Winter Wonderful If Winter Wonderful you love winter – the holidays, the coziness and the peace of Mother Nature – the Vineyard offers you all that and more, at prices you won’t believe! While seasonal shops are closed, many businesses are open year-round and to keep you busy, entertained and well fed. The holidays on Martha’s Vineyard are especially worth the trip – it’s a genuinely magical time full of old world charm. Enjoying the holidays. If you’re looking to experience a truly magical holiday season visit late November through December. With the stockings hung, trees decorated, and lights twinkling there is a peaceful charm that takes over the Island this time of year. Dozens of holiday inspired events and activities abound, and each town has special offerings, including the iconic Christmas in Edgartown festivities. What’s Open? Many hotels, inns and B&Bs stay open year-round and offer amazing rates. Restaurants continue to offer local fair, fun theme nights and pop-ups. For the arts lover be sure to check out Featherstone Center for the Arts, a year round arts center with galleries and exhibit spaces as well as classes and open studios. The Martha’s Vineyard Film Center shows amazing independent films, and the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse hosts live productions. The Martha’s Vineyard Museum hosts lectures and special events such as Pecha Kucha (20 slides in 20 seconds) and The Carnegie in Edgartown is open weekends with stunning exhibitions. Get Outdoors. Nature lovers are always in luck as the temperate climate encourages hiking our pristine trails, cycling and Marnely Murray even combing the beaches for sea glass. Download the TrailsMV mobile app for a full listing of trails to enjoy. Get Running. If a faster pace is more your speed, you'll also enjoy the Island’s signature hiking trails for a run. For flatter, paved terrain along one of the most picturesque stretches of road consider a run from Oak Bluffs to Edgartown along Beach Road, offering breathtaking views on both sides. Serious runners might consider the MV 20 Miler and Amity Island Relay races over President’s Day weekend. The Island’s Manuel F. Correllus State Forest is another great option for paved trails, good for running, walking, cycling, horseback riding, snowshoeing, cross country skiing and more in the center of Martha’s Vineyard. Watch the Birds. Throughout the year more than 300 species of birds inhabit the Island, including the European cuckoo, Blackburnian warbler, Magnolia warbler, Bay Breasted warbler, Canada warbler and the Black-throated blue warbler. One of the most magical birds to spot is the Snowy Owl, which frequents the south shoreline of the Island in the winter. During the warmer months enjoy a truly unique Guided Birding Tour with the Island’s own Robert Culbert of Nature Watch. Ride the Surf. Believe it or not Martha’s Vineyard has some great surf. Die hard surfers hit the south side of the Island at beaches like Squibnocket. While the surf here is inconsistent, as it is in most of the Atlantic, when it’s spot on it can be pretty epic. Seasoned Island surfers claim that when they get a good swell it can be world class. 2022 -23 Travel Guide 117 SEASONS
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