Martha's Vineyard

At twenty miles in length, Martha's Vineyard is the largest offshore island in New England. With its undulating hills and verdant pastures - in addition to its charming shoreline - the island packs an enviable diversity into its diminutive area. The island was inhabited by First Nation Americans during the 16th century, though very little is known from before this time. In 1602 the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold (who named Falmouth on Cape Cod) sailed here and named it Martha's Vineyard, reportedly after his daughter.

From about this time the English settlers began to develop towns here, and before long Martha's Vineyard had become not only a thriving fishing and whaling community, but also a fantastic summer retreat for those on mainland Massachusetts. In 1974 the island reached a new level of fame when Steven Spielberg filmed the classic film "Jaws" here. Perhaps ironically, the film did a great deal to boost tourism to Martha's Vineyard even further.

The former whaling port of Edgartown is one of the island's largest and most popular towns. It is characterised by its clapboard Colonial homes and neatly manicured gardens, originally built by prominent sea merchants. The town's famous lighthouse marks the entrance to the harbour and the pretty Katama Bay.

This small town is dominated by its dramatic clay cliffs, where the orange clay was originally used to build some of the town's houses. It is now illegal to touch or remove this clay, as the cliffs have been afforded special status. A popular home of the Wampanoag culture, the town is also celebrated for its quiet serenity.