For years now a girl’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard has been on my bucket list. The town’s all-American vibe, charming downtown area in Edgartown, and quite frankly, the lobster rolls, were everything I expected and more when I visited a few weeks ago.
After figuring out how to get there (more on that below), Camille and I locked in the dates and started planning our itinerary. Today’s post offers a complete Martha’s Vineyard travel guide, including where to stay, what to do and where to eat. It was a girl’s trip for me, but it can be a fun family trip to Martha’s Vineyard for you!
Martha’s Vineyard Travel Guide
One of the first facts you’ll learn as you plan your trip to Martha’s Vineyard is that the movie Jaws was filmed there in the 1970’s. It’s an iconic film, so it’s a huge deal! The next thing you’ll quickly realize is that there’s a prime window for when to visit Martha’s Vineyard and it’s in the summer months. If you’ve read any of my other travel guides, you know I always recommend the shoulder season for travel. There are less travelers and it’s often less expensive. If you can, try to plan your trip for May or September. They’re the best times to visit the island. Memorial Day weekend kicks off the start of the season and once schools are back in session, the foot traffic begins to fade.
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How to Get to Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is a beautiful place with gorgeous homes that are often traditional farmhouse style. Many on the East Coast grew up vacationing there. But, if you’re coming from out of town getting there can be a bit confusing!
Getting to Martha’s Vineyard by Ferry
One of the most common routes (and the one we took) is by ferry from Steamship Authority’s Wood’s Hole port in Cape Cod to either Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven ports on Martha’s Vineyard. Tickets are pretty affordable and you can buy them online. PRO TIP: Depending on the day, your travel plans may get thrown off a bit! We originally had a ticket taking us to Vineyard Haven. But, earlier schedule mishaps with the ferries put us into Oak Bluffs instead. Good news is that they’re only 10 minutes apart.
Getting to Martha’s Vineyard by Plane, Train, Car or Bus
Of course, you have to get yourself to the port somehow! Since I was coming from Florida and Camille was in NYC, I flew into Boston Logan International Airport and she took the train. Camille’s longtime friend lives on the island now and recommended Cape Car Service to us. They book up early, so last minute trips may be tough to accommodate. But, their service was amazing. If you prefer a less expensive route, you can always take the Peter Pan Bus. Traffic is pretty variable, so budget for 2-2.5 hours from the city to Cape Cod.
Where to Stay in Martha’s Vineyard
As you start to plan where to stay in Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll also uncover that the island is a series of small towns (Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Chilmark, Tisbury, West Tisbury and Aquinnah). Edgartown has the largest population on the island and each of the hotels I’m recommending below are there since it’s where we spent most of our time. But, I also heard that Oak Bluffs has a great nightlife atmosphere! Of course, you can also rent an AirBnb. But, since much of the island is covered in mansions, it an get quite pricey.
Harbor View Hotel
The premier hotel on Martha’s Vineyard, the Harbor View Hotel boasts the best view on the island. It’s also just footsteps away from the Edgartown Harbor Light (the most popular lighthouse on the island) and many of the local shopping boutiques. An iconic property with just 117 rooms, the recently renovated resort will cater to your every need.
The Charlotte Inn
If you love the English countryside, this quaint bed and breakfast is for you! The grounds and gardens are meticulously kept and each of the sitting rooms has a large collection of art and knick-knacks. The 17 guest rooms, 2 suites – even the check-in desk – are all reminders of a bygone era.
The Edgartown Collection
Made up of four small properties (The Edgartown Inn, The Charlotte, The Sydney, and The Christoper) the Edgartown Collection is a set of modern boutique hotels with a total of 69 rooms. They’re very sleek and all renovated! My pick would be the Edgartown Inn.
What to Do on Martha’s Vineyard
The island may be small, but there are lots of things to do on Martha’s Vineyard. We spent plenty of time shopping (I had to get a soft sweatshirt to remind me of the trip!), but we also enjoyed some unique experiences that I highly recommend, like visiting the Grey Barn & Farm and driving to Menemsha to grab the best lobster rolls in Martha’s Vineyard.
Go Shopping in Downtown Edgartown
What would a girl’s trip to Martha’s Vineyard be without some (or a lot) of shopping?! Buyer beware – there are lots of cute boutiques!
- The Boneyard – the coolest surf shop on the island, hands down! The Boneyard has their own namesake merchandise plus plenty of well-known surf brands and a killer collection of bathing suits.
- Slate – oh boy. If I lived in town, all my money would go to Slate, a well-curated women’s boutique. They carry some of my favorite brands, like Sea New York, ALC, Misa Los Angeles and more.
- Sea Legs – another local women’s boutique, Sea Legs carries affordable brands like ASTR as well as one of my personal favorites, LoveShackFancy.
- Shirt-Tales – I did my rounds and this is where the cutest tourist gear is in town. I purchased the softest Martha’s Vineyard sweatshirt that I now wear multiple times a week around the house.
See the Edgartown Harbor Light
There are actually five lighthouses in Martha’s Vineyard. But, one of the most well-known is the Edgartown Harbor Light. It was reconstructed in 1939 and originally on an island. But, it’s since been reconnected to the mainland through an accumulation of sand. It’s a quick visit, but well worth it! You can park on the street by the Harbor View Hotel and then walk down just 5-10 minutes to the lighthouse.
Visit The Grey Barn & Farm
Another can’t miss spot in Martha’s Vineyard is The Grey Barn & Farm in Chilmark. Stopping in here for a tour and cheese tasting was a highlight of the trip! Grey Barn is a certified organic farm, creamery and bakery. The award-winning cheese made onsite has been featured in the NYTimes and other major publications. So, it goes without saying that the cheese tasting is a must-do activity on your trip.
We tasted the Eidolon and the Prufrock with a side of honey and other delicious accompaniments (see below) from their bakery. The croissant is out of this world, but the menu changes daily. The sweet cheese danish was my absolute favorite, but I wish we’d been able to try their Kouigh Amann!
I can’t say enough amazing things about the talented team here. Aside from the tours and tastings they offer, anyone can come grab some of their delicious breads and pastries, BYOB and hang out at the picnic tables on the farm grounds. It’s the perfect summer activity for couples, friends, or family trip.
Grab Lobster Rolls (in Menemsha)
As we were planning our trip, getting lobster rolls came up quite a few times and was added to the list. You can practically find them anywhere on the island. But, I’m so glad we made the short road trip to Menemsha and got them there at Menemsha Fish Market. It was pricey (based on market rate for lobster) at around $29 per roll. But, it was 100% worth it. They are fresh off the boat and it’s such an authentic, delicious experience. We ate ours down closer to the beach and watched the sunset.
Where to Eat in Martha’s Vineyard
One thing you’ll quickly find about restaurants in Martha’s Vineyard is that they’re seasonal! This means that they’re mostly open from April through October when the majority of tourists are visiting the island. Be sure to take that into consideration no matter where you eat. PRO TIP: I also highly recommend making reservations. With the influx of visitors during prime season, some of the best restaurants will have very few openings (and some don’t take reservations at all… so prepare to get there early!).
19 Raw Oyster Bar / 19 Prime – Directions Here
Top of the list for where to eat on Martha’s Vineyard is 19 Raw Oyster Bar. I was first intrigued because the chef and owner of the restaurant is from South Beach Miami! And, he’s hit the nail on the head with this place. They don’t take reservations, so my tip is to go early! They serve brunch, lunch and dinner. But, don’t worry! If oysters aren’t your thing, they also have amazing beef selection (Camille got the filet). I had the lobster bolognese which was a huge portion. Then, we shared the jalapeño creamed corn (delicious) and brussels sprouts as our sides.
Behind the Bookstore – Directions Here
Leave it to a local to recommend one of the hidden gems with the best coffee in Martha’s Vineyard! Annette made sure Behind the Bookstore was our first breakfast spot in town and we were sure to come back one more time before the end of our trip. They offer a great menu, from their sweet pastries to their egg sandwich (shown above). Plus, their daily flavored lattes are incredible.
L’Etoile – Directions Here
Another standout meal of the trip was at L’Etoile. I love an intimate ambiance and attentive servers and L’Etoile excelled at both during our dinner. Plus, I found the most amazing non-alcoholic beer while we dined here. For someone who is pregnant, that is a huge win! The pesto bread is out of this world good. Be sure to say yes to the second loaf. Like many local places, the menu here rotates seasonally. If it’s available, get the asparagus and sweet pea soup. It’s accompanied by a large Parmesan crisp and is infused with black truffle and butter-poached bites of lobster. Then, for my main I ordered the braised boneless short ribs which came atop a cheddar polenta. Overall, the vibe is very chic here. It’s perfect for date night or a nice group dinner.
Atria – Directions Here
One of our last meals of the trip was at Atria and the casual but cool atmosphere was perfect. To be clear, we ate downstairs at the Brick Cellar Bar. There’s also an upstairs restaurant that has a similar menu but feels more formal. Downstairs has a happening bar and the food did not disappoint. I got the French burger and Camille had the Classic burger. Let’s just say that we nearly licked the plates clean!
The Port Hunter – Directions Here
Another spot we didn’t eat at but that I wanted to include is The Port Hunter. It’s a newer spot in town as I understand and at night it becomes like a bit of a hot spot with great music and dancing! If and when we come back to town, this restaurant/bar will be on my list!
Rosewater Cafe – Directions Here
Last, but not least, is Rosewater Cafe. They have two locations in town not far from each other. But, one is more of a sit down spot while the other is more grab ‘n go. Next time I’m in town I’d love to try more of their breakfast menu (beyond the cheddar biscuit, which was good). But, we were quite loyal to Beyond the Bookstore and just grabbed coffee and pastries here quickly one morning. I love the vibe though!
Ice Cream & Candy Bazaar – Directions Here
How could I forget the ice cream shop!? Sundae’s were definitely in order after a day of sightseeing on the island. This is premium ice cream, so it’s definitely not calorie light. But, who wants that on vacation anyways? This shop is right down by the water, so you can grab your cone or cup and sit down on benches on the dock.
After years, I can now check this location off the list! I hope you find my complete Martha’s Vineyard travel guide helpful in planning your trip. If you visit any of the spots I recommend, leave a comment below and let me know how you liked it!
