Island Life on Nantucket

Approaching Nantucket by air.

Nantucket is a magical place. I've had the chance to visit several times because my friend Lindsey moved there in 2009, and now she lives there with her wonderful now husband (!) Aaron. There are at least two sides to Nantucket - one consists of the locals who live there year round and work hard, and the other are the affluent folk who fly in for the summer and relax and make the population of this small island of about 11,000 jump to 55,000. Some would say the two sides are divided between hippies and rich folk. The island is about 14 miles long and 3.5 miles at it's widest - just slightly bigger than the island of Manhattan. The coast is eroding fast (see Sconset Bluff, Darling post for more), there are seals and sharks in the waters, and so much beautiful greenery, deer, and birds on the land.

Approaching Nantucket by ferry.

History of the Island: The Wampanoag people lived their lives on this island until 1641 when the English acquired all of this newly "discovered" land from the French. Interesting fact, Nantucket was part of New York State until 1691

Travel history: In the past I took an 11 hour route: 45 minute NYC subway ride + 4.5 hr Megabus to Boston + 1.75 hr Plymouth & Brockton bus + 2-hour slow ferry + all the waiting in between. (Side note: I did recently discover there is a direct bus from NYC to the ferry in Hyannis, MA). This time, I flew. JetBlue has direct flights from NYC to Nantucket island in the summer, and once you are on the plane it is a 40 minute flight. FORTY MINUTES! I am never bussing it again!

As for my friends, they are a lovely couple, Lindsey makes and sells her own soap and natural body products, and she teaches at the Waldorf school, and Aaron make pottery/teaches pottery classes, and in the summers makes and sellls the most delicious pizzas. (If you ever get the chance in the summer, check out Roamin' Pizzeria ) The two showed me a great time: we swam in the ocean, took four nature walks, had friends over, had a fancy wine and cheese experience at Meursault, visited The Dump (that's what the locals call it, see below), and had a generally fantastic time! I was there for five days and it wasn't enough!

Enjoy the photos of Nantucket! One thing I really enjoy and appreciate about the island is that most of the buildings have cedar shingles. From what Linds explained to me, this is due to preservation laws that state all buildings must have cedar shingles unless the homeowners can prove that at some point before the law was enacted the house/building was made of something else. Same goes for painted homes. It really adds to the mystic of the island, I think.

Hydrangeas everywhere!

The harbor

Harbor

This house has just been re-shingled. Cedar initially looks a light brown
or tan color - and then weathers to a silvery gray.

Blast from the past? No, just a regular sighting in the Town of Nantucket.

Ah, beach life! When it comes to cold water, I am not a big fan of swimming in it. I have been truly spoiled by Caribbean and Andaman Sea waters. However, Nantucket was something different it seemed! The water felt warmer and I swam often and happily with a pair of goggles Lindsey, Aaron and I all shared.

Dionis Beach, one of many beaches on the island.

A seashell party

Food? Food! 

Delicious Sandwiches at Something Natural.

Amazing pizza made from Roamin' Pizzeria. It was sold out,
but we got special treatment!

Pizza!

Fancy spread at Meursault

Farm fresh garlic everywhere!

The view around Cisco Brewery

"The dump", as the locals call it, is the Nantucket Environmental and Recycling Park. it if where everyone dumps their recyclables, drop their compost, and pick up some fresh, free topsoil. Oh, and at the "Take It or Leave It" spot there is furniture, books, clothes, toys that some have left for others to take or leave - One man's garbage is another man's treasure, as they say! Lindsey was an expert rummager and found me a nice striped dress while I explored the book shelves (didn't find anything though!).

One more of a typical street view in the Town of Nantucket.

Good bye!

Farewell!