To better understand the centuries-old tradition of Nantucket town, a walking tour offered by the Nantucket Historical Association is a good place to start. Here a town historian will guide you through just what it was like in Nantucket's heyday when it was the whaling capital of the world. The tour makes note of the fire of 1846 that burned one-third of town to the ground, paving the way for the new circa of buildings that stand today. As it's told, an enraged sperm whale rammed the bow of the Essex in the middle of the Pacific off the coast of Peru, sinking the 238-ton vessel. Survivors of the three-month ordeal detail human horrors, such as weathering fierce storms, starvation, death and cannibalization.
Wildlife is abundant on the island.
When you're done taking in the island's rich history, you can set out for a little adventure yourself. You might even have time to kick back, get takeout from Claudette's Lunch Box and picnic on Siasconset Beach. Uneventful, however, until you reach the ethereal scenes of Sankaty Head Golf Club. The original lens can be seen at the Whaling Museum. Codfish Park, a residential area, boasts the most unique lay of the land.