MARTHA’S VINEYARD (WHDH) — The president and first lady arrived for their vacation on the Vineyard. President Obama and his wife Michelle arrived Saturday afternoon. The first family will spend the next nine days on the exclusive island.
“I think it’s pretty cool because he’s on the same piece of land as me, and he’s only 10 miles away from me,” said Nicholas Perella who hopes to meet the president.
"I'm very excited, we love our island and we love our president so we’re happy share it with him,” said Marc Cutler who’s visiting Martha's Vineyard.
The buzz has been around Nancy's Restaurant, a place the president always brings his family. Joseph Moujabber said Obama loves the shrimp and lobster rolls and they greet with a hug, but he never knows until the last minute when the president is coming.
“Secret service comes to check the place out, and he comes for a half hour or so,” said Joseph Moujabber of Nancy's Restaurant.
Security on the island is tight; secret service with dogs checked each car on the street that leads to the Obama's vacation home in Chilmark.
When the first family arrived Saturday afternoon they were greeted by dozens who lined the streets for a chance to see the motorcade roll by. Others hoped to see him around town.
“He’s an important person, leader of the free world, that’s pretty cool to me. It’d be cool to meet him,” Michael Perella said.
But not everyone is thrilled with the Vineyard vacation. The home the family is renting in Chilmark this year is close enough to South Road that secret service is closing it for the duration of the family's vacation. And it's a real concern for folks who live here.
“It makes it hard for people trying to get to work,” said Rebecca Kaplan, concerned about traffic.
While some see the traffic as a menace, others see it as point of pride.
“It’s very exciting, and an honor for the island that the president comes here,” said Mary Jo Cutler who’s also visiting the Vineyard.