Boston Area-My Way, Day Four

So today is the day we will visit Martha's Vineyard. After our complimentary 'breakfast', we drove down to Woods Hole. Before our arrival, we stopped at a grocery store to purchase sandwiches and small bottles of wine for our lunch today. We went to Woods Hole because here is where we parked the car to catch a bus to the ferry that will take us to Martha's Vineyard.

The ferry company was The Steamship Authority, the only ferry in that area to take passengers and their cars (but you have to have a car reservation for that type of transportation) to Marth's Vineyard. We just bought round trip passenger tickets and decided to rent a car on the island. That actually saved us money. The ferry was a pleasant journey. One can purchase food and drink and though there are bathrooms on board, it would be best to go to the bathroom before you board because the lines do get a bit long. And remember, on those cool days, dress warm or grab an inside seat immediately as you board or you will have to stand. The car rental companies are easily accessed right as you disembark off the ferry. We rented from Budget and were given a complimentary upgrade. We ended up with a jeep. There are numerous private companies that you can take paid tours of the island. We are not ready to do that yet. We still like to go out on our own adventures - saves money, time and then you can do the adventure your way.

Martha's Vineyard was a nice place to visit for a day. There are not many roads to get lost on and if you stick to the main roads, you will easily see most of what there is to see on the Vineyard. We spent most of the time on the beaches. We spent much of our time on Norton's Point, known as South Beach or Katama, a barrier beach that provides surf, swimming a fishing. There is also an opportunity to explore Katama Bay on the other side of the dunes and with the proper vehicle, you can drive the dunes for a fee. This was a beautiful area with a beach that stretches on past the horizon. Then we drove to the other side of the island to visit Gay Head Lighthouse and its surrounding area.

This was very pleasant, picturesque stop because the cliffs that surround the lighthouse are The Aquinnah Cliffs, a national landmark. The brilliant colors of the mile-long expanse of the Aquinnah Cliffs astonish all of those that visit that area. Here is where we also decided to enjoy our picnic lunch. After hiking the area and visiting the small shops that are by the lighthouse, we decided to head back to the ferry to take the sunset ferry back to Woods Hole. It was a beautiful sunset, but very cold going back. There was welcomed relief to be back in our car with the heat on, heading back to the hotel.

For supper this evening, we went the the local grocery store in Hull, purchased a few pizzas and enjoyed eating in our rooms. With a late soak in the hotel's hot tub, we headed off to bed thinking of all our adventures and wondering how this vacation went by so fast. For tomorrow, we head home.