GETTING AROUND
Villages: Vineyard Haven, West Chop.
Major Roads: State Road, Beach Road, Edgartown Road, Main Street.
Directions:
Tisbury is the the main port of the Steamship Authority and Vineyard Haven is that part of the
town closest to the harbor.West Chop is reached via Main Street, running out just past the West Chop Lighthouse. State Road leads toward the three smallest towns and is the first
right turn after leaving the ferryboat. Beach Road leads to Oak Bluffs and Edgartown Road to Edgartown.
Transportation:
Bus service is by seasonal shuttle buses of Island
Transport (693-0058) running every half hour to Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. Tour buses make regular circuits, visiting all the Island towns from the farthermost point of Gay Head to
Edgartown. Some are run by Island Transport and others by the Martha's Vineyard Sightseeing (693-4681) buses. Bonanza Bus (1-800-556-3815) connects Woods Hole with Boston. Its
schedule is timed to match the boat schedule. Boatlines: the Steamship Authority (540-2022) is the main route to the Vineyard from Woods Hole. For local terminal information, there is
the Tisbury Terminal on the Vineyard Haven harbor (693-0367). On Beach Road, the Schamonchi (693-2088) docks on its regular seasonal runs from New Bedford. Airport: The Martha's
Vineyard Airport is connected to Boston via Cape Air (800-999-1616) and to New York in the summertime by Continental Express (800-525-0280).
History
Tisbury was founded in
1671 by Thomas Mayhew as the Manor of Tisbury. Tisbury was a thriving and busy sea port throughout the 19th century, a point of departure for many trading ships and whalers. It was
one of the most important anchorages on the Atlantic coastfor 300 years. In the 19th and early 20th century the number of ships passing through Vineyard Sound was second only to the
English Channel. This changed with the death of the sailing days and the opening of the Cape Cod Canal in 1914. Tisbury is the Vineyard's mercantile town and has the second largest
year-round population (3,575) that grows to 21,785 in the summer. It is also the most active theater town on the Vineyard and the only town with a moviehouse open all year.
Accommodations
Tisbury has no large convention centers, but the Tisbury Inn (693-2200) at the head of Main Street is a comfortable hotel with a swimming pool and exercise room in
its health club (693-7400). The Vineyard Harbor Motel is on Beach Road, right on the busy waterfront, open year-round with cable TV and some kitchenettes. There are a number of inns,
including the Captain Dexter House (693-6564), only a brief walk to the harbor. The Thorncroft Inn is a year-round charmer, set out on Main Street apart from the downtown area. It is
sought out by lovers and honeymooners and owner, Karl Buder, says, "It's the kind of place where you fall in love all over again." The Twin Oaks Inn (693-8633) is close to
town and open year round with four rooms and one bedroom apartment. Continental breakfasts are served. The Lothrup Merry House (693-1646) is on the harbor and little Owen Park with
its gazebo where the town band plays some summer nights.
Dining Out
Tisbury is a dry town, so Bring Your Own Bottle. .
Beaches
The Vineyard Haven harbor has a
small town beach at the end of Owen Park on Main Street. Lake Tashmoo Beach is at the end of Herring Creek Road (off Franklin) and the swimming is peaceful and the sunbathing serene,
near the entrance of the lake to Vineyard Sound. Bayside is a small beach at the end of Owen Little Road, off Main Street; with free swimming lessons in the summer. The Lagoon Bridge
Park is on the Tisbury side of the drawbridge on Beach Road. It is a quiet, pleasant place to swim in the harbor or the Lagoon. Boating: There are 40 town moorings and another 14
transient boats can be accommodated at the Owens Park town dock. Other moorings or dock space are available at the Vineyard Haven Marina (693-0720) on Beach Road. Fuel is sold on the
dock and small boats are tended to. It is close to restaurants and shopping areas. Maciel Marine (693-4174) is located in the protected waters of the Lagoon Pond and has a full
service marine company. Fuel is available, as is hauling and storage. The Coastwise Packet Company(693-1699) is where one can sign up to go sailing aboard the magnificent schooner,
Shenandoah, skippered by owner and captain Robert Douglas. Day cruises and longer. The Violet (693-5597) also has fine sailing cruises, located on Five Corners. The Laissez Faire
(693-1646) is a classic wooden Alden ketch offering full and half day sails on the Sound. It is anchored at the Lothrup Merry House, also on the harbor. Wind's Up (693-4340) is at
Tisbury Market Place, 80 Beach Road, and has surfboards, body boards and windsurfing boards for rent and sale. There are windsurfing and sailing lessons at their shop just down the
road at 95 Beach Road (6930-4252).
Fishing:
Tisbury has a number of highly accessible fishing spots, including the jetty by the drawbridge at the entrance to Oak Bluffs.
Blues are
caught on the harbor side and in the channel into the Lagoon. In late summer, bonito and false albacore are caught along the outer harbor
side of the jetty. Another
hot spot for all kinds of fish is the opening to Tashmoo Pond found at the end of Herring Creek Road. The
drawbridge is a place to dangle a hook for flounder and tautaug.
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