Introduction to Nantucket Island

Nantucket is a very popular destination, both for vacations and for those wanting to take advantage of what this island has to offer. Not only does it offer the best part of a hundred miles of fabulous beaches, but also of the best restaurants in New England. Rather than being the kind of place that crams a thriving, bustling city up against the tranquillity of a paradise beach, Nantucket offers people a much more wild and remote location. Although easy to reach, there is a distinct feeling of isolation and that one is well away from the rat race of the city. This is a place to relax when you want to get away from it all, but still enjoy the civilization of good hotels and eating places.

Photo by Darius Kersulis

Even if the open arms of the unspoilt ocean is not remote enough, taking a wander through Nantucket itself seems to convey the feeling that one is not merely distanced from civilisation and all the hustle and bustle of home, but that one is simultaneously transported into another time; a quieter, more remote time. The island is thick with old architecture, boasting the largest quantity of buildings per acre that predate the Civil War.

Nantucket is small, less than fifteen miles in length, and for the determined traveller, exploring by foot is entirely possible. However, armed with a bicycle you will certainly be able to explore virtually the entire island in a single day. However, there is a sense here that you will not wish to hurry, and taking time to sit, and ponder, surrounded by the ghosts of history staring out across the ocean.

The history of Nantucket is something which you will certainly wish to explore, and taking time to admire the 18th century architecture, and even simply meeting those who call this place home, will all help to create the impression that will stay with you for a long time. Of course, whilst Nantucket boasts extraordinary amounts of both history and remoteness, there are, at the same time, all the comforts of modern shopping and dining just at hand, and you will find that the ocean plays a big part in helping to create some of the finest cuisine on the east coast.

Because of the fact that Nantucket is so remote, and so unspoilt by modern city life and light pollution, it is very popular amongst those who enjoy gazing upwards at the night sky, and the Maria Mitchell Association provides wonderful opportunities to use some very powerful, professional level telescopes. For more down to earth views, then a visit to the Great Point Light will reward you with panoramic views that will be truly breathtaking. You can there by 4x4 along the beach if you have permit to do so.

Nantucket’s chief claim is the well established and carefully preserved history, with a huge number of buildings which predate the Civil War, and are still standing today just as their architects intended. To enjoy the history of Nantucket one has only to walk its streets, but should you require further information, there are several excellent museums which will provide you with a fascinating insight into the island’s past. Its location meant that, in its early days, Nantucket was chiefly occupied with Whaling, and today you can find out all about this part of the island’s history at the Nantucket Whaling Museum.

Although relatively small for an island, at only 14 miles in length, Nantucket provides rambling countryside that rises steeply in places, and very much feels off the beaten track, even when on the track. This terrain, coupled with the ever present bracing fresh ocean air will almost certainly render a hearty appetite, and the ocean plays its part in helping to provide some of the finest, and freshest, seafood cuisine you will find anywhere. As the sun sets, and the island hunkers down for the night, those who prefer to keep the place alive can do so at any one of the number of late night bars and clubs until 1am.