Martha's Vineyard Guidebook
Getting Around
The best way to explore the island is by car or bike. Taxis and Ubers are also available, as is public transportation. Public buses run along the Edgartown-West Tisbury Road, a short walk from the house. See the Martha's Vineyard Transit Authority website for maps and schedules.
Options for car rentals, bike rentals, and taxis are listed below.
Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals
1 Main StWheel Happy Too
204 Upper Main StEdgartown Bicycles
212 Upper Main StAdam Cab LLC
256 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven RdAll-Island Taxi of Martha's Vineyard
42 Circuit AveBluefish Taxi
72 Airport RdLighthouse Taxi Martha's Vineyard
24E Airport RdMartha's Vineyard Taxi Co.
14 Cedar AveA-A Island Auto Rental
4 Water StA-A Island Auto Rental
4 Water StBudget Car Rental
9 Oak Bluffs AveBudget Car Rental
9 Oak Bluffs AveHertz Car Rental
29 Water StMartha's Vineyard Auto Rental
196 Upper Main StreetSun & Fun Inc
28 Lake AveGroceries
There are plenty of grocery stores on the Vineyard. Below are some of our favorites and those most convenient to our house.
Stop & Shop
225 Upper Main StEdgartown Meat & Fish Market
240 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven RdKatama General Store
170 Katama RdConvolvulaceae
120 Meshacket RoadCronig's Markets
357 State RdThe Net Result
79 Beach RdDining
There are many excellent restaurants on the Vineyard. Below are some of our favorites.
Particularly good for families with young kids are The Wharf (owned by Matt's cousins), Offshore Ale, Barn Bowl & Bistro (has bowling & food), Black Dog Tavern, and Giordano's.
Great breakfast options are Right Fork Diner (where you can watch old-style bi-planes take off and land on a grass air strip), Artcliff Diner, Black Dog Tavern, Back Door Donuts, and Linda Jean’s.
For a unique Vineyard experience, eat cooked lobsters on the beach at Menemsha and watch one of the best sunsets on the east coast. Call Larsen's Fish Market or Menemsha Fish Market in advance. They will cook & crack the lobsters for you and give you all you need (butter, napkins, wipes, etc.) to enjoy dinner on the beach. If you decide to try this, we'd advise taking a taxi or Uber, as parking can be difficult during the busy summer months.
ArtCliff Diner
39 Beach RdAtria
137 Main StBack Door Donuts
1-11 Kennebec AveThe Barn
13 Uncas AveThe Black Dog Tavern
20 Beach Street ExtensionGiordano's Restaurant
18 Lake AveLarsen's Fish Market
56 Basin RdLinda Jean's Restaurant
25 Circuit AvenueMenemsha Fish Market
54 Basin RdThe Net Result
79 Beach RdOffshore Ale Co
30 Kennebec AveThe Port Hunter
55 Main StThe Right Fork Diner
Kelly StreetRockfish
11 N Water StThe Sweet Life Café
63 Circuit AveThe Wharf
3 Main StWolf's Den Pizzeria Tisbury
45 Beach RdWolf's den Pizzeria | Edgartown
249 Edgartown-Vineyard Haven RdBeaches
The Vineyard has great beaches. See the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce website for a map and descriptions of each. Below are our favorites.
Beautiful clay cliffs. A great option up island.
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Aquinnah Public Beach
53 Moshup TrailBeautiful clay cliffs. A great option up island.
Good for families with kids. Very few waves. Parking lot close to the beach. Convenient location to Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven.
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Eastville Point Beach
351 Beach RdGood for families with kids. Very few waves. Parking lot close to the beach. Convenient location to Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven.
The bridge at State Beach is fun for brave kids & adults to jump off. If you plan to go to State Beach and try this, best place to park is on the Edgartown side of the bridge (closer walk to the beach) as close as you can get to the bridge.
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Jaws Bridge
267-125 Seaview AveThe bridge at State Beach is fun for brave kids & adults to jump off. If you plan to go to State Beach and try this, best place to park is on the Edgartown side of the bridge (closer walk to the beach) as close as you can get to the bridge.
An excellent option for families with kids. Very calm water and parking on the road close to the beach. Make sure to have kids use the bathroom before going here, as there are no bathrooms at the beach (though the dunes can suffice in an emergency!).
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Joseph Sylvia State Beach
267-125 Seaview AvenueAn excellent option for families with kids. Very calm water and parking on the road close to the beach. Make sure to have kids use the bathroom before going here, as there are no bathrooms at the beach (though the dunes can suffice in an emergency!).
Across the harbor inlet from Menemsha, this beach is just as beautiful and less crowded, but a farther drive because you have to go around Menemsha Pond to get there.
Spiaggia di Lobsterville
21 Lobsterville RdAcross the harbor inlet from Menemsha, this beach is just as beautiful and less crowded, but a farther drive because you have to go around Menemsha Pond to get there.
Long Point Wildlife Refuge
Scrubby Neck RoadNice fishing village with beach. Excellent sunset viewing. Get there early to get good parking.
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Spiaggia di Menemsha
56-42 Basin RoadNice fishing village with beach. Excellent sunset viewing. Get there early to get good parking.
Norton Point is one of our favorites. Our kids call it "Big Wave Beach." It is a great option for families with kids (though waves can be big on windy days) because you can drive on to the beach without having to carry all your gear. But it requires a 4WD vehicle and the purchase of a drive-on pass, which you can buy at Coop's Bait & Tackle on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. The entrance to Norton Point is located at the end of left fork at Katama. Make sure that you deflate your tires before driving on. (There is an air station at the entrance to the drive-on section.)
Spiaggia di Norton Point
Norton Point is one of our favorites. Our kids call it "Big Wave Beach." It is a great option for families with kids (though waves can be big on windy days) because you can drive on to the beach without having to carry all your gear. But it requires a 4WD vehicle and the purchase of a drive-on pass, which you can buy at Coop's Bait & Tackle on Edgartown-West Tisbury Road. The entrance to Norton Point is located at the end of left fork at Katama. Make sure that you deflate your tires before driving on. (There is an air station at the entrance to the drive-on section.)
Small beach, very close to Ocean Park and Oak Bluffs town. Great for a quick swim if you're hanging out in Oak Bluffs.
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Spiaggia di Oak Bluffs
Small beach, very close to Ocean Park and Oak Bluffs town. Great for a quick swim if you're hanging out in Oak Bluffs.
A nice little beach with no waves where you can watch boats and the ferries come & go in the Vineyard Haven harbor. The beach has a swing set for kids.
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Spiaggia di Owen Park
A nice little beach with no waves where you can watch boats and the ferries come & go in the Vineyard Haven harbor. The beach has a swing set for kids.
Great beach, close to our house. Parking lots and bathrooms close to the beach.
15 persone del luogo consigliano
Spiaggia di Katama / Spiaggia del Sud
555 Katama RdGreat beach, close to our house. Parking lots and bathrooms close to the beach.
A beautiful beach on Chappaquiddick, also great for fishing. Take the small car ferry over to Chappy from the Edgartown Wharf.
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Wasque Point
11 Dike RdA beautiful beach on Chappaquiddick, also great for fishing. Take the small car ferry over to Chappy from the Edgartown Wharf.
Activities
The Vineyard has tons of activities, rain or shine. These have been some of our favorites over the years.
Allen Farm Sheep & Wool Co
421 S RdBen and Bill's Chocolate Emporium
20a Circuit AveBook-A-Boat
Boathouse RoadBunch of Grapes Bookstore
23 Main StChilmark Chocolates
19 State RdFarm Neck Golf Club
1 Farm Neck WayFarm Neck Tennis
Farm Neck RoadField Gallery
1050 State RdFlying Horses Carousel
15 Oak Bluffs AveGranary Gallery
636 Old County RdIsland Alpaca Company
1 Head of the Pond RdIsland Cove Mini Golf
386 State RdIsland Spirit Kayak
Edgartown Oak Bluffs RoadMad Martha's Edgartown
7 N Water StMad Max Sailing Adventures
25 Dock StMuseo di Martha's Vineyard
151 Lagoon Pond RdMartha's Vineyard Sightseeing
23 Lake AveMartha's Vineyard Playhouse
24 Church StMenemsha Blues Charters
54 Basin RdA great place to fly kites and run around, close to Oak Bluffs town.
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Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs station
A great place to fly kites and run around, close to Oak Bluffs town.
Pirate Adventures: Martha's Vineyard
12 Circuit Avenue ExtensionRyan Family Amusements
19 Circuit AveScoop Shack
22 Dock StThe Barn
13 Uncas AveSkipper
11 Park StTisbury Toy Box
79 Beach RdParks & Nature
Cape Poge Lighthouse
59 Lighthouse RdRifugio della fauna selvatica del Capo Poge
40 Road To The GutCedar Tree Neck
Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary
Mass Audubon's Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
100 Felix Neck DrPolly Hill Arboretum station
Fishing with Kids
Our kids love to fish. Here are some good spots, along with a couple of bait shops.
Coop's Bait & Tackle
147 W Tisbury RdDick's Bait & Tackle
108 New York AveEastville Point Beach
351 Beach RdEdgartown Memorial Wharf
50 Dock StOak Bluffs Fishing Pier
6-8 Seaview AveSpiaggia di Owen Park
Sharks Landing Bait & Tackle
2 E Chop Dr