Traveling to Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard is an island community of six towns and five working lighthouses off the coast of Massachusetts, seven miles out from Cape Cod. The island is about twenty miles long (east to west) and nine miles wide. It is a lovely place to live and a popular destination resort with a year round population of 15,000 swelling to almost 100,000 during the summer.
Air service is available all year, as is the passenger & auto steamship ferry which leaves from Woods Hole, Massachusetts on a daily basis (weather permitting). During the summer months, additional air service is available as well as passenger ferry service to and from Falmouth, Cape Cod, Nantucket Island and New Bedford. And of course you may sail your own boat into one of the harbors.
Although a limited number of cars may come in on the ferry, there are numerous other ways to travel once you're on the island. Car rentals and taxis are available. Also there are shuttle buses linking the towns. That's how I usually get around when I'm there. In addition you can rent bicycles or mopeds.
Martha's Vineyard is a great place for walking too. Strolling through the restaurant and shopping areas, you might stop for ice cream or lemonade on a hot summer day. You can walk past the old sea captains' mansions or look at everyone's beautiful gardens. There are, nature walks and wildlife preserves, and of course the many beaches. Also, it's just a short walk from the center of Edgartown to the lighthouse.
Below are some sites where you can find more information on traveling to Martha's Vineyard
General Travel Information
www.mvy.com
Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
A comprehensive guide to traveling, accommodations, what to do,
when and how to do it
www.mvy.com/beach.html
Chamber of Commerce Guide to Beaches
Beaches on Martha's Vineyard, one example of the organization
and thoroughness of this site
www.mvol.com
Martha's Vineyard On Line
Another valuable resource similar to above with links to just
about everything it doesn't cover directly
www.marthas-vineyard-vacation-tips.com
Martha's Vineyard Vacation Tips
This looks like a great resource written by a family who often vacations on the island. It includes their ideas and things they would have liked to know and now wish to share, like where to look at starfish with your kids (Menemsha), where to eat ice cream, tips for getting a last minute steamship ferry reservation, romantic places to stay and other helpful information.
www.destinationinsider.com/vineyard
Destination Insider Guide to Martha's Vineyard
A guide to accommodations, dining, travel and the island in general
More Specific Travel & Martha's Vineyard Information
www.islandferry.com
Steamship Authority
Passenger (and automobile) ferry from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven
and Oak Bluffs. Reservations are required for vehicles.
www.falmouthferry.com
Falmouth-Edgartown Ferry
The 'Pied Piper', non-auto (bicycles ok) passenger ferry from
Falmouth to Edgartown. It's a
smaller craft than the Steamship Authority ships and reservations (at
least on weekends) are required.
For other ferry choices see www.mvy.com
Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce
www.vineyardtransit.com
Martha's Vineyard Regional Transit Authority
Public transportation shuttle bus service around the island
www.mvtimes.com
Martha's Vineyard Times
Martha's Vineyard Times newspaper on-line
www.mvgazette.com
Martha's Vineyard Gazette
Martha's Vineyard Gazette newspaper on-line
Sailing/Harbor Information
Edgartown Harbormaster
Telephone Number: 508-627-4746
When sailing into Martha's Vineyard please contact the Harbormaster of the appropriate harbor