'''Martha's Vineyard'''[http://www.mvol.com] is an island located 8 miles off the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts. Once a whaling center, it has become a favorite summertime haven of many celebrities.

Towns

Martha's Vineyard is made up of six towns, each with a selection of restaurants and accommodations.

  • '''Aquinnah''', formerly known as Gay Head
  • '''Chilmark''', including the fishing village of Menemsha
  • '''Edgartown''', which includes Chappaquiddick Island
  • '''Oak Bluffs''', often mistakenly referred to as Oaks Bluff
  • '''Tisbury''', including the main village of Vineyard Haven in the town center
  • '''West Tisbury'''
  • Understand

  • 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".
  • '''Celebrities''' have been coming to Martha's Vineyard for decades. Locals have gotten used to them and scarcely seem to notice any more. It's considered impolite to stare.
  • South-facing beaches have the most surf. Uncle Seth's Pond on Lambert's Cove Road is the only freshwater beach and has only very limited parking.
  • '''Martha's Vineyard Historical Society''', 59 School St. (Cooke and School Sts), PO Box 1310, Edgartown, MA 02539, [http://www.marthasvineyardhistory.org/]. Open: ''Summer:'' mid Jun-early Oct, Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM; ''Fall:'' early Oct-mid Dec W,Th,F 1PM-4PM, Sa 10AM-4PM; ''Winter:'' early Jan-mid Mar, Sa 10AM- PM; ''Spring:'' mid-Mar to mid-Jun, W,T,F 1PM-4PM Sa 10AM-4PM. Authoritative source for history and genealogy on the island. Excellent exhibits including the Thomas Cooke house, the Francis Foster Museum, the Captain Francis Pease House and Carriage Shed with coverage of whaling and Wampanoag history as well. Adm.: $7 adult, 6-15years $4, under 6 free.
  • '''The island's only campground''' is in Tisbury.
  • The island's newspaper since 1847 has been '''The Vineyard Gazette''', 34 South Summer St., Edgartown, Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-4311 Fax: 508-627-7444, [http://mvgazette.com].
  • Visitors often misspeak the town "Oak Bluffs" as "Oaks Bluff".
  • Get in

    Ferries

  • '''Steamship Authority Ferries''', 65 South St., Hyannis, Phone: ''+1'' 508-477-8600, [http://web1.steamshipauthority.com/ssa/index.cfm]. To/from Woods Hole (Falmouth) and Vineyard Haven (year round) or Oak Bluffs (mid-May to mid-Oct). The only line that carries autos. Make reservations well in advance if you're taking your car.
  • '''Martha's Vineyard Fast Ferry''', 1347 Roger Williams Way, Quonset Point, North Kingstown, RI 02852, Phone: ''+1'' 401-295-4040, info@vineyardfastferry.com, [http://www.vineyardfastferry.com]. Between North Kingstown (at Quonset Point), Rhode Island and Oak Bluffs.
  • '''Island Queen''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-548-4800, Email: islqueen@cape, [http://www.islandqueen.com/]. Falmouth harbor to/from Oak Bluffs.
  • '''New England Fast Ferry''', 49 State Pier, New Bedford, MA, ''+1'' 866-683-3779, [http://www.nefastferry.com/nmfastferry/]. To/from New Bedford, Massachusetts. One hour.
  • '''Hy-line Cruises''', Phone: ''+1'' 800-492-8082 or Phone: ''+1'' 508-778-2600, [http://www.hy-linecruises.com]. To/from Hyannis and Oak Bluffs. Year round.
  • Air

  • '''Martha's Vineyard Airport ({{IATA|MVY}})''', Airport Rd. (off West Tisbury Rd), Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-7022, [http://www.mvyairport.com].
  • :*'''Cape Air''', Phone: ''+1'' 800-352-0714, [http://www.flycapeair.com]. Regional airline serving Hyannis, Provincetown, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket with service also to the off cape cities of Boston, Providence (seasonal), and New Bedford. :*'''US Airways Express''', Phone: ''+1'' 800-428-4322. Service from Hyannis(HYA), New York (LGA), Philadelphia(PHL) and Washington(DCA), [http://www.usairways.com].

    Local TV & Radio

  • [http://vineyard.plumtv.com/ '''Plum TV'''], Ch. 76 on Comcast Cable and available on Comcast Video-on-Demand throughout New England
  • [http://www.wmvy.com/ '''MVY Radio,'''] 92.7 FM
  • [http://www.wvvy.org/ '''MV Community Radio, Inc.'''] permitted for and low-power FM station on 93.7 FM (Streaming on the web at [http://rs1.radiostreamer.com:8360/ rsl.radiostreamer.com]
  • Get around

    Bus

  • '''Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority''', 11 A Street, Airport Business Park, Edgartown, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-9440, Fax: ''+1'' 508-693-9953, info@vineyardtransit.com, [http://www.vineyardtransit.com]. Buses run all over the island. $1 each way or buy passes. 1 day $6, 3 day $15, 7 day $25, 31 day $40.
  • Taxi

  • Accurate Cab''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-9798, ''+1'' 888-557-9798.
  • Adamcab''', Phone: ''+1''508-627-4462, ''+1'' 800-281-4462.
  • All Island Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-2929, ''+1'' 800-693-TAXI.
  • Atlantic Cab''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-7110, toll-free, ''+1'' 877-477-8294.
  • Bluefish Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-7373.
  • Jon's Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-4677, ''+1''508-627-5298.
  • Mario's Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-8399, ''+1'' 877-627-6972, ''+1''508-645-2377.
  • Marlene's Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-0037, ''+1'' 800-281-TAXI.
  • Martha's Vineyard Taxi Company''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-8660, 877-454-5900.
  • Patti's Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-1663.
  • Stagecoach Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-9632, ''+1'' 800-299-5411.
  • Tisbury Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-7660, ''+1'' 508-693-7475.
  • Your Taxi''', Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-0003, ''+1'' 800-396-0003.
  • Bicycle

  • '''Anderson's Bike Rentals''' Circuit Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs Phone: 508-693-9346
  • '''Edgartown Bike Rentals''', One Main Street, Edgartown, Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-4052, Email: edgbike@verizon.net, [http://www.edgartownbikerentals.com/]. Apr-Oct. Daily 9AM-6PM. Book through phone or email. Delivery.
  • '''Edgartown Bicycles''', 212 Main St., Edgartown, Phone: ''+1'' 508-627-9008, manager@edgartownbicycles.com, [http://www.edgartownbicycles.com/]. Full service and on the bicycle path in Edgartown with parking. Delivery.
  • '''Marthas Bike Rentals''', 4 Lagoon Pond Rd., Vineyard Haven, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-6593, Email: marthas@marthasvineyardbikes.com, [http://www.marthasvineyardbikes.com/]. Will deliver to any Island location.
  • '''Sun 'N Fun''', Lake Av., Oak Bluffs, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-5457.
  • '''Quawk Cycle of Martha's Vineyard''', Vineyard Haven, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-1188.
  • Moped

  • '''DeBettencourt's Bike Shop''', Oak Bluffs, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-0011, [http://www.debettencourtenterprises.com/]. Mid Jun-Mid Sep. 9AM-6PM. Bike and Jeep rentals
  • '''Vineyard Vehicles Rentals''', Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-1185.
  • '''Adventure Rentals''', 19 Beach Rd., Vineyard Haven, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-1959, [http://www.adventurerentalsmv.com/].
  • '''King's Rental, Inc.''', Circuit Av., Oak Bluffs, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-1887.
  • '''Vineyard Bike & Moped''', Oak Bluffs Av., Oak Bluffs, Phone: ''+1'' 508-693-6886.
  • By car

  • '''A-A Island Auto Rental''', 800-627-6333, 508-696-5300, info@mvautorental.com, [http://www.mvautorental.com]. Locations in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown
  • Ferry

  • A small ferry for bicycles and pedestrians runs from North Road on the northeastern side of Menemsha Harbor to West Basin Road on the southwestern side of the harbor.
  • See

  • 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, CA and Maui. Menemsha is one of the few places on the east coast where you can see the sunset over the water. Be sure to enjoy lobster from Menemsha Fish Market [http://menemshafishmarket.com/] or takeout from the Homeport Restaurant [http://www.homeportmv.com/] on the dock while watching the sunset.
  • Lighthouses

    :*'''Cape Poge Lighthouse'''. Located at the northern tip of Chappaquiddick. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is required to visit it. Tours available by the Trustees of Reservations [http://www.thetrustees.org/pages/286_cape_poge_wildlife_refuge.cfm] :*'''Gay Head Lighthouse'''. Located at the end of State Rd in Aquinnah. Open to the public for sunset tours from mid-June to mid-September. [http://www.mvmuseum.org/lighthousetours.php] :*'''East Chop Lighthouse'''. Located on Highland Dr in Oak Bluffs. Open to the public for sunset tours from mid-June to mid-September. [http://www.mvmuseum.org/lighthousetours.php] :*'''Edgartown Lighthouse'''. Located in Edgartown harbor, this lighthouse is not open to the public but you can walk around it. Follow the path off of N Water St in front of the Harbor View hotel. :*'''West Chop Lighthouse'''. At the north end of Main St in Vineyard Haven. Just under 2 miles from downtown Vineyard Haven. Not open to the public.

    Beaches

    :*'''South Beach'''. Located in Katama section of Edgartown, this is a large public beach with good surf. Free parking, a few miles bike ride from downtown Edgartown, or via the MV bus system. :*'''State Beach'''. Located between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, on Oak Bluffs Edgartown Rd, this is a large public beach with practically no waves. A good beach for young children. Free parking available along Oak Bluffs Edgartown Rd. :*'''Aquinnah Beach (Moshup Beach)'''. Located at the far western end of the island, this is a public beach with pay parking available. A small walk is required from the pay lots to the beach. This beach is known for the picturesque clay cliffs that rise up from the edge of the beach. Nudity has at times been common and tolerated on the northern end of the beach. :*'''Lucy Vincent Beach'''. Located off of South Rd in Chilmark (listed as Lucy Vincent Rd on some maps, it is a dirt road just before the big bend at Windy Gates Rd), this is a private beach for town residents [http://www.ci.chilmark.ma.us/Pages/ChilmarkMA_Beach/Beach_stickers] during the summer. Nudity is allowed in the area that is more than 1,500 feet from the entrance. It is open to the public during the off-season, October 1 through May 31. A great beach.

    Itineraries

    Do

  • '''TicketsMV.com''' [http://ticketsmv.com/ Find out what's happening on Martha's Vineyard and purchase tickets!
  • '''Horseback riding''' in West Tisbury.
  • '''Golf''' in Oak Bluffs or Tisbury.
  • '''Bicycling'''. Many major roads have bike paths.
  • '''Charter Fishing'''
  • Eat

    The island supports a full range of restaurants from casual to fine dining.

  • '''Lobster Tales Catering''', 508-627-5933, [http://lobstertales.com/]. Specializing in traditional New England clambakes.
  • '''Theo's Restaurant''', (508) 645-3322, 74 North Road, Chilmark
  • '''David Ryan's Restaurant''', (508) 627-4100, 11 N Water St, Edgartown
  • Drink

    The only two towns on the island that permit the selling of alcohol are Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. The remaining four towns have a "BYO" policy at most restaurants, enabling diners to bring their own alcoholic beverages.

    Stay safe

  • There is very little crime anywhere on Martha's Vineyard.
  • Beware of '''poison ivy''', a low-growing vine (which may climb) with three shiny leaves. It can cause skin inflamation at any time.
  • '''Ticks''' can be a problem and may carry Lyme Disease. Also, ticks in Aquinnah, particularly at Moshup Beach, may carry Tularemia. Martha's Vineyard is the only place in the continental US where Tularemia has been known to be carried and transmitted by tick bite.
  • When you are at the beach, swimmers should be aware of jellyfish that float north in the summer.
  • Get out

  • '''Cape Cod'''
  • '''Boston'''