Chilmark - town in Massachusetts

Chilmark is a town on the western ("up-island") part of the island of Martha's Vineyard which includes the fishing village of Menemsha. It is primarily residential, with only a few small commercial areas, including Menemsha and Beetlebung Corner. Chilmark was once home to a large number of deaf people (1 in 25 people was deaf) who developed Martha's Vineyard Sign Language. Today Chilmark has among the highest property values of any Massachusetts town.

Get in

Get around

See

• Martha's Vineyard Film Festival events, +1 508-645-9599, thomas@tmvff.org. The MVFF sponsors an annual March festival and a summer film series, with screenings across Martha's Vineyard
• Lucy Vincent Beach, Lucy Vincent Beach Rd, 41.338333°, -70.726667°. Located off of South Rd in Chilmark (listed as Lucy Vincent Rd on some maps, it is a dirt road just before the big bend at Windy Gates Rd), this is a private beach for town residents during the summer. Nudity is allowed in the area that is more than 1,500 feet from the entrance. It is open to the public during the off-season, October 1 through May 31. Quite popular and scenic as it sits on the border of the eel-grass dune stretches to the east and the beginning of the clay cliffs to the west.
• Menemsha Beach, 41.356944°, -70.764722°. Public. At the end of Basin Road, just past the docks. Some parking available but gets full on weekends. Pebble bottom, cooler, clearer water than the south beaches. Protected by jetties on either side so waves are minimal. Lifeguards during daytime. Popular sun-set spot towards evening.
• Squibnocket Beach, Squibnocket Rd, 41.306389°, -70.785556°. Private beach for town residents all year long

Do

Buy

• Allen Farm, 421 South Rd, +1 508 645-9064. Hand woven blankets and knitted items made from the farm's own sheeps' wool. $$
• Menemsha Blues, 2 Basin Rd, +1 508 645-3800. Clothes store
• Chilmark General Store, 7 State Rd, +1 508 645-3739, +1 508 645-3800. General grocery store with deli counter

Eat

• Larsen's Fish Market, 56 Basin Road, Menemsha, +1 508 645-2680. Long-time Menemsha fish purveyors. Not actually a restaurant, primarily fresh-caught seafood on ice. They do stuffed quahogs and the like towards the back.
• Menemsha Galley, 515 North Road, Menemsha, +1 508 645-9819. Consistent fast food, burgers, shakes, lobster rolls. Outside ordering at the front window, a couple of picnic tables for seating on the porch around back.
• The Bite, 29 Basin Road, Menemsha, +1 508 645-9239. Mainly fried seafood & chips, good clams. Just a shack, no indoor seating.
• Home Port Restaurant, 512 North Road, Menemsha, +1 508 645-2679.
• Menemsha Deli. May no longer exist
• The Beach Plum Inn & Restaurant, 50 Beach Plum Ln, +1 508 645-9454.
• Chilmark General Store, 7 State Road, Beetlebung Corner, +1 508 645-3739. General grocery store with deli counter serving breakfast and lunch sandwiches, baked goods. Porch seating that is the center of the local scene.
• Chilmark Tavern, 9 State Road, Beetlebung Corner, +1 508 645-9400. General grocery store with deli counter serving breakfast and lunch sandwiches, baked goods. Porch seating that is the center of the local scene.
• Theo's Restaurant, +1 508 645-3322 , 74 North Road.

Drink

Sleep

• Beach Plum Inn, 50 Beach Plum Ln, +1 508 645-9454. Off North Road, just up the hill from the harbor. 11 rooms. $200-$400.
• Menemsha Inn & Cottages, 12 Menemsha Inn Road, Menemsha, +1 508 645-2521. Off North Road, just up the hill from the harbor. 27 units. Walk to beach and wharf. Top notch.

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