Nantucket

Understand

Nantucket is a small island, 3.5 by 14 miles long. It is frequented by CEOs, executives, lawyers, bankers, surgeons, and megastars – and others looking for a getaway. It gives them an opportunity, while enjoying a few Bloody Marys on the beach, to get away from the intense city and work atmosphere with their families and friends. They are able to enjoy many of the fine and casual dining restaurants the island has to offer. Many people come to Nantucket because they know that it is a location where five-star service is quite common. Tourists are treated to the finest seafood and other cuisines. Nantucket also has some of the most exclusive golf clubs, lodges, restaurants, beaches, and homes.

While most popular in the summer, the island can be visited at any time of the year. The summer population of 55,000 residents dwindles to 12,000 during the off-season, making for a quieter visit. Be aware that smaller crowds also mean fewer services available, including more limited ferry schedules and fewer open restaurants and stores.

The local government and people of Nantucket are environmentally friendly and green conscious. There is a wonderful recycling system intact that must be followed by all visitors and residents of the island. About 36% of the island is protected and maintained by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. Protected lands include beaches, hardwood forests, dunes, shrublands, bogs, heathlands, marshes, grasslands, meadows, and ponds. The Nantucket Conservation Foundation also works to preserve the local wildlife of the island. Be sure to protect yourself from being bitten by the Island's famous deer ticks; use repellent and wear permethrin treated socks. To see the local sea life of the Island there is an aquarium, which is open to the public for a small admission fee. Whale, seal and bird watching are three very popular past times that many locals, vacationers and their families enjoy taking part in. In the olden days, Nantucket was central to the whaling industry. You will find many old whaling bars on the island as well as The Whaling Museum located in town. There is the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, many Banks, a Library, Town Hall, and Police Station if needed.

One factor that attracts many families to Nantucket is that it is a safe place for children to wander around on their own. Kids can ride their bikes into town with friends and grab ice cream at the juice bar or a bite to eat at the local pharmacy. A lot of the restaurants on Island accommodate small children, infants and large parties, so the whole family can sit down together and enjoy a nice meal as well as a night out on the town. There is also a local strip with food vendors and gift shops, which is also a local hang out stop for all ages. A few of the popular tourist recreational activities and services include: biking, boating, fishing, water sports, boat charters, boat rentals, boating services and supplies, fishing charters, fishing supplies, mooring rentals, regattas, surfing, festivals, museums and sites, spas and clubs, beauty, fitness, massage, tours, eco-tours, kayaking tours, van tours, walking tours, and site tours.

Since Nantucket is a huge tourist destination during the summer season an influx of workers come to the island from all over the world to seek employment for the summer with intentions of returning home at the end of the season. Business is at its all time high and workers are needed to facilitate and administer stores, restaurants, clubs, and all other amenities on the Island that attract tourists. These workers are also tourist because while working they too are experiencing Nantucket for the first time and join in on many tourist activities. Many summer workers are internationals.

Nantucket is commonly abbreviated by its islanders as ACK, also used as Nantucket’s airport code.

Get in

Part of the island's appeal is its isolation; "Nantucket" is a Native American word that translates into "faraway island" or "land far out to sea." You can reach the island either by boat or plane. Nantucket's location near Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard lets visitors take the ferry over and spend either the day or a few nights on the island to enjoy the sights, food and shops. Numerous local and national airlines provide regular service to and from the mainland, primarily to Boston and New York area airports.

Ferries

• Steamship Authority Ferries, 141 School St., Hyannis, Massachusetts, +1 508-477-8600. Offers a high-speed or traditional service, is the only ferry to carry automobiles, and also allows bikes and surfboards. During summer months, vehicle reservations are especially important as the wait lines fill up quickly.
• Hy-Line Cruises, 220 Ocean Street, Hyannis, +1 508-778-2600. High-speed or traditional service with slightly higher rates; also offers a first class seating area.
• Freedom Cruise Line, Inc., 702 Main St., Harwich Port, +1 508-432-8999. Beat the busy weekend traffic of Hyannis by going to this port.

By plane

For those who may get seasick or prefer to travel by small airplane.

• Nantucket Air (also known as ACK air), +1-800-635-8787 or +1 508-228-6234. Flies to Barnstable Municipal Airport, Hyannis.
• Cape Air, +1-800-635-8787 or +1 508-228-6234,. A sister airline of Nantucket Airlines; flies from New Bedford to Nantucket.
• Jetblue provides twice-daily summer seasonal round trip flights from JFK on its 100 seat Embraer E190 aircraft
• Many regional affiliates of major national airlines (American Eagle, United Express, Delta Connection) provide flights from Boston and New York area airports, although most of these services are summer-only.

Get around

A popular way to see the island is by bicycling on the two-way paved bike paths, which are located alongside every major road on the island. There are several bike shops located in or around town that either sell or rent out bikes to visitors and locals. All bike paths lead into town and out to Madaket, Surfside, Cliff road, and Sconset.

Most bike rentals are available at the Steamship Authority ferry dock at Broad St. It is important to note that most main streets around town are cobblestone and bikes are difficult to ride until you reach paved roads.

• Young's Bicycle Shop, 6 Broad Street, +1 508-228-1151.
• Nantucket Bike Shop, three locations: two on Broad Street near the Steamship Authority, one on Straight Wharf near the Hy-Line Ferry dock, +1 508-228-1999.
• Cook's Cycle Shop, 6 South Beach Street (next to the Harbor House Village), +1 508-228-0800
• Madaket Bike Path. 6 mi (9.65 km), 45 minutes one way to top of Madaket. Rest areas and water fountains.
• Siaconset (or Milestone) Bike Path. 7 mi (11.25 km), one-way. Approximately 1 hour to Siasconset. Water available at the rotary.
• Surfside Bike Path. 3.5 mi (5.6 km), one way. Flat paths, 20 minutes to the beach.
• Polpis Road Bike Path. 16.5 mi (26.5 km). Loops from the Siasconset Bike Path to Polpis Rd. and back to town.
• Cliff Road Bike Path. 2.5 mi (4 km). Goes past beautiful cliff-side homes.
• Dionis Bike Path. Continue on Cliff Road and explore the new Dionis Bike Path.

If you're thinking about visiting Nantucket and you do not enjoy biking, you may take the shuttle bus service which serves all areas. Or you could rent a moped and drive around town. For the most part everything you may need during your stay on Nantucket can be found in town so walking is probably your best bet. There are also taxi cabs available.

A car isn’t really needed to get around the island. The difficulty of having a car is that parking is limited, lots are time checked, and driving in town is full of traffic and people crossing the road.

Boating around Nantucket is very popular. The harbor is full of personal sailboats, racing sailboats, motorboats, fishing boats, and private or company yachts in the marina. The town pier’s Harbormaster can be contacted for mooring or slip rentals. They provide many services to boats in the harbor including delivery of newspaper, donuts, and ice. They also provide a pump-out boat and a dinghy dock. Next door is Brant Point Marine, which sells boat gear, equipment, water sport tubes, and offers boat rentals. There is also a launch that can be accessed near the dock by The Tavern in town that runs all day and will bring people to and from their boats.

Go next

• Boston - Birthplace of the American Revolution, located a short drive from the base of the Cape.
• Cape Cod - Pilgrims and endless beaches.
• Martha's Vineyard - An island between Massachusetts state and Nantucket that is famous for being the summer home of some of America's wealthiest people.