DORÉ

Last weekend a couple of girlfriends and I took a quick (30 minute) flight to Martha’s Vineyard for my “bachelorette.” It was a pretty low key weekend—I don’t drink and my one friend is pregnant, so very “Girls Gone Mild” but we did enjoy some serious r & r! It was my first time visiting The Vineyard and it was dreamy! Here are a few of my favorites, should you be in need of a long weekend escape.

Fly on Delta, JetBlue or American Airlines. You can also take ferries from New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts, but the flight was quick and easy. Our friend who had planned to take the ferry ended up being in a pinch when it was cancelled due to rough weather. Also, you need to rent a car if you really want to explore. Especially if you stay up island and not in the town of Oak Bluffs or Edgartown, which are both more walkable.

Stay at the Beach Plum Inn, in Menemsha. This is considered “up island” and I loved it because it was a little more wild and a little less manicured. Think more barefoot and linen than polo shirts and preppy. We rented a quaint cottage, enjoyed the very strong coffee and homemade pastries, and got a few morning visits from the turkeys and cows on the property. (FYI—there are a ton of farms on the island! So most of what you eat is local and super fresh)

Head to Lucy Vincent Beach. It’s private but the hotel provided passes. It’s great people watching for older guys, with grey hair, who are kind of in good shape and all look like Kennedys. New England men at their finest. Although Larry David has been known to be found around this part of town…

Shop at Lennox & Harvey in Vineyard Haven for thoughtfully designed general goods (I bought my favorite white t-shirt ever here….and some Malin & Goetz deodorant for good measure.) The owners, Eric & Mark, are lovely humans who transplanted to The Vineyard after 30 years in New York. Also visit Magnetic North, just around the corner, for chic beachwear and beauty from brands like Kule, Xirena and Ursa Major. There’s also a sweet and simple coffee shop in the back of the store that makes a delicious iced chai.

And if you make your way over to the prim and perfect Edgartown (google it and you’ll see what I mean), visit Salte, which has a great collection of stationery, books, furniture, home goods and select clothing. I was excited to see that they carry our friends Chabi Chic and some of my favorite stationery brands. I also discovered dreamy ocean prints from photographer Elizabeth Cecil in the shop.

Eat at the Chilmark General Store as much as possible. They have yummy breakfast sandwiches, salads, lunch sandwiches and pizza. They also have any little groceries you may need, and some really cool swag (I bought a hat!). There’s a super sweet porch where you can sit and eat while watching surfers come in from a morning session in their vintage Land Rovers, or salty old men stopping by to get their morning paper and coffee. Also try Chilmark Tavern (delicious fish and chips!) to sit down, and Larsen’s Fish Market for super fresh seafood to takeaway and eat on their dock and watch the sunset. Also try Red Cat Kitchen in Oak Bluffs—it’s a funky spot with delicious food (but big portions! Come hungry).