It’s not easy finding dockage in Edgartown during the peak summer season; moorings are easier to come by.

Elegance and history permeate the narrow streets and tight, deep harbor of Edgartown—the oldest and largest township on Martha’s Vineyard. First settled in 1641 by Reverand Thomas Mayhew, a man of God who respected the native Wampanoags as he converted them to a gentler form of Protestantism than that practiced on the Puritan mainland, the town grew and prospered as a seaport well into the 19th century.

As Edgartown’s sea captains grew wealthy trading with China and harvesting whale oil on the seven seas, they built Greek Revival mansions on North Water Street and the starkly beautiful Old Whaling Church with its massive, simple columns that stands near the Dukes County Courthouse on Main Street. Later, when the market for whale oil declined and steamships replaced square-riggers, yachting and upper-crust tourism picked up the slack in the town’s economy.

Today the harbor attracts some of the most luxurious yachts in the world, while many of the former captains’ homes have become well-tended summer residences and inns. Some of the town’s historic buildings are open to the public as museums, while still others have found new lives as shops, restaurants, and galleries.

Edgartown Harbor is some 15 miles from the entrance to Hyannis Harbor and nearly 11 miles from Nobska Point at Woods Hole. The deep and sheltered inner harbor is formed by the channel between Martha’s Vineyard and Chappaquiddick. Boaters should exercise caution when heading downcurrent, especially near the harbor entrance, where two small Chappy ferries cross the narrows every five minutes. Boat traffic, particularly on weekends, can be heavy.

Young and old appreciate the peace and beauty of Edgartown Harbor.

>Berths and mooring space can be at a premium in Edgartown, especially during the high season, which is why visiting in the fall can be particularly rewarding. Overnight anchoring is permitted in the outer harbor only, east of red nun “8.” This area is well protected from prevailing southwesterlies, but exposed in northerly winds. In the latter situation, the harbormaster may allow anchoring inside Katama Bay.

The harbormaster’s office manages moorings for transient boats up to 65 feet and accepts reservations by telephone or online. Oldport Launch provides service to and from the moorings and the anchorage, and is also available for harbor tours.

Municipal dockage is available for powerboats only at the Edgartown Finger Piers, while dockage at North Wharf is billed by the foot (50-foot minimum). Memorial Wharf permits loading and unloading (10-minute maximum) between visits of the Pied Piper ferry from Falmouth. Contact the harbormaster for details. Mad Max Marina and the Harborside Inn also offer dock space, while the Edgartown Yacht Club offers reciprocal privileges to members of US Sailing.

Once ashore, you’ll want to check out the many stores and galleries along Main and Water Streets. In addition to maintaining a unique museum dedicated to the island’s culture, the Martha’s Vineyard Society has preserved several buildings along School Street, and also offers a self-guided tour of the town. Meanwhile, the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust owns the Old Whaling Church and several other historic buildings, including the oldest house on the island. And don’t miss the stately Pagoda tree on South Water Street, brought home in a flowerpot in 1833.

Outside of town, you can visit many beaches and nature preserves, including the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, operated by the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge on Chappaquiddick. Mytoi, a 14-acre Japanese garden on Chappy, is also open to visitors. Bike rentals, taxi service, and public buses facilitate travel around the Vineyard.

In short, there’s no limit to the ways you can spend time in Edgartown, but then again you may just want to hang out on your boat and soak up the beauty of this wonderful New England port. You wouldn’t be alone!