Menemsha is the name of a lovely fishing village found on the island of Martha's Vineyard in the town of Chilmark. More specifically situated on the northwestern side of Martha's Vineyard, this village enjoys a tranquil environment removed from the livelier parts of the island. This is just part of its allure, however. Menemsha has been home to generations of fishing families, and the historic charm is hard to deny. You can arrange a fishing excursion with one of the local charter operations if you want to do your own angling, and visiting one of the village's restaurants to dine on fresh seafood is worth the visit.

The village of Menemsha overlooks the Vineyard Sound and Menemsha Pond, and this lends to its rich fishing and boating history. In addition to booking fishing excursions, visitors to the Menemsha Martha's Vineyard harbor can arrange pleasure cruises, the likes of which can include destinations such as Elizabeth Islands. Another option when it comes to getting out on the water are the bicycle ferries. They travel across the pond to the town of Aquinnah, where you can take a look at the Aquinnah Cliffs and maybe even relax on Moshup Beach before you bike your way back.

Should you be staying at one of the hotels in Menemsha, you don't have to venture over to Aquinnah to find a good beach. There are some dandies in the more immediate area. One of them is Menemsha Beach, which is popular with families and is located next to the harbor. The other two are Lucy Vincent Beach and Squibnocket Beach, and unlike Menemsha Beach, they are not open to the general public. You can purchase a pass for these private beaches if you are staying in town, however, and it is well worth considering. They are two of the most beautiful beaches in Martha's Vineyard.

Marthas Vineyard Map

Due to Menemsha's position on the western side of Martha's Vineyard, it is often rewarded with magnificent sunsets. Even if you are staying at a hotel in another town or village, you might drop by later in the day to check it out for yourself. Perhaps you'll stick around for dinner before you head back to wherever you need to go. This is a wonderful place to spend some time regardless of how long you linger, and if you don't want to deal with the hassle of bringing a car over, you can always hop on a shuttle bus and leave the driving up to somebody else. If you want to enjoy more than just a day visit, Menemsha and the town of Chilmark are home to some enticing vacation rentals, so you don't have to limit yourself to the hotels.