MARTHAS VINEYARD'S GINGERBREAD HOUSES

These are some of  Marthas Vineyard's brightly painted gingerbread houses at The Camp Meeting Ground in Oak Bluffs.  You sail away from Falmouth,Massachusetts on Cape Cod on the Island Queen to get there.  In a half hour you'll be on the Vineyard.  It's just a short walk past seafood restaurants, a Carousel and the shopping district to be transported back into the early 20th century and the hundreds of colorful gingerbread houses in a circle at the Camp Meeting Ground behind Oak Bluffs main street.  Colorful bric a brac decorate the two story wood frame homes that replaced the original tents used by the first residents.  If you're really lucky you'll arrive on Illumination Night when every gingerbread house is covered with lanterns.  The band plays and there's a group sing a long just before the signal for the lanterns to be turned on.   Unfortunately the last boat back to Cape Cod leaves before 9pm, so be sure to reserve a hotel or bed and breakfast before venturing on the island.