15 Best Things to Do in Nantucket (MA)
Thirty miles off the coast of Massachusetts, Nantucket is an island that conjures many associations, from wealth to shipwrecks.
For decades until the mid-19th century, it was the whaling capital of the world, an industry fueled by demand for the shiny, nearly odorless wax extracted from the head covering of sperm whales.
The tragedy that inspired Herman Melville's novel Moby Duck (1851) was the final voyage of the Wheeler, Essex, and Nantucket-based caravanserai.
With dramatic beaches, iconic lighthouses, and a downtown steeped in centuries of maritime history, modern Nantucket is known as a modern, upscale, and laid-back island getaway.
And don't forget, there's no better place in America to explore by bike, as the island has two-way paved trails along every major road.
1. Whaling Museum
Nantucket's whaling trade is housed in this first-class museum, which documents the origins, rise, and final days of this boom.
Part of the complex is a Greek-style building dating back to the 19th century, which was once a factory producing whale oil and wax.
One of the many fascinating exhibits gives you a glimpse into these processes, with the only original wheel oil press in the world on display.
Elsewhere is a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton, a massive collection of scrimshaw, and centuries-old marine wonders.
Dramatic accounts of the whaling days depict the dangers faced during the long voyages of those years, and you can investigate Melville's connection on Nantucket and the sinking of the whaling ship Essex, after a collision with a sperm whale in 1820.
2. Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
Explore Nantucket at its fullest with this pair of long, sandy peninsulas that join the northern tip of the island at Great Point.
This exceptional coastal environment is protected by several protected properties, the largest of which is the 1,117-acre Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, owned by the Trustees of the Conservancies.
There's plenty to see, from epic marine dune chains to wind-blown sea oaks and Cedar Country, the largest red savannah wilderness in New England.
One of the few surprising sites is Great Point, full of gray harbor seals, hunting upstream.
There, the Great Point Lighthouse is the most powerful in New England and the third in a string of lights dating back to 1784.
3. Biking
There's no denying that Nantucket is one of the most bike-friendly places in the United States, and that's what contributes to the island's unparalleled lifestyle.
This is very much linked to the network of shared-use bypasses along all major arteries, allowing you to access beaches, attractions and places of outstanding natural beauty in the most cost-effective way.
Naturally, you can bring a set of wheels with you from the mainland, but the two rental shops at the Steamship Authority ferry dock will welcome you too.
There are some regulations to keep in mind, and it's a good idea to check the Town and County of Nantucket's webpage before setting off.
4. Brant Point Lighthouse
Since 1746 there has been a navigational aid at Brant Point for ships in Nantucket Harbour.
The first Brant Point Lighthouse was the second lighthouse built in Colonial America, and the wooden structure lasted just over a decade before it burned down.
The current lighthouse, 26 feet tall and shingled, is the ninth lighthouse on the site, and was constructed in 1901. You're almost obligated to take the short trip to one of the island's famous towns.
After the Coast Guard station, there is an elevated path that takes you to the sandy beach. The view of the coastline including the harbor and Nantucket skyline is a treat.
5. Sankaty Head Light
At the eastern end of the island is an active lighthouse built in 1850, which was one of the first lighthouses in the country to be equipped with a Fresnel lens.
The original lens can be seen at the Nantucket Whaling Museum, while the Sankaty Head Light was moved 400 feet inland in 2007 due to coastal erosion.
The lighthouse, with its bright red stripe and surrounding meadow, is one of the island's popular tourist attractions.
Whether you come early in the day to watch the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, or late when golden hour lights up the fields, it's a great place for some photography enthusiasts.
6. Downtown Nantucket
Since the 1950s, the Nantucket Historic District Commission has enforced strict rules to preserve the island's unique architectural character, and these efforts are undeniable in the downtown area.
Here you can let your curiosity be your guide, as you navigate cobblestone streets lined with typical Nantucket townhouses, modest townhouses and stately mansions from the whaling days.
Adding to the historic center's sense of uniformity is the Great Fire of 1846, which destroyed 40 acres of the center's grounds and was fanned with flammable whale oil.
Reconstruction took place at the same time that Nantucket's whaling boom was declining, leaving Lower Main Street with timeless examples of Greek Revival commercial architecture, particularly between Federal and Central streets.
The Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce has released a brochure for a self-guided walking tour along Main Street, Vestal Street, and Liberty Street.
7. Siasconset Beach
Siasconset Beach juts out at the eastern tip of the island and is one of Nantucket's wild beaches. The waves here are very strong and they fall off the beach quickly.
So, while it may not be the best bathing place for less confident swimmers, the beach's wide expanse of sand and absence of high dunes still make it a great place.
During peak season, there are lifeguards on duty, as well as facilities such as a snack bar and restrooms.
Inside is a wall of towering moats, and upon leaving Sconset Town, you can walk north about a mile along the Sconset Bluff Walk, for stunning ocean views.
8. Madaket Beach
The perfect place to watch the sunset on Nantucket is this white sand beach on the western end of the island.
Madakit Beach is at the mercy of the elements, and erosion caused by stormy waves creates a large gap between the parking area and the beach itself.
It is bridged by a ramp during high season, and can be enough at any time to enjoy the views from the car park. The views of the rolling waves and sky at the end of the day will live long in memories.
9. Nantucket Atheneum
Often considered the best building from the post-fire reconstruction, the Nantucket Atheneum (1847) is in the Greek Revival style, with fluted columns and Ionic capitals on the portico.
As an institution, the Atheneum was born in 1820, with the merger of the Nantucket Social Mechanics Library and the Columbian Library Association.
It became a free public library in 1900, offering a full range of services and programs for both residents and visitors.
Also noteworthy is the history of the site, which hosted an annual anti-slavery convention in the 1840s, attended by abolitionist figures such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison.
Throughout this period, from 1836 to the mid-1850s, astronomer Maria Mitchell was librarian at the Athenaeum.
10. Hadwen House
A remnant of Nantucket's whaling days, the Hadwen House is a magnificent Greek-style mansion built in 1846 for whaling and silver merchant William Hadwen.
The two-story house is notable for its theatrical Ionic portico, the work of local mason/architect Frederick Brown Coleman, and a grandeur unseen on the island at the time.
The Hadwen House has belonged to the Nantucket Historical Association (NHA) since 1963, and is a showcase for many of the NHA's collections, including lightship baskets, decorative arts, and an impressive collection of historical maps and nautical charts.
11. Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum
With currents, hidden shoals and unpredictable weather, including sudden storms and thick fog, Nantucket's waters demand an extraordinary number of vessels.
There are more than 750 shipwrecks in the area, including more recent vessels such as the Argo commercial oil tanker disaster in the 1970s.
At this museum located across the harbor from downtown Nantucket, you can learn about generations of brave islanders who struggled to survive in these dangerous waters.
The Nantucket Shipwreck and Life Saving Museum features accounts from the United States Coast Guard, Massachusetts Humane Society, and U.S. Life Saving Service, paired with Fresnel lighthouse lenses, ship models, black-and-white photography, beach buggies, and surf boats.
12. Jethro Coffin House (oldest house on Sunset Hill)
The Jethro Coffin House is the oldest residence still standing on Nantucket, having been built in 1686.
It was a wedding gift to Jethro Coffin (1663–1727) and Mary Gardner (1670–1767), symbolizing the union between the two oldest European families on the island, which were not always on friendly terms.
Building materials came from coffins, and the house was built on Gardner's land, strengthening the ties between the two families.
The Nantucket Historical Society has owned the Jethro Coffin House since 1923 and maintains it as a window into 17th-century Nantucket life, with a kitchen garden with herbs grown nearly 350 years ago and planted with vegetables.
13. Cisco Brewers
Dating back to 1981, Nantucket's reputation as a one-stop brewery has reached far beyond these shores. Cisco Brewers has four locations on the mainland, including Boston, and its beer is distributed in dozens of states.
There is a tour shuttle that runs from East Chestnut and Federal Street downtown in a continuous loop on weekends.
When you arrive, you'll understand why so many people travel. The brewery is housed in its own complex with a large outdoor space, and summer afternoons are like a big, cozy festival, with live music, several food trucks, and a raw bar.
The main beers are Wandering Haze (Hazy IPA), Grappa (Grapefruit IPA), Whale's Tail (Pale Ale), Shark Tracker (Light Lager) and Gray Lady (Wheat Ale), while the beer will be Summer Reese (Golden Ale). on them. Hot months.
14. Jetties Beach
A short bike ride from downtown Nantucket, this beach is named after the large rock piers that have guided ships into the harbor since they were built in 1911.
Jetties Beach's proximity to downtown makes it a favorite spot for annual events such as Boston Pops on Nantucket, Sandcastle and Sculpture Day in August, and fireworks on the Fourth of July.
To the north on Nantucket Sound, Jetties Beach has sandbars with calm waves and warm, shallow water exposed at low tide. This, combined with the comfort, space and amenities it offers, makes the beach a great choice for families.
15. Daffodil Festival
Spring is a great time to be on Nantucket, not least because in late April, nearly three million daffodils are in bloom across the island, many of which have been planted by the Nantucket Garden Club since the 1970s.
To celebrate this amazing display of color, the local Chamber of Commerce is organizing a wide range of events and activities the last weekend of April.
The Daffodil Festival dates back nearly 50 years, and one of its signature elements is the stunning daffodil display, held in the greenhouses of Bartlett Farm with a different theme each year.
There is also a vintage car and motorcycle parade along Main Street down to “Sconset” where there is a tailgate picnic, as well as a variety of family entertainment and fun at Kids Beach.