West Tisbury, incorporated in 1892, was the former "industrial" heart of the Island though today it is better known for its peaceful beauty and tranquility. It once was home to a grist mill, a clay works, a salt works, and for extensive trap fishing operations. It is 34 square miles and runs from the North to the South shore of the Island. It is the second largest village of the six on the Vineyard with only population of about 1700. There are two village “centers”, one on State Road (called North Tisbury by some) and one on South Road.
You can definitely "get away from it all" in West Tisbury! It is a traditional agricultural and seaside community where ocean beaches (entrance only allowed by sticker or by paying), scenic vistas, and the trees that canopy the roads, have a special protected status. The Island's leading conservation groups all have properties within the town boundaries and one can take easy, peaceful hikes of varying durations on properties such as Long Point Wildlife Refuge (633 acres), operated by the Trustees of Reservations, with a trail to an Atlantic ocean beach, or to Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary (site of an Indian burial ground and the Mayhew Chapel), owned by Sheriff's Meadow Foundation, which has a series of trails, one of which leads to a bench overlooking Vineyard Sound, and the other takes you down to the Vineyard Sound (not a fishing or swimming beach). One may also explore at the beautiful Polly Hill Arboretum on State Road which is open for visitors for a fee, sunrise to sunset and for guided tours once a day in the summer.