Oak Bluffs in Marthas Vineyard, Massachusetts

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President Obama and his family are visiting  the Vineyard August 23rd through 30th. Whether you’re the President of the United States or a vacationer on the island, here are some suggestions for things to do that might enhance your visit and add to the fun.

Beetlebung steel drumming at Bend In the Road beach in Edgartown on Monday nights. Feel the island magic – dance in the sand to the exotic sounds of the steel drum band while kids play in the ocean. Start time for this unpublicized event is roughly 6:30-7pm, and goes until the sun sets.

Visit the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs. Originally located in Coney Island, New York, it was moved to Martha’s Vineyard in 1884. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust restored it in 1986. Inside each horse’s eye there is a miniature porcelain animal such as an eagle or goat.Located on Oak Bluffs Avenue, at the foot of Circuit Avenue.

Have a hot fresh doughnut. President Obama is said to enjoy an occasional doughnut, so backdoor donuts hot out of the cooker is popular with locals. This happens nightly starting at 9pm, rear door of the Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Café and Bakery, Inc. in Oak Bluffs.

Ready for family fun in the corn maze. It takes place at The Farm Institute and is perfect for families. This educational farm out at Katama in Edgartown provides a fun excursion for families with all the animals and kids’ gardens, but the maze is a blast to run through. Open from 10am to 7pm seven days a week, there is a beginner maze, and a more advanced maze for the more daring. The maze is for all ages. Maps are provided upon request for different levels of difficulty and excitement. There are even a few “Bail out now!” routes for those that want to escape the maze early.

The Zoo, (a.k.a. The World of Reptiles and Bird Park), in Edgartown is a fun, out of the way place for kids and those who enjoy exotic animals (a never miss fav of President Clinton)

Take a Moonlight Meander kayak trip with Chick Down and Island Spirit Kayaks. A true “Vineyard” experience, the meander will take paddles through Sengenatacket, the barrier beach that sports beautify views and borders Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary

They may also decide to take a self-guided exploration of the African-American Heritage Trail of Martha’s Vineyard (Tel. 508.693.4361) This is a series of sites that include the home of William Martin, the Island’s only African-American whaling captain, the Seaport of Menemsha, the Gospel Tabernacle, and the home of Dorothy West.

We know the Obamas as a family enjoy cycling, so it’s possible the might enjoy a bike ride to Chappaquiddick. (They could also use the VTA, the Vineyard’s public bus service or catch the On Time Ferry to Chappaquiddick located on Dock Street in Edgartown). Continue down shaded roads to the MyToi gardens. This stunning sanctuary is beautifully maintained by the Trustees of Reservations. The garden’s signature feature is a small pond with an island that is reached by walking over an arched bridge. Winding footpaths take visitors through a birch walk, camellia dell, stone garden, and hillside garden.

While there, hop on the back of a pick-up truck for a Lighthouse Tour. This 1.5 hour tour traverses Wasque up to Cape Poge lighthouse – this is one of the best places to explore the natural history of the Vineyard. Learn more about the Lighthouses.

Visit Martha’s Vineyard for more information.

Above Article courtesy of Offbeat Places Examiner

Photo courtesy of Martha’s Vineyard tourism

Photo courtesy of Win McNamee/Getty Images

RECENT presidential vacations on Martha’s Vineyard seem to begin and end at the airport, so the first family misses the ferry-boat view of the island’s most impressive streetscape. That’s the grand gingerbread vista of the houses along Ocean Park in the town of Oak Bluffs, which has both suffered and benefited from the architectural indifference of the mid-20th century.

Click on the link below (to finish reading the article in the New York Times by Christopher Gray) and view more photos.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/23/realestate/23scapes.html

For more photos, videos and information on my visit to Martha’s Vineyard, click here to visit Edgartown