Biking Martha’s Vineyard

Biking Martha’s Vineyard

Biking and camping doesn’t seem like the typical Martha’s Vineyard experience, mostly because it isn’t the typical Martha’s Vineyard experience. That being said, biking around the island gave an entirely different perspective of what the Vineyard has to offer beyond its beaches and quaint island towns. We took the ferry from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven where we set up our tent at the Martha’s Vineyard Family Campground. With the exception of a few rogue skunks wandering the campground at night, and the guy at the site next to us puking his brains out for an impossibly long period of time, this wasn’t a bad place to camp.

We brought our own bikes over on the ferry, but there are a few places to rent bikes on the island, some of which deliver to where you’re staying:

• Edgartown: Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals
• Oak Bluffs: All Star
• Vineyard Haven: Martha’s Bike

Over the course of the next two days, we biked every corner of the island, with the exception of Chappaquiddick. While there are several bike paths on the island, in many cases the paths simply follow the auto roads with little designated space for bikes. Some of the most picturesque rides on the island are located on the roads heading southwest towards Menemsha, and these roads are narrow, winding and hilly. You definitely need to be careful along these stretches, but the scenery is really impressive.  The ride down State Road and Middle Road between Vineyard Haven and Menemsha was lined with farms, stone walls, and meadows, and looked more like the English countryside than a New England summer destination. This central artery between the coastal towns to the east and the cliffs to the west is an area of the Vineyard that most people overlook. Had we not decided to see the island by bike, we probably would have missed out as well.

After riding southwest on the Up-Island Route, we arrived in the picturesque fishing village of Menemsha. Rather than taking the considerably longer route on the State Road, we were able to cross Menemsha Creek on the the bike ferry. For a few dollars, the bike ferry carried us on a very short but scenic ride across Menemsha Creek/Pond. From here, we continued on to Aquinnah and Gay Head Lighthouse, one of the most iconic attractions in Martha’s Vineyard.  In addition to the lighthouse, Aquinnah is well known for its tranquil beaches and stunning clay cliffs. We ditched out bikes and spent a couple of hours here walking down the beach alongside the clay cliffs admiring the scenery. It’s worth noting that as you venture further down the beach, it becomes, shall we say, “clothing optional”. We have no problem with nude beaches (tan lines aren’t for everyone), but  unexpectedly stumbling upon a game of naked ultimate frisbee is…jarring.  Naked frisbee is the kind of sight that’s difficult to unsee.

Read More: Hiking Menemsha Hills

The rest of the weekend was full of the more typical Martha’s Vineyard activities, like relaxing at State Beach, eating dinner in Edgartown, and wandering around Oak Bluffs.