Nantucket, located 30 miles south of mainland Massachusetts, has become one of the top-desired travel and vacation destinations in the country.
Although it is relatively tiny, this island offers hundreds of reasons for visitors to fall in love with it and want to return again and again.
The truth is that Nantucket has something for everyone. One of the best ways to get the real feel of living on this unique island is by booking one of its beautiful rental homes for your stay. You can stay at a cute beach cottage, a historic home, a grand waterfront mansion, or a charming loft and house.
Here are five things that will make you fall in love with Nantucket.
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Amazing Beaches
Although it is a mere 14 miles long and 3-5 miles wide, Nantucket has over 80 miles of the most alluring beaches. All of them with sugar-white soft sand, turquoise ocean water, and mesmerizing views of the Atlantic.
With over 20 different beaches on all coasts and in all areas of Nantucket, it has a suitable beach for every taste.
The best news is that all of the beaches on the island are open to the public and free to access, unlike in other upscale summer vacation destinations. Some have all of the amenities you will need to spend the day comfortably and safely, and others are more remote and offer more privacy.
The north coast beaches like Dionis, Children’s beach, and Jetties are the closest to town. Plus, they are on the Nantucket Sound shore, where the water is warmer, calmer, and shallower than on the open ocean shores.
The southern beaches like Cisco, Surfside, or Nobadeer are more popular among watersports lovers and youngsters. They are homes to the local surf schools. If you prefer a quieter and more private spot to spend the day at the beach, then you can go to a more remote one such as Madaket or Masquetuck.
And if you are in the mood for a romantic picnic or want to take some mesmerizing sunset photos, then you can go to Madaket, Siasconset, or Step’s beaches.
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Seafood Heaven
For centuries, Nantucket depended on the whaling industry, and its residents have always relied on fishing for food.
So, it comes as no surprise that it has become a magnet for fresh seafood lovers and foodies. While you are there, you should make sure to try some of the most famous local delicacies and their takes on the New England classics. Some of them are the famous lobster rolls, clam bakes, raw fresh oysters, scallops, and many more.
Luckily, there are various restaurants and eateries to choose from. Some, like Brant Point Grill, CRU, Straight Wharf, and The Chanticleer, offer exceptional fine dining experiences. Others like Cisco Brewers, Straight Wharf Fish Store, Millie’s, B-ACK Yard BBQ, and the Sandbar are more casual.
There are also fish markets, food trucks, snack shacks, and beach bars where you can eat delicious freshly caught seafood at much more reasonable prices and without too much fuss.
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The Island Has Its Unique Charm
Nantucket, which in the language of the native Wampanoag tribe means “faraway land,” is different from any other town, county, or island in the USA.
It has a special vibe and charm, making it a desired vacation and summer home location. This appeal comes from a mixture of factors. The whaling history and the isolation from the mainland have influenced it.
Nantucket is a genuinely important historic place. It has the highest concentration of over 800 perfectly restored and preserved historic buildings and infrastructure in the country.
The historic downtown, with its cobblestone streets with hydrangeas in planters, gas lanterns, and landmark captain’s mansions and buildings, will give you the feeling like you have stepped back in time in the years of 1690 to the early 1800s.
Nantucket is also home to three of the oldest functioning lighthouses, the oldest working windmill in the USA, and the unique Whaling Museum. The island is also one-of-a-kind because of the dedication of the local authorities, organizations, and residents to preserve its architecture and its natural resources. Every new or renovated building should comply with the local color, style, materials used, height, and other regulations.
At the same time, more than half of the land and nature on the island are protected. There are great wildlife refuges where you can see the untouched rare coastal flora and wild animals and birds.
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Many Insta-Worthy Places To Visit
This New England island is among the top Insta-worthy destinations in the country. This becomes especially evident every summer when Instagram and other social media become flooded with amazing photos of the beaches, the sunsets, the lighthouses, the historic buildings, the rose-covered cottages, delicious seafood dishes, and more from Nantucket.
With its iconic cedar shake cottages, the cobblestone streets, the historic building, and endless beaches, just about every spot on the island is worthy of taking a photo.
Some of the top instagrammable places to visit for a photo op include the Sankaty head Light, Brant Point Light, and Great Point Lighthouses. Also, the Sconset Bluff Walk and the rose-covered fairytale-like cottages in the village of Siasconset.
Another place to go for some beautiful vacation photos is at the entrance to Steps Beach, the viewing deck on the roof of the Whaling Museum, the compass Rose mural on Main Street, and the beach of Madaket at sunset.
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Plenty Of Activities To Join
Nantucket is hard and expensive to reach by car, but it offers much more fun ways to get around and also activities to participate in. It has an extensive network of biking, walking, and multipurpose lanes and paths, so you can get to just about anywhere by cycling or walking.
The island also has many stunning walking and hiking trails you can explore. If you like watersports, then you will definitely fall in love with Nantucket. It offers limitless possibilities for surfing, kiteboarding, boogie boarding, kayaking, and enjoying all other watersports.
There are schools and rentals for all the equipment and gear you need to enjoy your preferred sport. You can spend some time fishing from the shore or offshore from a kayak or boat or enjoy a leisurely harbor cruise with a cocktail and some fresh oysters instead.
Hope this helps!
Also read:
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7 Important Tips to Travel Responsibly
30 Powerful Reasons to Travel – Physical, Mental & Spiritual
