Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/725964
attention to the squirmy, beady-eyed crus- tacean in his hand. "She's a beauty," he says as he caresses the underside of her belly with the tips of his fingers. "No eggs, but definitely a keeper." He pinches the claws together with his bare hands, inviting me to band them with elastics. "Don't worry, she won't bite," he assures me. Then he plops the lobster into a bucket of ice atop two other females and tosses the empty lobster crate back overboard. After a few more catches we set sail back to the hotel. It's almost dinnertime. WINDSWEPT MOMENTS TOPPERS, the hotel's celebrated restaurant, with its creamy-white walls, crackling fire- place and elegant oil paintings, brings to mind Nantucket of old. The restaurant boasts the sweetest lobsters and diver scal- lops this side of the Atlantic. Even so, I opt for the vegetarian meal, in honour of my vegan daughter. But I promise myself to indulge in a sweet-buttered lobster roll before I head home. The rest of my trip continues at the same pace. I take leisurely walks down cobble- stoned streets lined with grey-shingled cottages, many of which are affectionately named by their owners, each more whim- sical than the last, such as "Want Some Moors" and "Marsh Mellow Madness." I make my way to downtown Nantucket, where I pop into a few trendy shops, eat salted chocolate from a stick and relax on a park bench. Time slows down and I float through the days like one of the many burnt-orange leaves of autumn that get swept up and swirled through the air by a passing gust. It's a treat to have no plans other than to take in the sights, smells and sounds of this alluring island, with its mix of quiet beaches and restrained New Eng- land charm. Other than the collection of seashells I take home to my daughters, I feel I'm going home lighter than ever. DREAMSCAPES FALL 2016 34 To plan your Nantucket getaway, visit: Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce: nantucketchamber.org Nantucket Whaling Museum: nha.org The Wauwinet: wauwinet.com White Elephant: whiteelephanthotel.com DS ABOVE: Take in Nantucket's peaceful Old North Wharf setting. ABOVE LEFT: A street musician entertains passersby in Nantucket. ABOVE RIGHT: Cycling is a great way to take in the sights on Nantucket Island. Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism T R A V E L P L A N N E R