CHILMARK, Mass. -- The first family settled in Sunday for their vacation on Martha's Vineyard not long after Hurricane Bill scampered away, leaving behind big waves and heavy rip currents for the Obamas.

A tropical-storm warning was lifted just hours before President Barack Obama began his first vacation since taking office. The hurricane forced him to delay his departure from Andrews Air Force Base by a few hours.

During the flight from Washington to Cape Cod, White House spokesman Bill Burton conveyed a message from Obama, who boarded Air Force One in khakis and without jacket or tie, to the reporters traveling with him.

``He wants you to relax and have a good time. Take some walks on the beaches. Nobody's looking to make any news,'' Burton told reporters.

The Obama then flew by helicopter from the Coast Guard station at Otis Air Base to Martha's Vineyard, and took a motorcade from the airport to their vacation home. Along the route, several people help signs, including ones that said, ``Aloha Obama Family'' and ``Hope, Obama.''

Some Obama friends, including White House adviser Valerie Jarrett and Chicago physician Eric Whitaker, joined the family, as did Obama's sister, Maya, and her husband. The president has no official events scheduled in the week ahead.

``You can bet there's going to be some golf playing. Maybe a little bit of swimming,'' Burton said.

There are the likely trips for ice cream and saltwater taffy, possibly a bike ride and plenty of quiet time at a secluded 28-acre, private estate that rents for $35,000 a week.

The Obamas are paying for their share of the vacation home.

Taxpayers are picking up the tab for security and White House staff, which is customary for all presidents.

Ahead of the trip, Obama and his aides asked for privacy for his daughters, 8-year-old Sasha and 11-year-old Malia.

The White House said there are no plans for Obama to visit ailing Sen. Edward Kennedy at his vacation home in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod. A visit with Kennedy, who has brain cancer, could provide a rallying point for Democrats as Obama seeks to achieve one of Kennedy's career goals: overhauling the nation's health insurance system to provide near-universal coverage.

The Vineyard is just 23 miles long with a year-round population of about 15,000.

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