End of Summer Bucket List

But it is about this time ever summer that I start to panic. Really, I break out into a cold sweat thinking about all of the things I still want to do before the kids go back to school, soccer games dominate the weekends and my time on Martha’s Vineyard becomes more and more infrequent. 

So this year I decided to create a Martha’s Vineyard end of summer bucket list. I initially thought I’d have 4 or 5 things on the list but I quickly got up to 10 when the kids chimed in. 

Here we go:

10. Picnic breakfast at Edgartown Lighthouse-the kids love packing up and going anywhere but this spot is great for boat watching, seashell collecting and general relaxation.

9. Adult only dinner at overpriced restaurant-sorry kids this one is for me and Dad. No    crayons at the table, no sippy cups and no kids menu. Heck, we wont even eat until 9pm. 

8. Fried clam at Nancy’s-yes, yes I know this is super touristy but I love sitting out on their deck on a warm afternoon eating fried clams and drinking an ice cold beer. People watching is part of the fun too. 

7. (more) mussels in Menemsha-this is something we do a lot but I never seem to get enough of it. We bring the fishing rods and catch a huge striper (I still think I have the family record at 36”) while eating seafood right on the docks. The kids run around the little beach and we catch an amazing sunset. Simple, fun and packed with memories. 

6. Morning bike rides with the kids-we have a very predictable route. Out down right fork, pit stop at Right Fork Diner and Katama Air Field, wobble down the dirt road to The Farm Institute, back up left fork to Katama General Store and back home again. As the kids gets older and their stamina improves it is all the way to South Beach for sure. 

5. Stargazing- this is almost always an August activity and now that the kids don’t go to bed before dusk, something they can enjoy too. Hit any beach or backyard for that matter and look up. Takes your breath away. 

4. (more) outdoor showers-now the fun of our little outdoor gem is that it is not enclosed. That’s right, showing outdoors at our house means going o’natural. Easy for the kids but a little harder for us inhibited adults. I love our guests reaction when they see the shower. Priceless. 

3. Up island beach day- we get stuck in a rut living down island. The beaches are right here and we found a spot via boat that few people know about so it is hard to pack up the car, kids, gear and go “to the other side” but man is it worth it! For me, (I can sense the nasty comments coming now) this is the real Martha’s Vineyard. Simple, spread out, unspoiled, hidden. You will feel a million miles away. Love it even more that my husband has no cell coverage there. Ha, ha work emails. 

2. One last visit to Dad’s grave-yup, my dear Father is buried on island. It was an obvious choice since he adored this island so much and it was his determination, along with my Mother’s, that got us here each summer and that eventually built our house. The kids collect shells and place them on his tombstone and say he is surely out sailing around the island. 

And finally, the number one thing that I want to do before my Martha’s Vineyard summer is over......

1. Seagull supper-What is that? You know, dinner on the beach. My Mom started this tradition years and years ago and it stuck. She would pack up an awesome cold dinner and we would all head over to State Beach and throw down some blankets. The seagulls would surround us like prison guards as we ate our dinner. Another simple pleasure but so island to me and now my kids too. 

So that’s it. I have about a month to do this all because anyone who knows the Vineyard knows that summer doesn’t have to end on Labor Day. Some of the best weather happens in September and we always take advantage of it and the reduced crowds. 

Hope to see you around the island checking off my Martha’s Vineyard summer bucket list.