A well-kept secret that I'm going to share with all y'all blog readers is that there is a ferry in Falmouth harbor that will take you to Oak Bluffs in 35 minutes. Parking is cheap, and it's never filled! Next time you're going to MV, take the Island Queen!
(This is not my boat.)
Onto our day trip.
I used Chowhound to find another excellent brunch spot in Vineyard Haven. But before that, we had to rent a bike and head 3. 5 miles to the west!
We arrived mildly sweaty at the Art Cliff Diner. Usually this place has a huge wait, but it wasn't too bad (30 minutes-ish?) You'll see soon it was well worth it.
Brunch began with some delicious coffee. I peeked behind the counter and realized it's a special "The Art Cliff" Dean's Beans blend! Fill 'er up, please!
Local blueberry and honey crepe.
The whole enchilada.
And a side of eggy protein.
After our bellies were sufficiently full, we explored downtown Vineyard Haven. Getting right back on the bikes probably would have popped the tires.
Once we deemed it safe to get back to biking, we headed south to Edgartown.
Along the way, we stumbled upon MORNING GLORY FARM! They were gracious enough to send me a cookbook last fall, and I made some glorious recipes from it here. I highly recommend you check it out next time you're on the Vineyard, and get the cookbook. It has some practical, delicious recipes featuring seasonal foods and I use it often.
Fourteen or so miles later, we ended up on South Beach and went for a dip. South Beach has some great waves, minimal seaweed, and is at the end of the bike path to Katama!
After a swim and a 13 or so mile ride back, we were in dire need of one of these:
Best sugary lemonade drink you'll ever have after 25 miles on a rental bike. Best $3.00 spent all day.
And now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: my recommendation for the best lobster sandwich on the Cape.
Quicks Hole is a hole-in-the-wall cantina-like bar/pub/grill/grocery with the most excellent lobster tacos. While maybe they don't qualify in the "Best Lobster Roll" category, these lobster tacos were delicious and made without gobs of mayonnaise and with cilantro and avocado instead. Like I said before, I'm not a huge lobster fan, but I'd go back again and again to Quicks Hole for this delectable dish.
Who can eat lobster tacos without sangria?
Quicks Hole was featured in Edible Cape Cod, and I'm glad I got to try it out. What also impressed me was that they had a whole refrigerated section of local produce that you could purchase. From local cheeses to produce to milk, this Quicks 2 Go section was like a farmers' market in a fridge.
If you're ever on the Upper Cape in the Woods Hole area, check this little gem out!
Question of the Day: Where do you get your dining recommendations when traveling? Chowhound? Others' blogs? Tradition? Elsewhere?
I can't even believe I've never been to Martha's Vineyard... And I've been a New Englander all my life! Now I have such a craving to go... And those crepes look amazing!
ReplyDeleteSues
Great post! I grew up on Cape Cod - mid cape area. I don't spend much time in Falmouth but omg those lobster tacos look amazing!! I haven't been to Marthas Vineyard in ages though! Such a shame. You took gorgeous pictures and i love that you biked everywhere.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your pictures and stories of your adventures on the cape! I've only been to martha's vineyard once. I went in May during my senior week but it was a ghost town then so I would love to go back and get the real feel of it!
ReplyDeleteI've used Chowhound a lot. I've gotten some great ideas from blogs as well.
ReplyDeleteYour pictures (as always) make me miss New England! I never did make it out to the Vineyard (or the cape for that matter) but hey, it's never too late!!