The Martha's Vineyard Times

Things To Do : Kids and Family

Martha's Vineyard Times File Photo

Animals:

Gus Ben David’s World of Reptiles and Birds Park, Edgartown: Wildlife education facility with live animals. Thursdays, 10 am: Live Animal Interviews. Rain dates: Fridays. 508-627-5634.

Island Alpaca Company, Oak Bluffs: Visit alpaca, farm stand, children’s programs. $5. islandalpaca.com; 508-693-5554.

Native Earth Teaching Farm, Chilmark: Tours, animals, self-guided trail, self-serve farm stand, children’s programs. Wednesdays, 10 am: Toddler Time. Sundays, 3 pm: Shepherd’s Tea. $5; $10 families. nativeearthteachingfarm.org; 508-645-3304.

The FARM Institute, Edgartown: Children’s programs, farm stand, tours, animals. 508-627-7007; farminstitute.org.

Games

Disc Golf: Riverhead Disc Golf Course, Barnes Rd., Oak Bluffs. (508-627-6435).

Golf: Farm Neck Golf Club (508-693-3057); Mink Meadows Golf Club (508-693-0600).

Tennis: Vineyard Tennis Center (508-696-8000); Island Country Club Tennis (508-693-6574); Farm Neck Tennis Club (508-693-9728); Vineyard Youth Tennis (508-693-7762).

Public Tennis Courts:

Edgartown: Edgartown Recreation Assoc., Robinson Road.

Oak Bluffs: Town Courts, Niantic Ave; Oak Bluffs School, Tradwinds Rd.

Vineyard Haven: Church and Lake St.

West Tisbury: West Tisbury School, Old County Rd.

Nature

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary: Trails, summer camp, classes, events. Off Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd., Edgartown. 508-627-4850; massaudubon.org.

Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank: trails, tours. mvlandbank.com.

Polly Hill Arboretum: Trails, tours, events. State Rd., West Tisbury. 508-693-9426; pollyhillarboretum.org.

The Trustees of Reservations: Trails, tours. thetrustees.org.

Vineyard Conservation Society: Trails, tours. vineyardconservation.org.

World of Reptiles: Rare birds and reptiles, tours, events. Wed.–Mon., 10 am–3 pm. Edgartown-Vineyard Haven Rd., Edgartown. 508-627-5634; reptilesandbirds.com.

Museums and Tours

African-American Heritage Trail of M.V. By appointment. 508-693-4361; mvheritagetrail.org.

African American History Tour By appointment. 508-693-8714.

Aquinnah Cultural Center Vanderhoop Homestead, Aquinnah Cliffs. 508-645-7900.

Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Cottage Museum and Gift Shop, 1 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs. 508-693-0525.

Martha’s Vineyard Museum Cooke and School sts., Edgartown. 508-627-4441; mvmuseum.org.

Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust Buildings. Tours by appointment. 508-627-8720.

Hoseback Riding

Horseback riding has long been a Vineyard tradition, and the large number of barns small and large attest to its staying power. And what better time to ride than in the cooler, fall weather?

Several Island farms offer lessons in dressage and jumping, pony rides, summer camps, or seasonal boarding if you need a place to keep your horse.

Arrowhead Farm in West Tisbury, established in 1983, boasts a pony camp, clinics, indoor and outdoor rings, and a cross-country course. Sprawled out over 36 acres, the farm has large turn-out fields for boarders, trails, and several different barns.

Camp runs weekly through August 26, from 9 am to 1 pm, and costs $600/week. For more information, call 508-693-8831 or visit arrowheadfarm.net.

Red Pony Farm, also in West Tisbury, offers summer and year-round lessons, pony rides, boarding, training, and horse and rider vacations from 3 days to 2 weeks. The farm includes 2 barns, indoor and outdoor arenas, turnout areas, and cross country course. According to the website (redponyfarmmv.com), “The farm abuts approximately 5,000 acres of conservation land, which allows for excellent trail riding.”

Summer Pony Club, for ages 8 to 13, runs through September 15, and costs $550/week. For more information, call 508-693-3788 or visit redponyfarmmv.com.

Located on a peninsula beside Tisbury Great Pond, Pond View Farm “has been the longest continually operating riding facility on Martha’s Vineyard,” according to its website (pondviewfarmmv.com). The kid-friendly barn offers daily pony rides, lessons, camp, as well as boarding and training.

Pony Camp is Monday through Friday from 9 am to 1 pm through August 30. Contact for rates: 508-693-2949.

Located in Chilmark, Netherfield Farm North specializes in dressage training, but also offers trails, a cross-country course, indoor & outdoor arenas, and pony camp. It’s sister, Netherfield Farm South, is located in Wellington, Fla.

Netherfield’s Junior Equestrian Camp runs Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm, and costs $575. Camp is limited to eight students per week, with two instructors. For more information, contact 508-645-2724 or visit netherfield.smugmug.com.

For rainy days:

M.V. Museum Edgartown Exhibits, library, lighthouse visits. 508-627-4441

M.V. Ice Arena Oak Bluffs Call for public skate times. 508-693-5329.

Flying Horses Carousel Oak Bluffs Oldest operating platform carousel in U.S.

Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary Edgartown Nature Center and Discovery Room in addition to 4 miles of nature trails.

Featherstone Center for the Arts Oak Bluffs Weekly events, classes, exhibits. featherstoneart.org; 508-693-1850.

Scenic Bus Tours: MV Tour Oak Bluffs Ticket Tour covers all 6 Island towns, including stop at Gay Head cliffs. 508-627-TOUR (8687).

The Game Room Circuit Ave., Oak Bluffs Arcade with dozens of games from skee-ball to Big Buck Hunter. Win prizes with tickets. 508-693-7129.

YMCA of M.V. Oak Bluffs Swimming pool, aerobics class, childcare, café.

Don’t forget to visit Island libraries. All six have regular programs for children and adults in addition to special events. For more information, see the Vineyard Calendar section inside.

For Your Pets

Pet-friendly parks: Trade Winds Preserve (off-leash)

Accommodations: Colonial Inn, Shiverick Inn, M.V. Surfside Hotel

Activities: West Tisbury Farmers Markets and Tisbury Farmers Market

Stores: Good Dog Goods and SBS