Visit Whimsical Gingerbread Cottages in Martha’s Vineyard

Oak Bluffs’ charming gingerbread cottages are one of Martha’s Vineyard’s most beloved attractions. Constructed in the mid-1800s by a group of Methodists who had long held tent camp meetings in the area, the cottages feature vibrant paint, delicate filigree, and flourishes such as hearts. Visitors can take a walking tour that showcases the cottages, visit a cottage-themed museum, or rent a gingerbread cottage for a summer getaway.

In the 19th century, the religious camp meeting movement swept North America. A Methodist preacher named Jeremiah Pease found half an acre of land in Oak Bluffs and pitched a tent that served as a makeshift tabernacle. As the 20th century approached, cottage owner J.W. Hoyt oversaw the construction of a cast iron tabernacle to replace the tent that still stands today. The stately tabernacle—which allows for panoramic outdoor views and plenty of natural light—hosts religious services and cultural events.

If you’re a lover of all things whimsical, consider paying a visit to the Flying Horses Carousel which is located a short distance from the gingerbread cottages in Oak Bluffs. Constructed in 1876 and adorned with the manes and tails of real horses, the Flying Horses Carousel is billed as America’s oldest platform carousel. The Flying Horses Carousel features a replica of a calliope—which once provided the soundtrack for the spinning horses—and murals of vintage ships. Coney Island enthusiasts love that the Flying Horses Carousel spent its first 8 years of operation at New York’s most celebrated amusement park.

Strolling among gingerbread houses and taking a spin on a vintage flying horse is sure to awaken your sweet tooth. Back Door Donuts is a beloved Oak Bluffs bakery that dates back to 1948. In the 1970s, Old Stone Bakery—as Back Door Donuts was known at the time—started a “back door” tradition where patrons could knock on the bakery’s door in the dead of night and request a sweet treat before sunrise. Thus, the Back Door Donuts tradition was born—and continues to thrive to this day.

Martha’s Vineyard is often considered an elite vacation spot for the…