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Nantucket (/ ˌ n æ n ˈ t ʌ k ɪ t /) is an island about 30 miles (48 km) south from Cape Cod. Together with the small islands of Tuckernuck and Muskeget, it constitutes the Town and County of Nantucket, a combined county/town government in the state of Massachusetts. Nantucket is the southeasternmost town in both Massachusetts and the New ...
Nantucket, Massachusetts. Windswept beaches, sand dunes, blinking lighthouses and a charming pace of life await on this 50-square mile island. The world's former top whaling port is now designated a National Historic District.
- Whaling Museum
- Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
- Biking
- Brant Point Lighthouse
- Sankaty Head Light
- Downtown Nantucket
- Siasconset Beach
- Madaket Beach
- Nantucket Atheneum
- Hadwen House
Nantucket’s whaling trade is laid bare at this first-rate museum, documenting the origins, height and final days of this boom. Part of the complex is a 19th-century Greek Revival building, once a plant for whale oil and wax production. One of the many captivating exhibits gives you a glimpse of these processes, with the help of the world’s only ori...
You can discover Nantucket at its wildest along this pair of long, sandy peninsulas that join at the northernmost tip of the island at Great Point. This extraordinary coastal environment is protected by several conservation properties, the largest of which is the 1,117-acre Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, belonging to the Trustees of Reservations. ...
It’s no stretch to claim that Nantucket is one of the most bike-friendly places in the United States, and it’s something that contributes to the island’s inimitable lifestyle. This has much to do with a network of shared-use sidepaths along all of the main arteries, allowing you to get to beaches, attractions, and sites of amazing natural beauty in...
There has been a navigation aid at Brant Point, ushering ships into Nantucket Harbor since 1746. The first Brant Point Light was just the second lighthouse to be built in Colonial America, and this wooden construction lasted little more than a decade before burning down. The current lighthouse, standing 26 feet tall and clad with wooden shingles, i...
At the island’s eastern tip stands a functioning lighthouse that was built in 1850, and was one of the first beacons in the country to be fitted with a Fresnel lens. That original lens can be seen at the Nantucket Whaling Museum, while Sankaty Head Light was moved 400 feet inland in 2007 due to coastal erosion. The lighthouse, with its bold red str...
Since the 1950s the Nantucket Historic District Commission has enforced strict rules to preserve the island’s unique architectural character, and these efforts are unmistakable in the downtown area. Here you can let your curiosity be your guide, navigating cobblestone streets faced with typical Nantucket Houses, humble lean-tos and also ostentatiou...
Curving outwards on the eastern end of the island, Siasconset Beach is one of Nantucket’s wilder beaches. The surf here is boisterous and the beach drops off quickly from the shore. So while this may not be the best place for less assured swimmers to bathe, the beach’s generous spread of sand and the absence of tall dunes, still make it a wonderful...
The ultimate place to watch the sun go down on Nantucket is this white sandy beach at the western end of the island. Madaket Beach is at the mercy of the elements, and erosion caused by the tempestuous surf means there’s a big drop-off between the parking area and the beach itself. This is bridged by a ramp during the high season, and at any other ...
Often held as the finest building from the post-fire reconstruction, the Nantucket Atheneum (1847) is in the Greek Revival style, with fluted columns and Ionic capitals on its portico. As an institution, the Atheneum was born in the 1820s, with the merging of the Nantucket Mechanics Social Library and the Columbian Library Society. This became a fr...
A monument to Nantucket’s whaling days, Hadwen House is a stately Greek Revival mansion built in 1846 for the whaling and silver merchant, William Hadwen. The 2 ½-story house stands out for its theatrical Ionic portico, which was the work of local builder/architect Frederick Brown Coleman and with a level of splendor that hadn’t been seen on the is...
Things to Do in Nantucket, Massachusetts: See Tripadvisor's 37,947 traveler reviews and photos of Nantucket tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in July. We have reviews of the best places to see in Nantucket. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.
- Valerie Wheatley
- Visit the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. The Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge encompasses hundreds of acres of dunes, woodlands, and a remote barrier beach on the island’s east side.
- Get a splash of Nantucket history at the Whaling Museum. The Whaling Museum is easily one of the most iconic Nantucket attractions. As the former “whaling capital of the world,” Nantucket has a rich maritime history to share with visitors.
- Enjoy fresh seafood with an Asian twist at The. The Nautilus has been serving up fresh New England seafood with a unique twist since 2014. From the Asian flavors and styles that flip between street food and gourmet to the Spanish-style tapas plates and the far-ranging influences, you’ll find there’s no other place quite like this on the island.
- Photograph Picture-Perfect Brant Point Lighthouse. Brant Point Lighthouse was first built in 1746 before the United States became an independent country.
Dec 24, 2023 · A popular vacation spot for the moneyed elite who harken from Boston and New York, Nantucket is a wonderland of outdoor beauty, top-notch restaurants, quaint inns, and enticing places to visit. Once you experience this East Coast gem, you won't want to leave.
Mar 31, 2021 · Nantucket is a singular New England escape. Take its sloping cobblestone streets, pink lady’s slipper orchids splitting the sandy soil, and glowing Christmas trees floating on boats in...
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