Nantucket – America’s story book island
Nantucket is an island 30 miles away from the Massachusetts coast with a population around 10.000. Long before it became popular as a vacation destination, the island was a quiet whaling community.
Nowadays Nantucket attracts tourists from all over the country with its sheer beauty and peaceful environment. Despite all the visitors between the Daffodil Festival in April and the end of cranberry season in November, the island has preserved its rustic charm and kept its quiet closeness with nature.
Pack your stuff, leave behind the traffic lights and head to the beautiful island of Nantucket.
Native Americans called it a Faraway Land. The weathered white cottages surrounded by wild roses give this island a faraway fairytale atmosphere. The cobblestone streets cover the historical center of the island which is a place where you can see some amazing architecture.
As for the beaches, they meet everybody’s needs and preferences. There are sandy beaches with calm waters like Surfside Beach and Children’s Beach; these are great for families with small children. Miacomet Pond is another choice for families, where the little ones can enjoy the calm waters of the pond or have fun on the larger beach.
Wild surfing conditions and the best sunsets ever can be found at Madaket Beach. Those who search for a remote beach go to Quidnet Beach where they can take in the view of Sankaty Head lighthouse.
If you want to experience the atmosphere of Wuthering Heights, then pack a nice lunch and have a picnic at Siasconset Beach. The rough waves will make you feel like you’re a part of the epic movie.
For those who prefer to stay more active there a lot of possibilities, discover bike trails, hire a boat and go fishing, explore the coast in a kayak or stay on land and visit some of the birdwatching locations.
Nantucket’s history is full of whaling stories which are a symbol for this island community and a few of the great Moby Dick characters are actually from this island.
The first inhabitants of Nantucket were Native Americans who lived undisturbed until the settlement of the English.
When whaling industry started to expand, almost everybody was involved in the business, working on the ships that were sailing in and out of the harbor. Nantucket was part of Dukes County, New York, until 1691, then it was transferred to the Province of Massachusetts Bay.
Nantucket suffered a massive fire in 1846 where 40 acres were destroyed and left many families homeless. A notable number of people at that time left the island, and the population decreased considerably.
Nantucket has been a very famous art colony since the 1920’s for performing and visual arts. The island’s stunning seascapes are an eternal inspiration for generations of artists who found their home here.
The lovely island of Nantucket is one of the best places to visit in the country. Rich history, beautiful nature, incredible architecture and many activities are just some of the reasons why you should add Nantucket on your must-see list.
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