If you want to bring the whole clan, rent a classic New England beach house.

By Diane Vadino

Martha's Vineyard boasts a wide array of hotels and B&Bs, from quirky-cool practitioners of shabby-chic to the ultra-refined examples of what appear to be English country manors relocated to a Massachusetts village. They’re not the only option, though, and perhaps not the best one for families looking to stay more than a few nights. (A number of hotels, including the Charlotte Inn, won’t allow guests under 14.)

The solution? A house rental. Check with local realtors and by-owner rental sites like vrbo.com for available homes. Many boast bonuses that would be hard to find in a hotel, like outdoor showers, deep-water moorings—and of course, enough bedrooms to sleep everyone in the family.