Volendam 2026, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA...

I did not sleep well last evening, so I was up before sunrise to capture my sail in photos on my first-ever visit to Oak Bluffs and Martha’s Vineyard Island. Much to my delight, I captured four lighthouses on sail in; Tarpaulin Cove, Nobska Lighthouse, West Chop and East Chop. We took the tender to shore and met our driver/guide Craig for a tour of Martha’s Vineyard Island. Before setting out from Oak Bluffs, we toured the vibrant Victorian resort town famous for its colorful gingerbread-like houses and open-air Tabernacle. The town has a rich history, dating back to the 1800s when it was a popular summer destination for Methodist camp meetings. The tiny houses with unique architecture in the center of Oak Bluffs are part of the historic Martha Vineyard Camp meeting Association (MVCMA), once the biggest religious community of its kind dating back to the 1800 and continues to celebrate its historic and religious roots. On today’s road trip, we visited six towns in the Martha's Vineyard region, taking in the innate charm of the coast. The six main towns that make up Martha’s Vineyard are; Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury, Aquinnah and Chilmark. Not far out of Oak Bluffs, we stopped at East Chop lighthouse on a scenic bluff known as Telegraph Hill. We made a quick stop in the harbor town of Vineyard Haven/Tisbury with its lovely water views and lighthouse. In Chilmark, we stopped at the little fishing village of Menemsha, which is a nice stop, we tried the best ever hot lobster roll, it was absolutely delicious! Next, we drove through the scenic up-island countryside…centuries-old stone walls, views to the Atlantic shoreline, grazing livestock, rolling hills, and historic homesteads driving through the village of West Tisbury. It was well worth the trip around the island to Aquinnah to visit the Aquinnah Cliffs and the Gay Head Lighthouse. Our last town on the agenda was Edgartown, a charming atmosphere with Greek Revival captain's homes, the Old Whaling Church and pristine white clapboard structures. We drove along the waterfront to see the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse and neighboring Chappaquiddick Island. We returned to Oak Bluffs and got the tender back home to the elegant Volendam. We had a nice day with stellar weather. Martha’s Vineyard is a lovely island and very happy we got to enjoy this paradise in October and not with the crowds of the high season. Looking forward to New York tomorrow and the start of our 45-day Legendary Mediterranean Cruise.