40Isea&iISPRING-SUMMER 2010For the best sunset,head to Madaket onthe west coast ofNantucket Island.Drop into CiscoBrewers for a slugof Whale's Tale Pale Ale.Swim in the still,sparkling waters ofNantucket Sound tothe north, or brave themighty Atlantic Oceanalong the island'ssouthern shore.Bikes are available to hire from Young's BicycleShop in Nantucket. Bike paths encircle theisland, leading past the cranberry bogs, saltmarshes and woodlands of scrub pine. Lying 26 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket is an essential stop on any New England itinerary. Roam this crescent-shaped island on foot or by bicycle, taking in its beaches, lighthouse, stately period homes and acresof conservation landByMiriam Cain ISLANDSNAPSHOTnantucket

SPRING-SUMMER 2010I sea&iI41Nantucket, the island's only town, is where it allhappens. Boutiques and inns fill cobblestone streetswhile the yacht-filled harbour (home to many of theworld's superyachts in summer) is edged with antiqueshops and galleries. Nantucket was once a bustling international port andwhaling capital of the world, and the Whaling Museum onBroad Street will capture your imagination for hours.Reminders of the island's lucrative past are everywhere,but they are particularly evident as you stroll past theglorious old houses in Main Street.The White Elephant is an island landmark situated justout of town. This 1920'shotel has a lawn leading to privateberthing so you can step ashore and pop in for lunch at theHarborside Terrace or dinner at Brant Point Grill. Or signup for a suitably nautical seaweed wrap and sea facial atthe White Elephant Spa.The pretty, tiny village of Siasconset on the island's eastcoast has changed little since the 19th century. Spenda morning here and wander past rose-covered cottagesand the old-fashioned lamps that line the quaint streets. The Wauwinet is a glorious 19th century mansion-by-the-sea that is now a hotel. A blissfully isolated spot,it overlooks Nantucket Harbour and is the perfect placeto laze away days eating lobster at the award-winningTopper's restaurant. The hotel has its own spa, and bikesare available for trips into town or to nearby Siasconset. North of Wauwinet, and only accessible with a four-wheel-drive and permit, the Coskata-Coatue WildlifeRefuge is a peninsula of windswept beauty. Here you willfind hundreds of seals bathing in the foamy eddies. Nantucket has three golf clubs. The Sankaty Headnear Siasconset is the older course; Nantucket GolfClub is more welcoming for visitors; and Miacomet Golfis relatively downbeat for a more relaxed game. More than a third of the island is conservation land,so there is no danger of Nantucket losing its quaintappeal due to over-development. Grand clapboardmansions fronted with grey-shingle dot the landscape,and although the island has a simple charm, it is reallya haven of extraordinary wealth. islandlife