Martha's Vinyard Driving & Walking GPS-Guided Audio Tour
Overview
Get ready to visit one of the greatest vacation spots in the USA, a favorite among celebrities and even presidents! Martha’s Vineyard is home to stunning beaches and coastline, picturesque little towns, and plenty of fun—but this GPS-guided driving tour with walking portions will also dig beneath the beautiful surface and into the island’s surprising history. Learn about the Wampanoag, the origin of the Vineyard’s famous “gingerbread houses, ” and the lost language invented by the island’s residents!
Here's how it works: Within 30 min, we'll send you two things: a unique password and the Action Tour Guide app. Download the Action Tour Guide onto your phone and enter the password. Then download the tour inside. When you arrive, go to the Visitor Center to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
No expiration — the tour is available from the minute you book until forever!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Here's how it works: Within 30 min, we'll send you two things: a unique password and the Action Tour Guide app. Download the Action Tour Guide onto your phone and enter the password. Then download the tour inside. When you arrive, go to the Visitor Center to start the tour. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
No expiration — the tour is available from the minute you book until forever!
This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Inclusions
- App on your phone: A link to download the Tour Guide App by Action and Password for your tours.
- Flexible schedule: Use any day, any time. Travel over multiple days or on next trip. Never expires.
- Good value: Buy just one per car. Don’t pay for each person. Save money compared to a bus tour.
- Easy to use: Stories play automatically by GPS. Hands-free. Get HELP all day: Call, Chat, or Email.
- Private tour in your/rental car: No group. Take breaks for photos/ snacks/hikes. Go at your own pace
- Offline use: No cell signal or wifi required. Offline GPS Map & route. Stop-to-stop direction.
- Don’t miss a thing: Full itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated, videos, text, hidden gems.
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Martha's Vineyard Camp meeting Association (MVCMA), 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02557
Your tour of Martha’s Vineyard begins the quaint town of Vineyard Haven on the island's north coast. Famous for its gorgeous coastline and historic towns, there’s so much to see on this beautiful island! Your tour will take you along the Vineyard's eastern coast, where all the island's top attractions can be found.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Flying Horses Carousel, 33 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02557
The Flying Horses Carousel is a totally unique landmark. It's the oldest operating platform carousel in the country, having been built in 1876. In the early days, the horses on this ride sported real horse hair! The carousel is still in operation today, though it has been updated for comfort and safety.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, USA
These vibrant Victorian cottages are clustered together, each with a quaint and colorful design reminiscent of the house made of gingerbread and candy in “Hansel and Gretel.” These adorable homes are now exclusive summer cottages, but they come from humble origins.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cottage Museum, 1 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
The Cottage Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum and gift shop offering more information about the origins of the Gingerbread Houses and the people who built them. Here, you'll also find all kinds of souvenirs. Whether you're in the market for sterling silver charms, toys, calendars, or postcards, this combination museum and gift shop has you covered.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Inkwell Beach, Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Inkwell Beach, situated on the eastern side of Oak Bluffs, is a small and pretty beach with a bit of an unsavory past. In the early to mid 1900s, Martha's Vineyard beaches were fully segregated. As a result, beaches like this one were underfunded and generally left in disrepair by local authorities. Today, however, all of that has changed.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, 2 Beach Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
As you pass the Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for any of the more than 300 species of bird which can be found on the Vineyard. This preserve is also home to tons of local flora, including bountiful wildfowers of all sorts. Beyond it, you'll also head about the whaling industry and how it once defined the island.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Chappaquiddick Island, just off the coast of Edgartown's downtown, gets its name from the Wampanoag tribe. In their language, Chappaquiddick means "separated island." And yes, that does mean that its name is technically "Separated Island Island"!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lighthouse Beach, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02539
On Lighthouse Beach, you'll enjoy a pristine sandy beach, gentle surf, and a picture-perfect New England lighthouse. It's a great spot to pause, picnic, and snap that perfect photo from your trip. While you're here, you'll also get a bit of background on that lighthouse.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Edgartown Historic District, 70 Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Passing through Edgartown's Historic District is a truly lovely experience. Wonderfully preserved houses from the 1800s flank the street, while cute shops and restaurants wait on every corner. As you drive, you'll also get a glimpse into how the town got its start, its name, and the role that whaling played in the development of it all.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Katama Beach/ South Beach, 555 Katama Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Finally, you'll arrive at South Beach. This long strip of sand is basically two beaches in one, with the placid Katama Bay on one side and the dramatic Atlantic Ocean surf on the other. Whether you want to lounge on the sand, catch some surf, or just break out the binoculars and search for shore birds, this is the beach for you. Your tour concludes here, though there are more optional stops around the island if you want to keep the adventure going.
Duration: 10 minutes
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Martha's Vineyard Camp meeting Association (MVCMA), 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02557
Your tour of Martha’s Vineyard begins the quaint town of Vineyard Haven on the island's north coast. Famous for its gorgeous coastline and historic towns, there’s so much to see on this beautiful island! Your tour will take you along the Vineyard's eastern coast, where all the island's top attractions can be found.
Duration: 30 minutes
Stop At: Flying Horses Carousel, 33 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02557
The Flying Horses Carousel is a totally unique landmark. It's the oldest operating platform carousel in the country, having been built in 1876. In the early days, the horses on this ride sported real horse hair! The carousel is still in operation today, though it has been updated for comfort and safety.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association, 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, MA 02557, USA
These vibrant Victorian cottages are clustered together, each with a quaint and colorful design reminiscent of the house made of gingerbread and candy in “Hansel and Gretel.” These adorable homes are now exclusive summer cottages, but they come from humble origins.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Cottage Museum, 1 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
The Cottage Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum and gift shop offering more information about the origins of the Gingerbread Houses and the people who built them. Here, you'll also find all kinds of souvenirs. Whether you're in the market for sterling silver charms, toys, calendars, or postcards, this combination museum and gift shop has you covered.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Inkwell Beach, Seaview Ave, Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, MA
Inkwell Beach, situated on the eastern side of Oak Bluffs, is a small and pretty beach with a bit of an unsavory past. In the early to mid 1900s, Martha's Vineyard beaches were fully segregated. As a result, beaches like this one were underfunded and generally left in disrepair by local authorities. Today, however, all of that has changed.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, 2 Beach Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
As you pass the Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for any of the more than 300 species of bird which can be found on the Vineyard. This preserve is also home to tons of local flora, including bountiful wildfowers of all sorts. Beyond it, you'll also head about the whaling industry and how it once defined the island.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Chappaquiddick Island, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Chappaquiddick Island, just off the coast of Edgartown's downtown, gets its name from the Wampanoag tribe. In their language, Chappaquiddick means "separated island." And yes, that does mean that its name is technically "Separated Island Island"!
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Lighthouse Beach, Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, MA 02539
On Lighthouse Beach, you'll enjoy a pristine sandy beach, gentle surf, and a picture-perfect New England lighthouse. It's a great spot to pause, picnic, and snap that perfect photo from your trip. While you're here, you'll also get a bit of background on that lighthouse.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Edgartown Historic District, 70 Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Passing through Edgartown's Historic District is a truly lovely experience. Wonderfully preserved houses from the 1800s flank the street, while cute shops and restaurants wait on every corner. As you drive, you'll also get a glimpse into how the town got its start, its name, and the role that whaling played in the development of it all.
Duration: 10 minutes
Stop At: Katama Beach/ South Beach, 555 Katama Rd, Edgartown, MA 02539, USA
Finally, you'll arrive at South Beach. This long strip of sand is basically two beaches in one, with the placid Katama Bay on one side and the dramatic Atlantic Ocean surf on the other. Whether you want to lounge on the sand, catch some surf, or just break out the binoculars and search for shore birds, this is the beach for you. Your tour concludes here, though there are more optional stops around the island if you want to keep the adventure going.
Duration: 10 minutes
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- How it works: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions. Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours. To begin touring, go to the Starting Point and launch the app. The audio starts automatically. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience. Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.
- Good value Purchase only one tour for the entire vehicle instead of taking the bus and paying for each person. You will see a significant saving. Connect your phone to car speakers by a wire or bluetooth. Enjoy the tour by listening together as you drive.
- Flexible Schedule: Once the app/tour is on your phone, you can use it any day and at any time. You can use it over multiple days. And, also use it on your next trip here. This tour never expires.
- Preview the tour: You can use it before the trip at home (highly recommended), use it during the trip, and use it after you come back.
- Don't miss a thing: You will get everything with the app - a complete itinerary, travel tips, professionally narrated audio stories, story script, images, videos, deep dives, hidden gems, exciting locations, recommendations for hikes, adventure, activities, treks, and stop-by-stop direction.
- Private tour: You can use it in your car or rental car. No worries about groups or crowds. Start the tour app on your phone. And it will direct you step by step. You can stop for as many breaks as you like. Take a break for Instagram photos, and take a break for lunch/snacks. Go on a hike. The tour will wait for you and start when you start again. You can even do the tour over multiple days. Go at your own pace.
- Easy to use: The stories play themselves as soon as the GPS is activated. It requires no use of your hands at all. You can get HELP by calling, chatting, or emailing any time of the day.
- Offline: There is no need for a cell signal or Wi-Fi while touring. App’s GPS map works offline.
- Expiration/go again: The tour will last for the rest of your life on your phone. It is available for use on any day of your next trip.
- Use pictures for a photo book: Create a photo book using clean (no crowd) app images of each spot to make a memorable trip. All the photos and the correct sequence is ready in the app for you to use.
- Social media: Share clean (no crowd) images with friends/family.
- Devices supported include iPhones with iOS 13 & above, Android phones with version 9 & above and all cellular-enabled tablets & iPads.
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
vickyp754
June 2023
Started at the beginning of the Martha’s Vineyard tour in Vineyard Haven and followed the narrative & map the whole way. I drove extra slow through the congested areas and slower than the speed limit elsewhere to ensure we heard the narrative fully before the next one started. I had to pull over ...
Started at the beginning of the Martha’s Vineyard tour in Vineyard Haven and followed the narrative & map the whole way. I drove extra slow through the congested areas and slower than the speed limit elsewhere to ensure we heard the narrative fully before the next one started. I had to pull over a couple times as the new narrative cut off the ends of the prior one. We just hit the back-arrow to relisten & hear the full thing. Not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I enjoyed the tour. I learned a few things I hadn’t known before (I’ve been here often, but it’s the first time for my family.) We also enjoyed the Oak Bluffs walking part of the tour! Great tour of eastern MV. Would love a tour of the western half. We’ll be going to those spots today.Golfingpeople
October 2022
It was completely useless, because once we got to the start point, it didn’t tell us what was around us or where we were headed. The history was interesting but could not follow the tour..
It was completely useless, because once we got to the start point, it didn’t tell us what was around us or where we were headed. The history was interesting but could not follow the tour..GrandTour14298082772
September 2022
Definitely worth the money! Nice narrator. Contains a portion where you take a walk around Oak Bluffs. Drive very slowly between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, as the individual "stops" where so close to each other that the audio for the next one would start playing before the current one had finished...
Definitely worth the money! Nice narrator. Contains a portion where you take a walk around Oak Bluffs. Drive very slowly between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, as the individual "stops" where so close to each other that the audio for the next one would start playing before the current one had finished. Still, great experience 🙂627bobg
September 2022
We felt like this tour could have provided more details. It also only covered one portion of the island.
We felt like this tour could have provided more details. It also only covered one portion of the island.KJS78003
August 2022
This is a great App and very easy to use. Listening while driving/walking was a great way to see and learn about Martha's Vineyard. I plan to download more tours in the future.
This is a great App and very easy to use. Listening while driving/walking was a great way to see and learn about Martha's Vineyard. I plan to download more tours in the future.BennettsBeachEstate
August 2022
We really enjoyed the information however we had trouble locating the information with the building or the statue. We believe that’s us. Every time you made a turn it changed and we missed information constantly.
We really enjoyed the information however we had trouble locating the information with the building or the statue. We believe that’s us. Every time you made a turn it changed and we missed information constantly.