Nantucket is about a feeling. The faraway island, so named by the original inhabitants, the Wampanoags, has an extraordinary beauty, and the pictures only communicate a fraction of the uniqueness… those that know, know. For those of you looking to travel to Nantucket and are curious what makes this sandspit so special, it’s the blend of, well, everything – people, place, architecture, beautiful weather 60 days a year (ha), but really it is all the intangibles.
Nantucket has outstanding restaurants, a Relais Chateau hotel, cobblestone lined streets, and the best beaches in the world. While other destinations might have pieces of this tableau, you cannot recreate what is the feeling that overtakes one’s senses when you are here. Perhaps it’s the fact that you must be transported by sea or by air. Could it be the mix of New England Yankee and Quakerism layered on the foundation of the Native Americans? Do those influences come into play in what is the modern-day Nantucket? Is it the energy created at the juncture of planetary meridian lines on which the island sits? Could it be the fact that we must coexist on one 50 sq. miles land mass regardless of our backgrounds, likes/dislikes, who we marry, who we divorce, whether we are a service provider or the recipient of suchservices or whether we are local or a summer resident?
Nantucket is special because of the people. The island attracts fascinating folks from all walks of life, from all parts of the spectrum. Here are titans of industry alongside the most well-traveled, best bartenders in the world! There are moguls, captains (literally), academics, and artists, and they all line up at their favorite coffee shop, donut spot, brewery, and iconic dive bar. Waiting in a line for a morning coffee, you could make small talk with the CEO of the country’s largest business, a college kid who is going to their landscaping job (who was also your bus-person last night), a school teacher who doubles as a camp counselor to make ends meet, a 19-year old summer trust fund resident, or an H2B Visa worker who holds down three jobs with the aim to make as much money as possible in an 18-week season (before going back to school in their Eastern European country). It’s quite a cast of characters. Some polished, some still a little rough, but we all share the common bond that is our love of Nantucket.
Now a little bit about “Nantucketing” a verb coined by the Nantucket Hotel:
An early morning sunrise opens the day. While some are just now going to sleep, others are just starting their day. The first out are the runners, bikers, and wave riders. Soon following them are the landscapers and tradesfolk, and depending on the tide, let us not forget about the early-rising fishing captain. As the morning wears on, the cobblestone streets fill up with those venturing out for a morning cup of coffee and sweet treat. The Downy Flake is best for its homemade sugar donuts, Wicked Island Bakery for their sticky buns (limit of 6 pp). Coffee is subjective. Favorites tend to be from Island Coffee, Roasted, the Handlebar or the Green.
Now in the warmth of the afternoon sun, some are sailing, some are beaching, while others are perfecting their garden, perfecting their tan, learning to Kiteboard, or lunching “at the club”. Downtown is quiet this time of day, unless of course it’s overcast or too windy. If weather is blowing in and bringing overcast skies, many summer visitors and day trippers participate in the leisurely activity of shopping – where one can find unique treasures as well as the classic resort town tee shirt shop.
As the sun passes its mid-point, and beachgoers begin to pack up their gear, anglers and surfers may be headed out for an evening “sesh”, while others are readying for dinner or preparing to work the dinner shift, taking an outdoor shower. (These showers are “de rigueur” in this season.)
And dinner? The late dinner crowd, and possibly the younger group, may be trying to squeeze into Cisco Brewery, whereas a constant stream of people will be witnessed picking up their lobster bakes from Sayles or dinner-to-go from Bartlett’s. Afterwards, they will head out for the best sunset beach dinner, other than Galley Beach or Topper’s, of course! For those that washed the salt spray from their skin early, they may be off to experience an incredible culinary delight – be it the So-Cal, whose menu features Baja inspired food and margaritas, or Millie’s, known for their tantalizing flavors. The Proprietors and Nautilus restaurants are superb too. Of course, dinner in the backyard of many a Nantucket home are out of this world. Many pick up some incredible fish from 167 Raw or steaks from the Nantucket Fish and Meat market and enjoy a mean game of corn hole while the grill is fired up. Better still is when a dinner guest happens to be an angler and early rising fishing captain who has brought some incredible freshly caught bass!
As the moon rises, the lines form…some for a barstool, some for an ice cream (be it the iconic Juice Bar, Jack and Charlie’s, or the ever-awesome Island Kitchen). But do you know who is in line next to you? You’ll see the same people you started your day with. That, my friends, is how the banker, the busboy and the bartender and residents from all walks of life, backgrounds, and languages, create a community of friendship that is hard to explain anywhere else in the world. You say the word Nantucket, and those that know, know.
Some say Nantucket is a lifestyle and while they may be right, it is also a state of mind…and one of the most tightly knit communities that exists anywhere. This is what makes this faraway island of Nantucket so coveted, special, and irreplaceable.
J. Brent Tartamella is starting his 3rd decade on island as a wash-ashore, and his 6th year in the luxury real estate space at Fisher Real Estate, all the while raising his 14-year-old son, a motocross, basketball playing teen. Previously in the world of high-end private club management, Brent is eager to introduce you to your Nantucket. Until you can dip your toes in Nantucket Sound, you can follow him on insta @brenttucket or email at brent@fisherrealestate.com.
