header-photo

North America : United States of America : New England : Massachusetts : Cape Cod : Islands : Martha's Vineyard : Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs

Oak Bluffs is a town on the northeast shore of Martha's Vineyard. Its harbor is a terminal for ferry boats arriving from the mainland.

Get in

By Ferry

There are four different ferries that come to Oak Bluffs from different destinations: Island Queen, Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry, Hyline Cruises, and New England Fast Ferry Company

  • Island Queen, 75 Falmouth Heights Rd, [1], +1 508 548-4800, [2]. This ferry is a seasonal passenger that makes frequent trips between Falmouth (Massachusetts) and Oak Bluffs. Round trip ticket prices: adults $18, children $9, bikes $6 round trip (all include an additional $1 round trip fee). In operation from May to Oct (exact dates differ each year).
  • Rhode Island Martha’s Vineyard Fast Ferry, Quonset Point, [3], +1 401 295-4040, [4]. This ferry operates from May-Oct (exact dates vary). It is the largest ferry to Martha’s Vineyard. It takes trips from Quonset Point in North Kingstown (Rhode Island) (8 minutes from interstate 95) to Oak Bluffs. Dockside parking is $10 a day. Round trip ticket prices: $75 adults, $52 children (4-12), $6 infants (3 and under), $70 seniors, $12 bikes and surfboards, and $14 bike with trailer.
  • Hyline Cruises, 220 Ocean St, Hyannis, +1 508 693-0112, [5] This ferry has year round operation (with the exception of Christmas) of high speed and traditional ferries from Hyannis, MA to Oak Bluffs. There is another high speed ferry which travels from Nantucket (Massachusetts) to Oak Bluffs under the same company from mid-Jun-mid-Sept. Parking is $17 in-season. Round trip ticket prices: $69 adults, $48 children (age 5-12), free for children under 4, and $12 bikes.
  • New England Fast Ferry Company, 49 State Pier, New Bedford, +1 866 453-6800, [6]. This ferry operates daily from May-Oct (exact dates vary yearly) from State Pier, New Bedford to Oak Bluffs. Round trip ticket prices: $70 adults, $40 children (3-12 years old), free trip for children under 3, $62 seniors, and $12 bikes.

Get around

Rental Cars

  • AAA Island Auto Rental, 31 Circuit Ave (across from Island Queen and RI Fast Ferry Dock). +1 508 693-0011 or +1 800 696-0233, [7]. This auto rental has been in business for over 12 years. They rent Jeeps, convertibles, SUVs, and minivans (economy through full-size vehicles) for daily, weekly, or longer durations. They accept Mastercard, Visa, AMEX, and Dicovercard and take reservations for vehicles.
  • Budget Car Rental, 12 Circuit Ave, +1 508 693-1911 or +1 800 527-0700, [8]. This car rental has economy through full-sized vehicles with free customer pick-up from most locations on the island. Most major credit cards, such as Mastercard, Visa, and Discovercard, are accepted.

Bikes and Mopeds

  • Bike Rentals #1 Anderson’s Bike Rentals, Circuit Ave (between the Hy-line and Island Queen Ferry dockings), +1 508 693-9346. Voted number one bike shop recently with its supply of rentable bikes, bike repairs, and bike sales. The shop is open from 8 AM–6 PM daily from April 1-October 31.

See

  • Flying Horses Carousel, Circuit Ave, +1 508 693-9481. [9], open from Easter Sunday through Columbus Day. Hours vary in the spring and fall, but it is open from 10AM–10PM in the summer.It is the oldest carousel in America (1876) and a national landmark. Its horses were hand-carved in 1876 in New York City. Rides are $1.50 or $10 for a book of eight rides, and If you catch the brass ring you can get a free ride.

  • Martha’s Vineyard Camp-Meeting Association Cottage Musuem and Gift Shop, Trinity Park (near Tabernacle), +1 508 693-7784, [10]. This is the only Gingerbread Cottage open to the public and it showcases its 1800’s style furnishings as well as photographs and campground history. There is a gift shop with souvenirs of jewelry, postcards, and the famous lanterns. It is open M-Sa from 10AM–4:30 PM.

Parks and Recreation

  • Pecoy Point Preserve, Pecoy Point (located off of County Road via Pulpit Rock Road). There are 14 acres of trails that can be accessed by car (6 parking spaces), foot, or bike. Trails include marshes, woodlands, and shoreline. Free to public.
  • Farm Pond Preserve, Beach Road (before Hart Haven going towards Edgartown). Open all year, every day. Access this preserve by car, foot, or bike and enjoy 27 acres of marshlands and woodlands trails which all connect to Tradewind Field Preserve. Free to public.

Do

  • Farm Neck Golf Club, 1 Farm Neck Way, +1 508 693-3057. 18 holes. Semi-Private, 18 holes, par 72, 6087 yards, slope 129.
  • The Skipper, [11]. Party fishing boat, Oak Bluffs dock. Captain John Potter takes you out for 1/2 day fishing expeditions - great family fun. 
  • Cousen Rose Galery, 71 Circuit Ave, +1 508 693-6656. Open from June-Sept from 10AM-9PM M- Sa and 11AM-5PM on Su. This shop contains twenty-seven years of art and prints from local and renowned artists and also features children’s art classes.

Beaches

  • East Chop Beach, East Chop Drive (located west of Oak Bluffs harbor entrance). Open all year, every day from dawn to dusk. This beach has great views of Nantucket Sound and all of the boating activity in the area. Free to public.
  • Joseph Silvia Beach, located from the first bridge after Hart Haven to the Edgartown townline. Open all year, every day from dawn to dusk to the public. Accessible by bike, car, bus, or foot. This beach is ideal for windsurfing and shell fishing (which is allowed by special permit only from the town hall on School Street). Free to public.

Sightseeing Tours

  • Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association Tours, located at the Tabernacle, +1 508 693-0525, Tu or Th at 10AM in July and August. Take tours of the MVCMA grounds for approximately 1 ½ -2 hours and listen as they describe MSCMA’s historical background. Private tours can be arranged. Adults $10 and children under 12 are free, both include a free pass to the Cottage Museum.
  • Martha’s Vineyard Sightseeing, Circuit Ave (behind Mad Martha’s Ice Cream),+1 508 693-0058/4681. Open May-Oct from 9AM-4PM. A fully narrated or private tour with professional guides and drivers. Tour takes route through all of the island’s towns and stops at Gay Head Cliffs for a ½ hour. Tour takes a total of 2 ½ hours.

Recreation

  • Ryan Family Amusements, 1 Trinity Park (near Tabernacle), +1 508 693-5163. [12], open daily in summer from 10AM-11PM. An arcade and game center with skeeball, air hockey, kid rides, and other games.

Buy

Eat

  • The Captain's Table, 5 Oak Bluffs Av., Phone: +1 508-696-0220.
  • David's Island House, Circuit Av., Phone: +1 508-693-4516.
  • Fishbones Grille, 6 Circuit Av. Ext., Phone: +1 508-696-8227.
  • Lola's, Beach Rd., +1 508 693-5007. Open Apr–Nov 4PM-11PM for dinner and 10AM-2PM for Sunday brunch. Entertainment nightly until 12:30 AM. This restaurant sells many seafood favorites with a southern flair such as Jumbalaya, Blackened Catfish, Steak from Hell and Swordfish with live entertainment nightly. Family-dining style.
  • The Lost Pelican Bistro, Lake Av., Phone: +1 508-693-3101.
  • Ocean View Restaurant, 16 Chapman Av., Phone: +1 508-693-2207.
  • The Ritz Cafe, Circuit Av., Phone: +1 508-693-9851.
  • Season's Bar 'n Grille, Circuit Av., Phone: +1 508-693-7129.
  • Zapotec Restaurant, 10 Kennebec Av., Phone: +1 508-693-6800.
  • Oyster Bar Grill, [13].
  • Nancy's, [14]
  • Sharky's Cantina
  • Smoke n'Bones
  • Pomodoro
  • Offshore Ale Co.
  • Tsunami

Drink

  • Offshore Ale Co, 30 Kennebec Av., +1 508 693-2626, [15]. Open all year from noon to midnight. This is the only brewing company on the island and is a popular visited tourist attraction. They serve lunch and dinner along with their hone brewed beer and root beer. Live entertainment varies each week.
  • Lookout Tavern, 8 Seaview Av. Ext., Phone: +1 508-696-9844.

Sleep

  • Nashua House Hotel, 30 Kennebec Av, Phone: +1 508-693-0043, [16].
  • Island Inn,Beach Rd, Phone: +1 508-693-2002 or Phone: +1 800-462-0269, Fax: 508-693-7911, Email: Innkeeper@IslandInn.com, [17].
  • Martha's Vineyard Resort, 117 New York Av, Phone: +1 508-693-6249 or Phone: +1 800-874-4403, [18].
  • The Oak Bluffs Inn, 64 Circuit Ave, Phone: +1 508-693-7171 or Phone: +1 800-955-6235, Fax: +1 508-693-8787, Email: bmyguest@oakbluffsinn.com, [19].
  • Pequot Hotel, 19 Pequot Av, Phone: +1 508-693-5087, Toll Free: +1 800-947-8704, Email: reservations@pequothotel.com, [20]. 9 rooms
  • Wesley Hotel, 70 Lake Ave, Phone: +1 508-693-6611, Fax: +1 508-693-5389, [21].

Get out

This page was last edited at 21:02, on 3 March 2009 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Kristen C, Joe E, David, Stacy Hall and Jay, Wikitravel user(s) GatorFeet and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.