Madaket Beach

The westernmost point on Nantucket, famous for having the best sunset on the island. Strong currents and waves — more for watching than swimming. The 6-mile bike ride out is half the adventure.

Madaket is Nantucket's western edge — the last beach on the island before the open Atlantic stretches uninterrupted to Long Island. People come for one thing above all: the sunset. The six-mile bike ride out from town along the Madaket Path is a classic Nantucket afternoon, ending at the little village snack bar at Millie's for fish tacos before the show. The waves are strong, the rip current is real (it has a local nickname — the Madaket Drag), and there are no lifeguards most of the year. It's a beach for sunset, for fishing, for long west-facing walks, more than for casual swimming. Arrive an hour before sunset to find a parking spot; bring layers, the breeze picks up fast as the sun goes down.