Hostels in Martha's Vineyard, USA

Martha’s Vineyard (sometimes simply referred to as "The Vineyard") is an island located at the southern part of Cape Cod. Initially named Noepe, meaning "land amid the streams," Martha’s Vineyard was originally a settlement of the Wampanoag First Peoples tribes, until it was later converted into a summer colony for affluent settlers -- a purpose it serves to this day. Measuring some one hundred square miles, the Vineyard is considered the fifty-eighth-largest island in the United States and the third-largest one on the East Coast alone.

Initially "discovered" by the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold at the turn of the seventeenth century, this once thriving Wampanoag settlement was renamed for apparently vague reasons. Later on, it became a center for the whaling industry of Nantucket, after it was purchased sometime in in the mid-seventeenth century and made into a bi-cultural settlement of natives and English settlers. Today, Martha’s Vineyard still serves as a summer retreat for many, and is famed for its beaches and a number of historical sites. One of the best sights in the Vineyard is Ocean Part, at Seaview Avenue, Oak Bluffs -- a spread of period buildings that date back to the earliest founding of the English colony. But the Vineyard is more known for beaches like South Beach in Katama Road, Edgartown, the Menemsha Public Beach at Dutcher’s Dock, and the Joseph Sylvia State Beach between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. It is also known for its wonderful trails, such as Chappaquiddick at Edgartown, and the Aquinnah Light.

Beyond these natural attractions, Martha’s Vineyard is also home to the Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven, the Oak Bluffs Public Library, and the Edgartown Public Library. Sporty individuals may also love the Farm Neck Golf Club at Farm Neck Way. The Vineyard also boasts a number of excellent pig-out spots, which offer some of the best low-key (but still tasty!) grub.

And being the summertime retreat that it is, the Vineyard are also known for its amazing beaches, which often double as hotels! Of course, typical hotels and suites are also to be had. Because the Vineyard is a popular retreat, you may have difficulty finding a hostel in Martha's Vineyard in spite of the large number of accommodations, even during non-peak seasons, so advanced reservations are a must.