Local Favorites Most Visitors Miss

A Local's Guide to Martha's Vineyard

This island off the coast of Massachusetts rewards people who look past the obvious stops. It has good beaches, a long history, and a real year-round community. Whether it's your first visit or your tenth, this guide covers the parts of Martha's Vineyard locals actually use: beaches, trails, museums, and places to eat.

Understanding Martha's Vineyard

First, a quick lay of the land.

Geography and Towns

Martha's Vineyard is divided into six towns, and they don't feel interchangeable:

• Edgartown: A historic district of old captain's houses around a busy harbor.
• Oak Bluffs: The colorful gingerbread cottages are here, and the town stays lively into the evening.
• Vineyard Haven (Tisbury): The year-round ferry port and the island's working hub.
• West Tisbury: Farmland; the island's agricultural center.
• Chilmark: Rural and hilly, with some of the island's most exclusive real estate.
• Aquinnah: The clay cliffs, on land central to Wampanoag heritage.

Island Culture

Martha’s Vineyard mixes old New England habits with a big summer arts scene. Writers, politicians, and celebrities have vacationed here for decades, mostly because residents leave them alone. The result is a year-round community that's used to visitors but doesn't perform for them.

Planning Your Visit to Martha's Vineyard

Timing Your Trip

Pick your season based on what you want:

• Peak Season (July-August): Everything is open and everything is crowded. Come now if you want the full scene.
• Shoulder Season (May-June, September-October): Good weather, far fewer people.
• Off-Season (November-April): Lower prices, a slower pace, and you'll mostly meet year-rounders.

Pro Tip: Visit during late June or early September for the best balance of good weather and manageable crowds.

Getting There and Around

• Ferries: The Steamship Authority operates year-round from Woods Hole, MA. In summer, additional services run from New Bedford, MA, Hyannis, MA, and Quonset Point, RI.
• Air Travel: Martha's Vineyard Airport (MVY) offers connections to major East Coast cities.
• Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA): Runs buses across the island.
• Bike Rentals: Renting a bike is one of the best ways to get around, with over 44 miles of bike paths.

Places Most Visitors Skip

Beaches

• Lobsterville Beach, Aquinnah: A quiet, two-mile stretch, good for beachcombing and fishing. Come at sunrise; it's worth the early alarm.
• Lambert's Cove Beach, West Tisbury: Calm water and a sheltered feel, good for families. It’s resident-only during the day in summer, but anyone can come in the evening, and the sunsets are the point.
• Moshup Beach, Aquinnah: Sits below the clay cliffs and has a clothing-optional section. Go at low tide to poke around the tidal pools, and admire the cliffs from a distance: this is Wampanoag tribal land, and climbing them or taking the clay is illegal.

Nature Trails

• Menemsha Hills Reservation: 211 acres of woodland and coastal habitat, with a 3.5-mile loop trail that looks out over Vineyard Sound.
• Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary: 4 miles of trails through several habitats. The sanctuary also runs guided kayak tours, the best way to see its pond side.
• Wasque Reservation, Chappaquiddick: Remote and windblown, popular with birders and fishermen. Watch for rare shorebirds and seals along the beach.

For more beach detail, see our full Lambert's Cove Beach>Lambert's Cove Beach guide.

Cultural Sites

• Aquinnah Cultural Center: Learn about the history and culture of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Guided tours of the historic clay cliffs are available.
• Vincent House Museum, Edgartown: The oldest known house on the island, dating back to 1672. The rooms show how island families actually lived in the colonial era.
• Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven: Housed in a restored marine hospital, with exhibits on island history, including its whaling past and coastal ecology.

Local Favorites for Food and Fun

Best Local Eateries

• The Net Result, Vineyard Haven: A local institution famous for lobster rolls and fresh seafood. Try their homemade chowder or grab picnic supplies for a beach day.
• State Road Restaurant, West Tisbury: Farm-to-table cooking built on locally sourced ingredients. Sunday brunch fills up with locals.
• Larsen’s Fish Market, Menemsha: A no-frills seafood shack with the freshest catch around. Order dinner to go and eat it on the beach while the sun sets over Menemsha.
• Back Door Donuts, Oak Bluffs: Hot, fresh donuts sold out the bakery's back door at night. Get the apple fritter.

Off-the-Beaten-Path Activities

• Kayak the Elizabeth Islands: Paddle around the quieter Elizabeth Islands. Guided tours are available if you're new to open-water paddling.
• Island Alpaca Farm: Meet over 50 Huacaya alpacas and see how a working sustainable farm runs. The farm store sells locally produced alpaca products.
• Mytoi Japanese Garden, Chappaquiddick: A 14-acre garden with winding footpaths, small ponds, and native and exotic plants. A good spot for a quiet picnic.