The Experience
Atlantic Islands & Beachside Villages
It’ll be early on. You’ll round a corner on one of the beach roads, maybe in ‘Sconset or Aquinnah. And it will hit you. The quiet. The open Atlantic pulsing on the shore. Sea birds above and a beach breeze rustling the dunes. It gives you that “I’m never going back” feeling where you imagine selling all your possessions and buying a lobster boat. It’s okay, the feeling passes eventually. But you’ll have five days to enjoy it. Gentle, tranquil rides past scenic beaches and cranberry bogs Fresh seafood and gracious island hospitality Tackle hills to the red-clay cliffs of Aquinnah, with a 200-year-old lighthouse Edgartown’s colonial roots and art galleries Learn maritime history at the Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum
DAYS 1-2 Downshift into easygoing island life on Nantucket A gentle ride to Cisco Beach leads past beautiful 18th- and 19th-century sea captains’ homes and lighthouses Sample local microbrews, wine and even vodka during lunch at Cisco Brewery Circle the island on two wheels, with gardens, cranberry bogs, harbors, dunes and houses – sporting every shade of gray – enlivening your route The Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum chronicles the area’s maritime heritage Up for a stroll along the Atlantic? Siasconset and Surfside beaches beckon with pristine stretches of sand. DAY 3 Edgartown’s Colonial roots and art galleries Soak up the rich history of Nantucket Town on a walking tour A private boat transports us to Martha’s Vineyard, simply called “The Vineyard” by locals Ride out to Katama Beach past beautiful homes tucked among pines and scrub oak along a stretch of unspoiled beach popular with local kite-surfers Pedal a bike path to Edgartown, known for spectacular Greek Revival, Federal and Victorian architecture Explore the unique town of Oak Bluffs, home to gingerbread cottages that were once part of a historic Methodist camp. DAY 4 The red-clay cliffs of Aquinnah, with a 200-year-old lighthouse Spin inland through forests and open meadows Fond of art? Galleries tempt you off your bike with watercolors, photography and sculptures by local and world-renowned artists Explore the Cape Poge lighthouse – its first keeper in 1801 was appointed by Thomas Jefferson. DAY 5 Exhilarating ocean views and breezes abound on our ride out to Vineyard Haven and Tisbury, with its large estates overlooking Nantucket Sound and the islands only year-round port Enjoy lunch at the ever-popular Black Dog Tavern.
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The Route
