Tag Archives: Martha’s Vineyard

Getting Here, Martha's Vineyard, MV Rentals, Services

How Does the Steamship Authority Work?

January 12, 2016 Anne Mayhew 6 Comments

For those of you that have been to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, you know that the process of bringing a vehicle along on your Vineyard vacation can be very trying if you don’t know the process! Our island population goes from around 15,000 year round residents to 100,000 August visitors. You really do need to take a ferry to and from the island. It is a 45 minute ferry ride from the Cape.

Once you have booked your Vineyard vacation rental, you will need to work on making arrangements for getting here. The Steamship Authority does not take reservations for the summer season until sometime in January. This year they open reservations online and via mail on January 20th. Mark your calendars! They will open the phone lines up on January 27, 2009.

Sometimes it feels like you have won the lottery when you get just the right times for your reservations for your August vacation. The process can seem unbearable much of the time but following are some tips that might help:

Go online to the Steamship Authority and sign up for your profile number and pin prior to making your reservation.
Go online as soon as you can on January 20, be patient as you may get bumped off the site due to high volume.
Book any time you can on the day of travel or as close to the day of travel and request to be wait listed for your preferred times.

You should know that the wait list system does seem to work out for most travelers that are reserving their tickets this far in advance. The steamship has represented in the past that they do not completely book all of the boats so they will have some flexibility. Things do shift around but you may not know for sure right up until travel time. They do also have a day of sail number you can call to try to change your reservation while you are on the road.

I once had a customer call and book a house one Saturday in August, drive down and get right on the boat and arrive at my office to pay for their vacation home and pick up their key, all in the same day. This is not the norm and I do not recommend you wait to see if this works but, please realize that some of the systems that may seem very flawed can work well in the end!

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Why You Should Visit the Edgartown Art Gallery

January 8, 2016 Sandpiper Rentals Staff Leave a comment

If you love art, don’t miss the Edgartown Art Gallery. This gallery, located at 19 South Sumner Street in downtown Edgartown, houses works by dozens of top-notch contemporary artists, as well as a few vintage pieces from the 19^th century. You’ll find an assortment of styles here, such as oils, pastels, and watercolors, and represent a menagerie of genres: tranquil landscapes, sporting art (such as equestrian), villages, beach scenes, and flora and fauna.

We encourage you to visit the Edgartown Art Gallery Collection page and view the dozens of works they have on display. Pay particular attention to all the paintings of the beautiful Edgartown Harbor Light.

After the Edgartown Art Gallery

After you’ve finished at the Edgartown Art Gallery, why not walk to the actual lighthouse? The Edgartown Lighthouse is around three-quarters of a mile away, which is a 10-15 minute walk (or a 3-5 minute drive) through the beautiful downtown district. This majestic, 45-foot tall lighthouse stands guard over the Edgartown Harbor, protecting ships from running aground.

The 2016 calendar hasn’t yet been announced, but the 2015 calendar looked like this:

Open weekends only (Saturday and Sunday) from May 23^rd – June 21^st, and Memorial Day, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Open daily June 22^nd – September 7^th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., and on Fridays in July and August from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Open weekends only from September 12^th – October 11^th, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
All hours are weather permitting.
Admission is $5 for adults, but free for museum members and children under 12.

The 2016 calendar should look similar. Keep an eye on the MVMuseum.org website for more information.

Feeling peckish? Head to one of Edgartown’s wonderful restaurants for delicious food and, perhaps, a glass of wine or cocktail (to rehydrate after all that walking!). We recommend Alchemy Bistro & Bar, located at 71 Main Street. This cozy restaurant features locally-sourced seafood, as well as delicious beef and chicken dishes. Visitors rave about the desserts, as well as the extensive wine selection (a silver medal in Cape Code Life’s Best of Martha’s Vineyard) and prize-winning cocktails (voted the Best Cocktails by Martha’s Vineyard Magazine).

If the weather’s nice, you can sit outside on the back porch and sip your delicious drink in the warm Martha’s Vineyard sunshine, enjoying the cool breeze blowing in off the harbor. Fair warning: those spots fill up fast.

If you’d like to guarantee a spot at Alchemy, we recommend you make reservations, which you can either do via OpenTable on their website, or through calling them at (508)627-9999.

If you’re heading this way, be sure to reserve your accommodations through Sandpiper Rentals. Our Martha’s Vineyard vacation rentals are ideal for relaxing and unwinding in between the myriad great activities you can participate in during your time on the island. We have rental properties located all over Martha’s Vineyard, so you can choose to stay on your favorite part of the island. Whether you want to be right in town or more isolated, we have the perfect rental for you. Our homes are all unique, yet they all offer comfortable accommodations and luxurious amenities. Visit our website to check availability and learn about all of our services!

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See True Beauty at the Island Art Gallery in Vineyard Haven

December 16, 2015 Sandpiper Rentals Staff Leave a comment

Visiting Vineyard Haven? Why not check out the Island Art Gallery, located at 66 Main Street? This art gallery-cum-framing shop features photographs and paintings depicting Martha’s Vineyard’s stunning architecture and landscapes. Artwork genres include oils, watercolors, acrylics, and artprints. Stop by and discover the artists’ beautiful interpretations of an equally-beautiful island.

In a past blog post, we discussed the picturesque Edgartown Lighthouse. The Island Art Gallery contains a collection of beautiful photographs and paintings of this elegant landmark. In fact, four of the five Martha’s Vineyard’s lighthouses are represented in the gallery in some form (Edgartown, along with Gay Head, East Chop, and West Chop). Pick your favorite town on Martha’s Vineyard, and browse through dozens of works handcrafted by local artists.

After you’ve explored the gallery, head out to dinner at one of Vineyard Haven’s outstanding restaurants. The Little House Café, located at 339 State Road, won Martha’s Vineyard Magazine’s “Best Lunch” poll in 2014. The café uses only the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in crafting sumptuous meals (with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options available!).

If you’re looking for a great dining experience with a view, head to the Black Dog Tavern. This tavern overlooks the harbor and offers a variety of seafood and non-seafood options (everything from clam chowder to racks of ribs).

What’s a trip to Martha’s Vineyard without some time on the water? If you haven’t already, check out the picturesque Lake Tashmoo, located just minutes from downtown Vineyard Haven. The lake offers visitors a variety of fun options, such as swimming, kayaking, and fishing. However, if you’re with that special someone, we recommend you charter a sailboat for a sunset cruise. Many of these charters allow you to bring your own food and drink aboard, and ruby-red Pinot noir goes nicely with the brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds of a Martha’s Vineyard sunset. This is a popular outing, so be sure you reserve your sunset cruise today!

After an afternoon in Vineyard Haven, enjoy a show at the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse. The Playhouse, established in 1982, features a wide variety of plays, ranging from William Shakespeare’s classics (Romeo & Juliet, Henry IV, Henry V, and Julius) to award-winning modern-day works by such playwrights as Barney Norris, winner of the 2014 Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Most Promising Playwright. It seems like The Playhouse always has something going on (even in the lobby!), so it’s worth visiting their website’s Now Playing page.

Read reviews of the Vineyard Playhouse

No trip to Martha’s Vineyard is complete without a great accommodation. Our Martha’s Vineyard vacation rentals are ideal for relaxing and unwinding in between all of the great activities you can participate in during your time on the island. Our rental properties are located all over Martha’s Vineyard, so you can choose to stay on your favorite part of the island. Whether you want to be right in town or more isolated, we have the perfect rental for you. Our homes are all unique, yet they all offer comfortable accommodations and luxurious amenities. Visit our website to check availability and learn about all of our services!