Day 3 was our actual anniversary! So we wanted to make sure we really made the most of the day. It, of course, began with breakfast… Along with our juice, we were served homemade cake donuts with a strawberry basil glaze, with “pesto pizzas”, which featured a grilled pita topped with fresh corn, havarti cheese, egg, tomatoes, and arugula, with a side of fresh peaches, blueberries, and pineapple. It was, of course, delicious… The corn was such a nice pop of flavor, adding a little sweetness, and we love peppery arugula on anything!
The weather was beautiful in the morning, and became overcast and a little misty for the remainder of the day, which was actually perfect because we spent so much time outside that day, so we weren’t overheated by the sun or drained by humidity. The temperature was slightly cool and there was a nice breeze too.
We drove west to Menemsha, a small working fishing town. This was our favorite place to visit on the island! It felt like the “heart” of Martha’s Vineyard, full of authenticity and beauty in it’s own way.
There’s a public beach right there, and many people had come to spend the day by the water. There’s a little general store, fish mart, and a fresh sashimi shack…
We wanted to hike the Menemsha Hills, so we drove a couple miles down from the small town, till we found the sign for the entrance. There was nowhere to park so we started to back up and turn around, just when a couple walked back to their car to leave - perfect timing! We were so excited to do this. We love spending time outside, and hiking, so this was the perfect way to celebrate together. :)
The sandy paths, whimsical trees, and interesting plants and scenery were cool to see along the way. We reached our first overlook, which absolutely book our breath away… We walked up onto the landing, and the wind was so powerful, we felt like we were the god and goddess of the island from up there. :) No one in sight, only the vastness of the trees, ocean, and sky… It was incredible. We could see the wind blowing the ocean water towards the beach, with rows of waves. The trees were blowing and the sky was moody with gorgeous puffy clouds… It was so cool. The pictures don’t really even do it justice. I could hardly see because the wind was blowing my hair all over the place! Once a few others arrived to the landing, we knew it it was time to keep on moving. But we can’t wait to do this hike again one day, just to see this overlook again!
The next part of the hike took us downward to the beach… Nicely built steps were helpful during extra steep parts. The path kept changing as we’d reach a new height. Some of the foliage like the bushes you see below, looked like little heart-shaped leaves to me. :)
We made it down to the beautiful rocky beach where we hiked along the coast until we reached the next wooden stairway that would take us back up the mountain to finish the hike. This beach was beautiful… The wind was still blowing and the sound of the waves was like music to our ears. There were rocks and stones everywhere… until it made up the entire beach. We used little muscles in our feet to walk on these stones that never really seem to get used - we felt it the next day!
We took our time along the beach, looking for pretty stones and just enjoying being there together. We only saw a few people the entire time… We had the whole beach to ourselves and it was so nice.
The trek back up was cool because we could turn around and still see the water. We felt invigorated and so good after getting back to the car… I think the hike was about 3 miles, and it’s easy and fun, but with a few interesting challenges and steep parts that keep it interesting. :) And the views are beautiful!
We decided to visit the little shops of Menemsha afterwards, so we headed down North Rd. back to Basin Rd. which is where, if you take it to the end, the public beach and fish markets were that we visited earlier in the day. But at the south end of the road, is a few shops like Pandora’s Box, Menemsha Blues clothing, an antique store, and an art gallery. We hit them all, and loved looking around at all they had to offer… I got a few vintage post cards, some incredible lotion (I am telling you, everything smells amazing on the Vineyard), soaps, and a candle. :)
Then, my favorite part of the day…. We got back in the car and drove just a little further down North Rd. to the Menemsha Galley, where we ordered two lobster rolls, some fries, and a drink, and enjoyed it in all its perfection, on a rock, overlooking Menemsha Pond as the boats came and went… It was magic for my senses. It just felt so New England in every way… I soaked it up and savored every last bite… Just before it started to rain a bit, as we headed back to the car to go home, freshen up, and decide where to eat for our Anniversary dinner.
This day was truly one of the best days of our lives… We just loved it. When we got back to the place, we relaxed and napped, showered, and took our time getting ready. We decided to eat in Edgartown at a restaurant just inside the Harbor View Hotel overlooking the Edgartown Lighthouse. We were utterly impressed with every detail…
They surprised us with champagne, which was lovely, and we enjoyed it after our first glasses of wine and salads. I got a watermelon salad, and he got an incredible endive salad with a truffle honey vinaigrette. His salmon and spring pea salad was incredible, and my filet mignon over asparagus and celery-root puree was to die for… He got a corn dish as a side, which was out of this world too.. The flavors reminded us of street corn. I want to try and replicate his salad and that corn dish here at home sometime…
For dessert, we had coffee and a lemon tart topped with meringue and raspberry sorbet, which I couldn’t finish, it was huge but delicious and refreshing… And he got HEAVENLY cinnamon-sugared donuts with a chocolate dipping sauce. Absolutely to die for….. We were so over the moon with our dinner and our day in it’s entirety that we just didn’t want it to end… We were happy as could be and so grateful for such a fabulous celebration day, in a beautiful place, with each other to take it all in with. The day encompassed everything we love… spending time outside in nature, enjoying good food, having quality time together, and making new memories. We are so grateful.
Crazy to think that ten years ago, we were 22 and 23, taking one of the biggest steps in our lives, unknowing of what the future would hold. We’ve been through a lot and have made it to where we are today, with lots of twists and turns… While it’s not always easy, of course, we still find a way to laugh every day and say “I love you” every day. I think those two very important things are a recipe for something good and long-lasting. :)
The last couple days of our trip are coming up next! Thank you for following along. :)