Celebrate the 21 Vineyard places included in  Governor Deval Patrick's list of the 1,000 special places in the Commonwealth: if you’re paying a visit Martha’s Vineyard this fall, let the governor be your guide an  include some or all of  the 21 Martha’s Vineyard locations designated to receive this honor.



Exploring Oak Bluffs
To start, take a self-guided tour of the places that contribute to Martha’s Vineyard’s diverse history:  In Oak Bluffs, MV’s African American Heritage Trail, Gingerbread Cottages & Tabernacle, Ocean Park and Flying Horses Carousel take you through the town’s beginnings as a vacation and revival destination.

Living History in West Tisbury
Alley’s General Store, still open for business in its original West Tisbury location after 100+ years, is a fun reminder of what retail was like in the days before mega malls and on-line.  The Christiantown Indian burial ground in brings us back to the farthest reaches of Island history when the newly converted ‘praying Indians’ interacted peaceably with early Island settlers.

Exploring Nature on Martha's Vineyard
From the Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah at the Island’s westernmost tip to distant Wasque jutting out from Chappaquiddick's eastern reach, Martha’s Vineyard’s beautiful outdoors is fun to explore, beach comb and experience in any season.
 

Between these two extremes, the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, Long Point Beach & Conservation Area, Martha’s Vineyard bike paths, Menemsha Harbor, Norton Point, Polly Hill Arboretum, Sengekontacket Pond, South Beach offer ecologically diverse forests, pristine beaches, harbors and the rolling hills of the south shore.

Art On Martha's Vineyard
Snow-sprinkled or playing among patterns of summer leaves, art lovers will delight in the Field Gallery and Sculpture Garden’s carefree forms of dancing ladies. 

And if, during your visit, you’ve noticed and admired the weathervanes atop the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, the Preservation Trust, the Town Halls of Edgartown, Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs and many private Island homes, you won’t want to miss the chance to visit Tuck and Holand Metal Sculpture Studio in Vineyard Haven.  Works in progress, completed pieces and future plans combine to create a fascinating and vital studio experience.