Martha's Vineyard is the sister island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, another playground for the rich and famous. However, "the Vineyard," as it is commonly named, is larger than Nantucket.

Located 7 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard is the largest island on Massachusetts' southeastern coast, with a square-mile area of 96 miles, a local tourism website reported.

The Vineyard Gazette reported that in 1959, roughly 30,000 more cars were transported via the ferry from the mainland to the island compared to a decade earlier.

The island consists of six towns and many beaches, many of which are free and open to the public.

From the red clay Gay Head Cliffs to the rural towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard provided a respite for families looking to explore the island's natural charms.

The Vineyard also became a popular "hippie" destination during the Summer of Love and the years following it.

Martha's Vineyard Magazine reported that while the Vineyard had already become a popular destination for summer visitors, many "hippie folks" who "washed ashore" — a term given to mainlanders who move to one of the New England islands — ended up staying long-term.

"The hippie 'invasion' was one of the many mass movements onto the Island after the Europeans startled the Wampanoags," journalist Richard C. Skidmore wrote for Martha's Vineyard Magazine in 2008.

The ferry is still a popular way to visit Martha's Vineyard, though you can also fly. Passengers can walk onto the ferry or pay to drive their cars aboard.

While Martha's Vineyard's overall population is predominantly white, the town of Oak Bluffs has been a popular destination for Black tourists for over 100 years.

As reported by Ebony Magazine, Oak Bluffs rose to prominence as a Black tourist destination in 1912 with the opening of the Inn at Shearer Cottage.

Owned by Charles Shearer, the son of an enslaved woman, the inn was one of the few options for Black tourists looking to take a summer vacation.

The inn thrived, and people kept coming back year after year to Oak Bluffs. It soon grew into a place where lodging for Black families and individuals was plentiful, which was typically rare in major resort towns.

"The days were full. There were berries to pick, a morning's adventure. There were band concerts for an evening's stroll. There were invitations to lemonade and cookies and whist," author Jill Nelson wrote in "Finding Martha's Vineyard: African Americans at Home on an Island," according to Britannica.

"The Vineyard was an ideal place to figure out who we really were underneath all the other stuff. Here, it was enough that you simply be yourself," Nelson continued.

The iconic cult-classic film "Jaws" was filmed on Martha's Vineyard in the summer of 1974.

The Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce website reported that "Jaws" came to be after a writer, Peter Benchley, shared stories about nearby shark attacks with dinner guests at his Nantucket home.

Steven Spielberg, who attended the dinner party, was so compelled by the stories that he bought the rights to Benchley's novel.

Spielberg later chose Martha's Vineyard, the island next to Nantucket, as the film's primary shooting location.

While the Vineyard still attracted day-trippers and families, it grew into a celebrity locale in the 1970s, attracting the likes of Carly Simon and Peter Simon, her brother and photographer, who lived on the island for most of his life, according to his website.

Jackie Kennedy also put Martha's Vineyard on the map when she purchased a 340-acre oceanfront property known as Red Gate Farm.

Kennedy purchased the land for $1 million in 1979 and then spent another $3.1 million to build the house. The property was completed in 1981 and became a hangout for the Kennedys.

In 2020, the property was listed for $65 million. In 2021, the Martha's Vineyard Land Bank Commission purchased 32 acres of the expansive property for $10 million as part of a two-part sale that also included a $27 million land purchase the previous year, Martha's Vineyard Times reported.

From the wealthiest celebrities to the humblest day-trippers, Martha's Vineyard remains a place for people to gather, hit the beach, and grab an ice-cream cone — though you'll need to contend with crowds and high rental prices if you want to stay overnight.

Though some things change, summer in New England will likely always stay the same.

Johann Jacob Astor worked as a butcher in Walldorf, southeastern Germany, Elizabeth Louisa Gebhard wrote in her 1915 book, "The Life and Ventures of the Original John Jacob Astor." His ancestors are said to have been French Huguenots who'd fled to Germany after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, which had granted protection to Protestants.

His son, John Jacob Astor, was born in Walldorf in 1763.

As a youngster, John Jacob Astor worked for his father as a dairy salesman. He had three brothers, the eldest of whom, George, left home to work for an uncle in London who made musical instruments. John Jacob Astor met up with him there after his 16th birthday.

After the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, he immigrated to New York and took a job with a fur trader. By 1800, he'd built up his own fur business and was worth $250,000, or about $6.2 million in 2024, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

John Jacob Astor also bought and sold acres upon acres of land in and around New York City, including what is now Times Square. 

In 1785, he married Sarah Todd. They had three children: Magdalena, John Jacob II, and William.

He was one of the wealthiest men in the US upon his death in 1848, according to the Library of Congress.

He continued to invest in real estate by building over 700 stores and residences in New York City, according to Encyclopedia Britannica.

He also bequeathed thousands of dollars to St. Luke's Hospital on the Upper West Side and the Astor Library, which eventually became the New York Public Library.

William Jr. had some success as a developer in Florida.

John Jacob Astor III, along with his wife Charlotte Gibbs, was a major philanthropist who founded the Children's Aid Society.

John III's son, William Waldorf Astor, built the 13-story Waldorf Hotel in 1893 on 33rd Street and Fifth Avenue.

Waldorf Astor's cousin and rival, John Jacob Astor IV, built a taller hotel next door four years later to outdo him.

Eventually, the two hotels were joined with a marble corridor, resulting in the first Waldorf Astoria.

There, he bought and restored the 125-acre Hever Castle in 1903, purchased the British newspaper The Observer in 1911, and obtained the rank of Viscount in 1917.

John Jacob Astor IV was the only son of William Backhouse Astor Jr.

As well as his part in the creation of the Waldorf Astoria, John Jacob Astor IV built another iconic New York hotel, the St. Regis, which opened in 1904. He was also a published author and patented multiple inventions, such as a bicycle brake and a turbine engine.

After divorcing his first wife, 47-year-old Astor married 18-year-old Madeleine Talmage Force, in what was considered a scandal at the time. While Madeleine was pregnant, the couple booked tickets for the Titanic — he was believed to be the wealthiest passenger aboard the doomed ship.

Two weeks after the Titanic sank in April 1912, a search crew found his body in the water. He was identified by the initials stitched into his suit and his gold pocket watch. The watch sold at auction for $1.5 million in 2024.

His young wife and their unborn son survived.

The Waldorf Astoria has hosted US presidents, dignitaries, and countless celebrities.

In 2014, the historic hotel was purchased by Chinese insurance group Anbang for $1.95 billion. In 2017, it closed for renovations to convert 375 rooms into luxury condominiums called The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria. The hotel is expected to reopen in September, according to its official website.

Brooke Astor married Vincent Astor, the first son of John Jacob Astor IV. It made her the great-great granddaughter, by marriage, of John Jacob Astor.

She donated over $195 million to hospitals, cultural institutions, and community service programs in New York City through the Vincent Astor Foundation, according to The New York Community Trust. President Bill Clinton awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of her philanthropy in 1998.

Brooke Astor died in 2007 at age 105 and was the subject of a four-page obituary in The New York Times.

Her son, Anthony Marshall, was convicted of stealing millions of dollars from her in 2009 and sentenced to prison.

Nancy Astor, Viscountess Astor, who was married to Waldorf Astor, 2nd Viscount Astor, became the first woman in the House of Commons in the chamber's history in 1919.

Her son, David Astor, rose to prominence as the longtime editor of The Observer and an anti-apartheid activist, the Los Angeles Times reported.

William Astor, 4th Viscount of Astor, is a member of the House of Lords and the stepfather of Samantha Cameron, the former British first lady married to David Cameron.

John Jacob Astor, 3rd Baron Astor of Hever, also sat in the House of Lords from 1986 until his retirement in 2022, according to the UK Parliament's official website.

William Waldorf Astor's great-great-granddaughter, Rose Astor, married Prince William's close friend, Hugh van Cutsem, in 2005. Their daughter, Grace van Cutsem, is perhaps best known as the young bridesmaid who appeared grumpy at Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding in 2011, pictured above on the left.

Another great-great-grandchild of William Waldorf Astor, Harry Lopes, married Queen Camilla's daughter, Laura Parker-Bowles, in 2006.

This story was originally published in April 2012. It was updated in July 2024 and July 2025.

During my first trip to Iceland, I visited the Blue Lagoon, one of the country's most famous tourist attractions. With its milky-blue waters set in a black lava field, it's easy to see why it draws so many visitors — the landscape truly feels otherworldly.

Plus, it's close to Iceland's international airport, making it a convenient stop for travelers who need to kill time after landing or before departure.

The cost of admission varies depending on the time of day and package booked, but starts at about $124. My ticket came with a silica mud mask that I wore in the water.

I was also interested in enhancing my experience by visiting the onsite spa, which includes a multistep wellness ritual. However, full-day admission starts at over $1,300 per couple, which was too pricey for my budget.

Although the lagoon is undeniably pretty, it's big and often crowded. In fact, I was left with the impression that the Blue Lagoon might be a victim of its own success.

I still had a nice experience and can see why it's so popular. However, after going to other lagoons and hot springs in Iceland, it isn't my first choice for a return visit.

The Sky Lagoon is only a 15-minute drive from downtown Reykjavik, so it was more convenient to access during my trip.

Unlike at the Blue Lagoon, I immediately felt a sense of calm when I walked in. It has a serene atmosphere that I thought felt closer to a traditional spa, incorporating elements of Iceland's unique natural environment throughout.

Basalt lava rocks and moss-covered hills surround the warm waters, and even the swim-up bar is camouflaged by natural elements.

This spot has the feel of an infinity pool with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean, and the beautiful, wild Icelandic landscape I flew across an ocean to experience.

I would've been happy just sitting back, enjoying the view, and soaking up the peaceful atmosphere at the Sky Lagoon.

However, admission (which starts at about $133) also comes with access to the Skojl Ritual, which is a seven-step process that draws on Iceland's history of wellness practices. It includes a series of alternating hot and cold circuits, including a cool-mist rain shower and a sauna with stunning views.

I don't usually enjoy saunas because the heat makes me feel lightheaded. However, I pushed my limits and stayed to enjoy the view. I also really enjoyed the salt scrub.

For me, the one downside to visiting the Sky Lagoon is that children under 12 aren't allowed in. That means I couldn't go when I visited Iceland with my children.

However, the nearly adult-only atmosphere is a definite plus for many people and adds to the upscale environment that helps the Sky Lagoon stand out.

I hope to one day visit some of Iceland's other lagoons, but for now, the Sky Lagoon is my top pick.

I've heard many people rave about Irish hospitality, and Dublin didn't disappoint on that front.

However, what really stood out to me was how genuine the friendliness from locals felt. It wasn't the kind of overly rehearsed, customer-service-polished vibe you sometimes find in touristy cities.

People I encountered felt kind, helpful, and funny in a natural, unforced way. Our driver cracked jokes and gave us tons of travel tips that had rich local flavor, but didn't feel like a shtick.

The whole city gave off a low-key, welcoming energy that stayed with me long after I left.

As a vegetarian, I came in with pretty low expectations for the variety of foods I'd get to eat when it came to dining out in Dublin. Local cuisine tends to rely heavily on meat, from Irish breakfasts to pies and stews.

Many menus I browsed had lots of meat dishes and it initially looked like plant-based options would be few and far between. However, once I asked restaurant staff in person, I was surprised by how accommodating most places were.

Some servers brought out full vegetarian menus that weren't printed and only available to customers who requested them. Others happily offered to have something special prepared from the kitchen or make vegetarian-friendly menu swaps.

In the US, tipping feels mandatory. In Dublin, it just didn't seem like the norm.

Like many Americans, I'm conditioned to tip generously (sometimes even going way above what's suggested) in restaurants or service settings.

Aside from tossing down a few extra euros, tipping didn't seem to be expected at casual cafés or bars. Even at sit-down restaurants, tipping our server 10% seemed ample, whereas 20% feels like the typical minimum back at home in California.

The more lax tipping culture definitely took some getting used to, but once I adjusted, it felt refreshingly pressure free.

Dublin's streets were some of the cleanest I've seen in a major European city. This was an especially impressive feat, given that I visited the city during St. Patrick's Day.

Even though it had hosted a massive parade and beers and crowds spilled out of every pub the cleanup was surprisingly swift and civilized.

I was expecting a bit more grit — especially in high-traffic areas around the city center or Temple Bar — but even those looked remarkably tidy.

Sidewalks were free of litter, public trash bins weren't overflowing, and I never once encountered the kind of mess that can be common outside of crowded, late-night spots.

For a city with so much foot traffic (and so many pubs), it was honestly impressive.

Dublin hits that rare sweet spot: it's a capital city with real cultural and historical heft, but it still feels approachable and easy to navigate.

With a greater area population around a million (and a Dublin city population substantially smaller), I never felt overwhelmed by crowds or traffic.

Plus, many major sights were walkable. Even when the city center was packed for the holiday events, it was easy to navigate in and around the area.

I had no trouble making my way to several sights outside the urban area, from Avoca Mill (the country's oldest working hand-weaving mill) to Kildare Village (a luxury shopping outpost).

There's a strong creative energy in the air — from bookstores and galleries to street musicians — but the overall pace is slower and more relaxed than what I've experienced in bigger European capitals.