Martha’s Vineyard Self-Guided Driving & Walking Audio Tour
Description
Get ready to visit one of the greatest vacation spots in the USA, a favorite among celebrities and even presidents! Martha’s Vineyard is home to stunning beaches and coastline, picturesque little towns, and plenty of fun—but this GPS-guided driving tour with walking portions will also dig beneath the beautiful surface and into the island’s surprising history. Learn about the Wampanoag, the origin of the Vineyard’s famous “gingerbread houses,” and the lost language invented by the island’s residents! After booking, check your email/text to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action while connected to WiFi or mobile data. Enter the password, download the tour, and enjoy it offline. Follow the audio instructions and route from the designated starting point. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want. This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Flying Horses Carousel is a totally unique landmark. It's the oldest operating platform carousel in the country, having been built in 1876. In the early days, the horses on this ride sported real horse hair! The carousel is still in operation today, though it has been updated for comfort and safety. The tour is over 13.5 miles long, with more than 38 audio stories, and takes about 2-3 hours to complete. New, Lifetime access, no expiry. Use it anytime, on any trip, as many times as you want.
The Cottage Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum and gift shop offering more information about the origins of the Gingerbread Houses and the people who built them. Here, you'll also find all kinds of souvenirs. Whether you're in the market for sterling silver charms, toys, calendars, or postcards, this combination museum and gift shop has you covered.
Inkwell Beach, situated on the eastern side of Oak Bluffs, is a small and pretty beach with a bit of an unsavory past. In the early to mid 1900s, Martha's Vineyard beaches were fully segregated. As a result, beaches like this one were underfunded and generally left in disrepair by local authorities. Today, however, all of that has changed.
As you pass the Caroline Tuthill Wildlife Preserve, you'll want to keep your eyes peeled for any of the more than 300 species of bird which can be found on the Vineyard. This preserve is also home to tons of local flora, including bountiful wildfowers of all sorts. Beyond it, you'll also head about the whaling industry and how it once defined the island.
Chappaquiddick Island, just off the coast of Edgartown's downtown, gets its name from the Wampanoag tribe. In their language, Chappaquiddick means "separated island." And yes, that does mean that its name is technically "Separated Island Island"!
Finally, you'll arrive at South Beach. This long strip of sand is basically two beaches in one, with the placid Katama Bay on one side and the dramatic Atlantic Ocean surf on the other. Whether you want to lounge on the sand, catch some surf, or just break out the binoculars and search for shore birds, this is the beach for you. Your tour concludes here, though there are more optional stops around the island if you want to keep the adventure going.
Passing through Edgartown's Historic District is a truly lovely experience. Wonderfully preserved houses from the 1800s flank the street, while cute shops and restaurants wait on every corner. As you drive, you'll also get a glimpse into how the town got its start, its name, and the role that whaling played in the development of it all.
On Lighthouse Beach, you'll enjoy a pristine sandy beach, gentle surf, and a picture-perfect New England lighthouse. It's a great spot to pause, picnic, and snap that perfect photo from your trip. While you're here, you'll also get a bit of background on that lighthouse.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Easy to use: GPS-triggered audio plays automatically along the route for a hands-free experience.
- Private tour: Explore in your own vehicle without crowded buses or large tour groups.
- At your own pace: Start anytime and pause for hikes, picnics, photos, or scenic stops.
- Works offline: Once downloaded, the tour works using GPS without Wi-Fi or cellular service.
- Good value: One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle, not each person separately.
- More ways to save: Choose a single tour, a nearby bundle, or access to 200+ tours.
- Download in advance: Download the Tour Guide app by Action and tour while connected to Wi-Fi or a strong cellular signal.
- Follow the route: Begin at the suggested starting point or join anywhere along the route shown in the app.
- Lifetime access: Preview the tour before your trip and revisit the stories, photos, and details afterward.
- Supported devices: iPhone with iOS 15+, Android with version 9+, or a GPS-enabled iPad/tablet with cellular capability.
Reviews(8)
The app is very confusing and not helpful. It failed to discuss what we were seeing and does not work well with the route we traveled.
Sonja, I’m sorry to hear the app felt confusing. Please share what was unclear so I can continue improving the experience. Once the tour is redeemed and downloaded in advance, you simply need to launch the app at the starting point and follow the provided route, as the audio is triggered by GPS along that path. It sounds like the route may not have been followed, which can affect how the narration plays. I’m available daily from 9 AM to 6 PM EST and would be happy to help you get the most out of the tour or troubleshoot any issues you experienced.
The ap kept going ahead of us. Didn't allow for speed limits, missed turns, etc. (Streets are poorly marked in MV). Very disappointed in it.
Scott, I’m sorry to hear that my Martha’s Vineyard GPS Driving & Walking Audio Tour didn’t work smoothly for you. The tour is designed to use GPS-triggered narration, so the audio should play based on your location along the route, but I understand how frustrating it must have been if the app seemed to move ahead or if turns were difficult to follow on poorly marked streets. Did you download the tour before starting, follow the suggested route from the starting point, and keep location permissions enabled throughout the drive? If you contact support with your booking details, I’d be happy to look into what happened and help make this right.
Easy to purchase, easy to download, easy to use. We rented bikes and used the app as we toured on the bikes. It was to hear the hilights of MV.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed my Martha’s Vineyard Audio Tour. It’s wonderful that the app was easy to use on your bike ride, and I’m glad it helped you discover the island's highlights. If you’re planning more adventures in the area, don’t forget to check out our Massachusetts Bundle. It features Salem, the Freedom Trail, Martha’s Vineyard, and more—ideal for exploring the state’s rich history and charm.
We could explore at our leisure, it was nice to hear about the history as we traveled to our destination and I loved that they’d redirect us if we missed a stop.
Chris, I’m glad you enjoyed my Martha’s Vineyard audio tour. It’s great to hear that being able to explore at your own pace and the historical commentary enhanced your experience. I’m happy the app’s guidance helped you stay on track, even if you missed a stop. If you’re planning more adventures in the area, don’t miss our Massachusetts Bundle. It includes Salem, the Freedom Trail, Martha’s Vineyard, and more—perfect for exploring the state’s rich history and charm.
Very interesting information! Would have been great if the map synced with Apple play and the in car map. Holding the phone and driving was a little scary at times…
Robert, I’m glad you enjoyed my Martha’s Vineyard audio tour and found the information interesting. I understand that holding the phone while driving can be tough. My team is working on Apple CarPlay integration so future travelers can follow the map more safely in their cars. If you're planning more adventures in the area, check out our Massachusetts Bundle. It includes Salem, the Freedom Trail, Martha’s Vineyard, and more—perfect for exploring the state’s rich history and charm.
Was great to try out. Had a couple of dead spots where audio cut out. We will definitely try it again.
Dana, I’m glad you enjoyed trying out my Martha’s Vineyard audio tour and plan to use it again on your next trip. To avoid audio cutouts, follow the route closely and adhere to the speed limit shown on the app—this helps ensure the GPS-triggered stories sync properly. If you're looking into more destinations, we’d love for you to try our Massachusetts Bundle. It includes Salem, the Freedom Trail, Cape Cod, and more — perfect for diving deeper into the state’s rich history and charm.
Me and my husband used the system for the first time for our anniversary trip. The beginning of the tour was a little confusing because even though we downloaded the tour beforehand it still wouldn't let us start when we got to the start point. Once we got it up and running it was fun, informative and easy to navigate. The only rocky point was trying to navigate back to our car from the ending of the walking portion. We pretty had to follow our step in reverse. Over all we liked the navigate and would use it again in another state.
Hi there, thank you for choosing our tour for your anniversary trip — and happy anniversary! I'm so glad to hear that the experience was enjoyable, informative, and easy to navigate once it got going. I appreciate you pointing out the initial confusion and the walk back to your car — that’s valuable feedback, and I’ll keep it in mind for future updates. If you're looking into more destinations, we’d love for you to try our Massachusetts Bundle. It includes Salem, the Freedom Trail, Cape Cod, and more — perfect for diving deeper into the state’s rich history and charm.
Absolutely loved the self-guided audio tour! It was an immersive experience that allowed me to explore at my own pace. The narration was informative, engaging, and synced perfectly with the sights. A must-try for any traveler seeking a unique and flexible way to discover new destinations!
Thank you very much for your positive feedback! I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed exploring Cambridge at your own pace with my tour and that it enhanced your visit. If you have any future travel plans, you may be interested in my Action+ Tour Bundle, which includes over 100 of my self-guided tours. Thank you once again for your kind words!
