Martha's Vineyard Facts

Martha's Vineyard is bounded by Vineyard Sound, Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. Just five miles from Cape Cod, this island is noted for its varied landscape and the individual character of its towns and residents.

Edgartown

Edgartown was once a large whaling community that boomed in the late 18th Century and early 19th Century. Today it is a popular destination for its many historic homes, many of which once belonged to famous sea captains. The Old Whaling Church is the oldest in Edgartown. There are also many charming bed and breakfasts, such as Arbor Inn, and restaurants such as the Seafood Shanty in this area.

Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs was once called "Cottage City," and it's...

...is a picturesque island indeed. The down-island towns of Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown are fairly compact, with shopping, beaches and attractions in town. Up-island towns, like Menemsha and Chilmark, are quaint and quiet villages that evoke the island's maritime past.

Things to Do

Bicycle the shaded paths that hug the coastline. Stroll down to lively Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs for a Mad Martha's ice cream cone and then ride the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest working platform carousel in the country. Cheerful Victorian gingerbread cottages enliven its bustling harbor. Wander past the manicured lawns of regal 18th-century homes in gentile Edgartown before taking a short ferry...