Martha's Vineyard offers many attractions.
Some are very well known, such as the beautiful beaches, the colorful clay cliffs and the Black Dog Tavern.
Others may be missed by the typical vacationer on the Vineyard.
We describe all of the attractions and offer advice from our personal trips.
Because the Vineyard is an island, it has many miles of shoreline and beaches.
Some of them are private but there are plenty of great public beaches to explore.
One of the best family beaches is the Joseph Sylvia State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
This is a long beach that's situated just off the road running between the two towns.
So, it's extremely convenient for parking and bringing lots of gear to the sand.
It also has gentle waves and a gradual slope in the water.
South Beach, just south of Edgartown, is a favorite with teens and college kids.
It has big sand dunes and is also very long.
An important difference at this beach is the surf.
The sand drops off very quickly in the water and the waves and undertow are strong.
So, this is not a great beach for younger kids.
But, it is very scenic and attracts many 13-30 year olds.
Many photos of the Vineyard feature the colorful clay cliffs in Aquinnah (Gay Head).
These dramatic cliffs were formed by glaciers and present different colors at various times of the day and in various weather.
They are located "up-island", on the western side of the Vineyard and are about a 30 minute drive from Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
There are a few small shops nearby but this part of the island is much less commercial and touristy than the other towns.
If you have a rainy day on the Vineyard, or just want to explore something different, check out Island Alpaca.
This farm has about 20-40 alpacas which are very interesting animals that remind me of a cross between a camel and a sheep.
The farm has a large barn where you can view and feed the animals and they have a store that sells products made with the alpaca fleece (scarves, hats, blankets, sweaters).
For a unique Martha's Vineyard experience, check out Mytoi Gardens on Chappaquiddick.
These Japanese gardens feature a huge variety of plantings and a large pond with snapping turtles and a charming walking bridge.
Of course, the Black Dog tavern is a well-known Vineyard attraction.
It was started by a local sailor to provide quality meals on the island and has exploded into a huge business consisting of a bakery, tavern, gift shop and more.
Many Vineyard visitors buy a hat or t-shirt with the famous black dog logo.
The original tavern is in Vineyard Haven and they now have shops in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.