The Gray Lady, The Vineyard & The Block

In late August, we went up to Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Newport and Block Island. We had never been to the first two places, and they did not disappoint. We tacked the first three stops onto our yearly vacation on Block Island, which is a small island off the coasts of Rhode Island and Long Island. My husband’s family shares a house with cousins there.

I did not do “In My Suitcase” for this one. It was all I could do to get the clothes washed, ironed and packed from California two weeks before. We were on a boat until we got to Block Island, so we needed to use soft luggage, so it could be stowed away. Here’s a pictorial of our trip and some travel info along the way. Get a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the show!

Leaving for vacay - #OOTD

We got there in time for our first gorgeous sunset and dinner out on Martha’s Vineyard in Vineyard Haven.

The next day saw us heading over to Oak Bluffs for the day. This town on the Vineyard overlooks the ocean and is on a large hill, with a great town green surrounded by Victorian houses - huge painted ladies. We rode the Flying Horses carousel - the oldest one left in the country - and tried to grab the brass ring. We walked around and had great drinks and lobster rolls at The Sandbar. (We were in shorts and bathing suits straight from the boat.)

We did a little criss cross and went over to Nantucket before our visit to the other side of the Vineyard. Nantucket was gorgeous and you do get that ocean fog and a gray day every now and then. Another reason to call it the gray lady. I think the original reason, is that almost all the buildings are weathered gray shake. It’s so calming and pretty. And the gardens and flower boxes were just gorgeous.

This is the patio at Cru, an oyster bar and one of the great restaurants - this one at the boat basin. We went there for oysters one night. Great atmosphere. Other great eats include - The Juice Bar (always a line), Black Eyed Susan's (for breakfast), Lola 41, Toppers, Galley Beach, Millies’, The Nautilus, The Club Car, Dune, or The Whale (lunch), Brant Point Grill, Oath Pizza (quick and on the boat basin), Straight Wharf and The Chanticleer. No shortage of great places to eat.

The ancient Japanese art of fish painting! We watched him do a huge fresh tuna. Then the fish is cleaned up and prepped for sale. They sell really cool prints of these at Pete’s Fish Tails. I would love to put one in the river house.

We were on a boat at the docks (right down the pier from the fabulous Danielle Rollins who was there on her boat!), but if you are staying there on land, I hear The White Elephant is the place to stay. Greydon House is also good, and I’ve read that you can find wonderful AirBnB properties on the island as well!

The place is loaded with great shops. Here’s my list…

Erica Wilson, Sylvia Antiques, The Skinny Dip, Lemon & Lime, Nantucket Looms, Millie & Grace, It’s For Now, Blue Beetle, Atlantic, Gypsy and Monelle.

If you have the time, you should definitely see the Whaling Museum, you can do a cocktail cruise with Shearwater Excursions (anything from a history tour to a cocktail cruise), take a picnic lunch to one of the many public beaches. They are not crowded and there are lots more accessible beaches here than on the Vineyard.

And you should take the shuttle or take bikes out to Sconset. So cute and gorgeous cottages, homes and gardens.

While you’re there have lunch at the Summer House down by the sea. They also have a wonderful inn , housed solely in small cottages. So charming….

On the way back to the Vineyard…a glorious day on the water.

Next stop was Edgartown on the Vineyard. I also loved this place. I walked all around while others were biking. (Too many cars and sidewalks for me!) The houses are just gorgeous and these homes are mainly white clapboard, as opposed to the gray shingles on Nantucket. We took the dinghy for a ride to see the homes on the water and ride around Chappaquidick. Amazing properties.

Views from lunch. We ate at The Atlantic - delicious.

Favorite shops were Rags, the Brynn Walker shop, Portobello Road, Le Roux and a tiny linens shop that I can’t remember the name of.

We had a fabulous dinner at the Harborview Inn, which would also be a great place to stay. I’m working on hubby to schedule something there.

On to Newport, Rhode Island. This is a beautiful place, Chip and I have been here before. The view of the bay from the dock is incredible, and it’s right downtown so you can walk to the shops etc. We did not do the cliff walk, but we did do a couple mansions this time. Just jaw-dropping to think of the wealth. I highly recommend this area of the country. Beautiful weather and splendid scenery.

Views from our dock.

The summer residence of cornelius Vanderbilt.

this. was. someone’s. house. Part-time.

The summer residence of William K. Vanderbilt. The whole house is made of marble. and you’re afraid to use it in your kitchen…

again. someone. lived. here. Only. in. the. summer.

“Honey, have you seen my flip flops??”

We went to Castle Hill Inn for dinner, one of the most iconic spots on the Rhode Island coast. And it did not disappoint.

Last stop is Block Island, where we have been going for years. It’s much smaller than the Vineyard and Nantucket, and way more laid back. I did not take as many pictures here as I should have, but you have certainly seen enough of the trip. Here are a few good ones, and I will post more about Block Island next year, when we go!

It’s one of the last great places and best kept secrets.

Me, Chip’s brother Tim, and our friends Christine and John, on the porch at The National.

This is us on Whitten’s bench. Shortly after he died, one of Chip’s dealership groups, donated this bench in memory of him, for us. It’s right where the ferries come in at the old harbor, and one of our favorite places. There is a plaque on it…

“You never knew how much space you occupied in people’s lives.” F. S. Fitzgerald…

Thanks for reading and see you soon with a shorter post. Promise!