If you look through all of my Martha’s Vineyard blogs, you will see some of my favorite restaurants, shops, Featherstone Center for the Arts, Aquinnah Cliffs, and so many other beautiful places on the Vineyard, but here are a few more of my favorites from the island that you have to experience.

AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE TRAIL

I loved journeying through time while on the African American Heritage Trail. There is so much rich history on the island, and you would do yourself a disservice to miss the African American Heritage Trail ride. We traveled to so many historic sites, and many were in the neighborhood where we rented a home, the Highlands.

We saw Adam Clayton Powell’s home. He and his wife called each other “Bunny,” hence the bunnies at the entrance of the house. Their house is stil in the family and is being renovated. It still looks the same as when Mr. Powell lived here. Apparently his family still visits the Island. As we stood outside during an evening walk and spoke with one of the neighbors, Congressman Clayton’s granddaughter and a friend walked up. I had no clue who she was until after she left and the neighbor told us.

We also saw Dorothy West’s home, which is available to rent during the summer. Dorothy West was the last living writer of the Harlem Renaissance. As an English major at Southern University, I studied the Harlem Renaissance. I had not learned about this era during my years of high school in a small town in Mississippi, but I loved learning about the Harlem Renaissance during my college years.

There were several homes owned by Ralf Meshack Coleman, the Dean of Boston’s Black Theatre, and his wife, Luella. The homes he owned were in an area referred to as Coleman Corners.

We also saw the home of Anne Jennings. In 1959, she became the first African-American registered nurse to graduate from Hartford Hospital School of Nursing. She also completed the nurse practitioner program offered by the University of Connecticut. The nursing program was integrated into the master’s program at Yale, awarding Anne a Yale master’s degree. She has a legacy home still owned by her family. Her nephew, James, came out to visit us while we were on the trail. He has written a book and gave one away to one of the passengers on the trail ride.

We also saw Shearer Cottage, which was the black owned inn on the Vineyard. Blacks were only allowed to stay there before integration. Diana Ross, Madame CJ Walker, and Duke Ellington also stayed here. There is such a richness of black history and excellence on the Island.

INKWELL

Although this is a very small beach, it comes alive during the summer when people from all over the globe come to visit this historic spot where Blacks were allowed to swim carefree during the summer. This was the beach where we congregated to enjoy our time together on the island. It was very peaceful and quiet while we were here with only a few enjoying the waves rushing against the shore, but there is standing room only in August when more visitors are on the island and as the Polar Bears begin their spiritual journey in the waters.

I enjoyed burying my toes in the sand.

This is where the Polar Bears meet for their spiritual cleansing each morning. They start on July 4th, but we were trying to be off the Vineyard by then. When I come back, I will try to come when I can celebrate with them at Inkwell. I’ll have to time it just right because being able to walk on the beach in peace and quiet is priceless. I don’t think I want to trade this for the busyness late July and August bring.

CHASING SUNSETS

I also loved chasing sunsets and photographing the beautiful sky. When I look at he waves on the sea and the sun in the sky, I can’t help but appreciate how big our God is! I don’t care where you are on the Island, there is beauty at every turn.

FLYING HORSES CAROUSEL

My kids did not want to ride the carousel with me, so I rode it alone, and I caught 9 brass rings while I rode. This carousel is the oldest operating carousel in the nation and was located in New York City before it was moved to the island in the late 1800s.

There are so many things we experienced that I did not capture in photos, but I will always cherish the memories of sharing them with my family. This was a great trip — one “for the books.” We definitely enjoyed our time here. Check out my other Martha’s Vineyard blogs to see some of the fun things I experienced during my stay.