Chappaquiddick

Chappaquiddick is a small island that can be found just off the eastern end of Martha's Vineyard. Part of the Martha's Vineyard town of Edgartown, it is a major Massachusetts tourist destination, partly because of its association with the Kennedy family. In 1969, Ted Kennedy had an accident while driving on the island's Dyke Bridge, the likes of which resulted in the death of his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne. It was a major news event at the time. Whether you consider it to be a tempting attraction or not, the Dyke Bridge is something that many Chappaquiddick visitors want to see.

Seeing the Dyke Bridge isn't the only activity option on the island of Chappaquiddick. You can also check out the MyToi Gardens and do some fishing. The Mytoi Gardens is a lovely Japanese garden that is surrounded by native plants, and as you might imagine, it can be a most relaxing place to explore. As for those who have some fishing in mind, Wasque Point might be the destination of point. You can do some surf-casting at Wasque Point, with striped bass and bluefish figuring among the most common catches.

Wasque Point is found at the southern end of a beach on the Wasque Reservation. This beach also attracts people out to the area, but this doesn't mean that you should expect it to be crowded. A relatively few number of Martha's Vineyard tourists venture out to this remote region, and as such, the reservation's strip of sand is a well-kept secret. The surf can be rough at East Beach, as this beach is known, and there are no facilities. As such, packing a picnic basket full of food and drinks is worth considering before you head out on foot or bike.

Chappaquiddick Island in Edgartown is largely undeveloped, so it can be a great place to do some wildlife viewing. Birding is especially rewarding, and once again, the Wasque Reservation is a good place to go if that's what you have in mind. Plovers and egrets are among the nesting shorebirds that you can expect to spot at the Wasque Reservation. Another good place to do some wildlife viewing on the island is the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge. You can also go fishing there, and there are a variety of guided and self-guided tours to choose from. Some of these tours can involve fishing. Other tour activities include visiting the Cape Poge Lighthouse and learning about the natural history of Chappaquiddick.

Off-road vehicles and mountain bikes are mostly used for getting around Chappaquiddick Island in Edgartown, as the island only has one paved road. It is possible to take a bicycle or a vehicle over on the ferry, and the rates are more than fair either way. The relatively cheap ferries have a lot to do with the fact that it only takes about five minutes to get from Edgartown proper to Chappaquiddick by way of boat. Ferries linking Edgartown to Chappaquiddick operate on a daily basis from June to mid-October. They leave approximately every five minutes between the hours of 7 a.m. and midnight, and should you be interested, mopeds are also welcome onboard, as are dogs, so you don't have to leave your canine friend behind. The Memorial Wharf can be found on Dock Street in Edgartown, and it's where you want to go to catch a Chappaquiddick ferry.

There aren't any hotels on the island of Chappaquiddick. Those who wish to venture over often stay at one of the Edgartown hotels. As far as businesses are concerned, the island is home to a general store/auto repair garage, and it is only open in the summer. Summer is the peak Martha's Vineyard travel season, and it should be noted that anyone wishing to take a vehicle over to Chappaquiddick during this season can expect to wait in line for up to an hour before they board a ferry.