Ultimate Guide to Edgartown Martha’s Vineyard
The Massachusetts island located just South of Cape Cod is none other than the beautiful Martha’s Vineyard. The island is 9 miles (12.8k) wide and 26 miles (40k) long at its furthest points, making it approximately 96 square miles. The island itself is a longtime summer colony that encompasses harbor towns, lighthouses, beaches and farmland. It can be reached by boat or air and is the ideal location for couples, families and friends looking for an upscale getaway.
On Martha’s Vineyard you can find amazing beaches and cliffs, ride bikes through town and down trails, visit museums, explore lighthouses, go boating, observe wildlife, browse the authentic shops, get a glimpse of the arts and cultures and eat fresh, delicious food. It’s truly the ideal summer destination where you can experience culture, the great outdoors and luxury all at once.
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Ultimate Guide to Edgartown Martha's Vineyard
How To Get To Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is only accessible by boat or plane. Most people take the ferry service from one of the main terminals, like Woods Hole and Oak Bluffs, where you’ll be on Martha’s Vineyard within 45 minutes. You’re welcome to bring your car on the ferry for $180 roundtrip or leave your car at the parking lot close-by for $12-$15 a night. This is the most popular option among New Englanders and those taking a road trip from all over the country. More info on the ferry below!
The closest airports include Martha’s Vineyard (MVY) (7 minutes away) and Barnstable Municipal Airport (1 hour away). And you’ll be flying Cape Air. All other airports, like Logan Airport, will take 2 1/2 hours or longer to get to the island. Once you’re on the island you can freely take your car anywhere, use shuttles to get around the island or rent bikes. It’s an extremely bike-friendly place and makes for a great experience. There are mopeds available but I highly suggest avoiding that unless you really know how to ride one. They are extremely dangerous and people are injured often when riding mopeds in general.
Once you make your way to Martha’s Vineyard you’ll want to spend time in the quaint little town of Edgartown. Edgartown is unique from the rest of the towns on the island due to its beautiful historic streets with mainstream brands nestled in between, offering a good blend of downtime and diversion to its visitors.
Edgartown Ferry Schedule
Edgartown is located on the eastern end of Martha’s Vineyard and is referred to as “down-island.”
You can get there by car once you’re on the island; it’s about 6 miles from the airport and the ferry, taking you about 20 minutes total. If you don’t have a car, there are shuttles available at the airport and the ferry that leave frequently. You should be able to find an Uber/Lyft as well. But they definitely aren’t as plentiful. Once you’ve reached Edgartown you can easily get around by foot or bike.
Known for its historic streets, picturesque lighthouse, adorable shops and restaurants, relaxing atmosphere and low-key vibes, Edgartown has something for everyone. It’s a great town for couples, small groups, solo travelers and those looking for a classic, comfortable and quaint experience. I personally love walking around in the sunshine, talking to locals and getting to know them, eating at the restaurants by the water and walking around the streets with the dreamiest houses drenched in New England charm and hydrangea bushes. It’s a magical place to be and so perfect for a summer getaway or memorial day destination.
Things to Do in Edgartown
Visit the Beaches
Visiting the beaches on Martha’s Vineyard is one of the very reasons tourists come from all over. You simply cannot vacation here without it. There’s a few great beaches in Edgartown worth visiting where you can get your ocean-front fix with both sandy and rocky textures. The beaches range from shallow, clear-water stretches on the northern and eastern sides of the Island to expansions of rumbling surf along the south side. Most of the beaches in Edgartown are relaxing and quiet which makes for an overall desirable beach experience.
Lighthouse Beach is a popular one to visit as it’s a quick walk from town and allows you to take in the history and beauty of both the lighthouse and the ocean. Fuller Street Beach is close to Lighthouse Beach and caters best to families with young kids. They have warm, calm waters, an ideal-picnic setup and is in proximity to the beautiful Eel Pond.
Katama/South Beach is a great picturesque beach where you’ll find large waves, shellfishing opportunities and birdwatching. East Beach is a popular beach to visit for swimming, fishing, birdwatching and walking. There’s picnic tables, bike racks and amazing views of the Atlantic from this beach. You’ll definitely want to spend a day here especially since you have to pay a fee to enjoy the beach. It’s about a half hour away from Edgartown. And you’ll have to take the Chappy Ferry to get to Chappaquiddick Island which takes less than 5 minutes. Once you get on the island, you can drive or bike to the beach as walking would definitely take a long time!
Rent a Bike
If you want to cover a lot of ground during your trip and save your feet from all the walking that’s required, I highly suggest renting a bike. It’s a classic way to experience the island, get your exercise in and be a part of the island-life culture. There’s a few different bike rentals shops but Edgartown Bicycles is a great option and located in the heart of downtown. The price ranges from $20-$30 for children’s bikes and $30-80 for adult bikes (depending on the type of bike you want) per day. Get directions here.
Explore the Local Trails
Whether you’re an avid hiker or enjoy simple walks through nature, there’s so many beautiful trails you can check out on the island. You have the ability to walk through wooded paths, open field trails and stretches along seaside cliffs. All trails are fairly moderate and offer flatland. Which can be reassuring for those who aren’t looking for a rigorous hiking experience.
By downloading the TrailsMV App, you’ll get access to an accurate map of all the open-to-the-public trails, detailed property information, a pinpoint of your location to show you where you’re going, events going on in the area as well the ability to communicate with other trail-goers.
Walk Around the Neighborhoods
Definitely make time to take a stroll around the quaint and picturesque streets of Edgartown where you’ll find gorgeous trees, plants, flowers, white picket fences and colonial style homes. My favorite block to walk down is N. Water Street. It starts at the corner of Main Street right next to Mad Martha’s Edgartown and is about an 8 minute walk to Harbor View Hotel. Some of the most beautiful houses and architecture can be found on this street and it leads you to a stunning hotel, right next to the pathway entrance to the Edgartown lighthouse.
Visit the Carnegie
Since 1975 the Vineyard Trust of Martha’s Vineyard has been preserving iconic landmark properties that are integral to the fabric of Martha’s Vineyard. This includes historic homes, churches, parks, galleries, commercial buildings and gardens. One of these iconic landmarks is The Carnegie, a neoclassic structured library building offering access to the public. Inside, you’ll find the renovated and restored landmark including reading rooms, a visitor center, gift shop and the permanent exhibition, Living Landmarks, which illustrates the historical development of Martha’s Vineyard through the lens of the landmarks in Vineyard Trust’s care. It’s a great way to absorb Martha’s Vineyard history and learn more about the island.
Go Shopping
There are no shortage of shopping opportunities in Edgartown. Along Main Street, you’ll find numerous shops with coastal style clothing, jewelry, books and souvenirs. Popular stores include Slate, Vineyard Vines, Blackwater Trading Co., Lily Pulitzer, J. McLaughlin, CB Stark Jewelers, Lululemon and more.
My personal favorite was CB Stark Jewelers, a long-established jewelry shop stocking designer pieces and offering repair services & custom designs. Back in 1966, Cheryl Stark discovered the laid-back, friendly island of Martha’s Vineyard that she described as a place that felt vastly different from the mainland. Though academics weren’t her strong suit, she found her niche at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston where she learned silversmithing and jewelry making. Hence the birth of CB Starks. Now they have tourists and celebrities making their way to the store for an outstanding selection of jewelry and superb customer experience.
One of the most popular pieces in the store are the bracelets with the Martha’s Vineyard island shape. A perfect souvenir and memory of your trip to Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard.
Best Restaurants in Edgartown
Among the Flowers
The charming outdoor restaurant with window service and patio seating is none other than Among The Flowers in Edgartown. Here you can find healthy and delicious meals made with fresh and local ingredients. They serve breakfast and comfort food all day as well as beer and wine. The menu items include sandwiches, salads, smoothies, acai bowls and other delicious breakfast options. You’ll want to make a stop here during your stay at least once!
Rosewater
Rosewater Market & Takeaway is another window service establishment with a quaint outdoor seating area and delicious food to eat for breakfast and lunch. Being the sister store to Rosewater Wine & Spirits, their passion is to source and serve the best food & gifts possible from fresh baked goods to in-house specialty homewares and gifts from the island. This restaurant is open year-round and is a staple for locals and tourists.
The market can get quite busy during peak breakfast and lunch hours, so the ability to grab food, find a place to sit outdoors or take it to go is super convenient. We stopped here for a quick lunch one afternoon and it was absolutely delicious. They offer breakfast bowls, pastries, avocado toast, egg sandwiches, bagels and cream cheese, sandwiches, burgers, fresh baked goods and coffee and beverages. We went with the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich complete with pickles, greens and aioli on a toasted ciabatta.
The Seafood Shanty
Ahh one of my favorite restaurants in Edgartown with one of the best views! A visit to The Seafood Shanty is a must when you’re in Edgartown. Located directly on the water, it carries a coastal ambiance with both indoor and outdoor dining options with an expansive deck. The menu is fish-focused and offers a plethora of options for appetizers, lunch, dinner and drinks. Some recommend menu items include the incredible Lobster dip, the potstickers and the sushi. They also offer buffalo fingers, a raw bar spread, soups and salads, sandwiches, hearty entrees as well as a full sushi menu to choose from.
As for the drink menu, they offer a ton of fun waterfront drinks with flavor and a little spice. You can order drinks like the Ocean Berry Booze, Aperol Spritz, Ghost Pepper Margarita, Banana Hammock, mudslides, frozen drinks, mules and more.
Town Bar & Grill
If you’re looking for laid-back vibes, indoor and outdoor seating with a plethora of food options, than Town Bar & Grill is perfect. Their unique food and drink menu paired with their open-airy eclectic vibes makes for an awesome environment. The menu is approachable and affordable with some great options for dinner. You can enjoy pastas, fresh seafood, steaks, bar bites, fun cocktails and 18 different draft beers to choose from. The menu includes food items like salads, appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, steaks, pastas, tacos, delicious sides and desserts.
It’s definitely a lively atmosphere to bring your friends and family with the opportunity to experience live entertainment and DJs for those late nights. Get directions here.
Atlantic Restaurant
Another fabulous waterfront restaurant in Edgartown. Atlantic was one of my personal favorites between the atmosphere, ocean views and delicious food. You have the option to sit indoors or outdoors here where you’ll get that yacht-club vibe throughout the restaurant. Here you can enjoy dishes like wild salmon, Mediterranean-style Branzino and Dorado, USDA prime Certified Angus and Japanese A5 Kobe Steaks, tasty appetizers, salads and an extensive wine list.
Food recommendations include the fabulous La Rose De Paris cocktail with Stoli vanilla, vanilla simple syrup, passion fruit puree, St. Germain and rose essence, the watermelon and feta salad and the shawarma tacos.
19Raw Oyster Bar
One of the most impressive and intimate restaurants on the island is that of 19 Raw Oyster Bar. The restaurant holds its standards high with seafood towers, New England oysters, hand-crafted cocktails and more. There’s indoor and outdoor seating available with beautiful flowers, white lights and interiors. I highly suggest this restaurant for one of your fancier meals out where you’ll want to spoil yourself and indulge. Every single dish is full of flavor and life, leaving your taste buds wanting more. You’ll be able to choose from fresh oysters, crudos, small plates, meats, speciality dishes and a wide range of wines and cocktails. Get ready for an elegant evening at 19Raw! You won’t want to miss out on the islands true oyster bar.
I highly recommend ordering the house made chowder, baked oysters and one of the specialty fish dishes as well as a bottle of champagne. Absolute perfection!
Mad Martha's Ice Cream Shop
Ice cream shops are a staple in any beach town and while there’s several to go to on Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll definitely want to make a stop at Mad Martha’s. The ice cream shop just celebrated their 50th anniversary, being Martha’s Vineyard’s favorite ice cream since 1971.
Years ago a little girl named Martha who lived on Martha’s Vineyard had forgotten to take her family’s bottles of cream out of the barn on a cold winter’s night and they froze over. While upset at first, she quickly had the idea to turn the frozen cream into ice cream. She spent months experimenting with local ingredients and flavors to make the best ice cream and soon she was sharing it with locals who just couldn’t get enough. Hence the birth of Mad Martha’s ice cream!
Be sure to stop by to try their famous flavors including Chocolate, Sinful Chocolate, Vanilla, Cookie Dough, M&M, Chocolate Chip, Pistachio, Coconut, Orange Pineapple, Black Raspberry, Oreo, Mint Oreo, Peppermint, Mint Chocolate Chip, Mud Pie, Butter Crunch, Snickers, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, Mocha, Coffee, Maple Walnut, Strawberry and Blueberry.
Best Places to Stay in Edgartown
Hob Knob Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa
The Hob Knob Luxury Boutique Hotel & Spa is where you want to stay if you’re looking for a laid-back, comfortable and exquisite experience. The Hob Knob Hotel on Martha’s Vineyard is located at 128 Main Street in Edgartown and is the ideal location for your trip. With just a 5-minute walk to the downtown area, you’ll have comfort and convenience when getting around. The house itself is a 19th-century Gothic Revival building, originally built in the 1800s as a private home. Over the years, the beautiful seventeen rooms have hosted thousands of travelers, including Jonn F. Kennedy who visited in the 1940s with his family.
As soon as you walk up to The Hob Knob, you’ll be greeted by greenery and flowers lining the pathway to the front door. The gorgeous rich-wood wraparound porch, lounges, rocking chairs and charming decor are extremely inviting and overall makes it a great place to visit. When you step inside you’ll be transported to a vintage atmosphere with creaking floors, antiques, tons of books, beautiful light fixtures, seating areas, dining room tables and an overall quaint scenery.
Overall, we had an amazing experience at Hob Knob and cannot wait to go back for our next trip to Edgartown. I highly recommend this hotel to laid-back luxury seekers, couples, antique and vintage-lovers as well as artists and dreamers. Read the full hotel review here.
The Richard Hotel
Located just a few steps away from The Hob Knob is The Richard Hotel part of the Edgartown Collection through Lark Hotels, which offers all the quaint vibes too, just on a tighter budget. We only stayed here for one night but the building, room and outdoor area were so lovely. The natural lighting in the room was to die for and the decor and layout of the room was on point. I especially loved the bathroom and stand-up shower option since I’m not really a bath person.
Upon entering, you’ll be greeted by an extremely kind and funny staff. The staff and quirkiness stood out to me right away and made for a pleasurable interaction and visit overall. Some amenities you have to look forward to here include rooms with plush mattresses, linens, and pillows, blackout shades, the original full front porch and private, grassy courtyard for relaxing, complimentary small-plates breakfast and afternoon treats (not nearly as good as the Hob Knob breakfast though), LED flat-screen smart TVs, in-room safes, free high-speed WiFi throughout property, bath amenities from Lather, beach towels and chairs, waffle kimono robes, coffee, tea, and bottled water available upon request during front desk hours, room essentials, such as wine glasses, cork screws, irons, hairdryers and a personalized concierge service.
The Charlotte Inn
Another wonderfully historic and epic place to stay in Edgartown, The Charlotte Inn. This 4-star hotel is tucked away on the quiet South Summer Street and is known for its fine art, antiques, luxurious linens and fresh flowers. The inn is said to have a sense of relaxed calm and well-being, peacefulness and embodies a gloriously simple way of life. This is present throughout the common rooms of the Inn, displaying gorgeous interiors and decor.
The many rooms you have to look forward to here include living rooms, a green room, a library as well as romantic gardens surrounding the property. As for guest rooms you’ll have access to Superior Queen Rooms, Superior King Rooms as well as stunning Signature Suites. A special highlight of The Charlotte Inn includes its onsite dinner restaurant, The Terrace. The cuisine includes french fine dining, highlighting locally sourced seasonal ingredients. The restaurant offers a full dinner menu with appetizers, hearty entrees, desserts, as well as wine and vintage cocktail selections.
Harbor View Hotel
Harbor View Hotel is definitely one of the most iconic on the island. Originally built in 1891, this elegant waterfront hotel continues to attracts tourists from all over for it’s amazing front porch and architecture, ocean views, proximity to downtown and amazing amenities. This hotel with its 2020 renovations is perfect for couples and families looking to experience a New England summer vacation in style.
Hotel amenities you get to indulge in here include the newly-remodeled guest rooms, 1, 2, 3 bedroom suites and cottages, two top tier culinary destinations, Bettini Restaurant and Roxy Pool Bar, seasonal outdoor, heated, saltwater pool, expansive Veranda with a one-of-a-kind view, the Mercedes-Benz Drive Program, complimentary bikes, on-site parking, electric car charging stations, a fitness center, private yoga classes, seasonal lawn games and gathering spaces for special events, weddings, meetings and conferences.
What to Wear in Edgartown
The Vibe
As one of THE ideal summer destinations in New England, Martha’s Vineyard carries a laid-back, sporty and preppy style amongst locals and tourists. You’ll find a mix of maxi dresses, denim, lOTS of stripes, floppy hats, sandals, sneakers and pullover sweatshirts and sweaters for the cool evenings. It’s suggested to bring layers for your trip so you can be prepared for all kinds of coastal weather. Below are some outfit suggestions and shopping links.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO EDGARTOWN MARTHA'S VINEYARD
I hope you enjoyed this ultimate guide to Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard! It’s truly a magical place.
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