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Chilmark, Edgartown, Feature, Getting Here, Martha's Vineyard, MV Rentals, Vineyard Haven

Get away with it!

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How do I love getting to thee Martha’s Vineyard? Let me count the ways…

While photographing two of our houses in Vineyard Haven today I saw a huge Schooner passing by East Chop lighthouse and a little plane overhead and as usual, the Island Home plowing along. On such a pretty day it reminded me that we are on an island and though it’s never easy to get here it can be fun.

Value
I grew up on the lower cape, my family lives in Brewster, so my most desirable summer route “home” is aboard the Hyline Fast Ferry http://www.hylinecruises.com/ from Oak Bluffs to Hyannis in 55 minutes. I live about two blocks from where the fast ferry takes off in OB Harbor which allows for a 1 ½ hour commute door to door, as opposed to what the Steamship Authority http://www.steamshipauthority.com/ offers – 10 min drive to VH, 45 min boat ride, 1 ½ hour drive to Brewster, which with traffic usually takes 3 hours door to door. The $240 commuter book for Hyline is key – the face value of these precious passes is $71/round trip, or $48 with the book of ten one-way tickets. Somehow they found out my birthday is in April and they send me a $10 coupon every year, which helps bring this valuable purchase down even more.

Value + Fun
Cape Air https://www.capeair.com/ has announced that their MVY – Providence service will begin June 15th! Ah, if only it could start a little sooner, I could fly to PVD to catch my New Orleans flight for Jazz Fest http://www.nojazzfest.com/ next week. Check Cape Air every Tuesday for flight deals on commuter books. These are always good to have in a pinch, especially when you’re trapped at Logan, exhausted and not psyched about schlepping your stuff to South Station to catch the Peter Pan bus http://www.peterpanbus.com/ back to Woods Hole. I’ve visited the Cape Air counter in Terminal C many times in this situation and usually the last minute rate for the next flight to MVY rivals that of a transatlantic flight! If you’ve got your commuter book, it’ll cost you $149.99. Or buy a book to Hyannis for $41.90 each way. The flight is about 15 minutes and allows for spectacular views of Nantucket Sound. A couple of times I’ve been the only passenger on board and got to sit up front and play co-pilot.

Value + Fun = Escape
When MVY is too much for me to handle around August, I escape to my cousin’s house in Newport, Rhode Island which is equally crazy but it’s not my crazy so I enjoy it, especially for Folk Fest http://www.newportfolkfest.net/. For this trip I take the Sea Streak from OB/VH to downtown New Bedford http://www.seastreak.com/. This ferry definitely features the best crew of all the services to and from the vineyard. I’ve had the captain hold the boat for me several times just from a phone call, while stuck in New Beige traffic. And, make sure you flash an island addressed driver’s license for a discount – the $34 one-way will cost you a mere $28 bucks. With a full bar, A/C and a beautiful yet exhilarating ride through Woods Hole Passage (they’re known for not slowing down), this is the best way to get away when Oak Bluffs turns into Wally World.

Sometimes I forget how lucky we are to reside on this lovely island and I need reminders. When they come, via sailboat, plane or ferry sighting, I am filled with gratitude! For those travelling here, we have some great houses that still have summer availability for weekly rentals.

Contact Rose Ryley

to confirm availability for these Martha’s Vineyard vacation homes

rose@sandpiperrental.com

Sandpiper Rentals, Inc.

901 – Vineyard Haven – In Town Lovely Porch – Blocks from Ferry

954 – Vineyard Haven – West Chop Beautiful peaceful views and garden

7775 – Edgartown – Outer Huge yard – Great for Entertaining

*ferry reservations available with rental*

2070 – Chilmark – Middle Road Total Escape – Convenient way to enjoy UpIsland

Food, Getting Here, Martha's Vineyard, MV Rentals, News

Fall Checklist for Summer 2010 on Martha’s Vineyard

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The kids are back in school, the days are getting shorter and cooler…and it’s hard not to start dreaming about next summer on the Vineyard! Don’t worry, I don’t think you’re crazy, I think you’re very, very smart because planning for a fantastic 2010 summer on the Vineyard really does need to start now!

Here’s my checklist to keep you fully on top of things:

1. If you want the house of your rental dreams, book it now! The fall is actually our busiest booking time as folks scramble for primo houses. Our inventory is huge, our site has been updated and is beautiful, and we get new listings every day!

2. Make plans with friends and family as soon as possible. It’s much easier to plan a vacation for two, or even a family of five (who all do exactly what you tell them because three of them are kids!), than it is to plan for your extended family or groups of friends. The sooner you all get your schedules set, the less stress you’ll have. No one should have their summer planned yet – so you’ll be asking them to commit before you have to dance around everyone else’s commitments.

3. Ferry reservations. Yes, I know you can’t actually book your ferry reservations until February, but let me remind you how much less stressful it will be to plan the times you would like to sail (and sync them up with any other travel you need to do to get here) when you aren’t under the gun of opening day on the Steamships Advanced Reservations Line!! I recommend that you plan it out on paper and clip it to your February calendar. On the big day, just go online and book those tickets!

4. Same with the plane. You can book your plane reservations now and they do fill up! Also, unlike the ferry, airline fares are cheaper if purchased in advance.

5. If you’re really eager, create a list of all of the things you love doing on the island – include beaches to visit, restaurants, festivals and stores. This can be especially fun with the whole family as you reflect on the summer of ’09 and get ready for the summer of ’10. Then make a big calendar and start jotting down activities you don’t want to miss. You can even decorate it with pics from summers past. When the snow starts to fall, this beautiful calendar and homage to Martha’s Vineyard will be sure to warm you up…

Any other questions, concerns, delightful memories to share? Don’t hesitate to ask me!

 

Martha's Vineyard

Traveling to Martha’s Vineyard: Ferries and Planes

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How Do I Get to Martha’s Vineyard?

You have two choices for mainland to island travel – by air or by boat. Planes are small, fast and uncrowded. Boats are big enough to walk around in, have a snack bar with clam chowder, some carry cars and all provide the experience of traveling over water and past beautiful seascapes to reach the island.

BY AIR

Cape Air flies direct to Martha’s Vineyard from Boston, MA, Providence, RI, New Bedford, MA, Hyannis, MA and Nantucket. The Boston – Vineyard flight is the longest with a total flight time of 35 minutes. Cape Air operates year round, and flights depart frequently during the summer season and bit less during the winter. Flying Cessna 402’s, Cape Air is the largest independent regional airline in the United States and is employee – owned company. (p.s. each flight, someone gets to ride shotgun next to the pilot!) For more information and flight schedules visit: www.flycapeair.com or call 800.352.0714.

U.S. Airways Express seasonally serves the Martha’s Vineyard Airport from the following locations: New York’s LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport (DCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PHL), and Hyannis’ Boardman-Polando Field (HYA). For more information and flight schedules visit: www.usairways.com or call 800.428.4322 (Reservations) 800.943.5436 (Flight Arrivals and Departure Information)

MVY Airport
The Martha’s Vineyard Airport is conveniently located in West Tisbury, and supplies bus, taxi and car rental transportation. For more info, visit: www.mvyairport.com.

BY BOAT


The Steamship Authority ferries passengers, cars, pets, bikes and dogs to Martha’s Vineyard all year long with increased trip service from Memorial Day to Labor Day and every weekend. The boats run about hourly and travel from Wood’s Hole to either Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs. The Steamship Authority also runs ferries between Hyannis and Nantucket, including a fast ferry.

The ferry is a classic Vineyard experience, whether you are standing on the deck getting your first bit of island sun, or watching the game on the big screen tv’s inside (some boats only!). A snack bar boasts chowder, baked goods and wine and beer, and the seagulls provide the entertainment. The ride is 45 minutes long…and the ferries are always on time. For more information, schedules and fees, visit their website at: www.steamshipauthority.com or call 508.477.8600.

Hy-Line Cruises is a Cape Cod family-owned and operated ferry company with more than 40 years in the cruise business. This seasonal ferry travels between Hyannis and Oak Bluffs five times per day during the high summer season and four times per day in May and October. For the 55 minute ride, Hy-Line strongly recommends that you make reservations for their passenger ferry (no cars!). For more information, visit www.hy-linecruises.com or call 800.492.8082.

The New England Fast Ferry carries passengers (no cars!) from New Beford to Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs throughout the summer season. With special trips added for weekends, you have your choice of up to 10 trips per day from May – October. The trip takes one hour and offers incredible scenery as you move up the Sound. For schedules and fare, visit www.nefastferry.com or call 866.683.3779.

NOTE: Both Hy-Line and the New England Fast Ferry have added a $4 one-way and $8 roundtrip surchage to all tickets for the 2008 season due to fuel prices.

On MVY
Once you step off the boat, busses and cabs will be at your service, and rental cars and bikes are steps away….or you can always walk to your rental if it’s in downtown Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs.