Martha’s Vineyard: Emma Lovewell’s Insider Recommendations

Peloton instructor Emma Lovewell just shared her favorite Martha’s Vineyard spots in her newsletter, The Love List, and it is packed with toddler-tested recommendations, family favorites, and a few new discoveries worth adding to your own summer plans.

Who Is Emma Lovewell?

Emma Lovewell is one of Peloton’s most beloved instructors, known for her multi-discipline coaching across Bike, Tread, Strength, Pilates, and Walking/Hiking classes, as well as her wildly popular Crush Your Core programs. But before she was cueing up playlists and leading millions through workouts, Emma was a kid growing up on Martha’s Vineyard, the daughter of two artistic parents, gardening, cooking, and soaking up island life. That upbringing still shapes who she is today, and it is clear in the way she writes about the island now that she is showing it to her own toddler, Skylar.

Emma’s Return to Martha’s Vineyard, Now With a Toddler

In her latest Love List newsletter, Emma shared that Martha’s Vineyard is not just a vacation spot for her, it is home. Her parents and many of her closest friends still live there, and every trip back is full of reunions, familiar beaches, and the kind of beauty that makes her feel lucky to call it home. She previously shared her favorite island spots a few years ago, but now that Skylar is a toddler, the way the family experiences the island has shifted. Some old favorites remain in heavy rotation, others have been rediscovered, and a few new toddler-approved activities have made the list.

Where Emma Loves to Eat on Martha’s Vineyard

Food is clearly a love language for Emma, and her restaurant picks range from old standbys to new favorites. She is still a fan of Mo’s Lunch, particularly the Italian sub, which she says is generous enough to become two meals. Noman’s gets her vote for family hangs thanks to its open space for kids and its Friday night DJ sets. She also pointed fans toward Beach Road and State Road, two sit-down spots her local friends swear by for seasonal, locally sourced meals.

On the coffee front, Emma loves Catboat Coffee Co. for its Lebanese food, coffee, and charming logo (her dad owns a catboat, so she is a little biased there). She also gave a nod to Toccopuro, a newer coffee chain with locations across the island, saying the lattes and matcha are excellent even though the food did not wow her. North Tisbury Farm remains her go-to farm stand for bread, cold brew, and produce, and she recommends timing a visit to the West Tisbury Farmers Market on a Wednesday or Saturday morning. For a classic Martha’s Vineyard treat, she suggests a lobster roll from Menemsha Fish Market followed by soft serve from The Galley, a combo she and her family enjoyed while Skylar napped in the car.

Family-Friendly Things to Do on the Island

Skylar’s favorite stop by far was the Flying Horses Carousel, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year as the oldest continuously operating platform carousel in the country. Emma says Skylar could not stop talking about it. For a more hands-on adventure, Emma recommends clamming in Katama Bay, a fun activity that requires a shellfish license and comes with the satisfaction of catching your own dinner. She also loves wandering through Ocean Park and the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, especially on Friday evenings when free live music plays near the Tabernacle, a relaxed, family-friendly way to spend an evening.

The Best Martha’s Vineyard Beaches for Families

Emma rounded out her guide with three beach recommendations, each suited to a different kind of day. State Beach, where she grew up going as a kid, remains a favorite for its calm water and welcoming atmosphere for families. South Beach became a surprise pick this trip, since Skylar’s early wake-up times turned into peaceful early morning visits to watch the waves and the dogs running along the shore. And Owen Park Beach, a tiny harbor beach in Vineyard Haven, is her pick for the littlest beachgoers, with calm water and plenty of boats and ferries to watch go by.

More From Emma Lovewell

If you want more of her story, you can read about her memoir, Live Learn Love Well, which dives into her childhood on Martha’s Vineyard, her family, and the ups and downs that shaped who she is today.

Emma’s newsletter, The Love List, is free to subscribe to, and paid subscribers get extra content, including the full batch of photos from this Martha’s Vineyard trip. If you love getting a peek into Emma’s life off the bike, it is well worth signing up, and even more worth becoming a paid subscriber to support her work.

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