Welcome to the Vineyard

The Vineyard

If you live here or come often, you know it as simply “The Vineyard.”

Up-Island vs. Down-Island
Up-Island refers to the quieter western towns, Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury. Down-Island is where you'll find the busier eastern towns, Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven.

Islanders
If someone says they're an Islander, they were likely born here. Everyone else is simply enjoying the island, but you can still live like a local.

On-Island / Off-Island
People aren't "in Martha’s Vineyard." They're either on-island or off-island.

The Boat
No explanation needed. It's the ferry.

Chappy
Short for Chappaquiddick. Just hop on the tiny ferry from Edgartown to get there.

Ferry reservations fill up quickly during summer.

• Grocery stores and smaller shops often close earlier than visitors expect.
• The island moves at its own pace. Slow down, you'll enjoy it more.
• Early mornings are when many locals enjoy beaches and downtown before the crowds arrive.

Edgartown

Elegant but relaxed, Edgartown is known for brick sidewalks, white captains' homes, boutique shops, and one of the prettiest harbors in New England.

Worth Knowing: Walk to the Chappaquiddick ferry just to watch it shuttle back and forth. It's one of those simple Vineyard traditions that never gets old.

Don't miss South Beach, Katama Airfield, or Jaws Bridge, yes, that Jaws.

Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs is where the Vineyard comes alive. Colorful cottages, harbor views, restaurants, nightlife, and the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest operating carousel in America.

Worth Knowing: Visit Circuit Avenue early in the morning before it fills with visitors. It feels like a completely different town.

It's also one of the island's primary ferry ports, making it an easy place to begin exploring.

Chilmark & Menemsha

This is where life slows down.

Menemsha Harbor is famous for fresh seafood, working fishing boats, and sunsets that draw both locals and visitors.

Worth Knowing: Pick up dinner from Larsen’s or Menemsha Fish Market and eat it on the beach while the sun goes down.

Aquinnah

At the western edge of the island, Aquinnah feels almost untouched. Towering clay cliffs, quiet beaches, and panoramic views create one of the Vineyard's most unforgettable landscapes.

Worth Knowing: Come for the scenery, but stay for the silence. This is where the Vineyard truly exhales.

Tisbury / Vineyard Haven

Home to the island's year-round ferry terminal, Vineyard Haven blends a historic harbor with independent bookstores, cafés, and a quieter pace than neighboring Oak Bluffs.

Worth Knowing: Grab a coffee and wander the harbor before the first ferry crowds arrive.

West Tisbury

If someone asks where the Vineyard still feels like the "old Vineyard," chances are they're talking about West Tisbury.

Rolling farmland, winding roads, and Alley's General Store, serving Islanders since 1858, make this one of the island's most authentic corners. And don’t miss Lucy Vincent Beach.

Worth Knowing: If you’re visiting in August, the Agricultural Fair, a true island tradition that’s been bringing locals together for generations.

Slow down. That’s how the Vineyard is meant to be experienced.