20 Top Nantucket Experiences and why I live here

Nantucket is truly one amazing island. You'll find things to do and see year-round. From the amazing beaches to the picturesque streets, it is as if you're stepping into an idyllic paradise!

1. Community: Yes, we have been named by National Geographic as the #1 Island in the World, but Nantucket is not just a pretty face! We have sophisticated restaurants, shopping, arts, theatre, music, and water sports that attract people with the most discerning of tastes. Couple those things with a vibrant and diverse community full of “Washashores and Locals,” and you have one of the best sanctuaries for quality living in the world!

2. Best Beaches: With more than 80 miles of beach surrounding the island, the best beaches change every day based on the weather. I always check the wind, and then make my pick based on where I think the water is the best.

"On a clear night, sunsets are attended by many and there is applause when the sun hits the water."

A Beach for Every Occasion:
Seclusion and calm: Dionis, Washing Pond, Steps Beach, Coatue
Seclusion with Waves: Sheeps Pond Beach, Smiths Point, Great Point
Surf: Cisco, Nobadeer, Madaket,
Family: Jetties for small kids, Surfside for kids that like waves
Overall Best: Fisherman’s Beach in Surfside, Fat Ladies in Miacomet, Madequecham

3. Hot new restaurants: The hottest, most anticipated new opening for 2017 is the Club Car. (A restaurant that is as small on the inside as it looks on the outside. It looks exactly like that fancy dining car that Johnny Cash was singing about in Folsom Prison.) This more traditional island favorite will be undergoing a major overhaul this winter. By next spring it will return with a fresh new look, taste, and feel. I can’t wait!

4. Boat Rental: If you are a member of Barton and Grey, then you can enjoy the water in style on one of their several Hinckleys. If not, contact Nantucket Mermaids for a family adventure lead by a knowledgeable captain. For the more experienced, get in touch with Island Boat Rental. The world is your ocean!

5. Fishing Charters: For the large group that wants a captain that knows where to catch any species in our waters on any given day contact Absolute Sportfishing. For smaller groups, Topspin, or the Althea K are always a great bet.

"For kids, try the Critter Cruise, they sail through the harbor and pick up lobsters, crabs and conch for the kids to touch and feel."

6. Best romantic dinner date: Clambake to go from Sayles Seafood, a bottle of wine, a blanket, and a seat on the beach to enjoy the sunset anywhere on the north shore. Just remember to leave the beach as clean as you found it!

7. Best Sunset spots: If you want an elegant spot to sip rosé with your feet in the sand while the sunsets over the water, the Galley is the only place to be. If you can’t get a reservation, just walk in for drinks and see if some beach couches open up. For a more casual, and second story sunset view of the Atlantic, Nantucket Sound, and our neighboring island, Tuckernuck, Millies (with the best quesadillas on the island) is your choice.

8. Best rainy day museums: Learn about the hundreds of shipwrecks off Nantucket at the Lifesaving Museum including the cruise ship Andrea Doria and MV Stockholm collision in 1956 (Nantucket fog was to blame for that.). Other great museums like the Whaling Museum are available through the Nantucket Historical Association. For the budding scientists out there, the Maria Mitchell Aquarium run by the Maria Mitchell Association has dozens of programs for all ages.

9. You will find the best “Off the Beaten Path” view of the island with Peter Brace from Nantucket Walkabout. When not teaching students on the Natural History of Nantucket, he offers guided tours of the island to find the hidden gems that even most “locals” can’t find.

10. Surfing Cisco Beach with Gary Kohner. Gary is not just the best instructor on the island, he also has a truckload of equipment for those who just want to rent traditional surf gear, or stand up paddle gear.

11. Kite Surfing is not only the fastest, but one of the fastest growing sports on the island. To check it out yourself, contact Jake and Jon at Next Level Watersports. Polpis Point in the harbor is one of the best launching spots you’ll find anywhere.

12. Spending the day at Great Point is great to just get away, have a picnic, do some fishing, or watch the seals (don’t get too close!). This 7 mile peninsula is only accessed by four wheel drive, but Affordable Rentals can set you up with the perfect vehicle to make the trek.

13. Best Breakfast in town: Black Eyed Susans – Make sure to try the Jarlsberg Cheese Pancakes and Huevos Rancheros! There will be a wait, so get there early. Best Breakfast out of town: Island Kitchen – Eat inside or out, have the Panko Breaded Eggs Benedict, or one of the great daily specials

14. Best Drunk Food: Stubby’s, but don’t just take my word for it. They were named the Best Drunk Food In Massachusetts!

15. Best daytime live music and drinks: Cisco Brewery/Triple 8 Distillery/Nantucket Vineyards Winery serves up locally made libations with live music everyday paired with some of our best local food trucks and raw bar. This place is both dog and kid friendly, but you may want to bring them all leashes. While you are there, have a glass of one of their many award winning products.

16. Favorite Summer Fundraisers: Nantucket Cottage Hospital hosts the Boston Pops on Nantucket with a new special guest every year. The Summer Groove to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Nantucket is always a heartfelt blast.

17. A perfect Nantucket Day: Coffee at the Handlebar Café, breakfast sandwiches from Provisions, bagged lunch to take fishing with Boomie from Fresh, some music and a drink at the “Brewery,” sunset on the beach, dinner, then music at either an event, or the Chicken Box that night.

18. Best Holiday on Nantucket: Independence Day. Activities begin in the morning with a traditional reading of the Declaration of Independence at the Meeting House, followed by the parade, pie-eating contest, and water fight put on by the Nantucket Fire Department.

19. Best off-season weekend: Christmas Stroll. This weekend brings crowds of our part time residents and regular visitors to enjoy one last hurrah before winter. Restaurants re-open, the shops are packed full of gifts, and volunteers fill the streets caroling in colonial outfits to spread the holiday cheer.

20. Nantucket’s best kept secret: September! This often over-looked month is the best time to take advantage of less traffic, warm water, nice weather, and beautiful sunsets. The fishing is great, the shops begin to offer discounts, and prime season rates begin to decline. While everyone else is in school, this is the best time of year for Nantucket.

Featured Listings

Bedford Corners, NY

$49,500,000

ONE OF NEW YORK'S MOST COVETED ESTATES. Enter a world where timeless elegance meets state-of-the-art luxury. Originally built in 1901 for renowned financier J. Borden Harriman, this legendary estate - historically known as Devonshire, and earlier as Uplands and once Mannices - stands as a rare example of Gilded Age grandeur, reimagined for modern living. Over its long history, the estate has been owned by some of the nations most distinguished families, and including descendants of the Vanderbilt dynasty and other notable private owners. When it last sold in 2012, it set a record as the highest residential sale in Westchester County history - an extraordinary testament to its significance and stature. Set on more than 100 acres of pristine landscape, the property offers exceptional scale, privacy, and breathtaking natural beauty, all within easy reach of Manhattan. Rolling meadows, sweeping vistas, and picturesque terrain create an unparalleled setting suited for equestrian pursuits, recreation, and refined country living. A substantial expansion is already underway, offering the next steward a rare opportunity to complete the vision, by selecting finishes, materials, and design elements tailored to their unique lifestyle. Architectural highlights include the iconic grand staircase crowned by its attributed original Tiffany stained-glass ceiling, a defining centerpiece of the home. Several accessory buildings include a carriage house, caretaker's cottage, barn with apartment, elegant gated entry and cloister with apartment, and a spectacular 33,000 sq. ft. collector car gallery designed to accommodate more than 66 automobiles. Estates of this magnitude, provenance, and proximity seldom become available. More than a grand residence, this is a legacy property and enduring asset ready to be shaped for generations to come. 2-Acre Zoning. Square Footage is for main house only and does not include outbuildings.

640 S Ocean Boulevard, Manalapan, FL

$72,500,000

The Beach House is a neoclassical estate in Manalapan spanning 1.86 acres, boasting 155 feet of direct ocean and Intracoastal frontage. This 22,220 sq. ft. property features three homes: the Main House (7 bedrooms, 9.4 baths), South Guest House (2 bedrooms, 2.1 baths), and North Guest House (2 bedrooms, 2.1 baths). Arriving via a lushly landscaped driveway, visitors are greeted by grand terraces and striking dual water views. Upon entry, the foyer opens to breathtaking vistas of the expansive pool, manicured lawn, and ocean, enhanced by elegant, island-inspired landscaping. Architect: Smith & Moore. Builder: J5. Interior Design: Marc Michaels The Main House (14,899 Sq Ft U.A.) Upon entry, be welcomed by dual water views of the ocean and intracoastal, a grand staircase, custom inlaid marble flooring, and smoked glass columns. With His/Her powder rooms off the foyer, enter the formal living room, exquisitely decorated with custom furniture, a backlit marble fireplace, and lacquered walls. The main gallery connects all rooms on the main floor, leading you to the North wing, which includes the kitchen, family room, and breakfast room, all overlooking an oversized covered loggia. All rooms on the main floor can be separated or closed off. The South wing includes a VIP Bedroom Suite with a private entrance to the loggia, statuary marble dual vanities, and floor-to-ceiling windows. A secondary bedroom overlooks the west side of the estate with custom shelving and natural light. Ascending the grand staircase, the landing leads you to the Master Bedroom Suite on the southeast wing of the upper level and 4 additional bedrooms all en-suite. Enter into a private foyer immediately greeted by subtle grandeur, ocean views, an expansive terrace, and custom millwork throughout. The Master bedroom, including a seating area and fireplace, flows into the master sitting room/breakfast bar, closets, and bathrooms. Her sanctuary opens up into a massive closet and oceanfront bathroom featuring a Mother of Pearl oyster shell chandelier, soaking tub, inlaid marble, and balcony. His closet connects to a spa-like bathroom, including a metal frame rain shower. The gym is connected to both master closets and bathrooms for easy, but private access. On the North end of the upper level, there are two oceanfront bedrooms and one garden view bedroom all with access to expansive covered loggias. The fourth bedroom overlooks the garden and can be used as a flex space. Descending an additional grand staircase to the lower level, a temperature-controlled wine room is located at the bottom of the stairs leading to an additional staff bedroom or flex room. This fully finished, air-conditioned garage fits 5+ cars and is attached to the main house. Guest Houses (1,487 Sq Ft U.A./ 993 Sq Feet U.A.) Crossing over the sprawling lawns and coral stairs, you will find South & North Guest Houses on the west side of the estate, both with their own private garden. The South GH features a family room, dining room, full kitchen & 2 bed/2.1 bath layout. The North GH includes 2 beds/2.1 baths and a catering/chef's kitchen. The entire property is walled, gated, has enhanced security and a smart home system. Enjoy easy access to the Intracoastal with your own private dock with two lifts, perfect for water sports and yachting. Manalapan is one of Florida's most exclusive enclaves in South Florida, home of the famed Eau Hotel and Nobu Manalapan. Shopping, golf, tennis, and multiple restaurants are within walking distance or a short drive. Manalapan is conveniently located in the middle of Palm Beach County, placing it minutes away from Palm Beach, Delray, and Boca. Private aviation FBOs close by offer several options within minutes (helicopter/private) and close by international airports like Palm Beach International, Fort Lauderdale and Miami are less than an hour. Manalapan became known when billionaire Harold Vanderbilt decided to make it his home. It has since become the home of numerous famed billionaires and is considered one of the rarest stretches of land in South Florida due to its ocean-to-Intracoastal access, privacy, and has approximately 400 residents. It is also known for its sport fishing, diving, and snorkeling. This property is being offered fully furnished as is now, with an exclusion list to be provided for some small personal items. DISCLAIMER: Information published or otherwise provided by the listing company and its representatives is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and is subject to errors, omissions, or changes without notice. All information should be independently verified by any prospective buyer or seller. Listing company expressly disclaims any warranty or representation regarding such information.

1857 Galleon DR, Naples, FL

$59,995,000

VIV Homes and Kukk Architecture present a truly awe-inspiring Legacy residence at the pinnacle of Port Royal luxury living. Set on an extraordinary oversized lot-and-a-half parcel with commanding, wide water vistas across Naples Bay, this rare homesite allows for an expansive architectural footprint, a gated entry, and one of the largest resort-style pool complexes in all of Naples, along with a substantial rear yard along the waterfront. The residence offers over 13,000 square feet of air-conditioned living space, featuring six bedrooms plus a study and exercise room, seven full and three half baths, a five-car garage, upper lounge, and two distinct pools and spas. Every element reflects uncompromising quality, from full concrete construction and slate roofing with copper gutters to limestone cladding, a grand entry fountain, and meticulously hand-selected natural stone finishes throughout. Interior refinements include bespoke Ruffino cabinetry, Poliform Italian-crafted closets, Legno Bastone wide-plank oak flooring, Cristallo quartzite countertops, a sophisticated bar, a formal dining room with a dramatic back-lit quartzite wine wall, and a dedicated wine room. Outdoor living is nothing short of extraordinary, offering resort caliber amenities with a fully equipped kitchen featuring grill and Evo, Renson motorized trellis, swim-up bar, five Tuuci umbrellas, and three outdoor fire features, including a striking sunken fire pit within the90 X 39 main pool. A truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own one of Port Royals most exceptional newly constructed estates. Expected completion December 2026.

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Author

William Raveis