*Please note that this post was written prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. Please consult your state’s guidelines for safety and social distancing prior to traveling.
Dave enjoying the resort's front porch at Summercamp in Martha's Vineyard
Do you ever feel like something is haunting you on social media? I do.
I'll see a Pin for a hotel I want to visit. Then a travel blogger I follow on Instagram starts sharing Stories from that hotel. Then a Facebook friend I haven't seen in years is posting pics from a wedding at that hotel. And it feels like everyone else is having this amazing experience and I have SO MUCH FOMO.
Anyway, all of that had been happening to me with Summercamp, a gorgeous new hotel in Martha's Vineyard from the uber-talented design team over at Lark Hotels. To give you the quick-pitch, Summercamp is a sprawling former 1879 Methodist "summer camp" that has been renovated up to wazoo to become a chic, modern hotel with tons of character. Plus, the hotel's new aesthetic adorably riffs on its name with a canteen, scavenger hunts, ping pong tables, and a camp-store that's well-stocked with Creamsicles.
Obviously, I was thrilled when we had a chance to spend a weekend in one of Summercamp's dog-friendly rooms.* It was a total Creamsicle-Dreamsicle weekend. Read on for deets.
Do:
Get Salty: Check online ahead of time to see when Scout is allowed on the sand. Summercamp is a short walk from the Oak Bluffs Town Beach, which welcomes dogs before 8 a.m. and after 6 p.m. during the summer.
Live the Treat Life: Pop into Good Dog Goods for a canine vacation indulgence. Good Dog Goods offers a great selection of leashes and dog toys, as well as their own line of all-natural treats and supplements. Bookmark their website for a local guide to all things dogs—from vet contact info to activity guides.
Walk Down Memory Lane: Oak Bluffs' history as a Methodist summer camp left it with street after street of elaborate summer cottages. Take your pup for a walk in the neighborhoods around Summercamp and enjoy the area's unique aesthetic.
Eat and Drink:
Donuts for Days: A friend had tipped us off to Back Door Donuts ahead of our visit and all I have to say is THANK YOU. People line up every night to get a still-hot donut or fritter from this local favorite—and they totally live up to the hype. Do not miss.
Yappy Hour: Dogs are allowed at some outdoor tables at Offshore Ale Co. in downtown Oak Bluffs. The beer and pretzels were great, and the staff was incredibly welcoming to Dave.
Dine Dockside: Get your lobster roll on at Nancy's, a casual eatery in Oak Bluffs that welcomes dogs to its dockside dining. Sand Bar & Grille doesn't seem to have a clear dog policy, but the staff allowed us to bring Dave to our outdoor table for mid-afternoon margaritas.
Get the Scoop: Cool off with some ice cream from Mad Martha's, an island favorite.
Stay:
Summercamp has a number of dog-friendly rooms that can be booked directly here. The dog fee is $35 a night and more about the pet policies can be found here. A word to the wise, the hotel—just like your childhood summer camp—does not currently serve alcohol.
Getting There:
As people who don't own a car, getting to Martha's Vineyard is a little tricky with a dog. Without a dog, you can take the Seastreak Ferry directly from Manhattan to Oak Bluffs. But unfortunately, because it's such a long trip, they don't allow dogs. We ended up deciding that flying would be less expensive than a rental car/Cape Cod ferry combo, so we took a cheap JetBlue flight.
Have you gone to Martha's Vineyard with a dog? Let me know what we missed in the comments.
xo Heather
*We received a free stay at Summercamp in exchange for our Instagram posts, but this is not a sponsored post.
