7 Best Sights in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard

This farm store is full of incredible goodies, most made or grown on the premises, including fresh farm greens in the salads and vegetables in the soups, and homemade pies, breads, quiches, cookies, and cakes. A picnic table and grass to sit on while you eat make this an ideal place for a simple country lunch.

The Trustees of Reservations' 14-acre preserve is a serene, beautifully tended, Japanese-inspired garden with a creek-fed pool spanned by a bridge and rimmed with Japanese maples, azaleas, bamboo, and irises. A boardwalk runs through part of the grounds, where you're apt to see box turtles and hear the sounds of songbirds. There are few more enchanting spots on the island. Restrooms and fresh water are available. Note that admission paid at Mytoi, Cape Pogue, or Wasque provides visitor access to all three Chappaquiddick Island properties for the day.

A collection of habitats where you can swim, walk, fish, or just sit and enjoy the surroundings, the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, on the easternmost shore of Chappaquiddick Island, encompasses more than 6 square miles of wilderness. Its dunes, woods, cedar thickets, moors, salt marshes, ponds, tidal flats, and barrier beach serve as an important migration stopover and nesting area for numerous sea- and shorebirds. You'll need an oversand permit to drive your own vehicle or you can call to inquire about guided tours. Admission paid at Cape Pogue, Wasque, or Mytoi provides visitor access to all three Trustees properties on Chappaquiddick Island for the day.

Surrounded by a public beach, this cast-iron tower was floated by barge from Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1939. It is still an active navigational aid. Renovations from 2005 to 2007 included the installation of a spiral staircase that visitors can ascend for great views. There's a touching memorial to children who have died, in the form of engraved granite cobblestones, surrounding the lighthouse. In 2001, the lighthouse was dedicated as the Children's Memorial. 

The nearly 200-acre Mass Audubon preserve, 3 miles outside Edgartown toward Vineyard Haven, has 4 miles of hiking trails traversing marshland, fields, woods, seashore, and fresh and saltwater ponds. Naturalist-led events include hikes, stargazing, reptile or bird walks, and kayaking tours.

Perched on 1 acre overlooking the Lagoon Pond and outer Vineyard Haven harbor, the museum is located in the formerly shuttered 1895 Marine Hospital, which the nonprofit organization purchased in 2011, renovated, and made its home in 2019. The expansive property includes 14 exhibition areas, a classroom, program room, research library, gift shop, and small café. Exhibits include “One Island, Many Stories,” which explores the history of the island; “Challenges of the Sea,” which gives an overview of island shipwrecks, navigation, and more; and “Flashes of Brilliance,” with an 1854 Fresnel lens from the Gay Head Light.

This very popular and accessible 3--4 mile stretch of Atlantic-facing beach is backed by high dunes. The protected salt pond cove is good for families on one side, while big waves on the other side draw surfers. Amenities: toilets; lifeguards; parking (no fee). Best for: surfing; sunrise; walking.