My husband and I would love to visit MV this summer. My questions are,
1. which section to stay in? We love dining out, shopping, he%26#39;d love to fish off the beach/pier, we love going out to bars. Is there any section that is best for this type of activity, and we can walk to? Any hotel/inn recommendations? He doesn%26#39;t like B%26amp;Bs.
I really want to be in the middle of some action.
2. is it a one time fee to bring the car onto the island or is it daily?
Thank you!
Never been, need guidance!Hi,
It sounds like your looking for a mixture of things to do on island. First of all, you should know that Oak Bluffs and Edgartown are the only two towns permitted to sell alcoholic beverages. Those are the two towns you will find the drinking establishments and package stores. All the other towns have a BYOB policy. Vineyard Haven is the town that is most bustling in summer. There%26#39;s all sorts of things going on there during summer since it%26#39;s by far it%26#39;s biggest town. You would probably find yourself here doing most of your shopping and people watching.Like I mentioned above,you can bring your booze to any of Vineyard Haven%26#39;s restaurants if you want to dine out there. Bringing a car to the island is something I never recommend. It%26#39;s sometimes a pain reserving a ferry reservation [if not impossible] for your car depending on when your planning to visit in the summer. I think July is already sold out for car reservations. Besides, it costs around $150 to bring your car and there is 1 gas station on island, in Vineyard Haven. Many people just cruise through town on rental bikes, and if you want to town hop, the Vineyard Transit shuttles will take you to any town on the island for $3 each way. To save money, most people by 3 or 7 day passes depending on how long they%26#39;re staying and how much they plan to use the shuttle. 3 day passes are $15, 7 day $25.
Never been, need guidance!Thank you for that info, I think though that we want to stay in a town that sells alcohol at the restaurants, would you recommend Edgartown or Oak Bluffs?
How often do the buses run? How late at night? How long does it take to get from Edgartown to Oak Bluffs and vice versa?
So where do you get the ferry to get on the island if you don%26#39;t want to bring your car? What is the parking like on the mainland for people that want to stay a few days?
If it were me, I would stay in Oak Bluffs over Edgartown. Oak Bluffs to Vineyard Haven is a mere 2 miles. Oak Bluffs to Edgartown is around 6. It would all depend on when you were to visit as far as when the buses run until and how often. Peak summer is when they would run the longest. Look at the website and it should give you a pretty good idea of when they run and how often. http://www.vineyardtransit.com/Pages/index
To take the ferry, you drive to Woods Hole on Cape Cod. Ferry costs $14 roundtrip per adult and takes around 45 minutes to reach the Vineyard. You would park your car at the parking area at Woods Hole. I think it went up to $12 per day, but it might still be $10.
Just a quick note, there is more than 1 gas station on the island. At least 4 to my knowledge.
I believe Oak Bluffs has probably the most active night life on the island. Edgartown is more of a family place to stay but still has a rather active night life. Lots of shopping and good places to eat in both areas. You probably will find more bars in Oak Bluffs.
It is expensive to bring your car over onto the island, but I have never gone over without my car. I mean there are pluses and minuses...VERY expensive gas on the island and quite a bit of traffic and parking trouble at some places in the summer months. However, I enjoy the convenience of having a car and despite the minuses, I%26#39;d rather have a car than take the public transit system..I can go where I want and stay out as late as I want. I think public transit is ok for a day trip or a couple days on the island, however if you are going to stay for a week it might be worth it to bring a car. But it is all according to your preference and the amount of money at your disposal.
It is a bit late at this point to get the reservation you probably need for the ferry, however you can always waitlist. I%26#39;ve been put on the waitlist probably 5 or 6 times and every time eventually got the dates I had asked for.
Hope everything goes well for you and have a nice trip!
I do apologize. There are now 6 gas stations on MV.
lilaimee,
Some of the information you have received in this thread is inaccurate. I live here on the island and can give you a different perspective, so I%26#39;ll try and clarify;
One poster stated Vineyard Haven is the most bustling of the towns in the summer. Not true. Definitely look at staying in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown if you want action and nightlife. Both of these towns are family towns as well as young couple, and older persons with loads of restaurants and shops. The difference being Oak Bluffs was built as a summer resort with an overall atmosphere of fun. The architecture is Victorian, gingerbread and colorful. You%26#39;ll find a great harbor area with restaurants and bars, an arcade and one of the oldest still operating carousels, as well as a decent sized town beach. You will find restaurants and shopping of all levels here.
Edgartown was developed during the whaling industry, so you have quintessential New England white clapboard houses adorned with black shutters and white fences. Plenty of restaurants and shops to keep you happy. Some folks relax in town at the beach, but South Beach is a few miles away, an ocean beach frequented and loved by many.
I do agree with the previous poster about waitlisting you car on the Steamship Authority ferry. It is highly likely you will get the slot you request, even at this time. Bringing a car over is a personal decision. The island is 100 sq miles, so a lot of area can be covered. The VTA bus line does a great job covering the island. And taxis are always available, but can add up to quite a bit. Traveling without the car on the island can provide a nice respite from the daily grind. Walk and relax. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. You can always rent a car for one day to see the rest of the island. How long you plan to stay can affect your choice and cost comparison.
Passenger ferries are available closer to you, to shave off driving with the Cape bound traffic, which can jam up at the Bourne Bridge. In Rhode Island, there is the Vineyard Fast Ferry and New Bedford, Mass. has the New England Fast Ferry. There is also a passenger ferry in Falmouth, the Island Queen. All have parking lots.
Search the reviews for recommendations on places to stay. Other threads have lots of good information, and that would be a good place to start on lodging.
Gas on the island is at least 50 cents more than on the mainland, so always make sure you fill up before you get on the ferry. Should you run out, there are at least 8 gas stations and probably more that I can think of at the moment.
Have fun!
Knows -
Thank you so much for your thorough information! I really appreciate it!
Bottom line, stay in OB, and unless you like waiting for busses, paying a lot for taxis or even more for a rental car here, you should bring your car. As an islander I shouldn%26#39;t say that, keep away tourists with cars clogging up the roads! Just kidding, seriously, I%26#39;d bring a car. I came here once on vaca before I moved here and regretted not bringing a car. We ended up renting a moped which was fun for about half a day and then it gets uncomfortable and you have helmet head and nowhere to stow anything such as purchases from all the cute shops. It will cost you about the same amount to get your car over and back as it would to rent a car for 2 days. If you like nightlife, go to Outerland which is near the airport. Call the steamship authority asap and get on the wait list for a ferry reservation. Good luck, have fun! Go MV!
Take the high speed ferry from North Kingstown RI...you%26#39;ll save at least 90 minutes of driving trying to get to Woods Hole or Hyannis. Parking is cheaper, and the ride is spectacular. http://www.vineyardfastferry.com/
We%26#39;ve been going to the Vineyard for 30+ years, during the summer and also less frequently in Spring and Fall.
Few comments responding to your questions:
1-All 3 more populated areas -- Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven -- have dining out and shopping. For shopping, Edgartown is a bit more upscale; OB more family and casual. For dining, there are wonderful restaurants throughout the island. VH is probably a mix of both. There is a pier in Edgartown that you could fish off of, and walk to.
2-Depending on how long you stay, you could rent a house for a week, which would be more reasonable in the long run.
3-There is so much to see on the Island, that having a car is definitely worth it. Many of those responding were right when they say that it is crowded in the summer time, and driving around can definitely be a hassle. Regardless of where you chose to stay, tho, there are gas stations. On the other hand, with a car, you should definitely drive to other parts of the island [up island] to explore and see it. There are wonderful, beautiful cliffs at Aquinnah/Gay Head, sunsets at Menemsha [where you could fish off either that jetty or other side, as well as order cooked lobsters from larsen%26#39;s fish market and eat it at the beach as the sun sets -- not much better than that!], winery and antiquing, farmer%26#39;s market. If you happen to have a 4 wheel drive, you could take a 5 minute ferry ride over to Chappequidick from Edgartown and ride your car out onto the beach. Plenty of fishing there, too. But, you need a good 4 wheel drive able to drive on sand, and you must buy a pricey permit that is then good for a year. And don%26#39;t miss Mad Martha%26#39;s ice cream -- wow!!!
4-It%26#39;s a wonderful place, but the summer does tend to be the most crowded, so you must go prepared with that in mind if you%26#39;re going summertime,
Andrea ZNy
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