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This is Bradys NESW Bed & Breakfast in Oak Bluffs. Besides graciously welcoming two-legged guests, Bradys welcomes four-legged guests with open arms/paws. This charming Victorian home has been in Bradys family since the 1920’s.
Meet Amie, and she’s the official greeter and happily showed us to our room.
Our dog Chappy quickly settled onto the window seat.
The views from our room on the second floor were stunning.
I love how the sun came in every morning and illuminated this corner.
The staircase leading downstairs. It was a little tricky for Chappy’s paws but he mastered it in no time.
Bradys location is ideal. He’s located on a quiet street a half block from the beach and less than a mile to the center of Oak Bluffs.
Staying at Bradys is like staying at the home of a friend. There are charming displays of memorabilia in every room… and a story to go with almost everything. Brady is a wealth of Vineyard information, he can guide you with what to do and see and what not to miss. There are four rooms at Bradys. The West room (pictured in this post) has its own bath.
Bradys NESW is a good place to escape from stress and the constant barrage of today’s wired world. Read a book, watch a movie from Brady’s vast collection – listen to a CD of show tunes, jazz, folk, and classical selections – there’s a fireplace to curl up next to – there’s a cable TV in the living room - and a beautiful porch with comfy rocking chairs to relax on. There are no phones in the room but I’ve been told there is wifi access. If you’re looking to get away from it all this is the place for you.
We certainly enjoyed our stay there and will definitely return.
Check out BRADYS NESW B&B website by CLICKING HERE.
The toll free phone number is 1-888-693-9137 . You can also call 1-508-693-9137
Bradys NESW Bed & Breakfast
PO Box 197
10 Canonicus Ave
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
Right in the middle of Edgartown, among the Greek Revival style whaling captains homes sits the ornately charming and gracefully beautiful Victorian Inn.
Built around 1820 by whaling Captain Lafayette Rowley it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The owners, Stephen and Karyn Caliri have turned it into one of the most highly rated bed and breakfasts on the Vineyard. I first visited in 1994 and have returned time and time again to enjoy myself there.
You step into a small foyer from the street and are immediately greeted by one of your hosts. Just beyond the foyer you can see into the breakfast room.
During the spring, summer and early fall, weather permitting, breakfast is served in the garden at the back of the inn. Not only is it nice to start your day in such pleasant surroundings but breakfast itself is quite a treat. Juice, grapefuit and coffee start you off and then Stephen appears with a basket of muffins and… homemade strawberry butter which is to die for. If that’s not enough you also get your choice of French toast, or omelettes or some other clever and delicious treat that Karyn has come up with. If you’re able to stand up after such a feast then wander over to the parlor and check out brochures of what adventures the Vineyard has to offer. Stephen and Karyn are also a wealth of Vineyard information and will make sure you enjoy your time on MV to the utmost.
On cold autumn afternoons or chilly spring evenings it’s nice to curl up in the parlor by the fireplace. In the afternoon tea and cookies are available to tease your taste buds.
There are 14 rooms at the Victorian Inn… from two small ones with twin beds on the first floor to large and airy ones on the third floor with balconies, you can find one to fit your taste.
This is a tree top view from the a third floor balcony looking at the center of Edgartown.
Over the years I’ve been intrigued by the inn… I was always taking pictures of it and wondering what it looked like inside. I got my chance when we first stayed there in 1994 and I wasn’t disappointed. Infact I was sort of startled ! For years I had dreams about a staircase… I didn’t know where it led to as I never got to the top… but when I walked out of our room on the second floor there in front of me was that very staircase that had been in my dreams!!! According to the book “Haunted Island” the home/inn had at one time been haunted by at least one spirit, he was known as the amorous ghost. Martha’s Vineyard and especially Edgartown has more then its share of spirits wandering about but whether one still resides at the Victorian Inn you’ll have to find out for yourself.
In the meantime enjoy the hospitality and friendliness of Karyn and Steve and Higgins their four-legged host.
Martha’s Vineyard is a great place for a family vacation.
Unlike big crowded theme parks, a trip to the Vineyard is a more laid back kind of vacation.
Being an Island the main attraction is the beach. The best kid friendly one is State Beach on the eastern side of MV between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. The water is mostly shallow and very calm. The beach is great for finding shells and stones and sometimes an elusive piece of sea glass.
Here at Aquinnah (Gay Head) on the western side of MV lying beneath the colorful clay cliffs, the beach is rougher and dotted with large and interesting rocks.
Bicycling is a terrific way to explore the Island. One of the prettiest bicycle paths is right along State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown… the Atlantic Ocean is on one side and Sengekontacket Pond on the other.
Along the way look for an Osprey’s nest.
Try miniature golf at Island Cove Mini Golf on State Rd just outside of Vineyard Haven, and also try their rock climbing wall.
Some other things to do on MV are. Nature walks and children’s programs at Felix Neck. Watch glass being blown at the Martha’s Vineyard Glassworks. Go ice skating at the MV Arena. Try horseback riding. Tour the lobster hatchery in Oak Bluffs. Spend a few hours at Beadniks in Vineyard Haven creating a one of a kind piece of jewelry.
No matter what your age you’ll want to ride on the Flying Horses.
The Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs are America’s oldest platform carousel dating back to 1884. They are listed on the National Register of Historical Places and belong to the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust. Take a ride on one of these beautifully restored horses rain or shine.
And rain does happen, so what do you do with kids to keep them happy.
Besides the Flying Horses and bookstores there’s always the movies. There are several theatres on MV.. the one pictured here is in Vineyard Haven… Oak Bluffs has two theatres and Edgartown does also.
Shopping is always fun for a little while. Try out Riley’s Reads and the Toy Box both here in Vineyard Haven.
If you take a jaunt over to the smaller island of Chappaquiddick, which is a three minute ferry ride from Edgartown, take time to stroll through Mytoi, the beautiful and peaceful Japanese garden. Also take a guided tour out to Cape Poge lighthouse.
If you’re on MV in the middle of August you can visit the Agricultural Fair It’s amazing to see what the Vineyarders have created… from quilts and homemade jams and jellies to raising livestock. There’s something for everyone, lots of good food, rides to go on, sheep shearing and interesting contests like skillet tossing… something I’ve been tempted to do in my kitchen at times.
So run, play, shop, go swimming and biking, ride on a flying horse or a real one, visit a farm or spend a week as a deck hand on a kids cruise on the Shenandoah or Alabama tall ships. Enjoy all that Martha’s Vineyard has to offer.
As for where to stay… my personal recommendations are. The Island Inn which is about a half mile outside Oak Bluffs on the road to Edgartown. Each unit, no matter the size has a kitchenette which is always great when traveling with kids. They have a playground and large lawns for romping and a nice pool.
The Harborside Inn in Edgartown is nice also. Each room has a mini fridge tucked away in the closet. They have two pools. Also in Edgartown are the Edgartown Lodge and Edgartown Commons.
The holidays are over… resolutions have been broken so what’s next? Valentine’s Day get away. Spring break. Summer vacation. Or just a long weekend to chase away the winter blues. Where better to go then Martha’s Vineyard, I know that’s how I feel.
My suggestion is to find accommodations before making any ferry reservations… hotel and B&B reservations can be flexible but ferry tickets are hard to change especially in the summer months.
In a previous post I mention three of my favorite places to stay. The Victorian Inn and Hob Knob Inn in Edgartown and the Island Inn in Oak Bluffs which accepts pets.
To the above list I’d like to add the Oak Bluffs Inn which is among the top rated inns on the Vineyard. I’ve not stayed there yet but I look forward to spending time there soon, especially sitting on the porch watching life on Circuit Ave.
Martha’s Vineyard online www.mvol.com is the best place to go to search through all the places to stay on MV. Whether it’s the 3 down-Island towns of Oak Bluffs, Edgartown and Vineyard Haven or the 3 up-Island more rural towns of Chilmark, Aquinnah and West Tisbury there’s a place to fit your budget and your preferences. So wander through www.mvol.com and see what strikes your fancy.
Once you’ve decided to go to Martha’s Vineyard you’ll need a place to stay. I like to have those arrangements all taken care of before I leave home… leaving accommodations to chance is pretty chancy on MV especially in the summer months.
My favorite town to stay in is Edgartown, the epitome of a New England town right down to the white church steeples. Edgartown is filled with elegant old whaling captains homes many of which have been turned into B&B’s. Picture white picketed fences, green lawns, white homes with black shutters and there you have Edgartown.
One of my favorite places to stay is the Victorian Inn.. a three story Victorian mansion run by two of the nicest people you’ll find anywhere. The rooms are large and airy and perfectly decorated. The breakfast is one of the best on MV bar none. It begins with a selection of muffins…. then fresh fruit if desired… then your choice of one of several main dishes (I love the French toast) and of course there’s never ending coffee, juices and tea. In the warmer months breakfast is outside on the patio… cooler months it’s inside in the cozy breakfast room. And let’s not forget the chocolate chip cookies and tea in the afternoon. So if you want to get away from it all and just tune out for awhile this is your place to stay, unlike other places the Vic does not have TV’s or phones in the rooms. As for the location, it’s right smack in the center of town. They say the Vic is haunted by the Amorous Ghost… no extra charge if he appears in your room !!!
My second choice is the The Hob Knob. This too is beautifully decorated. The inn is large and rooms vary in size but all are beautifully appointed and comfortable to stay in. They also have a small exercise room and sauna for those achy tourist bones after a long day of exploring MV. Breakfast is quite good… nice selection and presentation. There are a couple of breakfast rooms where you can make yourself comfortable while planning your days activities. After a full day of exploring MV the inn offers tea and cookies in the afternoon. The HK is open all year and one of the prettiest times to go there is in early December when it’s all decked out for the holidays.
One more great place I’ll mention is the Harborside Inn . This is Edgartowns only waterfront resort and it is worth taking a look especially if you have children. Each room is equipped with a small refrigerator tucked away in the closet. Even though it is a waterfront resort there is not a beach that you can step out onto. There is a pool though and a fantastic view of Edgartown harbor right outside your door.
There are lots of other wonderful places in Edgartown to stay… they can all be viewed at www.mvol.com it’s really the best way to get a look at all that Edgartown has to offer.
