Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket
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Martha's Vineyard & Nantucket
Martha's Vineyard
Oak Bluffs’ brightly painted “Gingerbread Cottages” have a rich history dating back to a 19th-century Methodist summercampground. It’s also home to the country’s oldest continuously working carousel, Flying Horses, and has an active nightlife and bustling inner harbour. Tisbury, home to the year-round port of Vineyard Haven, is picturesque and chock-full of unique shops and cultural venues. Edgartown, with the largest summer population, includes Chappaquiddick Island and the area of South Beach.
Downtown Edgartown, a yachting community, has cobblestoned sidewalks and historic homes of whaling captains. “Up Island” includes the rural communities of West Tisbury and Chilmark with its working fishing village of Menemsha and the dramatic color-streaked Aquinnah Cliffs, where beach sunsets are applauded by visitors. Five lighthouses, all originally built in the 1800s, dot this 20 x 9 mile Island: West Chop Lighthouse, Tisbury; East Chop Lighthouse, Oak Bluffs;
Edgartown Lighthouse; Gay Head Lighthouse, Aquinnah; and Cape Poge Lighthouse, Chappaquiddick.
Enjoy the journey to the island from a variety of locations and choose from fast ferries, traditional ferries, or even fly in. The island has two ferry docks, one in Oak Bluffs and a year-round dock in Vineyard Haven.
Nantucket
Take your time to adjust to the slower pace of island life and explore – on foot or by bicycle – Nantucket’s unspoiled beaches, solitary lighthouses, and acres of conservation land. Take a dip in Nantucket Sound, surf cast for bluefish, or spend a day deep-sea fishing. Cobblestoned streets and an array of stately Georgian, Federal, and Greek revival homes
reflect Nantucket’s history as a prosperous whaling port. Now, sea captains houses stand side-by-side with antiques stores and galleries.
The Black Heritage Trail features 10 sites that reveal the heritage of African Americans living on Nantucket. The Nantucket Historical Association Whaling Museum features a 47-foot sperm whale skeleton, scrimshaw, and the original fabric of the spermaceti candle factory. Its exhibits and galleries offer a compelling insight into the island’s history as the “whaling capital of the world.” Visit a number of historic sites within walking distance, including the Oldest House built in the 1680’s;
the stately Hadwen House, a ship captain’s mansion; The Old Mill; and Greater Light, an 18th-century livestock barn renovated into a summer home and art studio.
Other historical treasures include Mitchell House, home of world-famous astronomer Maria Mitchell, and the African Meeting House. For a different type of adventure, take the kids to the Maria Mitchell Aquarium. Start your relaxing trip to Nantucket on the traditional ferry for a leisurely two hour, fifteen minute voyage from Hyannis. Need to get there faster? Take the high-speed ferry which is just one hour, door-to-door from Hyannis. Ferry service is also provided from New Bedford and New York and New Jersey.
