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The best way to tour the Island in one day is outlined below. ~Please be sure to set aside at least 8 hours in order to see everything without rushing. ~The following itinerary takes you from your arrival port of Vineyard Haven to Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, then rural Up-Island (West Tisbury, Chilmark, Aquinnah), and back down to Vineyard Haven.
Vineyard Haven Arrival: ~Take Route #13 to Oak Bluffs, which departs hourly at 10 minutes past the hour from October 9th thru April 26th beginning at 9:10am. From October 9th thru November 24th and March 29th thru April 26th there are additional departures at 40 minutes past each hour, starting at 7:40am. Upon arriving in Oak Bluffs you can disembark and enjoy Circuit Avenue, which is the equivalent of a Main Street with shops, ice cream parlors, restaurants, an arcade, and is home to America's oldest working carousel, the "Flying Horses". Please note that during the off-season many of the shops and restaurants are closed, as is the arcade and carousel. ~A short walk from Circuit Ave. is the Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. Consisting of hundreds of colorful Victorian gingerbread cottages, it's surely something the whole family will enjoy. ~If you do not wish to see Oak Bluffs now, you can stay on Route #13 and continue on to Edgartown. ~
Oak Bluffs to Edgartown: ~Take Route #13 to Edgartown, which departs hourly at 22 minutes past the hour from October 9th thru April 26th beginning at 9:22am. From October 9th thru November 24th and March 29th thru April 26th there are additional departures at 55 minutes past each hour, starting at 7:55am. In order to have enough time to get Up-Island, the 11:22am departure would be a good choice. Upon your arrival, it’s a very short walk to Main Street which offers a variety of up-scale boutiques and restaurants, as well as the harbor. Again, please be cautioned that many shop and restaurants are closed during the off-season.
From Edgartown to Up-Island: ~Take Route #6 from Church St. at 3:02pm to the West Tisbury Town Hall. ~Stay on this bus as it turns into Route #5 and goes up to the Gay Head Cliffs and Lighthouse. You will only have about 9 minutes before the bus leaves to go back down Island, as the next one doesn’t depart until 5:14pm.
Up-Island to Vineyard Haven: Get back on the bus you were just on, which will take you to the West Tisbury Town Hall. Here you will transfer to Route #3 for Vineyard Haven, just in time for a 5:00pm Steamship departure, or stay in town for dinner and catch a later ferry. To check ferry schedules, go to www.steamshipauthority.com.
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