Nantucket Island

I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. It’s an island. Everything is quite expensive because they claim it has to be brought over from the mainland. You would think that they are using a rowboat instead of a high speed ferry.
A tip for the traveler. Make sure to wear tennis shoes. If a place tells you it’s just a ten minute walk from the ferry, it is. However you are walking and pulling your suitcase over uneven brick walkways and cobblestone streets.
Except for a few buildings that are white, the rest are gray. When the sky is gray, the entire island is gray. After reading books by a very popular author that take place on Nantucket, I feel I can get a good picture of it. Just gray.
I have enjoyed my time here. But one visit is enough. Would I come back here? No.

After being out in California for a year, I was really excited to come back to my beloved New England. My family has a place in Chatham, so the Cape & Islands are extra special to me.
A friend was going to visit the Cape with me and had never been to Nantucket. We took the high speed ferry over from Hyannis. I believe it was about $ 50 per person each. We were pretty happy with the ferry ride over and it was relatively smooth.
I hadn’t been to Nantucket in 20 years, but I love reading Elin Hildebrand’s books set on ACK, so I was excited to experience a little bit of island flavor. Well, I was let down.
The island itself is cute and the old homes are so beautiful, but you can get a similar vibe in Provincetown on Cape Cod for a lot less money.
What I don’t care for is the general crappy, stuck up behavior on Nantucket. I was figuratively smacked in the face by the gobs of pretentious attitude all around.
My friend and I took a PUBLIC walking trail through a yacht club. We sat for a minute on a bench and some smug jerk (wearing a Trinity college shirt) working at the club kicked us off the bench. He claimed that the bench on the public trail belonged to the yacht club. Well, after this we were officially turned off to the island.
Honestly, I don’t encounter this level of snootiness in California and I have seen my share of elitist behavior on the west coast.
BTW, to jerk at the yacht club, my husband went to an Ivy. ;-)
This island is overpriced and filled with the uppity, pompous, pretentious of the east.
Save your $ and go to Cape Cod. You can find the haughty attitude on Martha’s Vineyard, but it’s not AS bad as Nantucket.

I visited for a solo overnight in August 2015. Clearly the high season. Downtown was packed with an over-​abundance of super-​wealthy vacationers, especially since it was a bit overcast and drizzly. On the other hand, there is also an abundance of beautiful neighborhoods with well-​preserved architectural charm. I expect the place is amazing in the off-​season, but then again the hostel is only open in summer, and one of my goals was to stay there. The hostel is beautiful, and I biked all around the island and visited two of the lighthouses, the whaling museum, and some of the NHA historic properties. I suspect that if I had brought a car, I just might have killed myself out of frustration for miserable traffic and parking.

I think I’m suffering from PTSD after visiting this place. What a population of A-​holes. Overpriced, inconvenient and an undeserved air of entitlement. Stayed in a rental «mansion» with my family for my brother’s wedding. The trash regulations became the «job» of all the house guests as it is asinine. The people are ridiculously rude. The restaurants are ridiculously overpriced. The beaches are dirty and smelly and no place to lay a towel or blanket without being punctured by the ugly broken shells. The residents clearly do not want you there even though you finance their empty, personality-​less lives. It was like Stepford without the excitement. There is a strange and disturbing separation of race here where the minorities are still catering without dignity to the inbred rich whites. I felt dirty for being caucasian. Don’t waste your time and money. Oh wait. I forgot to mention the weird element of the family dogs running around the island without supervision. There was one large breed black and white pit bull – not Staffordshire Terrier – coming over into our rented yard and taking his daily dump. So surreal and not worth the trip. FREAKS!

For its abundance of natural beauty alone, I would allocate 5 stars. The beaches, the flora and fauna, the bicycle trails, along with the well-​managed and quite nicely controlled development make this island a very special and quite unique place.
That said, no place can be summed up just for its natural beauty alone. Life intrudes by way of people, commerce, traffic and the experience of living life day in and day out.
We’ve just come back from our most recent trip and while we had a wonderful time with family, we had a lot of conversation about current day Nantucket experiences.
What’s happened to Nantucket is that it’s become something of a «brand» and increasingly over the many years we’ve visited the island, it’s become a destination for those wishing to make it known that they’ve «arrived».
The population swells in the summer to surreal numbers. On any given summer afternoon, walking downtown will find you one of thousands. Restaurants and shops at most times of day are teeming with people. The traffic can rival that in downtown Boston at rush hour. Are the cobblestone streets and adorable shops still charming? Yes, but it all gets exhausting.
There are many poseurs here these days; new money gone bad, I’d say, some with attention-​seeking attitude galore. Many people who are wearing the same exact prepster outfits driving the same two or three (must have on the island!) vehicles with the Land Rover Defender now being top of the heap I think.
«Nantucket» has been turned into a «brand» that they wear like a badge.
A friend refers to them as «arrivistes»…indeed!
These days, prices on anything and everything have gone through the roof. Most things are simply ridiculously priced. The rationale is that shopkeepers and restaurant owners have but a few short months to «make their money» for the year. …but that’s too simplistic an answer. There is a sense of «gouging» at times for even the most mundane items and it can feel like everyone has their hand out for your tourist dollar. It gets old and stupid fast.
If I didn’t have in-​laws with a home here, which allows us a place to escape the hubbub and the gouging, I couldn’t imagine wanting to visit unless it was the off-​season.
There are number of lovely shops selling beautiful handcrafted things where steep prices are better understood.
But I refuse to be fleeced anywhere by poorly made, inferior items with a «tourist-​inflated» price tag on them. and many shops have these things in abundance. Buyer beware everywhere including in the fairy-​tale world of Nantucket.
The Nantucket that I remember from many years ago, feels, in places, overshadowed by ego and ostentation and less friendliness.
Luckily, the God-​given beauty of the island remains intact along with strict regulations which should keep it so.
It is fortunate that chain stores are not allowed anywhere on the island and the only one you will find is Stop in Shop in two locations here.
We stick close to the island home or off the beaten path in one blissfully quiet corner of nature or another so it is quite possible to keep away from the craziness of downtown and have serenity. Plan your visit wisely would be my advice.
Nantucket sometimes feels a bit too much to take during the summer. Will we go back? Yes. But we do a lot more eye-​rolling now and searching for what’s real and true.

I went there for the first time in my life this past weekend, and while I enjoyed the natural beauty of this place, I have to say the vibe is just gross.
Here we have an island that was once the second largest whaling community, ever. Now it’s crowded with summer tourists that are mostly elitist snobs who will cut you off while you attempt to navigate the quaint cobblestone streets. It’s like a living museum of colonial America, but every exhibit is outnumbered ten to one with overpriced restaurants. jewelry stores and gift shops. If you want to struggle with crowds of old rich white assholes and their freshly botoxed hag-​wives for a place in line to get a $ 12 sandwich, look no further than the town of Nantucket. There is even a «farm stand» named after the old Bartlett farm where you can get a cherry pie for $ 18.99. Of course, it SO expensive because the cans of cherry pie filling have to be brought over on the ferry, you see. Ridiculous.
Even in the Grand Olde Days that everyone likes to pretend were the halcyon daze of this community, there was an even bigger class-​divide than there is now. The shit-​poor whalers were shoved off to the farthest reach of the island out in Siasconset, where they struggled to keep their children fed making The Man rich on whale blubber and the oil everyone needed. In an ironic twist of fate, those little shacks have been preserved and are now being used as rental cottages for Land Rover driving assholes and their spoiled children. Sure, it’s neat to see the old buildings, but trying to drive through that area to get to a beach with a parking area for three cars, (where you’ll find a Benz and two Land Rovers, mind you,) it’s hardly worth the trip. The beach is steep and has a lot of small rocks to wade in, and being on the Atlantic side, you get the luxury of debris from kelp beds to swim in.
I had more fun at Surfside, though it was more crowded. The sand was nice, the water clearer, and the water was warmer –only slightly so We ARE talking about a beach in New England, after all. Still, parking sucks if you don’t get there early.
Over all, a nice place to visit… if you don’t wait until July through August to go. I was told that between those two months, the place is jam-​packed EVERYWHERE. That’s not my idea of a relaxing beach getaway.
Seriously, you hear this and that about how nice Nantucket is, and then you get there and have to fight crowds of rich assholes and pay through the nose for anything while you’re there. The scenic homes, shops, natural beauty and little villages are great to see, but it’s quickly lost in a rush of wealthy shit heads as the claw their way to the top of some vacation food chain to beat you to a level of relaxation. Imagine going someplace to get away from your asshole boss only to find him, his brothers, their wives and children standing in line on front of you when you get there. Throw in the HR department and you’ve got it.
Another thing that really struck me was the race divide. This is the year 2012. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw there. You bring your bags to the ferry, and two black dudes take your bags. You got to board, and a black guy checks you ticket. You pass by a white and spiffy looking captain, and ride to the island, where more black «help» retrieves your luggage and a black cabbie takes you to your little slice of heaven. You see the black lawn guys packing up as you arrive to your clean and trim vacation «camp». Now, head to the supermarket and pick up some supplies for the stay. You’re greeted by more black folks behind the counter, as well as Russians. You see black folks dressed in wait-​staff and housekeeping attire as you leave the parking lot, using unkempt sidewalks and thruways to get to their humble lodgings. They’re not American born, no… They’re Jamaican. They migrate here in the summer to serve Y-​T and then make it down south again the work the farms. I felt like I was stuck in a movie from the 1930s. The only thing missing was «Hallo, Boss…», «Take yo’ bags, Boss?» and «Sho ’nuff, Boss!». You see this and think we have not come very far in this country at all.
They have to import these people in order to keep this up!
Once upon a time, in the 1870s, when the whaling industry went tits-​up after petroleum was found, the descendants of these hard-​scrabble whalers and their supporting community worked hard to make sure Y-​T had enough fresh towels and food on his fine china. There has been a serving class on this island since it was settled. Once it became a summering hot spot, however, the servitude deepened. Fast forward to present day and this is what we have. A movie set preserved from the year 1937. I kept my ear open for someone saying, «Bring the car around, boy, and see that the bags are in the trunk.».
I’ve been to better beaches in the Carolinas. Seriously. Hell, I’ve played golf with some lawyers from Johnny Cochran’s firm out on Hilton Head. That’s progress, my friend. Stay real.

First trip to Nantucket, probably my last. Very charming little New England village, but for a beach island, very unfriendly to tourists and lacks significant points of interest. We are here in early June and several restaurants and basic provisions stores are lacking and closed. Unless you are in the wharf or center of town, there is absolutely nothing… nowhere to eat or even get a bottle of water. Nice bicycle trails throughout the island but very few resting points and absolutely no public restrooms except in Sconset. Never did find a grocery store or anywhere to pickup snacks, fruit or drinks. Restaurants very, very expensive. Caters to an extremely rich clientele and that’s it. Whaling museum was very nice. For an island with many $ 27 million dollar homes, you can do better. Need more sidewalks outside of town, better sidewalks in town and a better attitude.

** 800^th review **
Nantucket has an amazing charm. It is not highly commercialized. Expect to use a bike. I recommend checking out Madaket for a less populated spot, but be sure to check out the other side of the island, like S’conset. There’s a pretentiousness about the island, but it’s the type of place where you can make the experience what you want it to be.

Nicknamed «The Grey Lady» due to the almost regular fog, it is not a
sunny beach destination but a cold town in every meaning of the word.
The Nantucket Historic District, comprising all of Nantucket Island,
was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 13,
1966. In doing so the National Park Service paid particular note to
the settlements of Nantucket and Siasconset. The island features one
of the highest concentrations of pre-​Civil War structures in the
United States.
Nantucket has a high concentration of artists and galleries, and have
created an ongoing art colony since at least the 1920s. They have come
over the decades to capture on canvas and in other media the natural
beauty of the landscape, the seascapes, the flora and the fauna. On
Friday evenings during the summer season, many of its galleries have
open houses and special exhibits. Notable artists who have lived on,
or painted in, Nantucket include Frank Swift Chase and Theodore
Robinson.
Numerous authors followed the influx of specialists in the visual
arts. Well-​known writers who are or were residents of Nantucket
include Herman Melville. The television series Wings was set in
Nantucket. This Old House devoted most of the 1996 season to a
Nantucket house renovation at 3 Milk St.
In the Boston Legal episode «The Mighty Rogues», Nantucket engages the firm to get permission to build a nuclear bomb for self-​defense. In
The Simpson’s episode Diatribe of a Mad Housewife, Marge writes a
boating novel that takes place in Nantucket.
Nantucket has also been represented in numerous films.
* The 1971 film Summer of ’42 was set in Nantucket.
* The 1986 Warner Brothers film One Crazy Summer, was mostly
filmed and took place on the island.
* The 1996 Columbia Pictures movie To Gillian on Her 37^th Birthday
was filmed and took place on Nantucket.
* The 2004 Universal Studios movie Along Came Polly had a boating
trip scene over to Nantucket.
* The 2007 Weinstein Co movie The Nanny Diaries was partially set
in Nantucket.
* The 2007 20^th Century fox film 27 Dresses had its ending filmed
on Nantucket.
* The 2009 Universal Pictures film «Inglourious Basterds» has its
main antagonist state his desire to retire to Nantucket Island.
Nantucket has also been represented in many works of literature too
many to name/​The most famous are # Nantucket is home to the
mythopoeic «Man from Nantucket» made famous in the opening line of
countless limericks.
In Edgar Allan Poe’s The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,
the protagonist is from Nantucket.
In Herman Melville’s novel Moby-​Dick, Nantucket is the port of
departure for Ahab’s whaling ship, the Pequod.
Why all the fascination with Nantucket? I don’t know. For me it is not
racially diverse enough, I don’t like the food and like many wealthy communities the people seem to be sheltered and closed.
It’s not for me. But if you are a wealthy white person who likes cold
weather, Nantucket is for you.

The
rich
and
the wild
The dichotomy of Nantucket Island. The elite and the filthy rich, expensive stores and restaurants. Incredible crowds and congestion during the summer. I think this is all some people know because they never even bother to leave the town. However there is another side.
The other side is outside the town, because once you leave the vicinity of Nantucket town the island changes. Suddenly the crowds disappear and there are no restaurants or gift shops. There is nothing but pristine wilderness and ocean. There are bike trails that lead all over the island and if you follow them you will end up in some gorgeous unspoiled places. You can go east and head out to ‘Sconset and see the old lumpy houses that used to belong to the fisherman and whalers. Or head west and visit the village of Madaket with views of Tuckernut island. You can head out into the vast cranberry bogs and ride for hours without seeing another person. Or ride down to Surfside and see the crashing ocean. If you are really adventurous you can walk the 5 or 6 miles through the sand and go all the way out to Great Point and see the incredible tide rip and isolated lighthouse and not see a piece of litter of trace of humanity the entire way.
Sure Nantucket offers cupidity and avarice in abundance, but it also offers some of the most impressive and untamed maritime environments and views. It is up to the individual to decide what he wishes to experience.

I was really underwhelmed by Nantucket. I was there to photograph a wedding for a really adorable couple who picked the place at somewhat random for their elopement. The water was warm, the beaches were nice– but the island was meh. The restaurants were overpriced and mediocre at best– I mean $ 10 for a bowl of soup at lunchtime. No way.
I asked one of the locals where they went when they wanted to buy clothes that don’t say «Nantucket» somewhere on them, and he said the internet. I couldn’t believe it. Oh well.
And in that vein– the stores were all the same ACK crap, and red sailcoth pants, and lighthouse wind chimes. I’d like to check out the Vineyard some day as a comparison. I’ve heard that it’s better.

Nantucket is not only a disgrace to massachusetts, but it is a Sh*t stain on the tighty whities of America. It is a flocking point of interest, for the worlds most wealthy and therefore obnoxious people. Located near Provincetown, its’ sister city and inspiration for Nantucket red (a.k.a yuppie pink) it is a sandbar littered with tacky mansions and Republicans. They are known for losing disgracefully, by obscenely large margins to Martha’s Vineyard in their annual football game, having less attractive people, worse food, catching no fish, and having a longer/​more expensive boat ride to get there.
Edgartown is the only part of Martha’s Vineyard who relates to our yuppie cousin to the East, because of a «grass is always greener complex». As a result, the Eastern most point of Edgartown has seceded from Martha’s Vineyard and is migrating to join Nantucket in some hot cousin loving.
If I accomplish anything in my life, I would like to single handedly be responsible for introducing skunks to their Island. Those smug bastards actually think they are better than us, just because the have one less pest. Not for long, little Island. Just know, when they appear, by the hundreds, who to thank. I hope you see this face in your smug dreams laughing hahahaha laughing and it makes you cry and wet your bed.
One time I was at the NY home of a wealthy Nantucket summer resident. His wife cooked us dinner and at dessert they served an extremly expensive bottle of port wine. He asked me if I liked it and I replied «this wine tastes like raisins». he was obviously very offended, so I laughed and continued to brag about all the fish I catch on M.V. He retorted with his tales of fishing for fun and pretending he doesn’t care if he catches anything. I know he was crying on the inside.
If you are a billionaire, I can think of better things to do with your money, than spend it on Nantucket, like burn it. It is no mystery why the Wampanoag Tribe chose Martha’s Vineyard for their home and Nantucket actually translates to «this Island sucks and your red is pink you ass clowns». Nantucket should pay M.V. just to hang out near us and pay us protection $. However, if sh*t did pop off, we don’t got yo back sucka. The only back we would have, is backing away while you got your ass stomped. Yo Nantucket peace out B*tch. Have fun with global warming, you sand dune loving, non-​recycling, 12 cylinder driving, hair spray wasting Republicans. You are the next Atlantis. Looks like those private swimming lessons you took in your huge pool, next to the beach, just might finally pay off.