Martha's Vineyard
Discover Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island 8 miles off the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts. Once a whaling center, it has become a vacation hotspot and a favorite summertime haven of many celebrities. Due to this, it has picked up the nickname "Hollywood East". It is the third largest on the eastern seaboard. It is believed to have been the inspiration of Amity Island, from the movie Jaws. Residents have come to say "up island" to mean western areas of the island -- Aquinnah, Chilmark and West Tisbury. Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Tisbury are "down island." These terms refer not to north or south, but to longitude. (From the island's whaling past....)
What to Experience in Martha's Vineyard
Famous Beaches
Taste of Martha's Vineyard...
The island supports a full range of restaurants from casual to fine dining. The three "Down-Island" towns of Vineyard Haven, Edgartown and Oak Bluffs permit the selling of all alcohol types in restaurants and bars. West Tisbury and Aquinnah permit the selling of beer and wine only, no hard liquor. Chilmark is a "dry town" with no alcohol for sale but has a "BYO" policy at restaurants, enabling diners to bring their own alcoholic beverages. The island of Martha's Vineyard features a number of options for lodging. Hotels, boutique hotels, Victorian inns, resorts, guesthouses and private house rentals are all available, mostly in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven (Tisbury). The Martha's Vineyard Lodging Association is the official site for all registered hotels and inns on the island.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsVineyard Haven, also called Tisbury, is the main port of entry for the Steamship Authority Ferries. Most of the vineyard's roads are accompanied by a bike path. Bike and moped rentals are available in several towns. The Gay Head cliffs at Aquinnah are a "must see". Moshup Beach below the cliffs was also named as at top ten "walking beach" by the Travel Channel in 2003, beating out beaches in Hermosa Beach, California, and Maui. Menemsha is one of the few places on the east coast where you can see the sunset over the water. The Martha's Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven has excellent exhibits with coverage of sailing, historical events, whaling, Wampanoag history and important island residents. It sits on a bluff with a beautiful view across Lagoon Pond....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Most of the vineyard's roads are accompanied by a bike path. Bike and moped rentals are available in several towns. The Gay Head cliffs at Aquinnah are a "must see". Moshup Beach below the cliffs was also named as at top ten "walking beach" by the Travel Channel in 2003, beating out beaches in Hermosa Beach, California, and Maui. Menemsha is one of the few places on the east coast where you can see the sunset over the water. The Martha's Vineyard Museum in Vineyard Haven has excellent exhibits with coverage of sailing, historical events, whaling, Wampanoag history and important island residents. It sits on a bluff with a beautiful view across Lagoon Pond. There are five lighthouses around the island: Cape Poge Lighthouse at the northern tip of Chappaquiddick near Edgartown, Edgartown Lighthouse in the town, Gay Head Lighthouse at thecwest end of the island near Aquinnah, East Chop Lighthouse in Oak Bluffs, and West Chop Lighthouse in Vineyard Haven (Tisbury).
Where to Stay
The island of Martha's Vineyard features a number of options for lodging. Hotels, boutique hotels, Victorian inns, resorts, guesthouses and private house rentals are all available, mostly in Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven (Tisbury). The Martha's Vineyard Lodging Association is the official site for all registered hotels and inns on the island.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Martha's Vineyard
Boats in the harbor at Martha's Vineyard.
Gingerbread/Victorian style houses on Martha's Vineyard.
a view of the ocean from the top of a hill
Aquinnah Cliffs Martha's Vineyard
A sailboat travels past a green island off the shore of Martha's Vineyard.
A mansion on Martha's Vineyard.
Edgartown Lighthouse Martha's Vineyard
A beautiful cottage house in Martha's Vineyard with green and pink exterior details and a brick path leading up to the house.
Dingy dock (photo: Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA, USA)
Edgartown Harbor, Martha’s Vineyard, MA
Boats in the harbor at Martha's Vineyard.
Gingerbread/Victorian style houses on Martha's Vineyard.
a view of the ocean from the top of a hill