In the winter months, we’re often asked “does Martha’s Vineyard get snow?” The answer is generally yes, but not too much, but we can’t be sure just how often we’ll get to experience Martha’s Vineyard in the snow. Because Martha’s Vineyard is located in New England it inherently lends itself to unpredictable weather. Plus the nature of our island makes for windy conditions and generally warmer temperatures than our mainland neighbors. Given our proximity to the ocean, the snow we get is generally less than elsewhere in Massachusetts and often doesn’t accumulate as much, which means when it does we are in heaven! Martha’s Vineyard saw its first snowfall of 2023 this past weekend and what a sight it was!
We here at Point B Compass and Point B Rentals always love to see the soft white stuff come down. Not only does it beautify our already picturesque local homes and real estate properties, but it opens up new opportunities for outdoor fun in the winter months.
Martha’s Vineyard in the Snow – Sledding, Skiing, and Snowshoeing on Martha’s Vineyard
One favorite winter pastime on Martha’s Vineyard snow days is sledding! Families with children head to popular sledding locations across the Island including the overlook at Tashmoo on State Road in Vineyard Haven, Tisbury Meadow Preserve just further up on State Road heading towards West Tisbury, as well as Sweetened Water Preserve in Edgartown. In the market for a sled? In Edgartown, Granite Five & Ten generally has them available in the winter months as well as SBS the Grain Store and Shirley’s Hardware in Vineyard haven, so slide on in and see what you can find.
Martha’s Vineyard in the Snow – Sledding, Skiing, and Snowshoeing on Martha’s Vineyard
Other residents enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing which, depending on the accumulation, makes for a great workout! The Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank offers a helpful directory of properties that make for good cross-country skiing.
Personally, we love to bundle up and take advantage of the Island’s extensive network of trails on our own two feet and see some of our favorite paths dusted in snow, making for even more beautiful sights. A trip to Menemsha Hills in Chilmark in the snow means you can enjoy the property’s varied landscapes, from its wetlands, woodland groves, coastal plains, rocky edges, and historic Brickyard under a blanket of white. Or head to Sheriff’s Meadow Sanctuary in Edgartown and see the winter shorebirds with a backdrop of snow-covered coastline. Speaking of coastline one of our favorite things to do in the snow is to visit our Martha’s Vineyard beaches!
Martha’s Vineyard Beaches in the Snow – Accessing Private Beaches in the Winter
When you’re used to being at the beach on hot, sunny days, it’s an absolute treat to walk along the snow-covered sand and appreciate our coveted beaches in a totally different setting. This time of year we love to explore those private beaches that are resident only in the summer, including Lambert’s Cove Beach, Lucy Vincent Beach, and Squibnocket Beach. Now’s the time we can have the beaches all to ourselves, regardless of the weather.
Martha’s Vineyard in the Winter – Ice Skating
And when there’s no snow on Martha’s Vineyard to remind us of the season we lace up and head to the YMCA Ice Arena on Edgartown Vineyard Haven Road in Vineyard Haven. This family-friendly ice rink is home to youth and adult hockey leagues and figure skating, and also boats regular public skate hours for anyone and everyone to enjoy. From tiny skaters to adult hockey players, Martha’s Vineyard Ice Arena’s vision is to provide a place that fosters community development and enriches the lives of children, teenagers, and adults, and we think it does just that! Not to mention it’s home to the The Food Truck, a year-round restaurant on wheels serving possibly the best french fries on Martha’s Vineyard (with lemon salt and rosemary)! The rink is open weekdays year-round and in the summer months the property lends itself to drive-in movies presented by Circus Arts (formerly the Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival) too!
So whether you are sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, hiking, or skating on Martha’s Vineyard you’ll be sure to delight in winter fun for the whole family!
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