Daytrip Martha’s Vineyard – my tour of the fabulous new Nobnocket Inn

Mother’s Day in Woods Hole, rainy and overcast with teenagers sleeping in … the perfect day for a little “me” time!  Walked across the street to the ferry to daytrip Martha’s Vineyard and visit our friends Simon and Anabelle, who have just purchased a fabulous property in Vineyard Haven called the Nobnocket Boutique Inn.

My trip over on the ferry was uneventful – I enjoyed the hot tea available from the commissary on the upper deck, and watched the fog roll over and back across the islands. Lots of lovely wooden sloops back in the harbor — despite the relentlessly chilly spring weather we are having, someone must believe summer is around the corner.  The ferry ride is one of the best parts of the daytrip Martha’s Vineyard, a forty five minute boat ride across Vineyard Sound (passenger ticket $17 round trip).

The Nobnocket Boutique Inn is about ten minutes walk up the hill from the ferry landing, through a charming residential neighborhood.  Simon and Anabelle told me it was once the island doctor’s residence, and in an earlier incarnation was a B&B called “The Doctor’s House” that had an unusual reliance on busy wall paper.

All that is the distant past with Simon and Anabelle’s tasteful renovation.  With newly polished hardwood floors, plenty of fresh white paint, fabulous modern tiles, sparkling new large bathrooms — the Nobnocket is a fantastic luxury property that is sure to wow the Vineyard visitor.  I simply can not wait to recommend this to Woods Hole Inn guests headed over to the Vineyard for a few days.

The common areas are large and attractive, with an indoor sun room that feels like you could be in a swank London boutique hotel.  From every window, you look out over the large property offering true Martha’s Vineyard quiet and tranquility, all within a close walk to the restaurants, beaches and hustle bustle of Vineyard Haven.

After a nice hot cup of tea (and some innkeeper to innkeeper chat:) with Simon and Anabelle, I wandered the short walk back to Vineyard Haven to survey the shops and restaurants near the ferry terminal.  I love this one just for the name…and it was an appropriately rainy day to stop in and explore as travelers have done since 1973.

I am always impressed in Vineyard Haven by the consistently adorable window dressing, which was true of most of the shops along this stretch — art galleries, jewelry stores, t-shirt shops, a killer bookstore where President Obama shops every August, interior design, fabulous furniture, housewares and much more to explore just steps from the ferry landing.

A quick stop into the Waterside Market for their popular “Cab” sandwich (ciabatta with chicken, avocado, bacon $11) reviewed last summer by Guy Fiore of Diners Drive-ins & Dives fame is a MUST… super yummy, great place, busy even on a rainy Sunday in May.

Then finally the ferry ride home, still a bit foggy but starting to burn off, the end of my daytrip to Martha’s Vineyard from Woods Hole.  What a fantastic way to spend Mother’s Day — enjoying some quiet time visiting friends and shopping the charming town of Vineyard Haven.

And don’t forget to check out the Nobnocket Boutique Inn.  Simon and Anabelle are the nicest, and this place is sure to knock your socks off.  Day-tripping to Vineyard Haven from the Woods Hole Inn is one of my favorite activities.  Perhaps it will also be one of yours.