Barack Obama Vacation: The President Heads To Martha's Vineyard (PHOTOS)

President Obama left for his 11 day vacation on Martha's Vineyard Thursday afternoon along with his trusty sidekick, Bo (just like last year!).

Luckily, the island was preparing for the First Family's visit, with several stores stocking up on Obama merchandise ahead of their arrival.

No word yet on if Michelle and the first daughters are already on the island but we're certainly soon to find out.

Check out photos of some of local shops getting prepped for the President's arrival, as well as pics of Obama leaving the White House Thursday.

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Obama walks to Marine One prior to departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2011. Obama is traveling to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, for an 11-day family vacation. (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

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Obama walks to Marine One prior to departing from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on August 18, 2011. Obama is traveling to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, for an 11-day family vacation.

(SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

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Boo. Bo!

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Comments

[Lori Ogden]

09:58 PM on 08/20/2011

Love the 'outrage' from conservatives...* rolls eyes* I wonder if they had the same outrage when in August of 2001 W took a MONTH long vacation...You know just before the worst terrorist attacks on US soil...hmmm doubt they thought that far...

[dunesport]

05:22 PM on 08/20/2011

Imagine if we ALL had a rest.

I've seen the erosion of the weekly day of rest. It was a day, every week, that enabled families and communities to pause ...

... and just be.

It use to be a day for the whole community - this day of rest.

That was prior to the 1980s. Now, a day of rest is just for those aren't scheduled to serve the privileged seven days a week. The imbalance is driven home, in 2011, when a spirited day of rest is not extended to all members of the working class.

That day was Sunday. Every Sunday! The stores were all closed! You could roller skate down the middle of streets in Manhattan and Boston on a Sunday.

It was a day to relax and the community was better for it!

Maybe one way to cure the nation's ills is to ensure we all have a day off to recharge our batteries and bond with loved ones ... and come back Monday morning refreshed and better able to do the job of making the world better than when we found it.

[Don Stalvino]

08:10 PM on 08/19/2011

Can we have some job growth before you leave, Mr resident?

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

09:48 PM on 08/19/2011

Job Growth ?? What`s that ?? Something that happens when GOP`rs are in charge ?

[pinouye]

03:35 PM on 08/19/2011

"Michelle Obama and President Obama traveled to Martha’s Vineyard just hours apart, costing taxpayers thousands in additional expenses so she could have just a bit of extra vacation time."

This absolutely sends the wrong message! But that's ok..."Let them eat cake!"

[Don Stalvino]

04:34 PM on 08/19/2011

Madame Obama is more likely to say "Let them eat vegetables!"

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

05:25 PM on 08/19/2011

Hey, it`s only money. Bernie can print more ! The way things are going they won`t be around after Jan 2013 anyway. Enjoy while you can . Would not want her to lose her pride for our country !

[iamwomanofcolor]

05:41 PM on 08/19/2011

and just exactly how prideful are you about your ancestors who hung her and my ancestors??? huh???

[iamwomanofcolor]

05:42 PM on 08/19/2011

and you are proud of those in the history of this great nation who hung black folk regularly, just for kicks???

[Don Stalvino]

02:52 PM on 08/19/2011

Why did the First Lady need to take a separate 757? The taxpayers and Mother Earth don't need this extra burden, at this time.

[pinouye]

03:47 PM on 08/19/2011

Because she can. Remember that hush hush vacation that she took to Oregon? And remember it was right after her husband said that it is about time for us to "eat your peas." The "Do as I say, NOT as I do" mentality.

[iamwomanofcolor]

01:28 PM on 08/19/2011

I do hope our incredibly hard-working and dedicated President with his lovely family, have a beautiful rejuvenating and restful vacation!!! He so deserves it! He works tirelessly, ceaselessly each and every day - and I daresay night - of his life for and on behalf of each and every one of us and I for one am humble and grateful for his efforts!!! and Martha's Vineyard is gorgeous and the folks there are lucky to have this awesome family as guests!!! Now go ahead haters, hate on!!!

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

06:20 PM on 08/19/2011

I was one of his early supporters, but he betrayed us. Disagree with him on anything and you are labeled a R---- T !

[iamwomanofcolor]

06:40 PM on 08/19/2011

aw..so very sorry for your loss... good luck with your alternatives!!!!

[iamwomanofcolor]

06:42 PM on 08/19/2011

yeah...sure...and that's why you commented above about our awesome First Lady's "pride..." which I notice you didn't respond to my comments to you about having pride in those that hung my folks and Michelle's... yeah...figures...crickets...

[brantley866]

08:55 PM on 08/19/2011

It's not hate iam, it's disappointment that he does not seem to have a sense of urgency about the state of this country. It's not whether is deserves a vacation or not. Even a Captain stays on board a sinking ship. As a country we are sinking quick. He can do a lot if he really cared. BTW, in history, women have been more prosecuted than any race. Let's try to keep things in prospective.

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

09:14 PM on 08/19/2011

Spot on... Proud to be your first Fan

[jamaicalover]

12:53 PM on 08/20/2011

For your information. The president will be meeting frequently with economic advisors to discuss possible options on the foundering economy. In addtion, the president will also spend a chuck of his vacation time off preparing for a national address to detail his plans in the short term and reduce the growth of deficit in the long term. Meanwhile, House Republicans have been on recess since August 2nd. He does care and he is doing a lot. You just don't know about it because all you hear is the negative right telling lies.

[Grandma Koolfinger]

11:24 AM on 08/19/2011

I get worn out with people complaining about any President's vacation time. These guys, whether it be Bush cutting brush or Obama playing golf are connected 24/7/365. To think otherwise is ludicrous. It's nothing more than partisan sniping, of which we have plenty already.

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

06:21 PM on 08/19/2011

Right on.. Grandma.

[Bebe36]

10:37 AM on 08/19/2011

It is beyond ridiculous the way our comments are monitored, screened, deleted and otherwise ignored.

C'mon, HP treat us like adults.

If there is something particularly egregious, it can be removed.

[rysagr]

01:22 PM on 08/19/2011

so true

[SIMPLICIMUSS]

06:23 PM on 08/19/2011

Agree 100 % . It is ridiculous !

[rjallen71]

10:19 AM on 08/19/2011

You know, I would love to bother people about taking vacations; never mind that they have to spend time with their kids before going to school, or take a much needed break, spend some well deserved alone time with their spouse.

Yeah...and then overlook the fact that Congress is gone for much more days than the President. Come on guys seriously?

For the people griping about our president taking vacation...you do realize that even though the President is on vacation, he is still "on call" 24/7? That either Secret Service or other staff members are constantly informing him on the moves of the country? You may not realize it, but being President of the U.S is a 24 hour 7 days a week, 365 days a year job.

Hope these other candidates know what exactly they are getting into!!

[Bebe36]

10:15 AM on 08/19/2011

Let the bashing begin!

[P R R]

09:59 AM on 08/19/2011

Notice how he disses corporate jets who use their own money to fly. All while he uses our tax dollars to fly in his own corporate jet. Obama must go.

[rjallen71]

10:22 AM on 08/19/2011

Yeah, and so does every other President that ran our country. (in this modern time that is) Come on, it's one of the things they get, its not that big of a deal. So we might as well not have a president then, is what you are suggesting.

[Bebe36]

10:30 AM on 08/19/2011

Air Force One is not a corporate jet, PRR.

But even you knew that. Just can't help being snarky, can you?

[P R R]

10:39 AM on 08/19/2011

How is it not the same thing...?

[P R R]

10:39 AM on 08/19/2011

Oh, wait. Its 5x the size of a corporate jet.

[sam ella]

09:57 AM on 08/19/2011

everybody critical of the president for this.....quit micro-managing.

[Don Stalvino]

09:42 AM on 08/19/2011

Maybe BHO Jr. could spare the nation anymore trouble, and just stay on vacation.

[rjallen71]

10:24 AM on 08/19/2011

What vacation? He's never on vacation...he still has staff informing him on what's going on with the country. A vacation is defined as doing whatever you want without the worry about home life or work life. Would you like a "vacation" like that?

[Don Stalvino]

10:33 AM on 08/19/2011

He is going to Martha's Vineyard, for 10 days for the third straight year. It costs $22,000 a week, yes I would like a vacation like that, but could not afford it.

[DaveMac45]

09:41 AM on 08/19/2011

The House and Senate are on vacation, but tea-baggers haven't noticed that. Well I guess the House and Senate are easy to over look, since they haven't accomplished much lately.

[rysagr]

01:23 PM on 08/19/2011

the dem senate you mean?

[MacQ]

09:41 AM on 08/19/2011

What'll they do with that big NOT-a-campaign bus (made in canada--wow what a gaffe!)??

[ethrop]

09:23 AM on 08/20/2011

HI sweetie. The bus is not made in Canada, luv. The frame is made in Canada. Of the 1 million price tag, more than 75% is billed to the Tennessee company that built the body and furnishings.