Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard (How to Avoid Getting Stuck)

Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard

Take a Day trip to Martha’s Vineyard and see the best of the island.  Weather, wind, and waves are your biggest enemy when staying on the island.  If the ferries cancel service, you’re stuck.  A local’s tip: stay on Cape Cod and day trip Martha’s Vineyard.  It’s easy to work around ferry issues when you have time to plan.

Pink beach roses line a sandy path heading towards the ocean.

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Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard | Ferry from Woods Hole

We found the best way to get around is to bring your own transportation!  Take your car over on the Steamship Authority from Woods Hole and the round trip ferry is around $128+ depending upon vehicle size/type)..  Vehicle reservations book up fast so make sure to book early.  Well worth it if you have just a day to see everything you want to see.

View from inside the ferry where cars are transported when going to Martha's Vineyard

Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard | Vineyard Haven

Vineyard Haven is where we came in on the ferry so we drove through the neighborhoods exploring.  What a surprise to find a lighthouse where you didn’t expect to see one, right in a residential neighborhood.  As we drove through town we saw many boutique shops on Main Street that would be worth stopping in but, being on a timeline we had an island to see!

White lighthouse. A truck and boat are in the driveway. Lighthouse is next to a white building with a red roof

Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard | Cliffs of Aquinnah

As we left Vineyard Haven we headed West to Aquinnah and the Gay Head Lighthouse.  You can see why President’s vacation here, it gets rural and very secluded quickly.  As soon as we left town we felt the change of pace slow way down.  Some of the most spectacular beaches in the world surround the Vineyard.  Unfortunately, we found more than we would have liked that were private.  A stand out was Lobsterville Beach near Gay Head.

vegetation covered cliffs leading down to the ocean.  A lighthouse is off to the right

As you drive East to Edgartown, enjoy the endless stone walls that highlight your trip through one of New England’s best islands.

A cobblestone wall is in the front of a pond surrounded by grasses and trees

Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard | Edgartown

For those that don’t know, Edgartown is where Jaws was filmed.  We passed right over “Jaws” bridge and while we didn’t know we were on it at the time…we felt something familiar.  In the warm summer weather, this is a great spot to stop and swim.  To find the bridge, take Beach Road north out of Edgartown and …you’ll find it.

Downtown Edgartown had a feel all its own and we enjoyed sitting out on the front patio of Atlantic Fish & Chop House watching the world go by.

A brick walkway along a street in Martha's Vineyard.  A white bicycle with a woven basket is in the foreground

Day Trip Martha’s Vineyard | Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs was a fascinating town, lots of color and big views.  Our favorite parts of town were the old Methodist church camp cabins and Ocean Park.  The church camps are the evolution of tents to more permanent hand built cabins.

Ocean Park is surrounded by colorful, amazing homes overlooking a sea of grass and the ocean in the distance.

The green grassy area of Ocean Park surrounded by colorful housesAs we left Oak Bluffs and had just driven back in to Vineyard Haven we found a great spot for an early dinner.  The Net Result had steamed lobster, mussels, and clams ready for take out!  It is owned by the Larsen family, who have seafood markets all over the Vineyard.  If you see a Larsen restaurant, you found the right spot.

A lobster boil...a plate with a boiled lobster and a red bag filled with muscles and clams

The sunset ferry back to Cape Cod was a nice touch to the end of a long day.  If you are staying at the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn, we are happy to help with custom itineraries to maximize your time here and further afield.  We will find the best so we can share it with you.  Live like a local at the Platinum Pebble and ensure an unforgettable vacation.  If you are interested in learning more about the Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn as your next great bucket list vacation, click below for a virtual tour.

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Ariel view of The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn, the pool area and gardens

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