Day Trip to Martha’s Vineyard
June 10, 2023
For some reason I’ve always had a strong desire to visit Martha’s Vineyard, so when I took my trip last year up the Maine coast, I figured I would finish my trip with a visit to Martha’s Vineyard since it was so close. There are some options to stay on Martha’s Vineyard but since I was coming from Maine, I just made this a quick day trip.
I got up early and took the ferry out of Woods Hole, MA over to Martha’s Vineyard. Be sure to make note of where you parked your car- that will help you upon your return. The ferry was pretty quick and very affordable. I chose not to bring my car with me, but note that if you have your car, the ferry ride will be more expensive but you’ll be able to see more things on the island.
The ferry dropped us off in the town of Oak Bluffs, which is a popular part of the island. I had done some research before I left and knew that I wanted to rent a bike when I arrived to Martha’s Vineyard. If you don’t have a car and you feel comfortable, this is a great option for visiting as much of the island as possible. I’m not going to lie, Martha’s Vineyard was way bigger than I thought so I had to prioritize my activities for the day. This post hopefully gives you some great options for your trip, if you’re only there for a day without a car.
I got my bike from Anderson’s Bike Rentals, which was conveniently located right by the ferry drop off. The bike came with a lock, which I appreciated later in the day for when I went exploring. The first town I wanted to visit on the island was Edgartown so I started my 6 mile bike ride there. On the way, I drove by the famous Jaws Bridge, where a lot of people like to jump into the water- add that to the list if you’re looking for a way to cool off during the summer.
The ride to Edgartown wasn’t too bad- the island seems very bike friendly, which is nice, and there were plenty of other cyclists on the bike path. My first stop was to find a good parking spot for my bike so that I could walk around- there are many options around the island, which was great. I parked and just started walking, looking at all of the gorgeous houses and churches in the old neighborhoods. I then made my way to the Edgartown Harbor Lighthouse, which I enjoyed exploring. It also had a great view of Chappaquiddick Island.
Next up was to grab lunch- I wanted some seafood so I stopped in the Seafood Shanty, which was recommended by some locals and it did not disappoint. I avoided the line and sat at the bar- I love a good party of 1 bar spot!
I was intrigued by Chappaquiddick Island so I grabbed my bike and made my way to the ferry, which is right in downtown Edgartown. I didn’t realize that the Chappy Ferry only went 527 feet to the island, which I thought was so fun. I paid my $5 and hopped on the quick ride to the other side. Once I made my way to Chappaquiddick Island, I started back on another bike ride. I didn’t really have any plans and went where the road took me. It’s very quiet on Chappaquiddick Island and I felt like I was almost on a hidden island- there was a lot of countryside and nothing about it was touristy, which I enjoyed. I stumbled up the Mytoi Japanese Garden and enjoyed walking around to see the plants.
I followed the road out to East Beach, which is right by a wildlife refuge. I didn’t make it far on the beach because it was very difficult to even walk on the sand without your feet sinking but it was gorgeous and peaceful. You can drive on parts of the beach but you have to have the right tire pressure/car to make sure you don’t get stuck. The bridge to the beach (Dike Bridge) is also a part of American political history regarding a story about Ted Kennedy and a death so it’s a famous part of the island (Google it if you want to learn more). Right by the bridge, they do offer kayaking, which I would have loved to have done if I had more time.
It was time to head back to Edgartown so I biked back and took the Chappy Ferry back over to the downtown Edgartown area. I really enjoyed walking around and doing some shopping- there are some really expensive shops, some cute local shops and touristy shops…a little bit of everything. I stopped by Vineyard Scoops for some ice cream to fuel me up for my bike ride back to Oak Bluffs.
Once I got back to Oak Bluffs, I road my bike by the “Gingerbread Cottages”, which are a group of over 300 colorful Victorian homes that were originally built by a group of Methodists attending summer meetings. They are so unique and I enjoyed looking at all of the detail in the houses. After I looked at the houses, I stopped by the Flying Horses Carousel, which is the nation’s oldest platform carousel. Between that and the houses, I felt like I was being transformed back into time. I only had a little bit more time to walk around before I had to return my bike and head back to the ferry.
There’s so much more to do on Martha’s Vineyard and I can’t wait to go back and check out some other areas of the island. I thought though, for only having a day, I was able to see some historic places, some great wildlife and some of the touristy spots on the island, which I thought was the perfect combo. Oh, and I got a great workout in with my bike ride (and might have been a little sore the next day). Have fun exploring Martha’s Vineyard- it really is a special place!
