The next time that you’re in Martha’s Vineyard, you may want to consider renting a car and making your way to the New Bedford Ferry. Known as the Seastreak, it departs from Vineyard Haven twice daily and will take you to New Bedford, Massachusetts. One departure takes place in the morning and the other occurs in the afternoon.
Once you board the Seastreak, it will take you roughly 60 minutes to reach New Bedford. So if you hop onto the 10:50 a.m. weekend ferry, you should reach New Bedford’s shores in time to take the Ferry Shuttle to Johnny Cake Hill. There you’ll find the New Bedford Whaling Museum. It typically opens at 9 a.m. and closes around 4 or 5 p.m.
The museum is home to many artifacts and exhibits, including an 89-foot tall model ship. It sits inside of the venue’s Bourne Building and goes by the name, Lagoda. Don’t miss seeing the ship because it is really beautiful. Allow at least two hours to see the whaling museum’s sights.
Afterward, consider getting back on the shuttle and heading to nearby William Street. It is home to the New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park, which is normally open until 4 p.m. While there, take a guided, one hour tour or visit the sites on your own. Places to look for are the Seamen’s Bethel, the Rotch-Jones Duff House and the Garden museum. Just make sure you are back at the New Bedford Ferry terminal before 3:45 p.m. That’s normally when the Seastreak departs for Vineyard Haven.
When you get back to Vineyard Haven, pick up your rental car and go grab a bite to eat. There are a lot of fabulous restaurants to try. If you are not sure which one would be best, ask our A-A Island Auto Rental office staff in Vineyard. They would love to provide a few suggestions.
To learn more about renting a car in Vineyard Haven and taking the New Bedford Ferry, please contact us at (800) 627-6333 or (508) 696-5300. Keep in mind, we also have A-A Island Auto Rental locations in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown.
