phatmom

My husband and I are going to Nantucket for 3 days for our 1st trip to the Cape Cod area. We'd like to take a day trip to either Martha's Vineyard or Hyannis Port.
1.Is that a good idea? Can we take a ferry from Nantucket and back in the same day with enough time to sightsee alittle?
2.Which would be a better day trip: Martha's Vineyard or Hyannis Port?

xkenx

Are you flying to ACK, which is why you aren't starting on the mainland? If so, a ferry to Hyannis would be different than going to the other island, MV. From Hyannis, Chatham and the outer Cape are interesting to the east. Falmouth and Woods Hole are interesting to the west. Not likely enough time to go both directions.

Ralphie

There is an inter-island ferry between Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It docks at Oak Bluffs on MV. It's not a large boat like the Hyannis ferries, and it's not a very quick ride. The schedule is such that it does not allow a full day worth of exploring for a day trip (especially considering the to-from travel time).

The fast ferry to Hyannis will have less travel time, but if you're only on nantucket for three days, why not just stay put for the three days?

Ackislander

I don't want to sound prejudiced since I live on Nantucket, but there is not enough to see in Hyannis to take a day out of your time on Nantucket and there is too much to see on the Vineyard. Nantucket is relatively compact and quite scenic and picturesque. Hyannis is not picturesque and quite spread out. The Vineyard is both spread out and picturesque. See the problem?

If you take the ferry from here to Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard, you can enjoy that attractive and interesting place, but it isn't necessarily quick or easy to go on to Edgartown or Menemsha, which is my favorite place on The Other Island.

If you fly to the Vineyard, you will find that the airport (like ours) is out in the middle of nowhere and not a good place to begin touring.

So stick with Nantucket this time, then go to the Cape next time or the Vineyard, and come back a third time for the one you missed! And then there are the differences between the lower cape and the upper cape and the inner cape and the outer cape . . . .

John_T_Cuttino

I agree with Ackislander, stick with Nantucket. Hyannis is not much. Marthas Vineyard is larger and more spread out.
There is just too much to see and do on Nantucket. Beaches, museums, shops, restaurants, touring old homes.