Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association — Attraction in Oak Bluffs

Great history to learn about and a beautiful residential area to walk through, iconic for Oak Bluffs. If you can go on a guided walking tour with the association, we highly recommend it. The tours are led by residents and the history and personal experiences you hear on the tour are wonderful and a bargain at $15 per person for 1.5 hours walking tour (no pre-registration, just show up 15 minutes before tour time at the historic open air Tabernacle). The tour ends at the Cottage Museum ($3 entrance fee is included in tour fee), which allows you to go inside a cottage that is filled with antiques and pictures…and also lovely docents/residents who have a set history speech, but will also answer questions. Even if you can’t do the guided walking tour, go wander around on your own through the maze of streets. The gingerbread, the paint colors, the flowers, the theme houses, and the architecture are all wonderful and a new surprise around every turn. Just remember, people live in these houses, so...

I grew up with the privilege of being allowed to visit every summer for two weeks until I was around 12 years old. My great aunt owned a cottage in the campgrounds. She also had her home on the water in the bay at Oak Bluffs. This has been a dream of mine, to return for at least one more visit. I remember the Wed. night sings at the Tabernacle, riding the Flying Horses, renting bicycles to travel with my mother and sister around town. The main street with the old fashion candy shop. All I remember are nothing but wonderful times, friendly people and a peaceful time. I am now 61 years old and I want nothing more than to visit at least one more time. I would even return the ring I have kept all this time to the Flying Horses. It is the only thing on my "bucket list".. Joy is what I brought home from those trips. Remember picking the blueberries around the half circle road that led to the cottage parking....

Yes life size lookin, doll house lookin', looks good to eat lookin, Gingerbread houses! When visiting Martha's Vineyard, a lot of New England locals suggest to stroll through the Gingerbread cottages.

Considered a historic site, it started back in the 1800's or so when people came camping out in MV as part of the Methodist religious retreat in tents. This evolved into permanently staying in the island under what is known as Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association.

Each cute house is privately owned and some can even be rented out...think air bnb. Each house has its own unique motifs. If only they'd let you in on the island during post season/winter holidays. It's a nice way to sightsee around the town of Oak bluffs in MV and a big bonus of course, is that it's a free scenic self tour of a village of non edible festive...