The Main Reasons to Book a Trip to Nantucket

If you are pondering whether or not to spend your holiday and money for a trip to Nantucket, consider some of the following reasons that can help you make the decision and hopefully make your vacation even better.

The small but picture-perfect island of Nantucket is about 30 miles south of Cape Cod.  It is easy to reach via plane or ferry and is worth visiting for a number of different reasons.

The Main Reasons to Book a Trip to Nantucket

The wide variety of attractions, activities, beaches, and the beautiful atmosphere on the island are part of the reasons why the population increases from about 14,500 to 50,000 people during the high season in the summer.

Here are some ideas for things to do when residing on the island of Nantucket.

You can go fishing

Nantucket is a paradise for fishing.  You can go recreational fishing all year round, but for a more enjoyable time, we recommend that you do so during the warmer summer season from June to the middle of October.

The town of Nantucket was well known for its whaling industry back in the 1750s to the 1840s.  This fact was immortalized in the famous novel Moby Dick by Herman Melville, where two of the main characters are from Nantucket.

In the summer, you can catch a wide variety of fishes, including stripers, bluefish, bonito, albacore, and more.  These are an excellent choice for beginner anglers.

For more adventurous fishing, you can rent a boat or kayak and fish for bigger fish, such as bluefish, cod, stripers, and more.

As for the most advanced anglers, you can go fishing for marlin, tuna, mahi-mahi, or sharks in the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean via one of the available fishing charters on the island.

You can enjoy the stunning nature and wildlife

While the entire island of Nantucket has some fantastic flora and fauna, the best way to experience the local nature and to view some local wild animals and birds is to visit the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge.

This wildlife refuge is set on two long peninsulas and is a stunning remote and wild barrier bridge.

There you can enjoy a walk through the most prominent red cedar savannah in New England.  There is also an old and impressive maritime oak forest known as Coskata Woods.

The Main Reasons to Book a Trip to Nantucket

In this refuge, you will be able to view wildlife such as shorebirds, raptors, deer, and more.

When you are there, you can visit the nearby Great Point Lighthouse for some unforgettable views and photo ops.

Visit one of the three lighthouses

There are three legendary functioning lighthouses in Nantucket.  The famous Great Point Lighthouse is located on the island’s northernmost point.  It was built in 1784 and then rebuilt in the 1800s after the original was destroyed by a fire.

A third lighthouse was built in its place in 1984 and is an exact replica of the original one, which fell in 1984.

It is in the Coskata-Costue Wildlife Reserve and can be reached by foot or a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you have a special permit.

The other lighthouse you should visit is the Brant Point lighthouse.  It has been lighting the entrance of the inner harbor of the island for over 250 years.  It is still a must-see landmark in Nantucket.  The original was built in 1746, and it was rebuilt in 1901 when the original burned down.

Even though it is closed to the public, you can still explore the grounds around it.

The third lighthouse you should see when vacationing on Nantucket is the Sankaty Head lighthouse.  Built in 1850 and named after the Wampanoag Indian word for highlands, this lighthouse was moved at about 400 feet back from the original place it was standing to keep it from falling over the cliff’s edge.

You can enjoy some surfing

Nantucket is a beloved destination for beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers from the USA and around the world.

With its endless beaches and excellent surfing conditions, the island is a dream come true for people who want to learn how to surf, as well as for avid surfers who want to catch some waves.

There are several excellent surf schools on the island.  You can also rent everything you need for surfing, including different boards, equipment, wetsuits, and more. 

The Main Reasons to Book a Trip to Nantucket
Young men surfing Cisco Beach break in late afternoon, Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, USA.

The south shore beaches in the summer are the most suitable ones for those of you who will be making their first steps in surfing.

The northern waters are colder, the waves are more significant, and there are some excellent beach break peaks, especially in the fall and winter.  These are the best choices for advanced surfers.  But keep in mind that the water and weather can be freezing in the winter months.

Explore the beautiful homes and buildings

The majority of the homes and the buildings on the island, especially in downtown Nantucket are historical sites and are simply gorgeous.

The typical homes are made of bricks, but most are cedar shake houses or have wood sidings.

You can explore the different buildings by walking through the cobblestone roads in Nantucket.

One of the homes to visit is the Oldest House, also known as the Jethro Coffin House.  It is the first house built in Nantucket and dates back to 1686.

It is set among some impressive old trees in a meadow so you can spend hours there enjoying the view or a picnic.

Other historical places to view include the Whaling Museum, the Wharf, and others.

For a more authentic experience, you can rent one of the available old houses for your visit to Nantucket to experience the island like a local resident.

Thanks to the small size of the island and the convenient transport, you can get from point A to point B quickly, easily, and inexpensively.  You can walk, ride a bike, drive a car, take a cab or hop on the shuttle to get around town.

As for getting to and from the island, you can choose to take a ferry, or a regional jet, which will get you to Nantucket fast.


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