The largest Island in New England, located seven miles from the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, "The Vineyard" – as locals call the Island – is authentic New England at its best. The Island's beauty and cultural offerings make it a popular destination for visitors from all over the world; for celebrities who come here to enjoy the peace and privacy the Island provides; and for the many families who have made the Vineyard their summer home for many generations. Easily accessible, most visitors come by ferry, or by air.

What Makes "The Vineyard" So Special?

• Great Beaches – Rolling to gentle, family-style surf. Miles and miles of beach
• Variety – Six quaint New England villages to explore, bursting with individual character
• An Unhurried Pace – A walk, cappuccino, swim, movie, dinner, and star gazing
• Natural Beauty – Stone walls, rolling countryside, fishing boats, and beach sand
• Authenticity – No chain stores here…Lots of shopping – with local flavor and great seafood
• Thriving Culture – Art galleries, music, theatre, and lectures from leading thinkers and authors
• Togetherness – Walk, bike, play games, catch a crab, eat ice cream, and enjoy a good book by the fire
• Curiosity – Find a little country road, farm stand, antique shop or beach plums
• Mystique – Magnificent homes, chic boutiques and respect for celebrity privacy
• An Easy-to-Reach Destination – 45 minutes by frequent ferry or direct air service
• Athletics – Bike riding, sailing, jogging, swimming, walking, and kayaking
• Casualness – Sand between your toes; a stroll through town. What's a tie?

The three most populous towns are "down-Island" — Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, and Vineyard Haven (also called Tisbury). The three rural communities are "up-Island" — Aquinnah, Chilmark, and West Tisbury.

Home of the Winnetu Oceanside Resort; stately, staid, classic, and beautiful. Location of many whaling-era Greek Revival homes which have been carefully maintained and are lived in to this day. Interesting boutiques, movie theatres, and cultural activities, the Martha's Vineyard Museum, Edgartown Lighthouse, a classic library, and many restaurants. The town is a picture-book setting – with its active harbor, bustling waterfront and magnificent Katama Bay. The two-minute crossing to Chappaquiddick – via the two-car capacity ferry — leaves from here. Main Street, in Edgartown, is an easy three-mile (flat) bike ride from the Winnetu Oceanside Resort along the bike path.

Eclectic, vibrant, diverse and fun. Home of the famous Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest continuously operated carousel in the country. Colorful, unusual and brightly colored Victorian "gingerbread" cottages surround the famed Tabernacle, center of cultural activities in Oak Bluffs. There is a popular night scene, restaurants, bars, and movie theatres. Oak Bluffs is a spectacular nine-mile (flat) bike ride from the Winnetu along family-friendly State Beach (where the movie "Jaws" was filmed in 1974).

The Vineyard's year-round community. Shopping, restaurants (BYOB), home of the Black Dog restaurant and clipper ships, a classic movie theatre, and a beautiful harbor. "Beadniks" is a fun place to go to make bead necklaces and jewelry. The Vineyard Playhouse on Church Street offers quality professional live theatre that is often the testing ground for Broadway-bound and experimental productions. Vineyard Haven is a ten-mile (flat) inland bike ride from the Winnetu.

Remote, quiet, breathtaking scenery. Home to many descendants of the Wampanoag Indian Tribe. The magnificent National Landmark, the Gay Head Cliffs, is a must visit, with its beautiful, multi-colored clay cliffs cascading down into the ocean. Enjoy luncheon atop the cliffs. Visit the Gay Head Lighthouse at sunset on weekends and climb to the top to watch the sun set into the ocean. Aquinnah is a world-class, 23-mile bike ride from the Winnetu Oceanside Resort. It is hilly and challenging, but well worth the effort. You can bike one way and return by town shuttle bus with your bike, or bike round trip.

Rolling hills, stone walls, farms, breathtaking ocean scenery and famous sunsets. Visit Menemsha Village, a classic fishing village and scenic destination. Home of the U.S. Coast Guard and the bike ferry, which helps reduce time on the bike trip to Aquinnah. The weekly Chilmark flea market, located on Middle Road, is very popular – as is a slice of pizza on the outside deck of the Chilmark General Store. Menemsha is an 18-mile bike ride from the Winnetu Oceanside Resort. The ride is hilly and challenging. You can either bike one way and return by town shuttle bus with your bike, or bike round trip.

The Vineyard's farming community. This town has all the characteristics associated with a typical "New England Village," including Alley's General Store and Post Office, the white church steeple, an old mill, art galleries, and classic Town Hall. Home of the weekly Farmer's Market and Artisan's Fair, as well as the annual Agricultural Fair in August. West Tisbury in an 11-mile (flat) bike ride from the Winnetu — via the bike path. It is a wind-free trip through the peaceful and scenic Martha's Vineyard State Forest.