound familiar to anyone who has spent time in a community of fishermen. This informative and fun read answers the questions asked in local tackle shops, including the best spots to catch a striped bass on a fly rod—Lobsterville Beach—and rigging tackle for blues, fluke, black sea bass, false albacore, and bonito. Spin fishing, bottom fishing, and fly fishing are all covered. This book follows the island fishing seasons: rods appear on island trucks in April, a sign that schoolies have arrived, and they do not begin to disappear until the venerable Bass and Bluefish Derby, five weeks of single-minded pursuit of fish, ends in October. And there are tips on looking and talking the part . . . “handy phrases include any reference to a falling or rising tide and a rock, any rock, as long as you refer to it with a sense of authority so that the other person is unwilling to ask which rock for fear of seeming like a novice.” Martha’s Vineyard Fish Tales is a “how to” book that flows with the character and personality of a fishing-obsessed island off the coast of Massachusetts.

From fine-art galleries and fried clams to breathtaking beachside hikes, escape to the Cape with Moon Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket. Inside you'll find: Strategic itineraries, including weekend getaways to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, or Nantucket, and the 12-day best of all three, designed for outdoor adventurers, beach bums, foodies, families, winter visitors, and more Fun highlights and unique experiences: Admire 19th century lighthouses and take in some local lore at the Whaling Museum. Feast on raw oysters, fried clams, and fresh fish. Kick back at an old-school drive-in theater or have a lively night at a popular drag show in Provincetown. Stroll the cobblestone streets of Nantucket or pop into the galleries and artisan studios on the Cape The top outdoor adventures: Kayak through misty marshes, spot dolphins from a sailboat, hike to cliffside bluffs, or bike the serene beach paths of Martha's Vineyard Honest advice from Cape Cod local Ray Bartlett on when to go, how to get around, and where to stay, from quiet seaside cottages to historic guest houses and posh resorts Helpful resources on Covid-19 and traveling to Cape Cod Full-color photos and detailed maps throughout Thorough background on the landscape, climate, wildlife, and culture Experience the best of the Cape with Moon Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket. Exploring more of New England? Try Moon New England Road Trip. Hitting the trails? Check out Moon New England Hiking. About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you. For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

The Methodist campground located in the small community of Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard has been beloved by generations of visitors and residents. It was here, in the years of the Civil War, that the first clusters of small Victorian homes were constructed, replacing the temporary tent platforms that provided shelter to the faithful who had come by side-wheeler to listen to the preaching emanating from the central Tabernacle. Today, these makeshift structures have been transformed into Victorian cottages of almost infinite variety, a colorful, decorative necklace of glorious, unrestrained architectural fancy and diversity. Families have gathered here for generations, not only to celebrate their faith but also to partake in the social rituals such as Grand Illumination Night with its Chinese lanterns that have become an indelible part of our heritage.

An outdoor shower is one of summer’s greatest pleasures. Providing practical building instructions for a variety of designs that range from a simple showerhead on the side of a cottage to a freestanding structure enclosed in frosted glass, Ethan Fierro shows you how to build an outdoor shower that reflects your unique personality and style. With an eye toward keeping costs down and environmentally friendly construction practices, Fierro will inspire you to create the shower of your dreams.

Now known as a resort community and vacation destination, Martha's Vineyard was once a simple fishing and whaling community. From the popularity of the Methodist Campground, founded in 1835, the Vineyard soon blossomed into a summer vacation mecca, welcoming visitors to its quaint villages and scenic seashores. As whaling lost its economic dominance, tourism became the catalyst for a revived prosperity on the Vineyard. President Grant's visit to the Vineyard in 1874 drew national attention and marked the beginning of several presidential visits to the island. By 1900, Oak Bluffs had developed an amusement park atmosphere with the iconic Flying Horses, toboggan slide and grand seaside hotels. Join local historian Tom Dresser as he reveals the island's transformation into a premier tourist destination.

African Americans of Martha's Vineyard have an epic history. From the days when slaves toiled away in the fresh New England air, through abolition and Reconstruction and continuing into recent years, African Americans have fought arduously to preserve a vibrant culture here. Discover how the Vineyard became a sanctuary for slaves during the Civil War and how many blacks first came to the island as indentured servants. Read tales of the Shearer Cottage, a popular vacation destination for prominent blacks from Harry T. Burleigh to Scott Joplin, and how Martin Luther King Jr. vacationed here as well. Venture through the Vineyard with local tour guide Thomas Dresser and learn about people such as Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates and President Barack Obama, who return to the Vineyard for respite from a demanding world.