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Despite the impact the pandemic has had on the travel industry, Nantucket remains a top preferred destination for regular seasonal residents, holiday makers, and visitors simply looking to enjoy a short stay in Massachusetts.
If you’re debating paying a visit to the island of Nantucket, here are 10 amazing reasons to give it a go.
Endless beaches
In contrast to many other New England coastal areas and communities, the shores and beaches of Nantucket are open to everybody who wishes to visit and, what’s more, there are no admission fees.
The island has a 110-mile coastline, around 80 miles of which consists of fine, sandy beaches.
Choose from over 25 different beaches, many of which are child-friendly, while others are preferred by surfers and teens.
Whichever beaches you choose to visit on Nantucket, no doubt you’ll be blown away by the idyllic ocean views and the beauty of each and every one of them.
Explore elsewhere in Massachusets
Nantucket, nestled off the coast of Massachusetts, makes for an ideal hub from which to explore the diverse offerings of neighbouring states. Choosing Nantucket as your base enables you to conveniently access charming destinations, like Chatham.
Renowned for its rich food and drink scene, Chatham beckons with a delightful array of culinary experiences. From quaint seafood shacks serving the freshest catches, to upscale dining establishments like this trendy Chatham Restaurant offering a taste of New England’s culinary heritage, there’s something for every palate.
Pretty island footpaths
At 14 miles long and just 3 to 5 miles wide, Nantucket is a small island. Despite its size, however, it offers one of the most enjoyable and picturesque you could hope to find, in the form of the Sconset Bluff Walk. This mile-long stretch of scenic sea views is located along the east shore of the island.
Start your walk from the picture-perfect Siasconset fishing village, and finish up at the Sankaty Head Light – one of three lighthouses on the island.
Although relatively short, this enjoyable walk will take you enable you to admire a broad range of scenery, right through from a quaint little village, to a lush green forest, and countless seaside homes and blossoming gardens.
Throughout your walk, you’ll be able to admire the view of the Atlantic and, on the way, you’ll be able to see different shorebird species, alongside blooming hydrangeas and beach roses.
Sailing potential
Since Nantucket used to be one of the biggest whaling centres in the world, and due to the fact that the island relies on ships and boats to get its supplies, whaling and sailing are an inseparable part of the history and culture of the town.
You can visit the impressive replica of a topsail schooner from the war of 1812 – the Tall Ship Lynx (pictured below) – and watch it as it glides by in the summer, or perhaps even book a tour so you can take a look around on-board.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to visit the Whaling Museum and, if you time your visit to Nantucket right, you my even be able to catch the annual Rainbow Fleet parade in late August, when hundreds of New England catboats with colourful sails pass by Brant Point.
Wear your Nantucket reds
Traditional sailcloth pants in a faded brick-red to a salmon-pink colour, Nantucket Reds are sold only at Murray’s Toggery Shop on Main Street, Nantucket.
The pants were first introduced in the 1950s and are reminiscent of the sails along the coast of Brittany, France.
Today, they are trademarked and sold only at this one store on the island of Nantucket. So, when you’re there, you can buy an authentic pair and proudly sport Nantucket’s most iconic clothing brand.
Beer tasting at Cisco Brewers
Located in the south-west agricultural centre of Nantucket town, Cisco Brewers welcomes guests every day during the summer season. Take a seat in the beer garden and sip on the local beer, as well as local wines and spirits.
For a more in-depth insight into the beer, wine and spirit production process, sign-up for one of the daily tours. You’ll also get to taste the differentt drinks as you go.
Come 3pm, the live music starts and the brewery turns into a mini-festival.
At the end of the day, feel free to buy a bottle or two from the gift shop to take home with you as a souvenir – or a gift, if you can bear to share!
The whaling history and imprint on the island
Until whaling became outlawed, Nantucket was considered the whaling capital of the world.
The majority of the local male population worked in the dangerous whaling industry, and this is still evident in Nantucket. After all, rumour has it that this is where Herman Melville got inspired to write Moby Dick.
The Nantucket Whaling Museum is well worth a visit. Here, you’ll find out more about the history of the brave people who worked in the local whaling industry, plus see the skeleton of a humongous sperm whale.
Why not pop into some of the whaling-themed restaurants, bistros, and bars while you’re at it?
Enjoy safe and limitless biking
There are cycling paths and routes all around the island of Nantucket. They amount to a total of 30 miles, with the longest and most scenic route being the eighteen-mile long biking trip that takes you from downtown Nantucket, over to the east.
Either bring your own bike with you, or simply rent one when you get to Nantucket. With a bike, you’ll be able to reach just about anything on the island from your rental home, or another residence.Thankfully, there are some excellent deals for Nantucket residential rentals, some of which you can book online now.
Have you ever been to Nantucket? Comment below to share the highlights of your trip with other readers.
This is a sponsored post.