Photo credit: Robert Schellhammer, courtesy of MV Chamber of Commerce RELATED LINKS Return to City Guide: Martha's Vineyard

Although Martha's Vineyard has its share of historic New England architecture and a colorful summertime resort scene, it is the island's gorgeous beaches, picturesque countryside and other natural attractions that make this such an extraordinary place to visit. Warm-weather beach activities get top billing in high season, of course, but throughout the year there are plenty of good reasons to spend time here enjoying the great outdoors.

For such a small island, the Vineyard boasts a remarkable variety of beaches, ranging from family-friendly strands with gentle surf and soft sand to isolated coves with plenty of breathing room between beach blankets and rugged stretches of windblown coastline more suited to nature walks than to sunning and swimming.

The most popular public beaches, which can get quite crowded in high season, are located down-island near Vineyard Haven, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. Access to several of the best up-island beaches is largely restricted to renters and home-owners, but guests at some of the inns on the west side of the Vineyard can get passes to these less crowded stretches of coastline. Another way to avoid the crowds is to head for any of several great beaches located in nature reserves where road access and parking are limited. The Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge, for example, protects several miles of beachfront on Chappaquiddick Island, with opportunities for kayaking, canoeing, bird-watching and fishing, plus a century-old lighthouse that's open to public tours (see www.thetrustees.org for more information). Other good choices include Moshup Beach, 10 minutes on foot from a small parking area below the Aquinnah Cliffs; the Long Point Wildlife Refuge (www.thetrustees.org), a 632-acre parcel of sand barrens and wetlands on the island's south-central coast; and the Chilmark Pond Preserve, an 8.3-acre site managed by the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank (www.mvlandbank.com) offering access by canoe or kayak to a secluded Atlantic barrier beach.

Before venturing into the island's hiking trails and nature areas, learn to recognize the distinctive foliage of poison ivy, which can cause a decidedly unpleasant allergic reaction if you brush up against it. Also watch for early signs of Lyme disease, a serious bacterial infection spread by deer ticks which are common on the island. Not all tick bites result in Lyme disease, but if you notice a red circular rash spreading out from the site of a tick bite, it's wise to seek medical advice.