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Massachusetts
Martha's Vineyard
An island south of Cape Cod: Oak Bluffs' gingerbread cottages and old carousel, Edgartown's white captains' houses and lighthouse, the clay cliffs at Aquinnah and the fishing village of Menemsha.
Photo: Illumination Night in Oak Bluffs, Krmanizz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Oak Bluffs grew from a 19th-century Methodist camp meeting, and its brightly painted gingerbread cottages still ring the Tabernacle. The Flying Horses Carousel is among the oldest operating platform carousels in the country. Grab the brass ring.
Edgartown is a town of whaling captains' houses. At the island's west end, the clay cliffs of Aquinnah are on Wampanoag land.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Cheap
Long Point Wildlife Refuge
A quiet beach and ponds.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Oak Bluffs Campground
Gingerbread cottages around the open-air Tabernacle.
Cheap
Flying Horses Carousel
One of the oldest operating platform carousels in the country.
Paid
Gay Head Light
A brick lighthouse above the Aquinnah cliffs.
Season Open roughly Memorial Day weekend–Labor Day weekend (check before you go).
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Steamship Authority ferry
Car and passenger ferries from Woods Hole to the island.
Part of our Cape Cod and the Islands guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Island buses link the towns, so no car is needed.
- Sunset in Menemsha.
- Ferries fill up in summer, so book ahead.
Nearby and worth the drive
Cape Codabout 60 min · Guide ↗
Provincetown and Chatham.
Newportabout 2 h · Guide ↗Mansions and the Cliff Walk.
Ready-made trips with Martha's Vineyard
Good to know
- Ferries: Car and passenger ferries from Woods Hole: Steamship Authority.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Illumination Night in Oak Bluffs, Krmanizz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gay Head Cliffs - Aquinnah - Martha's Vineyard - MA - USA, Alberto Fernandez Fernandez, CC BY 2.5
Photo: Chilmark Menemsha Pond Overlook State Road Vineyard Haven Marthas Vineyard, EgorovaSvetlana, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Edgartown Lighthouse, brando from TX, CC BY 2.0