Get Out Of Town!

There’s plenty to do in the city in summer—from free concerts at the Hatch Shell to Boston Calling Block Parties to name a few, then there are world-class museums and plenty of history to take in. However, if you want to see what Boston’s neighbors have to offer, variety is only a tankful of gas away.

- Matthew Robinson

TOWARDS THE SUN

With a list of summer residents that includes past presidents and other celebrities, Cape Cod and the island of Martha’s Vineyard offer upscale delights and plenty of scenic beach views. However, not everyone comes from the sea and sand. In fact, Martha’s Vineyard has become a popular destination for film enthusiasts. The Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (www.mvaaff.com) takes place August 5-10, and this Oscarqualifying film festival for the Short Film category is held at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center. There’s also The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival (www. tmvff.org), whose summer film series includes screenings of “Bedlam” (Aug. 14), “Driving While Black” (Aug. 21) and “Maiden” (Aug. 28).

The Cape is also starting to turn heads for its growing wine scene. Cape Cod Winery (www.capecodwinery.com) offers nine varieties of wine, including Sauvignon Blanc and rosé. The vineyard sits on the site of a former strawberry farm and is just three miles from the ocean. First Crush Winery ( firstcrushwinery. com) sources its grapes from the Suisun Valley AVA in Northern California and offers wines ranging from Sangiovese to Sauvignon Blanc. Truro Vineyards (trurovineyardsofcapecod.com) produces over a dozen varietals each year and even hosts the occasional grape stomp.