Inkwell Beach

A beloved small beach in the heart of Oak Bluffs with deep cultural significance as a historic gathering place for the Black community on Martha's Vineyard. Calm water, right near the shops and restaurants.

The Inkwell is a small, calm beach on Nantucket Sound right at the foot of Oak Bluffs's iconic gingerbread cottages, and one of the most culturally significant beaches in America. Since the late 19th century it has been a gathering place for Black families summering on Martha's Vineyard, and that community remains the beach's soul — Polar Bears swim at dawn, generations of families set up under the same umbrellas in August, and writers and intellectuals have summered nearby for decades. The water is warm, shallow, and protected by the harbor breakwater; lifeguards are on duty in season. The beach is a five-minute walk from Oak Bluffs Harbor, Circuit Avenue, and the ferry, so it's also one of the most accessible beaches on the island for day-trippers. Read Jill Nelson's 'Finding Martha's Vineyard' before you go — it'll deepen what you see.