If you’re looking for a scenic beach getaway, then Nantucket should be your next vacation destination. Nestled in southeastern Massachusetts, the town of Nantucket is on an island of the same name, just off the coast of Cape Cod. Visitors can access the island by taking a ferry from the village of Hyannis. Nantucket is a popular attraction that offers countless fun activities and sights to see. Home to numerous quaint communities, another island, and several towns on the mainland, the Nantucket and Cape Cod area features friendly locals and a charming ambiance. Book a stay at a seaside cottage, antique house in the historic district, or plenty of other cozy vacation rentals in Nantucket. Without further ado, here are the most unforgettable places in and around this incredible town.
1. Nantucket
Spend your days soaking up some sunshine at Surfside beach. Once you’re done playing in the water, kayaking on the ocean, or paddle boarding, explore the downtown area, which is filled with quaint boutiques and restaurants. While staying on the island, check out the numerous lighthouses, and rent bikes to explore the more remote parts of the island. Learn more about the island’s rich history as a whaling community at the Nantucket Whaling Museum.
2. Polpis
Choose a vacation rental in the village of Polpis on Nantucket Island to escape from the crowds of tourist that visit the island’s main city. Spend your days hiking, biking, climbing lighthouses, or exploring the sand dunes. You and your family can rent a boat and spend the day sailing and fishing on the Nantucket Sound. Sail around the island, and count the number of lighthouses you see. The three most popular lighthouses are located at Brant Point.
3. Wauwinet
Wauwinet is a small village that sits on the northeastern shore of Nantucket Island. You and your family can pass the days enjoying water activities in the Head of the Harbor. Sankaty Head Golf Club is a short distance from this village. The golf lovers in your family can play on the links and enjoy amazing views of the water. At Sankaty Head, your can also play tennis or enjoy a day by the pool.
4. Edgartown
Edgartown is on the island of Martha’s Vineyard and part of the Cape Cod and Nantucket areas. Take a ferry from the mainland to this relaxing destination. As the largest town on the island, Edgartown offers shopping, restaurants, and outfitters that rent bikes, kayaks, canoes, and scooters. Stop by Morning Glory Farm to pick up fresh veggies and fruit to make an amazing dinner for your family at your vacation rental.
5. Oak Bluffs
Drive north up Beach Road, past Joseph Sylvia State Beach Park, and past the Farm Neck Golf Club, to arrive in the village of Oak Bluffs. While staying on this side of Martha’s Vineyard, check out the bluffs and sand dunes. Take your kids to the Flying Horses Carousel, the oldest operating platform carousel, for a spin and their choice of an antique horse figurine.
6. Tisbury
To the east of Oak Bluffs is the town of Tisbury, where you and your family can enjoy a slower pace and learn more about the local history from the town’s natives, who are always willing to share a little local color. Spend a day walking along the seashore and exploring the dunes at Lambert’s Cove Beach or Long Point Wildlife Refuge. Visit the Polly Hill Arboretum and check out their immaculate gardens. You can choose between a guided tour with a docent or use the self-guided tour.
7. Makonikey Area
The Makonikey area lies just east of downtown Tisbury along Norton Point. Settle into a vacation rental with views of the water, and spend time reconnecting with your family. Spend your days biking, exploring the coast, looking for lighthouses, bird watching, or boating. Take a hike along the hiking paths in Cedar Tree Neck Sanctuary, and check out the flora and fauna in this little slice of unspoiled nature.
8. West Tisbury
If you don’t need an ocean or sound view, then check out the inland town of West Tisbury that sits beside the shoreline of Town Cove, a tributary of Tisbury Great Pond. Explore the cove and pond on a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard, and spend the afternoons with your line in the water to catch some fish for dinner.
9. Chilmark
Located on the eastern side of Martha’s Vineyard, Chilmark offers stunning pastel-colored vacation homes in the Cape Cod style for you and your family. Use your binocular’s to check out the wildlife and bird life on Nomans Land Island National Wildlife Refuge.
10. Aquinnah
Tucked away in Martha’s Vineyard is the picturesque town of Aquinnah, which is both a relaxing attraction and a cultural center for the Native American people of the Wampanoag tribe. Don’t forget to grab your camera to take snapshots of the beautiful scenery. Enjoy unparalleled views of the coastline from the many cliffs in the region.