INSPIRATION
MASSACHUSETTS
Fall for Nantucket
Top 10 reasons to squeeze Nantucket into your autumn plans.
NANTUCKET, MASSACHUSETTS
CONTRIBUTED
Southern Massachusetts, baby! Nantucket is not just for summer anymore – and here’s 10 reasons why:
- The population drops from 80,000 to 10,000. Everybody has gone home, so you can wander the cobblestone streets and rub elbows with the locals without tripping over other tourists.
- In the fall, you can still bike, sail and golf, and generally enjoy the outdoors a bit longer.
- The Whaling Museum, which relates the island’s 19th-century history as a whaling hub – practically empty.
- The high-end boutiques have time to give you more personal service.
- You can get a table at any of the nice restaurants.
- Scallops are smaller and more velvety at this time of year, harvested from the chillier waters.
- No line-ups at Juice Bar, the go-to ice cream parlour.
- The annual Christmas Stroll, December 2 to 4, is classic New England: markets, carolers, 80 trees decorated by local artists and special sales. Santa arrives by coast guard.
- Digs are cheap: Three-storey mansion the Jared Coffin House (circa 1845) has rooms from $205. Lobstering and surfcasting are on the agenda at The Wauwinet (circa 1875), with rooms starting at $260. And the gorgeous and sprawling White Elephant (circa 1920s) has deals from $300.
- This makes a great anniversary present. (Wink, wink.)
Cape Air can get you there from Boston in about 45 minutes, or you can make it a road trip. Visit nantucket-ma.gov and massvacation.com. While you’re there, may as well enjoy the whole state. Here are 100 things to do in Massachusetts from Your RV Lifestyle.