Nantucket, Massachusetts, is at the confluence of two bodies of water, 30 mi/48 km out from the mainland. The north side faces the gentler waters of Nantucket Sound, its main harbor nestled within the protection of a barrier beach. Facing south and up around to the northwest are the more temperamental waters of the wild Atlantic Ocean.
At Nantucket's northwestern peak, Great Point is the long swath of sand and stunning beach that ends where the two waters meet, tangling together in frothy, dangerous tumult. For years, the island's position demanded a life dependent on the sea, a legacy that continues to shape its fortune.
Visitors to Nantucket are drawn by the appeal of an idyllic sense of history, beautifully preserved by the sea. The entire island is a National Historic District because of its wealth of architecture dating back to the 18th century. There are more than 800 buildings on Nantucket that predate the Civil War, a distinction that even historic Boston can't surpass.
In addition to the lure of history, it is the power of the ocean that draws people to Nantucket. TRead More ... he beaches are arguably some of the finest on the East Coast, offering more than 80 mi/128 km of unspoiled ocean shoreline. One is free to swim, walk or explore without interruption. Boaters and fishermen go to take advantage of the bounty of the island's waters. Perhaps most of all, despite the crowds, Nantucket island is the embodiment of the faraway, of a place that seems greatly removed from almost anywhere. There is a sense of rugged independence there not often felt elsewhere.Preservation land protects a full third of Nantucket from development, always with more land under consideration. This is a very fragile place. And although its popularity with visitors threatens its natural and historical importance, these are the very qualities that keep people coming by the tens of thousands each year.
The 14-mi/23-km island, easily explored on foot and bicycle, has plenty of secluded beaches thick with bayberry, beach plum and heather. Most of them are open and easily accessible to the public. Spend at least a full day on Nantucket to allow plenty of time for lying on the beaches, meeting the people and, because it's part of historic Massachusetts, visiting the significant sites scattered around the island. The island also offers plenty of fine dining and shopping.
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