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Martha's Vineyard is an Island roughly shaped like a triangle seven miles off the Massachusetts coast. The Island covers 87 square miles, and has a year-round population of 15,000 which swells closer to 100,000 in the summer.
When To Visit
One of the first decisions to make about your trip to Martha’s Vineyard is when you want to visit - and the answer depends on what you’re looking for.
Most Islanders will be quick to let you know that August is the busiest month of the year, but July isn’t exactly slow either. June and September are less crowded, but you might run into trouble booking rooms since both are popular months for Island weddings. Be sure to book in advance during any of these months.
From October to May you can enjoy off-season rates at many places, but also keep in mind that many businesses will be closed during these months. Edgartown has the most dramatic shift between winter’s closed doors and summer’s bustle, while Vineyard Haven is the winter hub of the Island with most businesses staying open year-round.
Weather
The Vineyard's coastal location tends to keep the Island a little cooler than the mainland in the summer and warmer in the winter. It snows occasionally, but we usually miss the big winter storms that hit the rest of New England.
Here are the monthly highs, lows, and precipitation records:
January: High - 37F, Low - 22F, 3.92 inches precipitation
February: High - 39F, Low - 24F, 3.30 inches precipitation
March: High - 46F, Low - 32F, 3.85 inches precipitation
April: High - 56F, Low - 40F, 3.60 inches precipitation
May: High - 67F, Low - 50F, 3.24 inches precipitation
June: High - 77F, Low - 59F, 3.22 inches precipitation
July: High - 82F, Low - 66F, 3.06 inches precipitation
August: High - 80F, Low - 65F, 3.37 inches precipitation
September: High - 73F, Low - 57F, 3.47 inches precipitation
October: High - 62F, Low - 46F, 3.79 inches precipitation
November: High - 52F, Low - 38F, 3.98 inches precipitation
December: High - 43F, Low - 28F, 3.73 inches precipitation
Transportation
Bringing your own car to the Island is useful, but not imperative. The Vineyard Transit Authority is a great way to get around, or you can have a guided tour of the Island with Martha's Vineyard Sightseeing. If you do decide to bring over your own wheels – remember that you must have a car reservation for the boat in advance. You can book this online through the Steamship Authority.
TAXI SERVICES
Adam Cab: 508-627-4462
All Island Taxi: 508-693-2929
Atlantic Cab: 508-693-7110
Bluefish Taxi: 08-627-7373
Harbor Taxi: 508-693-9611; 800-693-TAXI(8294)
Mario's Taxi: 508-693-8399; 877-627-6972
Martha's Vineyard Taxi: 508-693-8660; 866-MV TAXIS (688-2947)
Patti's Taxi: 508-693-1663
Tisbury Taxi: 508-693-7660
Your Taxi: 508-693-0003; 800-396-0003
CAR RENTALS
AAA Island Auto Rentals: 800-627-6333
Adventure Rentals: 508-693-1959
Auto Rentals of Edgartown: 508-627-7241
Budget: 508-693-1911
Hertz: 508-693-2402
Thrifty: 508-696-0909
Sun 'N' Fun Jeep Rentals: 508-693-5457
Harley-Davidson Rentals: 508-693-3379
BIKE RENTALS
Anderson's Bike Rentals: (OB) 508-693-9346
Craig's Bicycles: (VH) 508-693-8693
RW Cutler Bikes: (Edg) 508-627-4052
Cycle Works: (VH) 508-693-6966
Edgartown Bicycles: 508-627-9008
Martha's Bike Rentals: (VH) 508-693-6593
Wheel Happy: (Edg) 508-627-5928
MOPED RENTALS
Adventure Rentals: (VH) 508-693-1959
Harbor Rentals: (OB) 508-693-1300
King's Rental, Inc: (OB) 508-693-1887
Ride-On Mopeds & Bikes: (OB) 508-693-2076
Beach Basics
Martha's Vineyard is known for its beaches - and when you get here and see them there will be no question why. Although many of these sandy wonders are private, there are still plenty of beaches open to the public. Here's a list of spots where anyone can work on their tan:
VINEYARD HAVEN
- Eastville Beach: At the drawbridge on the way from Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs.
- Lake Tashmoo Town Beach: End of Herring Creek Road (which is a long and bumpy dirt one - don't lose heart) on Lake Tashmoo in Vineyard Haven.
- Owen Park Beach: Small beach off Main Street on Vineyard Haven Harbor,
- Tisbury Town Beach: Off Owen Little Way near the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club.
EDGARTOWN
- East Beach (Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge and Wasque Reservation): Currently only accessible from the Dike Bridge - this Chappaquiddick beach is open to all, but there is a fee if you aren't a member of The Trustees of Reservations.
- Fuller Street Beach: Watch the boats come in and out of the Harbor at this beach near the Edgartown Lighthouse. Find it at the end of Fuller Street.
- Joseph Sylvia State Beach: Small waves and family friendly, this two mile beach along Beach Road lies between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. There's free on-road parking and the Edgartown end has lifeguards in season.
- Lighthouse Beach: Located off North Water Street at Starbuck's neck, this beach is centrally located in Edgartown.
- South Beach State Park: Popular beach with bigger waves than most, South beach is about one mile and lies between Herring Creek Road and Katama Road. Free parking lot and lifeguards in the summer season.
- Long Point Wildlife Refuge Beach: Managed by The Trustees of Reservations, there is a parking and beach fee for non-members. Summer access is from Waldron's Bottom Road, and in the winter you can use Deep Bottom Rd. Popular with families because of the option of either the ocean-water beach or freshwater swimming in Long Cove Pond.
- Norton Point: This barrier beach is accessible from the end of Katama Road, and has the Atlantic on one side and Edgartown Harbor on the other. Formerly Norton Point beach connected Chappaquiddick to the rest of the Island, but a storm in April, 2007 created a breach making Chappy a true island.
OAK BLUFFS
- Joseph Sylvia State Beach: Small waves and family friendly, this two mile beach along Beach Road lies between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Lemonade and hot-dog stand on Oak Bluffs end.
- Oak Bluffs Town Beach: Directly across from Ocean Park is the only beach with a snack bar and showers. Lifeguards in season. Adjacent Inkwell beach has a longstanding tradition as a gathering place for African-American beachgoers.
WEST TISBURY
Sorry... make friends with a West Tisbury resident if you want to check out these beaches.
CHILMARK
- Menemsha Public Beach: Menemsha beach, aside from its appeal for sunset viewing, is just a teriffic beach for families, fishermen, or anyone (except for people who hate the beach).
AQUINNAH
- Aquinnah Public Beach (Moshup Beach): Under the cliffs of Gayhead is a gorgeous beach world reknowned for its wild beauty, as well as nude sun-bathing at the furthermost end. The shore is somewhat rocky, and the water tends to be cold - but the view of the Cliffs makes up for the $15 parking fee.
Restaurant Details
One of the more surprising things about Martha’s Vineyard is that while the rest of the United States repealed prohibition in 1933, most Island towns are still dry. Edgartown and Oak Bluffs are the only towns where you can buy alcohol - most restaurants elsewhere are BYOB - but even in the non-dry towns some restaurants have only a beer and wine license. Call ahead and check if you have your heart set on a margarita.
On the subject of restaurants, also be aware that because the bars on MV close at 12:30am everything gets pushed back a little - and so maybe consider eating a little earlier than you might in the city.
Some popular smaller restaurants do not accept reservations, and all but a handful of restaurants - no matter what the price - have a casual dress code.
Fun Fact:
As we mentioned earlier - June and September are big months for Island weddings. So big in fact that Martha's Vineyard is the second most popular place to get married in the US. Behind who, you ask? Vegas.
Those are the basics for you, and we hope they help - be sure to write to us below if you feel there are other helpful hints for Vineyard visitors that we have left out.
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