“Great Point, one of the island’s three iconic lighthouses, lies at the northern tip of the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. You can enter the refuge by foot, although it’s far more convenient to explore in a four-wheel-drive vehicle (buy a sticker at the gatehouse outside the Wauwinet resort). Let the pressure in your tires down and roll over the narrow stretch of sand to inhale the breathtaking views—Nantucket harbor on your left and the Atlantic on your right. Bonus: Seal sightings.”

“The inspiration for The Hotel Nantucket is The Nantucket Hotel and Resort on Easton Street. Originally built in 1891, the hotel has a long and rich history that includes croquet lawns and evening dances. In 2012, it was reimagined into the grand beauty it is today by owners Mark and Gwenn Snider. The hotel features two pools, a world-class fitness center with a studio for classes (try yoga with Pat, it’s life-changing), and a gracious front porch with firepits and live music in the summer.”

“If you’re visiting Nantucket for only one day, you can’t go wrong ending up at the Sandbar. It’s everything you want a great beach bar to be. The rambling wooden structure offers in-the-sand dining at colorful picnic tables. The menu includes creative cocktails (the frosé is delicious), burgers, fish tacos, and an outstanding raw bar. There’s live music in the summer and you’ll have a front-row seat for sunset. (The Sandbar was the inspiration for the Oystercatcher in Golden Girl!)”

“Nantucket features not one but two independent bookstores, known together as Nantucket Book Partners. Mitchell’s Book Corner is the grand dame of Main Street. This store hosts popular book signings—including a weekly signing by yours truly, Wednesdays at 11 a.m.—and has a large selection of Nantucket books."

"Nantucket Bookworks on Broad Street is cozy and eclectic, with a whimsical children’s section, creative gifts, and chocolate.”

“The Seagrille has the best lobster roll and the best lobster bisque on Nantucket.  Owned and operated by the Harvey family for decades, this mid-island treasure is wildly popular for good reason. It underwent an interior renovation in 2022, but the most fun can be had on the glassed-in front-porch bar area. If you come to Nantucket looking for the freshest seafood, classically prepared and reasonably priced, you want to be at the Seagrille.”

“Sconset, properly the town of Siasconset (absolutely no one calls it this), is a village on the east end of the island. Sconset has its own subculture, and every once in a while there are jokes about it seceding from the island. Life is slower out east—speed limit signs read: ‘20 is plenty in Sconset.’ The town has a tree-lined main street that graciously delivers one to the Sconset Market, where they bake fresh baguettes every afternoon…Sconset has postcard-worthy vignettes at every turn.”

“The best dive bar in America is known by locals as simply the Box. There is not one piece of chicken, nor any food served at all, though you’re welcome to bring in a pizza from Sophie T’s across the street! This live-music venue is a great place to end a festive island evening. It draws a multigenerational crowd—the line is long, the music is loud, the floor is sticky with beer, but you will always step out onto Dave Street after ‘closing the Box’ feeling exhilarated.”

“The African Meeting House on the corner of York and Pleasant is a post-and-beam cottage that was built and occupied by Black Nantucketers in the 1800s. It is now a museum, offering cultural programs and interpretative exhibits. There is a Black Heritage Trail on Nantucket that leads one to sites such as the cemetery on Vestal Street; the Nantucket Atheneum, where Frederick Douglass gave his first public speech to a mixed-race audience in 1841; and abolitionist Anna Gardner’s house.”

“In a town filled with galleries and shops, this tiny shop off Main Street stands out. Nantucket local Jessica Hicks’ jewelry is handmade in an accompanying studio, and her pieces are not only beautiful but fun and wearable—from stacking rings to long, glittering earrings and layering necklaces, there’s something for every price range. (Jessica’s silver lace-print thumb ring embedded with multicolored sapphires features heavily in the plot of The Perfect Couple!)”

“Truly, no trip to Nantucket is complete without a visit to this brewery. Three ‘sheds’ surround a brick courtyard: one for beer (Whale’s Tale Pale Ale is the OG), a winery (I’m a fan of the cranberry pinot gris), and one for spirits (Cisco makes the popular Triple Eight vodka). There is ample seating at picnic tables, live music, and food trucks with offerings such as swordfish sliders from Nantucket Lobster Trap and cherrystone clams from 167 Raw. It’s the ultimate après-beach scene!”