Coskata-Coatue

A few weeks back on one of my days off I went to the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge. The Northeast tip of Nantucket Island is a "pair of long, fingery peninsulas, Coskata Coatue (“co-skate-uh coat-oo”) Wildlife Refuge is both a popular summer vacation destination and a fragile, wild and semi-remote coastscape. Most easily accessible by boat or oversand vehicle, the refuge also draws trampers and naturalists eager to observe shorebirds, raptors, and Great Point Light." I first made the 10 mile bike trip to Waiwinet from town, then took an overland vehicle tour around the sand trails for 3 hours. Typically the tour goes to the Great Point Lighthouse and visitors get to climb to the top, but because of nesting Piping Plovers on the beach, the route was closed to vehicles. I was able to get a shot of the lighthouse in the distance on the tour. It was a great chance to take in the suggest preserved beauty of Nantucket's wildlife and areas such as the "haul-over" where fishermen used to haul their boats over land to avoid having to sail around the tip of the island. I even got to see a seal jump up out of the water in the ocean. The refuge is worth the trip- and perfect if you have a vehicle that you can drive on the sand!

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Brant Point Light

A storm was brewing off the cape so I decided to head over to the Brant Point Lighthouse. Although this isn't on the list in the book, it's so full of history I didn't think I could disregard it. The site of the second oldest light station in the country, Brant Point boasts a spectacular view of the Nantucket Harbor. The storm moved in just as I got the shots of the Lighthouse and I got soaked. Click here to read about the history of the Brant Point Lighthouse.

(Click on an image to see a larger view and scroll through album)

Capaum Pond

Capaum Pond lies along the edge of the first settled part of Nantucket, Sherburne, founded in 1659. The pond was the first harbor on the island. To get to this site I headed down washing pond road and took a short dirt road to the view of the pond and beach entrance. The land is owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation. The cool breeze, blue water, and glowing green seaweed along the shore are stunning.

Tupancy Links

 What once was the Nantucket Golf Course, is now known as the Tupancy Links after being donated to the Conservation Foundation in 1976. This dog-friendly walk wasn't long but the view was amazing. The 42 foot cliff looking out over the ocean is eroding every year so there's no beach access but it's definitely worth seeing. I met some friendly dogs along the way too!

Straight Wharf

 Although not listed in "Walking Nantucket," one of my favorite walks is to walk down Main St. to Straight Wharf. Kids love this walk too anytime they get to stop in to The Toy Boat and get some new marbles. As the site where the ferries come in and out, there's always a crowd of people moving one way or another on the wharf. The cobblestone streets, smell of the fish, and excitement of ferry passengers make straight wharf a special place. I love to sit on a bench and eat a fresh sandwich from Provisions or smoked bluefish, shrimp, and raw oysters from the Straight Wharf Fish Market. 

Introduction

Living on Main St. in Nantucket, Massachusetts for the Summer, I've fallen in love with the wild side of the island. 30 miles out to sea, much of the land is in conservation and accessible only on foot. 


I grew up in Delmar, Delaware and currently studying at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida. 


In the next 25 days I plan to take each of the walks outlines in Peter B. Brace's 2003 book "Walking Nantucket" I'll be walking along shorelines, through moors meadows, forests, swamps, bogs, ponds, and neighborhoods. Each day I will post some photos from my walks. Enjoy!


Ben Katzaman


Pick up a copy of "Walking Nantucket" on-island at Mitchell's Book Corner or online at Amazon. "Like" the Walking Nantucket Facebook Page.