The Oak House was built in 1872 as a beach home for the governor of Masachusetts.

By Diane Vadino

The Oak House may well be the perfect example of a Martha’s Vineyard bed and breakfast. Seen from the right angle and in the right light, this Oak Bluffs Victorian looks like something straight out of an Edward Hopper painting. Its location, meanwhile, provides easy access to a swimming beach, as well as water views from several rooms.

Once the summer home of a Massachusetts governor, the 1872 Oak House now offers 10 comfortable, oak-paneled bedrooms, all equipped with modern conveniences (cable TV, phones), antique furnishings and, in some rooms, balconies; the afternoon highlight is undeniably the tea service served on the sunlit porch. The location has more to offer than proximity to the water: Oak Bluffs is home to an annual shark-fishing tournament and a popular fireworks display in August.

Rooms from $190.

Oak House Inn
79 Seaview Ave
Oak Bluffs, MA 02557
866-693-5805
Oak House Inn web site