Photo by Andrew Wolff on Unsplash
The idyllic island of Nantucket is a dream vacation location for many reasons. But apart from the obvious ones, such as the endless beaches, the perfectly preserved historic buildings, gorgeous mansions, lighthouses, and the blooming hydrangeas, this New England island is a perfect spot for watersport lovers too.
You can rent the residence of your choice in any neighborhood on the island. Once you drop off your luggage, you can head to the beaches and shores for some unforgettable adventures.
Here you can learn more about some of the water activities you can enjoy when visiting Nantucket.
Kiteboarding
Kiteboarders will be happy to know that Nantucket happens to be a great place to practice their favorite watersport.
It has endless miles of the Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Sound coasts, with beaches and shores suitable for all skill levels.
The wind is pretty consistent all year round. In the summer, the winds are mainly from the southwest, so the harbor is among the best places for kiteboarding.
The wind comes mainly from the south and northeast during the rest of the year.
Pocomo Point is the most popular kitesurfing spot during the summer season.
There are kiteboarding schools and rentals, so you can make your first steps in this exciting sport while vacationing on the island too. The schools are run by licensed coaches. They will ensure that you are safe and, at the same time, learn the basic skills and, most importantly, enjoy yourself while at it.
Surfing
Nantucket is a suitable spot for surfers of all ability levels, thanks to the many beaches with different surfing conditions.
There are beaches perfect for newbies, especially the northern ones like Dionis, Children’s, and Jetties in the summer. There are two excellent surf schools on Nobadeer and on Cisco beaches. There you can take private or group lessons or rent all the gear you need.
The south and eastern shore beaches, such as Surfside, Nobadeer, Cisco, Madaket, Pocomo, Siasconset, and Coatue, are more suitable for intermediate or advanced surfers, as there can be some pretty heavy surf.
You can rent all kinds of gear on the island, but if you prefer to bring your own, you can take any board to Nantucket – longboard, shortboard, fish, or funboard.
There are many surf shops, surf bars, and a friendly surfing community on the island, which you can enjoy during your stay in Nantucket.
The Cocktail Cruise
If you prefer a more leisurely water activity with less action, then going on one of the many tours and cruises is an excellent choice for you.
There are various cruises available during the summer in Nantucket. Some are perfect for families with kids, others for young people and party-oriented vacationers, and there are also tours that are an excellent choice for adventurers, anglers, and history buffs.
One of the best cruises you can join is the Cocktail Cruise.
All you need to do is bring your beverage of choice and get ready for a fun one-hour sail. The cruise offers great music and some stunning views of the ocean, the waterfront, and the sunset.
Other tours and cruises which you can consider are the ice cream cruise, the critters cruise, the oyster cruise, the sunset cruise, the clamming excursion, the harbor tour, the fishing tour, the whale-spotting cruise, and more.
If you are planning a special event, you can also hire a private charter.
Inshore and offshore sport fishing
Being an island first established by the English settlers as a fishing village, then turned into an international whaling hub, Nantucket is still a preferred spot for anglers of all experience levels.
If you are a beginner the best time to go fishing in Nantucket is in the summer. That is when migrating fish such as false albacore, bluefish, bonito, and stripers come close to the shores. This means that you can enjoy some safe and fun inshore fishing.
More advanced anglers can rent boats or kayaks for some offshore fishing for larger fish like bluefish, stripers, or cod.
And for those who are ready to get into the deep waters, there are fishing charters. They will take you into the North Atlantic, where you can try to catch tuna, marlin, mahi-mahi, and even sharks.
The fishing charters and guided tours offer all the equipment you need for fishing, but of course, you can bring your own gear too.