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Best of Nantucket's Beaches

Tourists, vacationers and coastal residents flock to beaches every year. What is it about the world's beaches that attract people from all over the globe? The answer is obvious ' the warm sand, clear skies, hot temperatures and cool water.

Nantucket, Massachusetts just off the Southern Massachusetts coast has 82 miles of beaches. What makes it unique is that while many of the beaches are privately owned the owners keep them open for the public to enjoy. While the Island is home to some 10,000 year-round in the summer the population on the island rocket to 50,000. There are beaches for all likes and types. There are private beaches with cottages, beaches for surfing, marinas, beaches for chilling out, there's the wharf and Nantucket Harbor and even a child beach for children and families.

Each beach has it's own personality. The best place for children and families is child beach. Child beach is in the Nantucket Harbor and features calm waters, has a playground for children, a grassy area, picnic tables and a snack-bar. Child beach also has a bandstand that features concerts during the summer. There are also puppet shows in the bandstand for children. Child beach features life guards throughout summer so you can rest assured it's safe. There are a couple of options for children and families other than Child Beach, try Dionis Beach and Jetties Beach.

Dionis Beach is on the Nantucket Sound and is perfect for swimming and smaller children because of the calmer waters.

Jetties Beach features a boardwalk, shops, restaurants and rental shops. There is also a playground for children on this beach. The water is shallow and there are no waves. It's a great place to relax and watch ships and sailboats come and go through the harbor.

For the surfers there's Cisco Beach. With big waves, this beach is the best place to surf or catch a surfing lesson. Life guards are available there, but surfers are still urged to be cautious because there can be strong riptides and under toes.

Long known as the family beach is Surfside Beach on the south side of the island. There is parking, bike paths and a shuttle that runs to this beach. The only danger is strong under toes. This unfortunately is the danger for all of the beaches along the south coast of the island. Beaches on the northside, or on the Nantucket Sound have much calmer waters. There are lifeguards on duty at Surfside Beach.

There are other beaches such as Siasconset or just 'Sconset for short and Madaket Beach. Madaket beach is a great place to catch the sunset and hang out, but dangerous and strong surf makes swimming difficult. 'Sconset Beach also has strong a strong undertow but it is still worth visiting. It has a nice view and is just a short walk from town.

There is a lot to do on and near the water on any Nantucket beach also. There is boating, sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and of course fishing. There are many places on the shore that will rent out motor boats, sailboats, kayaks and windsurfers. Fishing is also popular right from the beach. That's right, in late spring and early fall the fish come close enough to shore where fishing is as enjoyable as it is successful. There are bait and tackle shops that both sell and rent fishing equipment. There are also charter boats that will take fishers out to sea for a few hours or a full day.

No matter what the personality there's a Nantucket beach to match.