The next day, we woke up bright and bushytailed for breakfast downstairs at our Inn, the Oak Bluffs Inn. Erik, the owner and operator, made us breakfast sandwiches and great coffee. As an aside, the Oak Bluffs Inn even has a cookie hour from 5 - 6 pm, which we took advantage of every night.
We wandered outside and walked around downtown Oak Bluffs to shop. Vineyard Vines, which was started in Martha's Vineyard, was on the same block as the Inn, so we had to swing in to get some new shirts and dresses. If you're like me, shopping with your wife tires you out and it's necessary to refill the tank, which necessitated a visit to the famous Backdoor Donuts. While still full from breakfast, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to get the famous donuts and an iced coffee.
Wanting to explore more of the island, we decided to rent a car for the day. Our first stop was the Aquinnah Gay Head Lighthouse and Cliffs located on the west side of the island. The cliffs are accessible through the Aquinnah Circle Cultural District, which is a mini-town that leads up to the cliffs. The natural beauty there is overwhelming and reaches out in every direction. From there, we walked to the iconic Aquinnah Lighthouse and climbed to the top for the breathtaking views overlooking beaches, the red clay cliffs, and the Elizabeth Islands.
On the way back, we saw a quaint road-side sign for Orange Peel Bakery, an off-the-beaten-path honor system bakery that has croissants, cookies, bread, cakes, brownies, scones, and a variety of other delicious baked goods. We got the orange scone and a cookie - and they were finger-licking good.
Pleasantly sidetracked for long enough, we made our way to Edgartown for a lunch reservation at 19 Raw Oyster Bar. Lobster rolls, oysters, fried oyster rolls, and fried octopus were foremost on our mind. We aren't exaggerating when we say their lobster roll was the best we had on the island. Afterwards, we strolled around Edgartown, a historic whaling town with charming boutiques, art galleries, a beautiful harbor area, and many restaurants.
Next up on the day's itinerary was driving to Vineyard Havens to catch the sunset views. We had an hour before sunset, so we took advantage of the local shops and harbor area. Sunset was approaching, so we drove to a little beach under the drawbridge called Eastville Beach Point - it's a great place to pull up chairs, pull out some wine, and eat some snacks while taking in the sunset beauty.
After the sunset, we dropped the car off and took an Uber back to the Inn to freshen up for dinner at Sweet Life Cafe, which was conveniently across the street. We had a fun outdoor seat and ordered four different pastas, a fresh fruit and vegetable salad, and a dessert. Everything was amazing.
The next morning was crisp and sunny, which is perfect outdoor brunch weather. We headed back to Vineyard Haven to make our reservation at the Black Dog Tavern, which is a must-eat location on the island. We had the lobster benedict and a baked burrito - it was one of the best best brunches we've had in a while.
The trip ended with a pizza from the famous Giordano's, which is an island must-visit, and a walk down to the dock to get picked up by the ferry.
We spent the last night of our trip meeting up with friends for dinner and drinks at Bellini in Providence. Another spectacular Italian feast.
The next morning had to go out with a bang, so we got coffee at 7 Stars Bakery before a brunch reservation at Julian's in downtown Providence with other friends. The food, drinks, and the company were all perfect. Sadly after brunch, we had to head to the airport and make our way home.
As always, don't forget to see the world, and eat the food.