Nantucket, Massachusetts City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Nantucket, Massachusetts Travel Guide has been your connection to Nantucket's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
Nantucket Outings
 The best way to explore Nantucket Island is by foot, bicycle, moped or jeep. Cars are not appreciated, since the entire island is just 14 miles by three miles, dotted with captivating, winsome bed and breakfasts. If you must have a car on the island, you can rent one upon arrival-especially since you must reserve space for your car on a ferry months in advance.
There are bike routes for cyclists of all levels, ranging from the three-mile flat-terrain Surfside bike path to the eight-mile-long Polpis bike trail with winding terrain and hills of various sizes. You can pick up a map of the trails from one of the many bike rental shops on Main Street or ask your bed and breakfast innkeeper for routes and directions. There are also plenty of undeveloped back trails to get lost in, making mountain biking a favorite activity.
Many arrive on Nantucket ready to explore the sandy beaches, only to discover that two types of shore await visitors. You can enjoy the serenity of the peaceful waters on Nantucket Sound to the north or romp in the mightier Atlantic waters along the south shore. Hop into a sailboat or onto a windsurfer or cast your line for stripers or bluefish or head out for a deep-sea fishing excursion. Nantucket beaches are easily accessible by foot or bike and some are ideal for swimming, others for kayaking, and still others for a dazzling view of the sunset. A seaside bed and breakfast is the picturesque place to reside while in such a lovely island paradise, bringing the postcard to life.
Nantucket boasts many fine museums, including the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum with exhibits and demonstrations dedicated to the history and preservation of Nantucket’s unique lightship basket making as an art form. The African Meeting House on Nantucket dates from about 1827 when it was used as a church, a school for African children, and a meeting house. The Museum of African American History uses the African Meeting House to present cultural programs and interpretive exhibits on the history of African Americans on Nantucket. The Maria Mitchell Science Center honors America’s first professional female astronomer by providing the public with the opportunity to explore the historic Mitchell house, the Natural Science Museum, the Aquarium, and the Loines Observatory. Dive into the cultural offerings on Nantucket and get the most out of your island bed and breakfast retreat.
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