Donned in a radiant display of blossoms and a stretch of sandy coastline, America’s most iconic summertime destination ensures moments to cherish from the first breath of salt-tinged ocean air.
A crescent-shaped island thirty miles from the coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, brims with grey-shingled cottages draped in roses, gardens abloom with pastel hydrangeas, and misty beaches dotted by lighthouses. For many guests, the dreamy getaway of Nantucket first appeared in school years’ readings of Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Nathaniel Philbrick’s In the Heart of the Sea, or perhaps later in one of Elin Hildebrand’s romance novels. It is no wonder the destination recurs in the pages of beloved books—a tribute to the magical sensation palpable for all who step upon the shores.
Nantucket, meaning “the faraway land,” derives from the Native American language of the Wampanoag tribe, who inhabited the isle until English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold sighted it in 1602. The dense population of whales in surrounding waters attracted seamen, quickly establishing Nantucket as the whaling capital of the world in the eighteenth century. The War of 1812 signaled a decline in the industry, but the wealth of Nantucket’s heyday laid a foundation for its rise as a chic New England destination. Today, mansions built by sea captains remain, as new restaurants, boutiques, and museums usher in present-day luxury.
Nantucket’s allure lies in the harmony between natural beauty and a sophisticated lifestyle. Though foggy skies inspire its nickname “Grey Lady of the Sea,” rugged dunes swathed in seagrass and blooms paint the landscape in brilliant color. While afternoons at the beach are not to be missed, gourmet ocean fare, nature walks, and leisurely pastimes are aplenty, promising memories to linger in hearts for years.
Text Lydia McMullen
Photography Julie Paisley
Styling Sidney Bragiel
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