If you’re looking to book a getaway that doesn’t entail jet setting or renting a car, there’s a wonderful destination you might be overlooking.
Martha’s Vineyard is five hours from midtown Manhattan by ferry, and (barring sailing your own boat) is one of the most exhilarating nautical adventures a New Yorker seeking a weekend in New England can have. Once you’ve docked in Oak Bluffs, there are plenty of affordable activities, beautiful uncrowded coves, bright kooky houses, and all that fresh seafood to sink your teeth into.
Watch this video to get a glimpse:
Getting there:
In the off season, take Amtrak to Kingston Station in Rhode Island, then take the Little Rest Limousine ($22/pp) to the Vineyard Fast Ferry at Quonset Point, RI. In the high season, seafarers (and folks with strong stomachs) can take the SeaStreak ferry ($230/RT) that departs from mid-town Manhattan every weekend and arrives at Oak Bluffs port five hours later.
Getting around:
You can bring your bike on the ferry for an additional $20, or rent a set of wheels to venture around the island to places like Long Point Wildlife Refuge or Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary.
Where to eat:
Charge up with a light breakfast at Mocha Mott’s before heading out on your day’s adventures. For lunch, try the Fried Green Tomato B.L.T. ($9.75) with a side of truffle fries ($7) at Slice of Life, a summer staple in Oak Bluffs. Or, Humphrey’s Bakery in Edgartown has served up wait-worthy sandwiches and delectable baked goods for the past 50 years. For a casual, sunset dinner, stop at the oceanfront Menemsha Galley for simple, but delicious food (try the $10 lobster roll), cold Coronas, and a breezy atmosphere (508.645.9819).
Things to do:
Things to do:Featherstone Center for the Arts hosts a flea and fine arts market every Tuesday 9am-2pm; check the website for the summer schedule of poetry readings, exhibits, and art classes. Take a leisure 50-minute bike ride over to the West Tisbury Farmer’s Market, open Saturdays and Wednesday mornings. The Farm Institute offers classes and activities to educate kids and adults in sustainable agriculture and the history of farming on the island.
Where to stay:
Brush the sand off your feet after an active yet rejuvenating day, open a bottle of wine on your private porch and snuggle in at Tivoli Inn (from $95/off season, $125/in season). The Madison Inn (from $89/off season, $269/in season) is in the heart of Oak Bluffs and is another one of the Vineyard’s many delightful B&B’s. The SeaStreak Ferry also offers getaway packages (from $599), which includes two roundtrip tickets and two nights at Edgartown Commons or the Vineyard Harbor Motel.
Photos: Bruce Tuten, yusuikao, barrypeters
View A Getaway to Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard in a larger map
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram