This was originally supposed to be a review about doing the Amity Trivia Hunt, part of Jaws Fest on Martha’s Vineyard. However, due to a variety of circumstances, although we did purchase the hunt, we were unable to start it, let alone complete it.I have…Read More

This was originally supposed to be a review about doing the Amity Trivia Hunt, part of Jaws Fest on Martha’s Vineyard. However, due to a variety of circumstances, although we did purchase the hunt, we were unable to start it, let alone complete it.

I have therefore filed this piece under Stories and Tips to provide some advice for anyone considering participating in this event in the future.

Some background info:

In 1972 the movie Jaws burst onto the screen defining the whole concept of the summer blockbuster, becoming the highest grossing movie ever at the time and instantly garnering a cult following. To stage Amity Island from Peter Benchley’s novel, director Steven Spielberg chose a variety of locations on and around the island of Martha’s Vineyard.

Martha’s Vineyard is an Island off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts and a very popular vacation destination for New Englanders during the summer months. It is reachable via a variety of ferry services which depart from different ports along the coast from Maine to Rhode Island. The biggest of these outfits is the Steamship Authority which operates services between Wood’s Hole (WH) on the mainland and your choice of Vineyard Haven (VH) or Oak Bluffs (OB) on the island. As far as I can tell the S.A. is the only company that carries cars and trucks as well as walk-on passengers.

Since Jaws’ release (and its subsequent sequels) every summer scores of fans make the pilgrimage to Martha’s Vineyard to photograph themselves in some of the movie’s iconic filming locations. (In addition to the Jaws fanatics, there are a growing number of "film location tourists" who enjoy visiting sites and sets around the world related to their favorite movies.)

These visits eventually culminated in the first organized fan event in 2005, dubbed Jaws Fest, which since 2010 has taken place annually in August.

Since we already had plans to make a trip to Martha’s Vineyard during our stay in Massachusetts, we decided to have our visit coincide with the Amity Trivia Hunt so we could combine sight-seeing with a little movie fandom and a game which might entertain the kids.

However, the Triva Hunt is not Letterboxing or Geocaching; deciphering the cryptic directions in the game book requires an intensely geeky knowledge of Jaws, including plot, dialog, character names and especially the architecture and location of the various buildings (original and purpose-built) that were depicted in the movie.

Here follow some tips that should help make your Amity Trivia Hunt more enjoyable and successful:

1. Watch the movie at least three times before attending Jaws Fest, paying special attention to the first half of the movie (before the protagonists set out on the Orca II). I casually watched it the night before thinking that would suffice. How wrong I was.

2. If you own a digital copy consider taking it along on your mobile device. (No idea if this constitutes cheating).

3. Make sure everyone tagging along is old enough to have watched and appreciated the movie so they can participate. My 2 and 6 year olds hadn’t a clue what was going on and were subsequently bored out of their minds.

4. Make sure everyone in your party is wearing comfortable shoes and is fully ambulant. A lot of walking is involved (including on beaches and other rough terrain) as well as hopping on and off buses. Parking grandma is the shade while you go traipsing about is not an option.

5. If you’re day-tripping, arrive at Wood’s Hole as early as possible. I would recommend catching the 08:15 to Vineyard Haven which should get you to Edgartown by around 09:30. Ferries depart every hour and fifteen minutes so every delay takes a significant chunk out of your day. At 09:00 the parking lots closest to the ferry dock were already full and we were redirected to the Gifford Street lot. Driving there plus waiting on and taking the shuttle bus meant we arrived back at the dock just in time to miss the 09:30 and had to wait until 10:45 for the next service. Close to noon on the Island the traffic from VH to Edgartown was bumper to bumper so it wasn’t until after 1 PM that we finally got to the Dr. Daniel Fischer House to collect the Trivia Bag.

I can’t comment on the other aspects of Jaws Fest including the VIP meet and greets, the prop museums, the shark conservation presentations and the reenactments by dedicated fans since we didn’t have the time to experience any of those. The website however says that the event was a success and that nearly 1800 people attended the screenings of Jaws in the Park at Vineyard Haven, so I’m guessing there’s a good time to be had with the rest of the program as well.
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Figuring out how to get yourself to the island can take a lot of planning. There are many options, from regular ferries to high speed ferries, car ferries and planes. In summer the one and only car ferry books out months in advance for peak…Read More

Figuring out how to get yourself to the island can take a lot of planning. There are many options, from regular ferries to high speed ferries, car ferries and planes. In summer the one and only car ferry books out months in advance for peak days, so think carefully about taking your wheels over. We umm-ed and aahh-ed about it, and in the end left the car behind but didn't regret it. For a stays longer than a few days and for families it would make getting around much easier, but be warned, there can be traffic.

So decision made to go car-free we were left then to pick from the various boat options, as the last minute airfares were on the extra high side. There are high speed ferries available all the way up the coast from Manhattan, depending on your travel dates. In the end we went for the tried and true Steamship Authority, the only year-round and government run ferry, for a 45-minute cruise over to Vineyard Haven. The tickets were 1/10th the cost of the higher-speed options, and we enjoyed the drive to Woods Hole. Parking was easy, we were at a lot a few minutes drive from the ferry itself - keep your eyes out for parking signs along the drive in to town. It was super easy and we were completely happy with our decision. Highly recommended. Close

We headed for Edgartown's South Beach on our bikes one morning, riding along the bike path on Beach Road and not knowing where the road would take us next. These kinds of journeys are the best, when you never know what will be around…Read More

We headed for Edgartown's South Beach on our bikes one morning, riding along the bike path on Beach Road and not knowing where the road would take us next. These kinds of journeys are the best, when you never know what will be around the next bend. We passed majestic rows of Victorian houses along the beach, saw the ocean on one side and fields of grass and flowers on the other, biked through arches of trees, stopped to buy ice-cold lemonade and oatmeal cookies from neighborhood kids along the road, and even were surprised to see llamas casually grazing on somebody's front lawn. Strange but true. The distance of the ride to our beach destination was about 5-6 miles, exhaustive at some parts because of the sloping hills but still enjoyable because of the beautiful and sometimes unexpected scenery. Our reward was finally getting to a great beach, lying in the sun and relaxing from our long ride. After a couple of hours, we started again on our bikes and headed towards Edgartown. On our way, we ran into another young lemonade entrepeneur squeezing fresh lemonade with his juice press and concocting the best lemonade I've ever tasted. Only 50 cents. In Edgartown we took smoothie break at Mad Martha's, the local ice cream store that makes homemade ice cream (their mint chocolate chip ice cream is so good). Like reckless kids on our bikes, we rode back to our place in Oak Bluffs, exhausted but completely satisfied. Close

The first morning, we headed right to R.W. Culter to pick up four bikes at 1 Main Street in Edgartown. It was a good outfit recommended by the front desk of our hotel. They had a lot of bikes to choose from.…Read More

The first morning, we headed right to R.W. Culter to pick up four bikes at 1 Main Street in Edgartown. It was a good outfit recommended by the front desk of our hotel. They had a lot of bikes to choose from. They staff was mostly young college guys who were very helpful at selecting the right bike height for the kids. It wasn't long and we were off peddling around the island.

The hardest part of the bike ride on Martha's Vineyard is driving in the towns. We were in Edgartown, and it was a bit of an obstacle course to maneuver around cars and pedestrians.

Once outside of the village center, driving was a breeze. Martha's Vineyard (especially around Edgartown) is fairly flat and easy to cycle. We had an eight-year-old girl with us on a very small bike frame, so we needed to keep things simple.

Our first bike trip was to the easiest beach to get to from Edgartown and is one of the most scenic. It's simply called Lighthouse Beach and is a small beach that surrounds the Edgartown lighthouse. Getting to the beach was less than a mile of flat road. It could have easily been walked to from Edgartown. Every beach, shop, restaurant, and public building on the island has a bike rack, so it's never a problem to find a place to store your bike. We locked our bikes and walked down to the beach.

This beach was great, a bit rocky, but had a lot of character with the picturesque, white lighthouse guarding the bathers. There were a lot of kids on this beach, and I think it was popular because it was so easy to get to from town.

The beach also had a small pond on the opposite side of the lighthouse, which seemed to be a big draw for the kids. Tons of small kids were there catching crabs in pails and finding other small marine life. I always marvel at how kids are able to make new friends at the drop of a hat, with no pretense like we adults have. However, all the fun soon stopped when a young shark was trapped in one of the small pools. He was probably about 4 feet long, just big enough to give every parent a bit of a scare and get the kids out of the pond. (Was that the Jaws music I just heard?)

The kids thought the shark pond was totally cool, but dad felt different, so we got back on the bikes and headed around the neighborhood around Lighthouse Beach. The houses were incredible. These are summer beach homes and each one was a lot larger than the house we call home! They had sweeping lawns down to the beach. A guy can dream, can't he? We peddled by the Harbor View Hotel, which is a grand hotel overlooking the harbor. It has a large inviting porch where folks were just rocking and letting the world go by.

We did find one beach that was somewhere between Lighthouse Beach, but not as far up as Joseph Sylvia Beach. I looked on several maps and none of them have the name of this piece of beach named. However, it was very clean and had a few families on it. The water was calm and the kids had a ball on it. They met a friendly lab and played fetch with him for hours. This may have been a private beach, and we were just too green to figure it out. In any case, it made for a delightful few hours.

The kids then begged to take the small ferry over to Chappaquiddick Island. They really had no interest in seeing the island, but they sure wanted to ride the ferry. The ferry leaves from Edgartown and is a small, flat ferry that only carries three cars at a time and as many bodies and bikes as it can carry. The line for cars was pretty long, but with a bike, you can move up to the front of the line. The ferry only takes a few moments, but is a fun old-fashioned sort of ride. The kids loved it!

There isn't a lot to see on Chappaquiddick; even the old Dyke Bridge where Ted Kennedy had his accident is now torn down. The road was gravel and got a little steep, and Breana started having a hard time keeping up, so we headed back to the ferry. On the way, we noticed a very pristine beach club and decided maybe we could pay the admission and spend a few hours here. When we approached the guard, he pretty much laughed at us and told us the wait for membership is just over two years. Sorry!

We did find a bit of beach, right next to the ferry on Chappy. It was a small little nothing strip of beach, but it had lots of kids. The water here very calm and it was fun to watch all the boat traffic float by. We watched a group of kids taking sailing lessons and our two kids wanted to take the class as well. I have to admit, it did look like fun.

All too soon we were back on the ferry and again fighting the Edgartown traffic. We parked our bikes at the Colonial Inn bike rack for the night and did our town exploring on foot.

The next day we agreed to take a longer bike trip, and we took Herring Creek Road to South Beach. This was a very easy bike trail and one we all enjoyed. The trail is very groomed and very flat. It was easy for the whole family. It's a pleasant ride: in some spots there are beautiful homes and in other spots pretty little vineyard ponds and some views of the harbor. The whole ride to South Beach is about 4 miles.

We loved the beach. It's a big broad, white-sand beach with a life guard, sweeping dunes, and even a porta-pottie. It had some fairly good surf and the kids loved playing wave tag in the Atlantic. This to me was what I pictured as Martha's Vineyard, and I was not let down. The beach was somewhat empty for a summer day, but I will admit, it was a bit cloudy.

On the way back, we stopped at a little grocery store and got some cokes in a bottle, some Cape Cod chips, and some great homemade crab dip and had a little picnic on the lawn. It was one of those impromptu travel moments that will stay with me for a long time. Everyone was happy, stress free, and enjoying our little family.

All too soon we were back to our hotel, and we had to turn in our bikes the next morning. We were happy we rented bikes and can tell you this was the only way to travel.

We did not make it around the island, but many avid bikers do. I am told that Gay Head Cliffs are worth the ride (although you will run into some hills here). We got just a taste, but we will be back for more!

Don’t go to Martha’s Vineyard searching for a Sideways-style wine tasting trip. Four of the island’s six towns are dry (no alcohol is served or sold). Outside of a few errant thickets, grapes were never even grown on this Vineyard. "I hereby claim this island for…" In…Read More

Don’t go to Martha’s Vineyard searching for a Sideways-style wine tasting trip. Four of the island’s six towns are dry (no alcohol is served or sold). Outside of a few errant thickets, grapes were never even grown on this Vineyard.

"I hereby claim this island for…"

In spite of the dearth of the noble vine, the inappropriate name apparently stuck after Bartholomew Gosnold, an English seafarer, found some wild grapes during his coastal explorations of the area in 1602. By some accounts, the now-famed namesake was his daughter, by others, his mother-in-law. Martha, whoever she may be, became forever associated with an island she never visited and where grapes were never harvested.

Long Ago

Before the last Ice Age, the vineyard’s original inhabitants likely strolled across the low valley to what was once the last reaches of Cape Cod. Here, they eked out an existence in the harsh, cruel environment and rugged landscape during the late Pleistocene Era. The island was separated from its motherland following the last Ice Age, when the great glacier retreated and waters filled in the valleys. Over the years, steady ocean winds created a unique sandy, acidic bed of topsoil (sandplain), unique to all the world, making the area a bit more hospitable.

White Man Cometh

Around the 17th century, when white adventurers first arrived, four separate tribes of Native Americans shared the small island, creating the densest concentration of tribal communities in New England. But English explorers, believing that since they had discovered the place, they owned it, took possession. Soon, Thomas Mayhew nabbed the land rights from two feuding noblemen back home in England and moved with his family to the island, where he named himself governor. With his son and a handful of settlers, they succeeded in converting the locals to Christianity and establishing a new order of life.

There was a price to be paid for spreading the word of the Bible and the king. As happened in so many isolated aboriginal communities, the arrival of the white explorers also brought disease that eventually decimated the original population. Within a century, the native population had dropped from over 3,000 to 300. (Descendants of those stalwart survivors still make the Vineyard their home near Aquinnah, site of the famous clay cliffs and lighthouse.)

Thar She Blows!

Farming, fishing, and a simple life satisfied early settlers for decades. It was the onslaught of the great whaling era that brought prosperity and notoriety to the island. From the ports of Martha’s Vineyards, whale fleets took sail as far away as Hawaii, which not coincidentally shares many similarities with Martha’s Vineyard far beyond mere island status, except for the tropical climate and volcanoes.

Whaling became so popular and lucrative because whales produce the intensely valuable baleen, which was used for a smokeless lamp oil. When alternative fuels were discovered, the whaling way of life and immense profits it produced dried up. What the era left in its wake all over Martha’s Vineyard are authentic Victorian gingerbread clapboard homes, painted ladies replete with widow’s walks, and broad porches where captain’s wives yearned for a glimpse of a sail signaling the safe return of their seafaring men.

Dropping Anchor

Today, accessing Martha’s Vineyard is no simple stroll across the valley, yet the journey is far more expeditious than it was for the prehistoric hunter gatherers. A mere 9 miles wide and 23 miles long, located just 5 miles from the Cape Cod coast, visitors are ferried from various mainland ports many times a day. Note that the only service transporting autos is from Woods Hole and requires an advance reservation. Alternative approaches to the island include swimming across the freezing Atlantic channel through shark-infested waters (surely you remember the movie Jaws), or, for a much more civilized alternative, do as we did and tender ashore from a cruise ship anchored in the harbor.

Is It Real, Or Is It Oak Bluffs?

Stepping foot on the Vineyard immediately brings visitors face to face with evidence of the island’s history -- and its contradictions. Known today as Sin City, Oak Bluffs is ground zero of the island’s infamous tourist trade. Anything but "dry," Oak Bluffs caters to day-trippers, college students, gawky tourists, and families with a hearty selection of kitsch, gimcracks, and gewgaws. But it is the fabulously restored whimsical storybook houses that are the real attraction.

The homes are leftovers from the days when salvation came a second time to Martha’s Vineyard. First there were the missionaries, then the wealthy whale merchants in Edgarton, and then John Wesley’s followers set up camp and held Methodist summer revivals in Oak Bluffs. The gatherings eventually grew into elaborate social functions, prompting many followers to trade in their temporary tents for the lacy-trimmed, multicolored homes we see today on narrow Circuit Avenue and surrounding the old camp ground.

Soon enough, amenities were added to accommodate the revivalists and visitors, including the Flying Horses Carousel, built in 1876, the country’s oldest operating merry-go-round. With beautiful hand-carved horses and carnival music, it provides an authentic step back in time. Who can resist going for the brass ring for only $1?

The tourist season opens officially on Memorial Day and closes on Columbus Day, as does the carousel. We arrived just days too late to take the magical ride, and after strolling the town from back to front and beach to knoll, we shuttled to Edgartown on the very convenient island bus service, with stops located directly across from the main town park and gazebo where bands entertain visitors and residents with starry-night concerts in the summer.

Edgartown: A Perfect Preppie, Posh Port

She sells seashells… and everything else imaginable in Edgartown.

The boutiques in Edgartown are decidedly upscale, intriguing, and unique. Restaurants cater to both sophisticated palates and day-trippers’ appetites, heavy on the seafood, of course. Historical buildings abound: the Old Whaling Church, its stark white steeples piercing the brilliant blue vineyard sky; whaling captains’ elegant homes; and perfectly manicured bed-and-breakfasts with rose gardens straight from a Victorian illustration.

It’s best to stroll around the town, wander into a garden or two, knock on the Harbormaster’s door, and rock a boat moored in a prized slip. Check out the posted bulletins of this month’s youth fishing derby. Stop in the bakery (again) for gigantic pastries and decadent fudge. As the Vineyard Gazette reports, "summer residents came to enjoy the simplest kind of life -- because that’s the only kind of life Martha’s Vineyard can offer."

Just don‘t go for the wine tasting…

Note: If you visit the Vineyard during the sun is high season, be sure to indulge in any of Martha’s Vineyard’s 14 public beaches, hike or bike through the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, explore the East and West Chop lighthouses (a chop is an indent in the coastline, not quite a harbor), and tour the up-island pastoral wonders of Menemsha and Chilmark.

I have a couple more tips and then I'll tell you a little about the towns of Martha's Vineyard. 1) If you have kids, go to Oak Bluffs and check out the Flying Horses. It’s the oldest carousel in America. Kids get a free…Read More

I have a couple more tips and then I'll tell you a little about the towns of Martha's Vineyard.

1) If you have kids, go to Oak Bluffs and check out the Flying Horses. It’s the oldest carousel in America. Kids get a free ride if they catch a brass ring.
2) Think a lot about how your going to get to/from the island way before you go. There are a few options. If you can get to Woods Hole on Cape Cod (either by bus or driving), you can take a ferry to Martha's Vineyard. If you drive keep in mind that you roundtrip cost is going to be over $100 and you need to make your reservation in advance. Another option is to drive or take the train to New London and take the high speed ferry from there. One last option is to fly. Continental and USAir both fly directly to Martha's Vineyard (MVY) or if you can get to Providence, RI or Boston, you can catch a Cape Air connection to the island.

Martha's Vineyard is made up of six towns:
1) Gay Head, now renamed to Aquinnah, is famous for its sloping clay cliffs. Gay Head is definitely home to some of the best view on the island, so it’s worth a visit a least once.

2) Chilmark is in between Gayhead and West Tisbury. It’s not as touristy as some of the other towns and has a great beach, Lucy Vincent that you can not go to unless you’re a resident or your renting there.

3) West Tisbury is more of a thruway between the up and down part of the island. There are many beautiful homes, some great beaches, and a farmers market every Thusday. Aside from that, there is not much reason to go there.

4) Vineyard Haven has some great shops and restaurants. It's home to the original Black Dog store. You can even walk down by the docks and get a meal at the real restaurant. If you want to a movie, Vineyard Haven is home to one of only three theaters on the island.

5) Oak Bluffs also has some great shopping and good restaurants. It is also a great place to go to watch sailboats or extravagant yachts pull into the harbor. Most of the nightlife is here on Circuit Avenue where you will find the clubs and bars. Great 4th of July fireworks also are from here.

6) Edgartown is where we stayed. This is the most affluent of the towns at Martha's Vineyard. It is an adorable neighborhood and a great place to stay.

The Steamship Authority is the ferry that takes you from New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard and it take an hour and a half. That may seem like a long time, but with a wonderful view of the Mass. shoreline on both sides, you'll savour every…Read More

The Steamship Authority is the ferry that takes you from New Bedford to Martha's Vineyard and it take an hour and a half. That may seem like a long time, but with a wonderful view of the Mass. shoreline on both sides, you'll savour every minute. You can also pass the time visiting with other travelers. We met a couple from New Mexico who traveled both ways with us.

Schamonchi is the name of the ferry; a large boat with a large crew. However, maybe because it was a Monday, there was only one snack bar open on board. Fortunately, they served hot food so we weren't left without breakfast (hot chocolate to die for). The ferry is a smooth ride, but can be chilly, especially on the front deck, but that's the best place to get a view.

The ferry leaves from Billy Wood's Wharf in New Bedford and docks at Oak Bluffs in MV. The early ride is at 9:15am and the last departure from MV is 7pm, so you definitely get a full day in MV. Cost is, get this, $10 per person, ONE WAY! So, for two people, that's $40, plus the $10 parking fee to park your car in the lot across from the wharf.

We had only walked two blocks down Lake Street after we got off the ferry in Oak Bluffs when we saw a woman waving at us and standing next to a red scooter. "Wanna see the vineyard?" My husband immediately dropped 15 years of maturity…Read More

We had only walked two blocks down Lake Street after we got off the ferry in Oak Bluffs when we saw a woman waving at us and standing next to a red scooter. "Wanna see the vineyard?" My husband immediately dropped 15 years of maturity and said "Absolutely!" For only $80 for two scooters, my husband and I were able to travel the island in style.

First we had to sign our lives away with the rental company and it's required you wear shoes that completely cover your feet. No sandals. They made me rent a pair of aqua socks. Next, you are given a short lesson on how to start, drive, and stop the scooter. Next you have to drive it around the block to prove you were paying attention. Two rules: you can't ride scooters on bike paths and you can't go over 25mph (you will get a ticket if caught). If all that goes well, you are free to leave. One tank is more than enough to cover the island, but you must return the scooter by 6pm, when the shop closes. Martha's Vineyard Sightseeing also rents jeeps, but why would you want to do that?

I knew as soon as we got on the ferry that I was in for a treat spending 4 days on Martha's Vineyard. We had called the Port Authority just the morning before to make our reservations and had driven all night to get…Read More

I knew as soon as we got on the ferry that I was in for a treat spending 4 days on Martha's Vineyard. We had called the Port Authority just the morning before to make our reservations and had driven all night to get to the ferry landing by 7:00 a. m. We had heard horror stories about people who had missed their ferry and had to wait all day or several days, but several people on the island later told us those must have been exaggerated. At any rate, we were glad we had made it and don't ever intend to push our luck with ferries, since we aren't "local people" and can't expect any special arrangements if we are late. How wonderful to be headed for a place where little towns won't be difficult to navigate!

We had taken most of our vacations to large cities lately, the "weekend getaway" which demanded learning to use a city's metro. I had read about Martha's Vineyard in a book written by a psychoanalyst who vacationed there each summer and he recommended the Vineyard as therapy! He had said that his cares disappeared as soon as he boarded the ferry, and so I had looked forward to getting on that ferry. I found his assessment accurate when all my cares did disappear. I immediately decided, "I want to live here," and I haven't changed my mind. But, the question is "How to afford it?" Property values are astounding!

Perhaps that's why I spent most of my four days on the island looking at property. You don't get much for a million on this northern paradise--and at these prices, each little plot commands respect! I still dream about it at night--not nice dreams, just trying to figure out a way to acquire my dream house on Martha's. (Any donations would be appreciated!) Seriously, I'll probably not get to retire, even, on this island I could easily love--I wouldn't complain about having to take the ferry to get off the island, either, as the locals do. But the point is that it's so easy to love this place, you don't just ENJOY your vacation there; you LOVE every minute of it because it's where you want to live. If you go there, you'll see what I mean when you catch yourself looking at "personal property."

It took us three buses and a race against nightfall to finally get to Gayhead Beach. We had heard about the amazing beauty of this place located on the west side of Martha's Vineyard, and we were determined to see it before leaving the island.…Read More

It took us three buses and a race against nightfall to finally get to Gayhead Beach. We had heard about the amazing beauty of this place located on the west side of Martha's Vineyard, and we were determined to see it before leaving the island. Since we got a late start to our journey (we headed out from Oak Bluffs on the east side at 5pm), we encountered several obstacles. Shuttle buses were all off schedule due to the July 4th weekend crowd and we didn't quite know how or when we would get to our destination. After being misdirected several times by various locals and transferring from bus to bus to bus, we finally got on our final bus (number 5) to Gayhead. By that time, the driver tried to discourage us from even heading over there at that time of the day due to the foggy conditions. But never listen to anyone who tries to discourage you from doing anything. By 7pm we finally arrived at Gayhead and the weather was definitely cold and foggy. But as we approached the edge of the cliffs, we were amazed. We had walked into the place where the wild ocean met dropping cliffs colored by orange and white sands. And in the distance, the Gayhead lighthouse flickered red and white beams through the encroaching fog. The weather had added a dramatic mood to our visit to Gayhead. It was an unforgettable sight and feeling. Close