Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket for day trip?

Longer ferry ride to Nantucket. Do you have bikes? Option to rent them near ferry terminal on Martha's Vineyard - unsure on Nantucket - been a while since I was out there. To me, maybe a bit more to see going into Oaks Bluff vs Vineyard Haven if you are limited to foot travel. Nantucket is a bit more compact, more sights right around ferry terminal IIRC. ST

Martha's Vineyard has what looks like a good buss system, $8 for an all day buss pass ($5 for seniors). http://vineyardtransit.com/Pages/index It seems to cover everything on the island. We have not been there but are planning a day trip this Spring.

Even though Allison spent many days of her childhood on Nantucket and wanted me to see it, we selected Martha's Vineyard when we visited last year simply because the ferry ride was a lot shorter, giving us more time to explore the island on a day trip. We rented bikes and had a great time.

Martha's Vineyard is not a walking destination...... Car or bus only or you aren't going to see much unless you just stay in Oak Bluffs. We rented a car for the afternoon when we were there last summer and I still feel like I missed some things we were on the last ferry back to the mainland.

The fast ferry to Nantucket is an hour. Cape Air gets you there in 15 minutes plus the TSA check-in time so, door to door, the ferry is probably faster.

You could easily spend a day in "downtown" Nantucket. Shops, restaurants and the whaling museum. Walk out to the lighthouse. Plenty to do.

MV has several towns spread throughout the island. Walking is not possible, but bike or moped rentals are everywhere. Car rentals as well.

The Ferry from New Bedford will get you to the Vineyard without having to fight Cape traffic.

Nantucket has the main village area with food and shopping spots. The rest of the island is quite rural and pictuesque, but again it's way too large for walking.

If you intend to take a car over to either, you'll need to book with the steamship authority WELL in advance!

I prefer Nantucket, although I might be influenced by the fact that my parents retired there in 1978 and my brother still works as a carpenter on the island. Lost of nice beaches, a choice between city & country, enough museums & historic sites to keep one busy. There is plenty to do if you don't want to get out of the city - don't sass up a walk on the docks to see a huge range of boats, but there are a number of "Van Tours" available that lets you see the rest of the island.

If you stay overnight it can be expensive, and, as Paul or Sandra noted, ferry reservations for automobiles are usually necessary & expensive (my last was $450.00) round trip. I have a number of journals of visits to the island Here is one from 2011 with links to others.

Never been to MV but we've day tripped to Nantucket twice. I much prefer the whaling museum on Nantucket over the one in New Bedford. This year we may rent bicycles & see the lifesaving museum.

MV is nice and can make a day out of it>> rent mopeds cheap and easy way to get around.

Steve
250RSS Outback
Southern Mass

MV is nice and can make a day out of it>> rent mopeds cheap and easy way to get around.

Steve
250RSS Outback
Southern Mass