Introduction

red victorian dockside
photo by Geoff Rand

Oak Bluffs is geographically between the Vineyard's two other large, prominent harbors. It's in between them culturally as well. Vineyard Haven, to the north, is more spread out, quieter, and even a little understated. Edgartown, to the south, has more upscale streetscapes and more outscale mansions. All three towns now economically lean on tourism, but only Oak Bluffs has unabashedly welcomed summer visitors for over 150 years.

The marina hosts something like 10,000 transient boats each year, and ferries bring an additional 500,000 individual visitors to town. Closely packed waterfront bars and restaurants hard by the closely packed boats moored to the bulkhead create a dock-and-dine ambience. It's hard to visit Oak Bluffs without getting swept up in the resort-town energy.