Martha's Vineyard Holidays

Martha’s Vineyard is home to six towns each of which has a distinctive personality. The three ‘down-island’ towns, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven are busy places with great shopping dining and other attractions. Each is served by a seasonal or year-round ferry and are therefore the most frequently visited. The towns of West Tisbury, Chilmark and Aquinnah are smaller, and the surrounding countryside is decidedly rural.  The active fishing port of Menemsha (in the town of Chilmark) the weekly Farmer’s Market and Agricultural Fair (in West Tisbury) and the Gay Head Cliffs (in Aquinnah) are some of this areas’ prime attractions

Seasonal and year-round ferry service is the Island’s main link to the mainland. Cars can be brought to the Island via the Steamship Authority ferries.  On-Island, rental car agencies, moped and bicycle rentals, taxis and the Vineyard Transit Authority’s Island-wide bus system provide additional travel options. In-season, tour buses depart frequently from all the Island’s ferry terminals and offer a complete loop of the Island offers Island wide scheduled bus service.

July and August are the height of the tourist season, with August being the busiest month. July Fourth and Labour Day bring the biggest weekend crowds. June and September are also popular months for Vineyard travel and the rest of the year offers wonderful times to explore the Island, stroll the beaches, enjoy hiking the numerous wooded trails, enjoy exceptional dining and shopping and celebrate the holidays. Island restaurants, shops and other businesses are open year-round. Special events highlight every season.

Martha’s Vineyard is of course surrounded by beaches. The South Shore borders the Atlantic; beaches on the Vineyard & Nantucket Sounds (North Shore) and inlets offer calmer waters and are perfect for families with small children. Boating is a popular activity. There are cruises and fishing excursions, windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking opportunities. Rentals are available in every category. Other options for water sports include jet skiing, water skiing, surfing and parasailing.

Farmer’s markets and farm stands, Island crafts, boutiques, gift shops, and antique stores line the downtown streets along with art galleries, a pottery studio and a glassworks. Martha’s Vineyard has several movie houses, a theatre and a seasonal dance residency/performance centre. Live music is featured at many of the Island bars, nightclubs and restaurants. The Vineyard is also known for its beautiful golf courses, a mini-golf course and the Flying Horses Carousel.

Restaurants range from lobster-in-the- rough to world-class gourmet. There are plenty of grocery and convenience stores, as well as lots of places for take-out sandwiches, etc. In the summer farm stands, Farmer’s Markets and a Community Supported Agriculture program make sourcing local produce easy and fun.