Martha's Vineyard, New England's largest resort Island, was formed by glacial action 10,000 years ago and lies 7 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. The Island is roughly triangular-shaped with its base the straight south shore. It is 9 miles wide and 23 miles long at its furthest points; the total land area is approximately 100 square miles. Martha's Vineyard has a total of 124.6 miles of tidal shoreline. There are six towns on the Island of Martha's Vineyard; three up-island towns, Aquinnah (formerly known as Gay Head), Chilmark, and West Tisbury; and three down-Island towns, Vineyard Haven (also known as Tisbury) Oak Bluffs and Edgartown. To get here you can come by sea or by air—there are no land routes, bridges or tunnels connecting us to the mainland. Most travelers arrive via one of the numerous ferries that service our harbors. A lesser but growing number use the Martha's Vineyard airport as their point of entry traveling via Cape Air or other commercial airlines or via private plane. The leisurely ferry ride or flight from the mainland will prepare you for a wonderful change of pace. The sound of the ocean, the magnificent beaches and almost endless stretches of field and forest will complete the transition. So come to the Vineyard, and see why so many people believe this is truly a magical place.