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Century House hotel's wraparound porch. Below: Brant
Point Lighthouse (photo by Michael Galvin is
courtesy of the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce)
From this week's Business of Life
Destination:
Nantucket, Mass.
By: Lisa Bertagnoli
July 07, 2008
GET AWAY: Nantucket, a vacation spot
since 1880, is resolute in its quest to remain "yesterday's
island." In other words, no Starbucks. But what it lacks in
21st-century brand names, it makes up for with miles of
beaches, photography-friendly light and landscapes, plenty
of lighthouses and a Main Street jammed with art galleries
and independent restaurants. Nantucket is so synonymous with
"summer vacation" that some locals advise visiting during
September. It's chillier, yes, but by then the crowds have
gone and the restaurants, weary of impressing tourists, have
returned to tried-and-true menus.
DO: When strolling or sunning on the
beach gets boring, take in the island's natural beauty. Join
an ornithologist for a bit of bird-watching; tours begin at
6:30 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday and 8 a.m. Saturday at 2
Vestal St., home of the Maria Mitchell Assn. ($15 adults,
$10 children,
www.mmo.org).
The island has miles of bike paths, and the three-location
Nantucket Bike Shop will even deliver wheels to some hotels.
Main Street is home to a cluster of art galleries featuring
"plein air" paintings: Artists paint what they see and call
it a day. The Gallery at Four India Street features fine
American art spanning three centuries. Unless you have a
friend who's a member at the Nantucket Golf Club, you'll
play at the public Miacomet Golf Course, southwest of town (www.miacometgolf.com).
The course is under construction, but nine holes are
available for play ($62).
STAY: Sixteen-room Century House,
opened in 1833, has a flower-festooned wraparound front
porch; the inn is within walking distance of Main Street and
beaches. Breakfast and afternoon tea are served daily, and
the innkeeper has a stash of beach-worthy paperbacks on hand
(superior rooms, breakfast and tea included, from $285,
www.centuryhouse.com).
Pratesi linens adorn the 25 beds at the Wauwinet, a luxury
seaside resort and spa. The Too Good to Be True package
offers two nights' lodging, breakfast and afternoon sherry
beginning at $500 a person (doubles from $380, children
under 12 not permitted,
www.wauwinet.com).
Cliffside Beach Club's beach is dotted with blue, green and
yellow umbrellas. The resort, opened in 1904 and refurbished
in the 1990s, offers a spa and a variety of lodging, from
double rooms to cottages (doubles from $450,
www.cliffsidebeach.com).
DINE: The Pearl, a chic room tucked
inside a Federal-style house, features seafood with
international touches, like shiro miso-glazed black cod in
kimchi broth and sake-steamed littleneck clams (dinner only,
entrees $33 to $45, 508/228-9701). For a more casual
experience, try Even Keel's menu of seafood classics such as
clam chowder and seared scallops; there's also pizza and a
few vegetarian dishes (entrees $18 to $24,
www.evenkeelcafe.com).
Locals say the best lobster roll is at Lo La Burger,
conveniently near the ferry. The rolls, lobster salad
nestled in buttered, toasted hot dog buns, are served with
truffled fries; burgers are also offered ($6.95 to $19.95,
508/325-0282).
FOR MORE INFO: Both
www.nantucketchamber.org
and
www.nantucket.net
offer info on lodging, dining and activities.
©2008 by Crain
Communications Inc. |
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