Martha's Vineyard is an attractive island off the southern coast of Cape Cod in the United States.

Often referred to simply as The Vineyard, the island and neighbouring Chappaquiddick Island, have been famous for years as a glamorous pleasure destination. Less built-up than Cape Cod, it is a lively, charming, cosmopolitan place to visit.

A favourite with New Yorkers keen to escape the stifling summer heat of the city, Martha's Vineyard is part of the state of Massachusetts. At around 90sq miles (230sq km), it has a population of just 15,000, though the island attracts thousands of visitors each year.

Nomadic tribes inhabited the Vineyard for thousands of years before Algonquian tribes eventually settled the land. European settlers arrived in the early 1600s and the island was named after the daughter of Englishman Bartholomew Gosnold, who landed and was immediately struck by the abundance of grapes.

The first European settlement on the island was established in 1642 and the native Wampanoag started to decline. The western side of Martha's Vineyard is still home to small numbers of native descendants of the indigenous population.

The island was initially used as a base for whalers and merchant ships and flourished during the 1700s. The Vineyard saw an economic declined during the nineteenth century, becoming a holiday resort after World War II.

The Vineyard plays host to a slew of celebrities each year, including the Kennedys, Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary during his presidency and Steven Spielberg, who chose it as the backdrop to the hit film Jaws.

The island is home to a number of small towns, including Edgartown, an attractive, bustling place, full of stylish boutiques, pretty Oak Bluffs, a laidback boardwalk town, with fast food joints, pizza parlours and nightclubs, and the fishing village of Menemsha.

Vineyard Haven is the main port, where ferryloads of passengers disembark each day to explore the resort and the island is also home to several historic lighthouses.

Martha's Vineyard has a number of natural attractions for visitors, including nature reserves and the Cranberry Lands, an expanse of former cranberry bogs that is home to nesting birds. Preserving the ecology and wildlife of the island is very important to local residents and the island has managed to escape over development.

The dramatic red clay Aquinnah Cliffs are part of the Wampanoag reservation land and the island's top tourist destination, with food and craft stalls, a stunning lookout point, the Aquinnah Lighthouse and Moshup Beach.

Those looking for culture also have a variety of sights and venues to visit, including a varied programme of concerts, lectures, classes, theatre and dance performances, the Martha's Vineyard Historical Society, which comprises a museum, galleries and historic houses, and the pretty, wooden Oak Bluffs Cottages.

Martha's Vineyard has some excellent seafood restaurants, pleasant cafes and busy bars. The best nightlife is found in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, with live music and nightclubs for the younger crowd.

Accommodation ranges from old cottages to modern hotels, with almost everything in between. The towns around the island all have their own character and it is well worth choosing the one that will best suit. Activities on offer across the island include sailing, kayaking, fishing, biking, boat tours and hiking.

The weather in Martha's Vineyard is relatively warm all year round, with some snow in winter, and the busiest time is between June and August each year. Flights are available from UK airports to Massachusetts and there are regularly scheduled air and ferry services from the mainland to Martha's Vineyard.

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