An island off the southeast coast of Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard is accessible by boat or air. It features thousands of acres of conservation land, ocean beaches, farmland, and small villages, maintaining a tight-knit community.

The island's history dates back to the Wampanoag tribe, whose descendants still reside there. While there's some debate about Viking contact, English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold is credited with discovering and naming the island in 1602 after his daughter Martha and the wild grapes found there.

Martha's Vineyard is now a popular vacation spot for visitors from major cities like Boston, New York, and Washington, as well as farther afield. The island is divided into six towns: "Up-Island" towns (West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah) which are more rural, and "Down-Island" towns (Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown) with villages, hotels, shops, and beaches.