ARRIVAL

Cleaning is between 10am and 4pm. These times can be flexible if there are no bookings immediately before or after your stay.

However, there is tremendous pressure on the cleaning staff, to use this time to clean many houses as possible.   There is nothing more important than arriving at a perfectly organized, tranquil clean house. 

In case you are early, the best places to go, till the whole Island calms down a bit, is to explore the more distant parts of the island, away from the harbor.

If you arrive just an hour or two early, you could stop in Cronig's Market (2 blocks from the house) for fresh food to eat while you unpack. Or, stop by Oak Bluffs or Edgartown for drinks, since Vineyard Haven is a dry town. (dry = you can bring YOUR wine to a restaurant, but they cannot sell it to you.).

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If you arrive, 4 to 6 hours early, try the more distant local spots:

First, there is the West Tisbury Farmer’s Market, in the middle of the Island.  On "turn-over-Saturdays", you are able to get their fresh vegetables, flowers, pies, and deserts at the most wholesome, relaxed, gentle place on the island.  This lets you settle into the rhythm of quiet, non-commercial, Island-time.  It also has great food and deserts & drinks, without the crowds of a restaurant.

Here is a good blog link, with some typical photos of the Farmer's Market.

With more time , try the Menemsha Harbor, (see map above) have seafood, chowder, or fresh lobster from the ocean at the Larsen’s fish market.  You could even cool off in the ocean there.

Menemsha Harbor

With even more time, continue all the way to Aquinnah, the cliffs, and again, more great beaches. (see map above, far right)

From Aquinnah, there are 2 or 3 other roads to return to the house.  This first day, really intruduces you to some of the priceless places on the Island.

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On the other hand, if it was just a plain hot day, and you just want to go the beach for a nap, and a swim, go to the miles of beach (Joseph Silvia Beach) along the road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. (see map above) Here you can just park your car off the side of the road, and walk straight into the water....nice.

Here is a list and description of all the beaches on Martha's Vineyard.

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 ON CAPE COD...AND LATE ARRIVING FERRIES.

Some people with a late FERRY RESERVATION, will spit up a group, half of the group will be walk-on passengers on the ferry, take the Park-and-Ride shuttle up to the hosue, and open the house. The other half can take the car over later, after a day at the beach on the mainland (see below).

The park-and-ride shuttle bus (FREE) meets every arriving ferrry in Vineyard Haven, will take the walk-on passengers & luggage up to the house, letting them out at the grocery store (Cronig’s market) 3 blocks from the house. 

When the car arrives later in the evening, the house is sorted out, beds picked, food in the refrigerator, and the vacation can begin

If you are waiting in the Woods Hole area.  If you want to use this day as a beach day, before catching a night ferry, consider the great beachs of Falmouth.   Parking is always a factor, but sometimes $10 can buy you one of the greatest days of your vacation!  Huge, clean, white sand family beaches with easy water, and seashells.

A couple of the best are OLD SILVER BEACH  or CHAPOQUOIT BEACH.

Exploring the West Falmouth and North Falmouth area & their beaches is a good off-the-beaten-path to see the old Cape Cod.

Below is a good summary of all the beaches of Cape Cod.

Cape Cod Beaches, from The New York Times, travel section