The Obamas Are Back in Their Favorite Summer Vacation Destination

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle are once again back on their beloved island of Martha’s Vineyard for their annual summer vacation. Though it looks like they won’t have the quiet vacation they were probably hoping for.

Each year, the Obamas descend on the island for a bit of quality time together. Their youngest daughter, Sasha, even famously had her first summer job on the island, working at Nancy’s, a popular seafood restaurant, in the summer of 2016. And, the former first family spent seven out of eight summer vacations on the island while Obama was running the nation. The only year they missed out was 2012, when Obama was running for re-election.

So far this summer it appears to just be Michelle and Barack on the island. On Monday evening, the couple attempted to have an intimate dinner with a few friends at a restaurant called The Cardboard Box, which is owned by Ben DeForest, who also owns another island restaurant, the Red Cat Kitchen. According to DeForest, the couple has dined at the Red Cat Kitchen a number of times.

“They could’ve gone to the Red Cat, where they know the experience, where they know what to expect,” DeForest told Boston.com. “It’s a very private experience over there. It’s quiet. It’s contained.”

However, this dinner was anything but private. Well-wishers soon caught wind that the Obamas were dining at the restaurant and showed up in droves to catch a glimpse of them. A screaming crowd waited outside the restaurant for the two to emerge, and when they did, the rowdy crowd began chanting, “Obama! Obama!”

But, it appears the couple at least found a little solitude on their trip. Just a few days prior to their very public dinner date, Michelle posted a sweet snapshot of her husband relaxing by the shore to celebrate his 57th birthday. She wrote in the caption, “Happy birthday @BarackObama! The view is always better with you.”

According to reports, the couple will likely be spending most of August on Martha’s Vineyard, so who knows, maybe you’ll be able to spot them dining out next weekend too. But maybe let them finish their appetizer before you start chanting at them.