 |
 |
Getting AroundNantucket Town is the main part of the 50-square-mile island, which has only a few paved roads. Madaket Road leads to the community of Madaket, about 5.5 miles from town. Hummock Road leads to Cisco Beach, about 4.5 miles away; Surfside Road leads to Surfside Beach, about 2.5 miles from town; and Siasconset is about 9 miles from town along Milestone Road. Take Polpis and then Wauwinet Road to get to Wauwinet, an area roughly 5.5 miles from town. Past Wauwinet is conservation land on Great Point. The Nantucket Memorial Airport is about 2.5 miles from town.
|
|
|
A highly successful means of coping with traffic and transportation has been the use of shuttle buses, which run seasonally. It may even bring romance: a few years ago, a couple who met on the shuttle were married on Nantucket! Nantucket Regional Transit Authority Nantucket Regional Transit Authority has expanded its seasonal shuttle service to serve the entire island, with routes to Sconset and Madaket and loops out to Surfside Road (there is no service to Surfside Beach) and Miacomet. Downtown shuttle stops are on Washington Street and Salem Street; other stops are on the routes. The South Loop bus runs every 15 minutes and costs 50 cents, as does the Miacomet Loop bus, which runs every 20 minutes. Two different routes run regularly to Sconset (one via Polpis Road and one via Old South Road/Nobadeer Farm Road) and cost $1; there is no service to the airport. Service to Madaket runs every 30 minutes and costs $1. Three-day, weekly, monthly, and season passes are available. Senior citizens older than 65 and children 6 and younger ride free. Buses are wheelchair accessible and have bicycle racks. Service runs from June 1 to September 30, seven days a week from 7 AM to 11:30 PM. Park-and-ride lots are at the elementary school, The Muse, The Chicken Box, The Pines Restaurant, Nobadeer Mini-Golf and Silver Street parking lot. There is also a summer beach shuttle service to Surfside and Jetties Beaches from downtown. Fares are $1 each way to Surfside Beach and 50 cents each way to Jetties Beach.
|
|
|
One important piece of advice concerning cars is politely but firmly spelled out in the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce guidebook: "We strongly recommend you leave your vehicle behind." As the guidebook states, Nantucket Town was designed in the 1700s, and its cobblestone streets and narrow lanes are not conducive to high-volume traffic. Streets become congested with traffic, especially during the summer months, and parking can be difficult, if not impossible. Simplify your stay by leaving your car behind. You really don't need a car here, particularly for daytrips; you can walk to just about anyplace in town and get out of town by bike, bus, or taxi. We actually welcome the freedom of not having a car during our stays; it seems to immerse us more completely in the far-away-from-the-world feeling that being on Nantucket brings. If you won't part with your car, be prepared to part with your money, because it is expensive to bring a car to the island (see the Ferry Service section); consider renting a car instead. You'll need a beach vehicle permit to drive on beaches; contact the Nantucket Police Department, (508) 228-1212. A special permit is also required for driving on property managed by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation, (508) 228-0006 (from late-May through mid-October) or (508) 228-2884. Permits cost $75 per year (no daily rate). There are no in-town parking lots, only street parking; it's free, but the one-hour limit is enforced. A final note: Nantucket has many one-way streets, so watch for signs. Once on the island, transportation is not difficult to arrange. Taxis meet incoming flights at the airport and incoming ferries downtown. Car rental agencies are at the airport and in town. If you prefer the four-wheel-drive variety, you'll want to call Nantucket Windmill Auto, (508) 228-1227, (800) 228-1227, at the airport. This year-round full-service agency has a fleet of Jeeps, Wranglers, and Explorers, along with the more traditional sedans, vans, and station wagons. They also provide free pickup service at your hotel or guesthouse or at the Steamship Authority. Some of the other rental services on the island include Affordable Rentals, 6 S. Beach Street, Nantucket, (508) 228-3501; Budget Rent A Car, (508) 228-5666 or (800) 486-5666; and Hertz Car Rental, (508) 228-9421 or (800) 654-3131. The latter two are at the airport.
|
|
|
Bicycles are an excellent way to get around because the island is relatively flat, and there are over 24 miles of paved bike paths that stretch from Nantucket town to Siasconset to the east, Surfside to the south, and Madaket to the west (but the wind can sometimes make biking a challenge!). Mopeds are faster, but inexperienced drivers can get in trouble with sand on the roads. To avoid getting ticketed (or hurt), please familiarize yourself with local regulations and observe them. Rental agencies can inform you of the regulations. Do not ride bikes on sidewalks or mopeds on bike paths, and heed one-way street signs and other street signs. Front and rear reflectors are required. The following shops have bike and moped rentals (Young's also repairs bikes). All are within walking distance of the ferry dock. Cook's Cycle Shop Inc., 6 S. Beach Street • (508) 228-0800 Holiday Cycle, 4 Chester Street • (508) 228-3644 Nantucket Bike Shops, Steamboat
Wharf
and Straight Wharf Young's Bicycle Shop, Steamboat Wharf • (508) 228-1151
|
|
|
AccommodationsNantucket has outstanding accommodations of all types. Ask someone about their trip to the island, and the first thing they'll tell you is how much they loved where they stayed. With nearly 1,400 rooms to choose from, you can stay in a single cottage on the inner harbor or in a small guesthouse nestled amongst rose gardens. Or perhaps you'd rather be centrally located in one of the many fine bed and breakfasts or inns situated in the center of town. Nantucket has no private campgrounds, and public camping is also prohibited. The closest you'll get to camping is the hostel, which offers dormitory-style accommodations. Most places have lower rates in the off-season, which is a nice time to visit, anyway. Many of the smaller inns do not allow children, while some allow children older than a certain age. One innkeeper hedged, "It depends on the child." Families with children might be better off renting a cottage or staying at a larger resort that accommodates children. It is always wise to inquire about the specific policies of any facility concerning, children, pets, cancellations and refunds. Most places accept major credit cards; we tell you of those that do not.
|
|
|
The following key is based on the average cost of a night's stay in a double-occupancy room in the busy season, minus tax and special charges. Massachusetts charges a state tax, which adds about 5.7 percent to a bill. $ Less than $75
|
|
|
If you're planning a vacation on Nantucket, reserve your accommodations well in advance--many places are booked months ahead of time. One innkeeper we talked to said summer guests often reserve rooms before they leave for the October Cranberry Festival and the Christmas Stroll (see our Annual Events section of this chapter), and then reserve their summer vacation slot while here for the holidays. However, people's plans do change, and cancellations can easily create the opportunity for you to get a room in a first-rate inn without reserving far in advance. That's where reservation services come in especially handy. Here are a few resources to try. Accommodations Et. Al. This year-round reservation service represents a group of historic inns, bed and breakfasts, and cottages distinguished by fireplaces, harbor views, and antique furnishings. Nantucket Accommodations This well-established year-round reservation service represents about 95 percent of the licensed accommodations on the island, including hotels, inns, bed and breakfasts, rental homes, and cottages. They will book rooms for you (their fee is $15). They also have private house rental listings and cottages (their fee for booking a private house or cottage is $50). Nantucket Chamber of Commerce Call or write for an extensive brochure that covers everything you could want in the way of accommodations. The office is open year-round. A $5 charge covers mailing expenses. The Nantucket Concierge You name it, Carolyn Hills will arrange it. She books accommodations; makes reservations for airline tickets, dinner, and entertainment; arranges the delivery of everything from flowers to birthday cakes; and can get tickets for anything on the island. She can fix you up with swimming or sailing lessons and tennis court time too, as well as golf lessons and tee times. Need a babysitter while you're out on the town? She can arrange that as well. Nantucket Vacation Rentals If you have questions about rental houses, cottages, and apartments, give Nantucket Vacation Rentals a call. The office, at Nantucket Real Estate Co., is open all year. Nantucket Visitors Services and
Information Bureau This town-run bureau, along with the Chamber of Commerce and the Nantucket Lodging Association, has compiled a detailed list of accommodations. The staff can tell you on a day-by-day basis where vacancies exist, but they do not make bookings. The office is open daily year-round.
|
|
|
Continue to Inns, Bed & Breakfasts, and Guesthouses |