Nantucket Official Guide 2014-2015 | Page 24

©Wendy Mills

Association educates children and adults
alike through its various programs
and facilities.
Sports enthusiasts will delight in the
multitude of indoor and outdoor activities
the island provides. Bicyclists revel in
Nantucket’s smooth terrain and miles of
scenic bike paths, while surfers and windsailers, scuba divers and paddle boarders,
take to the waters for exercise and plein-air
enjoyment. For avid runners, a variety of
road races – including the popular Nantucket
Triathlon, an Iron Man Relay and 5K races
– are a distinct highlight. A round of golf on
Miacomet Golf Course – one mile from the
ocean – is quite enjoyable, whether you’re
a novice or a veteran golfer. Nantucket
also boasts a course for disc golf, a fun
and challenging family activity. Fishing –
whether it be surfcasting or charter – is a
major recreational activity, as the waters
of Nantucket Sound teem with bluefish,
striped bass, tuna and marlin, to name a
few. Whale watching by charter boat is also
a popular pastime. Sailors and landlubbers
alike gather in droves for the annual Figawi

22 • 2014 Official Guide to Nantucket

Race on Memorial Day weekend, as well as
the Opera House Cup and Nantucket Race
Week regattas in August which combine
fun, sportsmanship and camaraderie. Back
on land, a state-of-the-art skateboard park
and ice rink round out the many options for
active pursuits.
For over a century, Nantucket has been
a haven for the Arts. The sheer diversity of
artists and cultural offerings is impressive,
with numerous galleries, classes and
exhibitions enticing lovers of arts and
culture to the island year-round. In June, the
renowned Nantucket Film Festival lures movie
buffs by the score for preview screenings and
signature programs, as well as the chance
to hob-nob with luminaries like Jerry Stiller,
Steve Martin and Diane Keaton. First-rate
theatre productions are staged frequently,
and noted authors often lecture at the
Atheneum and other island venues. The
Nantucket Comedy Festival in July attracts
top comedic performers from across the
country, and also encourages kids and teens
to ply their craft in the “Stand Up & Learn”
program. Musical concerts – including the