Best Beach: Lambert’s Cove Beach
Lambert’s Cove Road, West Tisbury
Runner-up: Joseph Sylvia State Beach
Beach Road, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs
The gorgeous sunset at Lambert’s Cove makes the beach a beautiful stop in the evening, and its calm waters are great for a nice dip throughout the day. But note: visitors need a West Tisbury resident pass to go during the summer. For those without one, Joseph Sylvia State Beach is a great public option for a swim.
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
Founded in 1993, Edgartown Bicycles is all about getting you on the right bike, right from the start, with both rentals and sales options. Wheel Happy offers rentals, sales, and service a few blocks away from the Chappy Ferry.
Best Fishing Charter: Skipper/Vineyard Sound Charters
Slip 74, Oak Bluffs Harbor, 508-693-1238, mvskipper.com
Runner-up: Coop’s Bait & Tackle Charters
147 Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, 508-627-3909, coopsbaitandtackle.com
When you are in search of fish, Captain John Potter of the Skipper has you covered. He has more than twenty years of Best of the Vineyard wins to prove it. Cooper Gilkes of Coop’s Bait & Tackle Charters won’t lead you astray either – he has a wealth of fishing knowledge.
Best Nature Walk: Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary
Obed Daggett Road off Indian Hill, West Tisbury, 508-693-5207, sheriffsmeadow.org
Runner-up: Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
100 Felix Neck Drive, Edgartown, 508-627-4850, massaudubon.org
Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary is home to a variety of natural features across 400 acres. Visitors can experience bogs, forests, and beach as they hike the many trails. Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary offers trails and programming near Sengekontacket Pond.
Best Place to Kayak: Sengekontacket Pond
Runner-up: Edgartown Great Pond
One of the best scenes is driving along Beach Road and seeing the kayaks in Sengekontacket Pond. But it’s even better being the one out on the water in the kayak. Push off from Wilson’s Landing for a serene adventure on Edgartown Great Pond.
Best Sailing Charter: The Black Dog Tall Ships
20 Beach Street Extension, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1699, theblackdogtallships.com
Runner-up: Catboat Charters
1 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-524-6903, catboatcharters.com
Travel back in time when you step onto the deck of The Black Dog Tall Ships’s schooner, Alabama, for a day trip with up to forty-nine guests or an overnight excursion with thirty. Sail with Catboat Charters in Edgartown Harbor for a smaller, shorter, more intimate experience.
Best Summer Camp: Camp Jabberwocky
200 Greenwood Avenue, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2339, campjabberwocky.org
Runner-up: The FARM Institute
14 Aero Avenue, Edgartown, 508-627-7007, thetrustees.org/tfi
The staff and campers at Camp Jabberwocky – the oldest sleep-away camp for people with disabilities in the country – venture around the Island in their bright red bus, spreading positivity and joy year after year. The FARM Institute offers hands-on experiences and educational programs to inspire deeper connections with farming.
Best Tour Company: The African-American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard
508-693-4361, mvafricanamericanheritagetrail.org
Runner-up: Homegrown Tours
1 Seaview Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 774-327-8192, homegrowntoursllc.com
With The African-American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard, you can explore the rich history of Black achievement on the Island at more than forty sites. The tour highlights figures such as author Dorothy West and Senator Edward Brooke. Homegrown Tours offers a variety of themed tours, including a sunset tour and one of Jaws sites.
