Under $100: Martha’s Vineyard

To be frank, Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Cape Cod is not known for its affordability. Let’s change that.

Kick off your day with breakfast at 7aFoods in West Tisbury, where you’ll find a simple, homegrown farm-to-table meal, made from scratch. The breakfast menu consists of four staple options: egg sandwich, steel cut oatmeal, bagel and lox, made with 7a lemon caper relish, cream cheese, spinach, tomato and red onion.

Aquinnah Beach © Bob PB | Flickr

You’re going to want to spend your time on Martha’s Vineyard soaking in the sights. Head to the pristine shores of South Beach, where you’ll find a local WWII history lesson, and the majestic Gay Head Cliffs in Aquinnah are just waiting to the backdrop for your next photo-op. The brightly colored cliffs are now protected as a national historic site. Visit mvy.com for more information about the beaches on Martha’s Vineyard.

For lunch, create your own freshly made sandwich at BeeDee’s in Oak Bluffs. This is a great spot for vegetarians, since meat add-ons can run you up a few bucks, but feel free to load on the avocado, beans and peppers to get your fill. They also offer “sweet paninis” like the Sweet Roll, made with Nutella, raspberry preserves, banana, vanilla bean ice cream and mixed berry compote.

Guess what you’ll be doing this afternoon? Visiting Island Alpaca, an expansive farm filled with — you guessed it — dozens of furry, friendly alpacas. For only $5 per person, you can be the envy of your Instagram followers and hang out with a gang of alpacas. Before you go, check out their list of events and workshops to keep up to date on farmer’s markets, festivals, parties and workshops teaching alpaca care and yarn spinning.

Edgartown Lighthouse © M. King | Flickr

At dinnertime, head to Oak Bluffs for a beachside meal at Sand Bar & Grille. While slightly on the pricier side (they charge $7 for a cup of chowder), you can find their food to be filling and worth the extra pennies, and the location makes for an unbeatable experience. Opt for one of their basket meals, like fried oysters and chips, served with house-made Old Bay Chips and slaw.

For friends 21 and older, finish your day at Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery in Edgartown. Stop by to sample the brews on tap, and pair them with freshly baked pretzel loafs with homemade beer mustard. To add to the fun, the brewery location offers outdoor games and live music on the weekend.