Destination: Chappaquiddick (Aka Chappy)

Destination: Chappaquiddick (Aka Chappy)

July 25, 2018

If you’re looking for a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of down-Island towns, but you’re not quite up for the long drive up-Island, hop on the Chappy Ferry. Leaving from 53 Dock Street in Edgartown, you’ll travel only 527 feet across the Edgartown Harbor and step directly into a world uninterrupted by shops, restaurants, and bars. Running back and forth consistently from 6:45am to midnight, this trusty “On Time” ferry can accommodate you (a round trip is $4), you and your bike (a round trip is $6), or you and your car (a round trip is $12). 

In addition to private residences, Chappaquiddick is home to about 1000 acres of open land preserved by the Trustees of Reservations and the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission. If you’re on foot, you can easily venture down to the public beach at Chappy Point to view the expansive Edgartown harbor and to take a swim. After drying off, you can stop by Slip Away Farm, which sells Chappy-grown produce at its farm stand just down the road from the ferry. 

If you’re interested in exploring off the beaten path, you can bike or drive to Wasque, Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge, and the Japanese-style garden, Mytoi (pronounced “my-toy”), but take note that you may be traveling on dirt roads. At these preserved locations you can tan, swim, walk, and fish. But while you enjoy the quiet beauty of these locations, be aware of posted signs and remember to be mindful of the surrounding wildlife. The Trustees and the Land Bank Commission preserves this land as an essential habitat for countless creatures and plants, not just as the subject of our appreciation.

If you do visit Mytoi, be sure to go beyond it for a quick visit to the new Dike Bridge, which replaced the bridge that was picked apart by souvenir hunters following the fatal car crash of 1969. 

With only one retail business—the Chappy Store—and acres of preserved land, Chappy is your destination to escape and explore.