Best Beach: Lambert’s Cove Beach
Lambert’s Cove Road, West Tisbury
Runner-up: Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Beach Road, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs
Gorgeous sunsets, calm seas, and plenty of sand on which to spread out make Lambert’s Cove a top pick for beachgoers. Unlike Lambert’s, Joseph Sylvia State Beach doesn’t require a West Tisbury resident pass in the summer months, making it an ideal place to take a dip.
Best Bike Rental/Shop: Edgartown Bicycles
212 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9008, edgartownbicycles.com
Runner-up: Wheel Happy
8 South Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5928, wheelhappybicycles.github.io
Whether you’re looking to escape the traffic or just make the most of the summer weather, Edgartown Bicycles will hook you up with the right wheels. Closer to downtown, Wheel Happy boasts friendly service and a wide array of tandems, geared bikes, and cruisers.
Best Fishing Charter: Skipper/Vineyard Sound Charters
Slip 74, Oak Bluffs Harbor, 508-693-1238, mvskipper.com
Runner-up: Tomahawk Charters
Menemsha Harbor, 508-645-3201, tomahawkcharters.com
While deftly commanding his fishing boat Skipper, Captain John Potter of Vineyard Sound Charters will give you all the tools you need for a great expedition, plus plenty of fisherman’s yarns. Whether he’s sport fishing or whale watching, Captain Buddy Vanderhoop of Tomahawk Charters specializes in big game.
Best Nature Walk: Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary
Obed Daggett Road off Indian Hill, West Tisbury, 508-693-5207, sheriffsmeadow.org
Runner-up: Menemsha Hills
North Road, Chilmark, 508-693-7662, thetrustees.org
Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary packs in a variety of natural features in just a short hike. It’s got scenic vistas, a rock stream bed, sandy bluffs, and a beach. Menemsha Hills peaks on Prospect Hill, looking down toward the harbor and the Elizabeth Islands.
Best Place to Kayak: Sengekontacket Pond
Runner-up: Edgartown Great Pond
The glittering pond and marshland of Sengekontacket is more than just a drive-by vista between Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. The pond is also an easily accessible kayaking destination. If you’re looking for a down-Island escape, Edgartown Great Pond’s calm, brackish waters are kayak-friendly.
Best Sailing Charter: The Black Dog Tall Ships
20 Beach Street Extension, 508-693-1699, theblackdogtallships.com
Runner-up: Mad Max Sailing Adventures
25 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-7500, madmaxmarina.com
The Black Dog Tall Ships’ stately schooner, Alabama, might as well have leapt off the page of a history book. Take a day to sail and bask in her beauty. Mad Max Sailing Adventures promises speedy (and safe) fun on a state-of- the-art catamaran, and boy, does it deliver.
Best Summer Camp: Camp Jabberwocky
200 Greenwood Avenue Extension, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2339, campjabberwocky.org
Runner-up: The FARM Institute
14 Aero Avenue, Edgartown, 508-627-7007, thetrustees.org/tfi
Catering to campers young and old, Camp Jabberwocky is the oldest sleep-away camp for people with disabilities in the country. If you see the camp’s iconic red buses, you know you’re not far from the festivities. Located in Katama, the FARM Institute’s camp teaches kids how to care for animals and cultivate the land.
