Nantucket Island:
The name is derived from the Indian Word 'Natockete' which means the faraway land. The Wampanoags also referred to the island as Canopache, or place of peace.
Nantucket is located 30 miles out to sea off of the coast of Massachusetts. The island is roughly 14 miles long by 3 1/2 miles wide. There are 100 square miles of moors, plains, cranberry bogs, fresh water ponds and white sandy beaches. The beaches and the conservation land on Nantucket are, for the most part, open to the public to use with respect.
Each house has a story, and the architecture ranges from Quaker simplicity to strikingly ornate. This remarkable concentration of homes sets the tone for the special character of the downtown area.
There are a number of outlying villages and hamlets, from Madaket on the western end of the island, to Siasconset at the easternmost end. Each is unique and offers residents and visitors a variety of different experience
Getting to Nantucket:
There are just two ways to get to Nantucket Island, by sea and by air. There are a number of airline and ferry services. The Steamship Authority operates a high-speed passenger boat as well as the only vessels that carry cars to Nantucket. Visitors can fly from Hyannis on Cape Cod, or from Providence, Boston and New York. The commuter airlines are: Nantucket Airlines/Cape Air and Island Air.
Getting Around Nantucket:
Nantucket has a network of bicycle paths from one end of the island to the other. Bicycles are readily available for rent. The island also has a shuttle bus system, operated by the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA). There are numerous car rental agencies and a good taxi system on island. If you need to bring your car the Steamship Authority vessels carry vehicles and reservations need to be made well in advance as there is limited capacity, especially during the summer months. No reservations are required for passengers.
