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Navigating Nantucket
by Rick Lorenzen
A crash course and brief
overview in traveling to Nantucket, MA
For travelers who seek
coastal scenes, sandy beaches, sculpted cliffs, historic architecture,
colonial atmosphere, fine dining and luxurious accommodations, Nantucket
Massachusetts is the place to be.
Nantucket, MA is both a city
and an island south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The island is home to
some 10,000 resident's year around but in the summer months that number
jumps to nearly 50,000 people! Tourists gather from all over the world
to enjoy the beaches, bike riding, hiking, the historic and quaint
downtown, the colonial buildings and architecture, the history,
shopping, dining and relaxation.
You won't just be able
to book a Nantucket MA hotel; first you'll need to arrange a way to get
to the island. Nantucket, MA is 26 miles south of Cape Cod. You do have
an option in getting to the island- by air or by sea. If you decide to
fly you're best bet is from either New York or Boston. Boston's Logan
Airport and New York's LaGuardia airport are the major gateways to
Nantucket's Memorial Airport. From Boston it's a 50 minute flight and
from New York City it's about an hour and 15 minutes to Nantucket. If
it's by sea that you've decided, ferries and charters go to and from
Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and the mainland. Ferries from Hyannis, on
mainland Massachusetts, leave throughout the day and are fairly
inexpensive when compared to flight costs. If you're planning on taking
a car, there are ferry services available. The Nantucket Steamship
Authority operates these ferries that allow cars. The
Nantucket Steamship Authority
also has parking lots on the mainland where you can keep your car while
you are in Nantucket. Trips on these ferries take about 2 ¼ hours, while
most of the high-speed passenger charters make the passage in an hour.
If you're taking a car, make reservations as far in advance as possible.
You're required to make a reservation and you want to be sure you can
reserve the dates you're planning on making the trip. By making
reservations early you ensure that you have a spot waiting for you and
your car. Plan on arriving somewhere between 45 minutes to and hour
prior to sailing time.
Whether you're looking
for a
Nantucket MA hotel,
bed and breakfast or even campground, you'll be pleased to know there
are many options to choose from. There are several historic landmarks
that have been turned into Nantucket, MA hotels. Nantucket MA hotels
aren't the only choice when it comes to accommodations. There are
Nantucket motels, inns, bed and breakfasts, house and cottage rentals
and luxurious accommodation offerings. Many cottages can put you right
on the
Nantucket beachside
with scenic ocean views. Whatever you're looking for, Nantucket will
have a place for your needs and budget.
Getting around the island
shouldn't pose a problem as there are many ways to get where you need to
go. Rental cars, bicycles, busses and taxis are your best choices for
transportation. Mopeds can also be rented. There are even Jeep rentals,
where with a beach sticker you can tour the Island and its many beaches
from the comfort of a car. From May to October the city has a bus
service called the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority which operates 9
busses and has 13 routes. Fares are a dollar or two depending on the
route taken. There is one to and from the airport as well for
convenience. Also offered are daily, multi-day passes, weekly and
seasonal bus passes. It's economical and convenient for those who are
staying for any extended time to purchase a bus pass.
Once you're settled into
your Nantucket MA hotel or bed and breakfast, there is a lot you can do.
Take a walk through historic downtown and experience colonial
architecture and the quaint shops and cafés. Head to the beach for white
sand beaches and blue skies. Take a bike ride around the island and tour
the historic lighthouses that are on the island. There's also the
Nantucket Yacht Club to check out. At night enjoy fine dining at one of
more than a dozen places and enjoy live music or a performance at the
local theatre. Enjoy outdoor recreation such as swimming or fishing. Or
simply enjoy the peace and serenity and do nothing at all. If you're
visiting at the right time of the year you can see the Nantucket Wine
Festival.
So just remember to book
your flight or ferry, reserve your Nantucket MA hotel or cottage and
enjoy! There is no recipe for a good time on Nantucket MA, anything
goes!
About the Author
Rick Lorenzen is a
client account specialist for 10x Marketing. For more information on
Nantucket visit
Discover Nantucket.
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