by Diana Andrews

Ahhhh. The kids are back in school. Schedules are pumping along at an even pace. Mother Nature is starting to paint her Fall tapestries. And I’m sitting at work in the middle of the week wishing I could run away for some midweek ‘me’ time. 

As I ponder where my escape would take me, I feel cool air brushing strands of hair across my face, sounds of birds calling out to their flock, waves slowly licking the rock and earthen surfaces that contain them. I think I even hear the clang of fishing boats as they sway and bob in the dappled sunlight.

Low and behold, I open my eyes to discover Martha’s Vineyard and all the attributes that make it a highly desired destination to travelers who crave a rich history, endless beaches, a thriving culture and most of all an affordable getaway to six quaint island towns like Vineyard Haven.

How can I not be tempted to stay longer when I discover a mid-week bonus that goes easy on the pocket book and a Martha’s Vineyard Spa to rest and rejuvenate my weary bones after spending the day(s) doing everything there is to do? A Calendar Of Events feeds my love of a list, and I’m setting out to experience as many of the events and activities as I can before I have to return to the reality of life.

For now, this is the life. My life. Real or imagined, Martha’s Vineyard is a great place to explore midweek when the crowds are thinner, the opportunities to explore, relax, rejuvenate, shop, dine are plentiful and  the affordability makes it guilt free. I think I’ll be coming back often. I might even invite a friend or two to see for themselves the beauty of “me” time in Martha’s Vineyard.

Heading to the East Coast this summer?  Love great food?  Be sure to visit Martha’s Vineyard during your travels.  Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a family vacation or a girl’s night out, one visit to Martha’s Vineyard, and you’ll never want to leave!

The island covers about 100 square miles, and is divided up into several small towns.  Each town has a distinct personality, our favorite being Vineyard Haven, also known as Tisbury.  The Vineyard Haven area is known for great shopping, dining, and is home to our favorite Martha’s Vineyard Restaurant.

With about 15,000 residents year round, and over 100,000 residents in the summer, activity in the area swells in the summer, but the island is worth a visit any time of year.  We recommend avoiding the area around the 4th of July if crowds aren’t your thing, as this is the island’s busiest weekend of the year.

Stay in one of the locally owned Inns, spend a day at the town beach, and explore the shops around town -there is never a shortage of things to do while visiting Martha’s Vineyard.

If you’re heading to Massachusetts, spend a day or two at Martha’s Vineyard, you’re sure to be pleased!

Rockport, Massachusetts is another of those places you have probably never heard of, which is exactly the kind of place that makes for an ideal New England getaway weekend. It’s a short,  scenic hour’s drive from Boston.

Rockport’s character is that of a cultural haven within a classic New England seaside village. Interesting, eh? Imagine a picturesque town on a harbor called Sandy Bay at the very tip of a peninsula (Cape Ann) and surrounded on 3 sides by the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

The region, known as the Essex National Heritage Area, includes the surrounding communities of Essex, Glouster and Manchester By the Sea, which share Rockport’s heritage of seafaring and have also held a similar, long-time attraction for artists of all types.

One of the best ways to experience the area is during the annual Trails and Sails Weekend, which is usually held the last weekend in September. Over 150 free programs are offered throughout the area over 3 days.

However, nearly any weekend you may choose to visit, you’ll find entertaining and interesting things to do- the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, free summer concerts, dance performances, art shows, photo exhibits, meet the author events, artisan studio tours, dory races, story telling, recitals, book chats, auctions, winetastings, the Clam Chowdah Festival and much, much more. You’ll also want to visit the lighthouses and beaches of Cape Ann.

When you make this Yankee town your very own hometown for a few days, you’ll have plenty of charming choices for lodging. To immerse yourself in the true spirit of the area, consider the only historic grand hotel in Rockport , where you can rock on the porch looking out over the harbor and dine on fresh seafood much as Ralph Waldo Emerson and his family did long ago.

While you may not be familiar with Pittsfield, you’ve probably heard of The Berkshires and this enigmatic little city sits right in the heart of that famous region. It’s elevation provides expansive views of the Hoosac and Tactonic hills covered with eastern hardwood forests, six lakes, and the powerful Housatonic River.

Like many places in New England Pittsfield’s history is very long and very interesting and chock full of odd characters. The most famous of these is Herman Melville, who wrote Moby Dick at his Arrowhead home. The historic Colonial Revival home of another famous citizen, Thaddeus Clapp, has been restored as a gracious Pittsfield Massachusetts bed and breakfast.

Pittsfield began as an agricultural village, developed with mills and sheep farming and then became a bastion of Northeast industrialism and a playground for wealthy. Now, it prides itself on being a premier cultural resort adorned with beautiful, historic architecture. Ongoing plays, ballets, operas, children’s theater, dances, concerts, galleries, a living history center and the celebrated Berkshire Museum keep residents and tourists engaged and entertained throughout the year.