Aquinnah Lodging and Vacation Rentals
The center of Wampanoag culture, Aquinnah, Massachusetts, offers gorgeous red clay cliffs, beautiful beaches, and historic structures galore. A stay at one of our Aquinnah vacation rentals allows you to see for yourself why this is one of the hidden gems on lovely Martha's Vineyard!
The History of Aquinnah
The Wampanoag tribe has lived in this community for hundreds of years and they still make up much of the populace. English settlers arrived in 1669 and turned the town into a whaling center of note. Today, Aquinnah is known for its lovely streets and laid-back vibe. Come to tour the historic district and stay for a jaunt to the Aquinnah Cliffs and Moshup Beach! Our Aquinnah lodging choices include a variety of homes at which you'll be able to see the sights or enjoy a relaxing respite.
Things to do in Aquinnah
This small town in the southwest coast of Martha's Vineyard boasts plentiful places to take in nature, as well as history. The Gay Head-Aquinnah Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places. You'll find 23 notable buildings, from a 19th-century schoolhouse to a minister's parsonage home to a small outhouse on Baptist church land! Spend an afternoon visiting the two monuments that commemorate the town's involvement in the First World War and you'll be sure to please any history buff in your party.
Unfortunately, the Gay Head Lighthouse had to be moved in recent years due to beach erosion. Never fear, you can still visit this historic brick and sandstone structure originally built in 1799 to help whalers return home! It's just a mere 120 feet from its original location.
You've heard of the white cliffs of Dover, but here you can admire the red cliffs of Aquinnah! ?Considered a national landmark, these well-preserved red clay cliffs beckon everyone who arrives on the Vineyard. You can admire them up close at Moshup Beach, one of the town's only public beaches, or at the overlook atop the attraction. Much of the Aquinnah Cliffs are off limits as it's protected native land and please note that touching the clay or taking a souvenir is forbidden.
Day Trips from Aquinnah
Aquinnah is close to major roadways, making a day trip around the Vineyard a veritable breeze! Bustling West Tisbury features a 60-acre arboretum. Vineyard Haven includes the Long Point Wildlife Refuge as well as lovely public beaches. Hikers and birdwatchers love Edgartown for its two nature preserves. Feel like a kid again at the nation's oldest carousel in Oaks Bluff. Chilmark boasts three preserves that will make any nature lover happy.
History and beauty go hand in hand in Aquinnah, Massachusetts, and you'll find both at one of our Aquinnah vacation rentals!
Photo credit: InAweofGod'sCreation via flickr