Martha's Vineyard???...Now Nantucket!!!!

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jeff_c

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We are planning a trip out east that will take us to Montauk then to Block Island and then (possibly) to Martha's Vineyard.

So some questions for those of you that are closer...

Are there any kid friendly marines to stay while we are there?

Is it worth the trip (meaning is it that much different than Block Island)?

TIA

Jeff
 
It is much different than Block (which I love) and totally worth the trip. My kids love the place. There are 4 worth destinations, all a bit different.

1. Edgartown. Mostly moorings, very little dockage available. Fancier town, nice shopping, very pretty, great beaches near by
2. Oak Bluffs. The most "block like". A little more honky tonk in a good way. Carosel, game rooms, etc. Stay at town marina backed up to town wall or on mooring.
3. Vineyard Haven. Kinda sleepy, Dry town but still nice. Town moorings or a few marinas including black dog warf
4. Menemsha. Sleepy fishing village with some excellent restaurants and seafood shops. Stunning beaches. Stay at town marina, throw rock at beach.

Kid friendly means different things to different people. There is nothing on the Vineyard like Champlains on block. Oakbluffs to me is closest to Block. No marina with a pool that I can think of. But my kids like the beach and exploring.
 
We just came back, we like it, not knowing your preferences its hard to say whether it would be "worth it" for you. From Block its about 45 miles to Menemsha harbor which is a pretty little fishing village with two restuarants, the two fish markets with "right off the boat" seafood are excellent. as far as Kid friendly....if you`re talkig pool and swingsets...ahhh, no. If you want right on a real nice beach, exploring and critter catching in the beautiful pond, (you can still see the remains of the Orca, from Jaws) the they will be busy for days. for 8.00 a day (which is a godd deal cheaper than taking the boat around the island to vineyard haven, Oak Bluffs , or Edgartown.) the vta bus will pick you up in the parking lot and take you any where on the island you could want to go. The view off the bluffs at Aquinnah is worth the ride.
 
Great info!!!

I guess I should have been more clear...and up to date...on the kids thing. The daughter is 13 and won't be happy no matter what I do...unless she is shopping :) and the son is a 17 yo musician and will be happy as long as we have power to run the PS3 or his guitar amp.

But seriously, I mean a place with some activity and shops and a pretty active marina. Sleepy won't cut it. I guess I am looking for Montauk Yacht Club meets Champlains.

Thanks,
Jeff
 
You may want to wait until the royalty has departed the Vineyard prior to your arrival.
 
Sounds like Oak Bluffs fits your description, IMHO the most active of the stops. I could best describe it as having your boat in a nice slip in Old Harbor at Block, everything is right there.
 
MX8 is right. Oak Bluffs sounds like your place. You can dock right in the heart of town. Beach, shops, restaurants all right there. Interesting to note there really are no full service "resort type" marinas al la Champlains OR MYC. If you stay in OB you can get to any of the other spots via the very good bus system (or a taxi) so you can check out other harbors. OB is in the middle of Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. Maybe 10min car ride to each or very bikeable.
 
I can't say I have have been impressed by MV (been to both vineyard haven and Etown). Indeed, you may want for the royal family to be done vacationing there, I can't imagine how bad disruption must be...

If you haven't been to Cuttyhunk, plan a stop there, it is really worth it. Depending on the weather, you may get a smoother ride going up the bay hugging the islands and then thru woods hole to MV, more scenic too.
 
we spent a nite day in Cuttyhunk, kinda redefines a quiet island but the harbor was packed! We took a mooring on the port side of the entrance channel, was protected even tho the wind was really blowing that day. I seriously dont know where all the people were on that tiny island. The view from the end of the road up top is incredible.
 
Jeff, a 13 and 17 year old?? Skip MV and go right to Nantucket Boat Basin - that's my vote. Or stay in Block. Don't care for MV much.
 
The Nantucket Boat Basin looks awesome. I'll definitely have to look further into that.

How far is that run?
 
quote:
Originally posted by jeff_c

The Nantucket Boat Basin looks awesome. I'll definitely have to look further into that.

How far is that run?

Click to expand...


Nantucket Boat Basin is roughly 20nm from Edgartown to the basin as the crow flies. I always stay in the main channel away from the many shoals so maybe a bit further.

Well worth the trip if you've never been and don't mind the premium transient fee. The kids, if like mine, will love all the things you can do right in the downtown area or via public transportation.
 
Thanks.

I am definitely, plotting that as a destination.

We tend to run as far east as the weather will allow us and then work our way back home so I could see doing Montauk and then Nantucket for the first two legs and then hitting MV and BI (for Labor Day we).

Thanks!

Jeff
 
It's about 25/30 nm from vineyard heaven to Nantucket as you need stay north of tuckernut shoal before turning in. It can be a little rough there too

Well worth it though, MV doesn't even come close to Nantucket. MV is a lot more crowded too as the ferries are easier to get too instead of having to drive all the way to Hyannis.

Th boat basin is nice but expensive, the best view and most privacy is from the moorings, very good launch services to the boat basin.
 
I agree that Nantucket is a better destination. Have your son bring his instrument and set up on a street corner by an ice cream shop and he may be able to chip in for the gas to make it over !!!!
Shopping ? Oh yeah, they got it.
Tourists are more European and much less "day trippers". A lot more class.
The beaches on the South shore are remarkable. beautiful sand and huge waves !! Mass transit or bikes are good access to get around.
 
OK. Booked 3 nights at Nantucket Boat Basin to arrive there next Monday.

Can anyone local give me tips on the best approach from the west for the smoothest ride (I would rather burn time/fuel than beat the heck out of my family)? Should I take a more northern route through Buzzards Bay past Woods Hole? Or do I cut through Vineyard Sound? Or do I just shoot between MV and Nantucket?

TIA

Jeff
 
I don't think you want to go between MV and Nantucket, without serious local knowledge and a shallow draft.

From block island sound, I pick either side of Cuttyhunk and the islands depending on weather. If it s blowing out of the south, the channel between MV and Cuttyhunk can be unpleasant and buzzards is a better choice. You can hug the islands pretty close. Woods hole is a scenic run. If you want to take break for lunch or something, tuck in Hadley harbor for a swim, very nice!

Leaving woods hole, things can be a bit rough north of vineyard heaven, depending on current vs wind. After that it settles a bit although with easterly it can get. A bit choppy Round the shoals before turning SSE towards the island
 
Thanks, Pascal.

Glad you mentioned the issues with channel between MV and N...I was checking the charts out and it seemed marked enough to navigate in decent weather (and it would have to be for me to be in open water like that for so long). My draft is only about 3' (2' 11" officially) but I would rather stick to deep waters and less shoals without that local knowledge so I will avoid that route.

Jeff
 
Going between the two as Pascal states is for the local's, too much current and shoaling for me to tackle. I've alway gone right up vineyard sound which is an excellent ride running with the tide (and of course good weather). Stay in the main channel north of Nantucket as the shoaling is pretty severe across the sound. We've had some wet and bumpy rides if the weather doesn't cooperate with your plans.

Wish i was joining you - we didn't make a boat basin run this year.

lol, my son took his guitar and case out on the town and after collecting a whole dollar was approached by the local police looking for a permit - and that was the end of that!

Have fun - send the kids to the beach and head over the winery by bike. Good times.
 
Btw, exploring the upper harbor with the tender is nice... Good beaches and some nice spots along the way
 
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