Saw a link for Nantucket food and wine and on the site there was a link for "Best places to drink wine" and it listed a number of beaches, etc where one could toast the sunset or just share a bottle and soak in the scene..... Just curious as to what the deal is with that?? Is it "legal" or is it something one does discreetly??

Also - thinking aboyut renting a Jeep for a day and trying to see a lot of the island...... Can you really bring the jeeps down on the beaches? Any ideas or thoughts on places NOT t o miss?

Once again - Thanks to you all

j

I think you can bring a vehicle on SOME beaches not all of them. My friends live there and I remember a while ago going on the beach with his SUV but I think there is a special sticket needed.

Open alcohol is generally not allowed on the beaches in Nantucket, I believe. I think the beach that you mention for sunsets might be Madaket, but unfortunately that beach suffered serious erosion last year. When we were there last in December, the access down to the beach was basically cut off. I don't know if that's improved this year.

You can rent a jeep (which comes with a beach sticker) and drive out to Great Point and the lighthouse there. The rental agencies give you a lot of tips on beach driving and you should generally be okay if you stay in the tracks and don't do anything too crazy. Also, the access to Great Point can be limited if the piping plover are nesting. It's kind of pricey to rent a jeep but Great Point is absolutely beautiful.

I have never known anyone of legal age in 19 years on Nantucket to be arrested for having a discrete glass or two of wine while watching the sunset. I have done it myself, frequently. You may get significantly nailed ($500+) for DUI, and we are really tough on littering with bottles or cans, but toasting the sunset is quietly allowed. But I am not your lawyer.

If you rent a jeep to drive on the sand, you are responsible for getting it back in one piece. If you do not have experience driving a 4x4 in soft sand, I would forget it.
The MINIMUM beach towing charge (Harry's Towing, watch for the signs) is $250, and it can easily be $500 for a Great Point tow IN CASH. Yes, IN CASH. He will drive you to the ATM.

You will also get seriously, seriously nailed for driving in dunes and off the visible routes, and 4x4's also get really terrible mileage in compound low. It can take a whole tank to get to the end of Coatue and back at +/- $3.00 per gallon ($5 last summer).

The worst case scenario, which I have personally observed twice and know from the newspaper to be very, very common, is parking the jeep on the beach to fish, take a romantic walk, surf, whatever, and returning to discover the tide has come in and the water is up to the running boards. At that point, the vehicle is pretty much a total loss. It isn't going to start up and drive out of the surf, and it usually flips over and is gone. I once saw this from the arriving ferry, right on Coatue, across from Brant Point light. Very embarrassing to the four people standing there watching and a very, very expensive lesson.

But a glass of wine at sunset? Sure!

I like the airport rental company

ack -

Thanks for your insight and advice.... I definitely am not planning to tear around through the dunes or go 4 by 4-ing across all of the beautiful beaches.... I just thought that was sort of funny that you could bring the jeeps right on the beach..... We are looking at renting a jeep maybe for the day in order to drive around the island and explore as much as we can.... but to us exploring means parking the car in a decent safe area and walking the beaches... just want to see more of the island and the beaches than whats within walking distance of where we are staying thats all... thanks for all of your advice.... not planning to put myself anywhere near position of having to pay $250 or $500 in cash for a tow out of the sand.... ; )

J

I came on a little strong because I didn't know your age or interests. Obviously, you are sensible. There is nothing like coming around a blind corner on a dirt road and meeting a CJ full of college kids driving about twice as fast as is safe to make you jaundiced.

Basic beach rules: 5PM to 6AM, most beaches are open to driving, mostly for fishermen. Some people drive onto certain beaches (Surfside and Dionis) at various points and leave their 4x4's all day as bases for picnics, fishing etc. You can drive to Great Point light for fun or fishing, but it is owned by the Trustees of Reservations and there is a steep fee.

Best sunset spots: Madaket as noted above. Also Pocomo Head and Jetties Beach in town.

Ask for directions to Head of the Plains. You won't be sorry.