Nantucket Bathing Suit Optional Beach

Posted on by Thor

A short walk west from Surfside Beach towards Miacomet Beach on Nantucket is a bathing suit optional beach. I couldn’t resist walking there to sketch. I have done figure drawings for decades, so this was a treat. If you know me at all, you know I am a vampire. I got skin caner on my nose removed years ago which was a barbaric operation in which I watched a staple remove a large chunk of flesh inches from my eyes. Just the idea of the C word keeps me from worshiping the sun anymore. While I sketched others soaking up the sun with every inch of their being on this Nantucket beach, I was under a beach umbrella, wrapped in several beach towels with not an inch of skin exposed to the sun.

I liked that there were rainbow colored beach umbrellas scattered along the beach. I made me feel like the Nantucket natives were in solidarity with Orlando after the Pulse Nightclub massacre the previous month. The surf at this beach was particularly strong. I was on the top of a small cliff of sand that the surf had eroded. As the tide came in, it got closer to the bottom of the sand cliff I was resting on to of. As I sketched, the base of the sand was eroded and without warning, the cliff gave way and I tumbled down into the water below. Other than falling in, I didn’t swim very far out. I heard that the rip tides are rather strong and the waves were honestly intimidating. I preferred the pleasure of watching and sketching sun bathers to the surf.

Surfside Beach in Nantucket

Posted on by Thor

Another glorious relaxing day alone at the beach in Nantucket. I don’t wear sunglasses so the beach was shockingly white and bright. Others read and relaxed under their umbrellas while I sketched. Whenever I got too hot I would go out in the surf for a dip in the ocean. Then once I dried off enough, I continued to sketch. The one airport on the island is right at the end of the beach, so periodically a large airplane would land or take off, connecting the island to the mainland.

I was content to feel like a castaway with a sketchbook. Glen Weimer had to work during the day, so I spent my time exploring the beach or island with my sketchbook. There is something very rewarding getting to see an old art school friend after so many years. In the evening he took me out to Millie’s Restaurant near Madakett Beach. Millie was a colorful native of the island and the restaurant is a local favorite among the islanders. I had a delicious Po Boy sandwich which hit the spot at the end of a long day baking at the beach.

Star of the Sea Youth Hostel of Nantucket

Posted on by Thor

If you don’t want to pay a kings ransom to stay on Nantucket island, your best bet is the Star of the Sea Youth Hostel (31 Western Avenue Nantucket, Massachusetts 02554 ), just a short walk from Surfside Beach. Glen Weimer let me stay with in in his rental cottage. I walked over after relaxing on the beach After doing a sketch and relaxing on the beach, I decided to walk over and see how the other half lives.

The Life Saving Station at Surfside, the first of its kind built on
Nantucket Island, was originally constructed in 1874 in a Carpenter
Gothic style with Stick Style embellishments. It was enlarged in 1884
with addition of east and west wings and an enclosed cupola. The first
rescue was on March 9, 1877 when the entire crew of the W.F. Marshall
was brought safely ashore. The incidence of shipwrecks off Surf side
diminished toward the end of the 19th century and in 1921 the Coast
Guard abandoned the station. During World War Two the station was used
again by the Coast Guard as an outpost for beach patrol. In 1963 the
property was purchased by American Youth Hostels Inc. and has since been
used as the Star of the Sea Youth Hostel. 

The hostel is a quaint barn like structure with a steep pitched roof, and huge orange doors that open out towards the beach. Dunes and a home hide a direct view of the beach across the street, but it is a very short walk over the dunes. A large group of kids in bright yellow jerseys were getting ready for a bike ride. Each bike had a triangular orange flag. Other guests relaxed around the picnic tables planning their day. This is a summer-only hostel open from May 18 – October 15, 2018

The Nantucket hostel is a little slice of paradise. They have everything you need to settle in for a little rest and
relaxation. Chairs or boogie boards are available so guests can hit the beach
or rent a bike and cycle around the island on one of the many bike paths.

Guests come from around the world so you never know who you might meet during the free
breakfast. At the end of the day you can grill up a tasty feast
and trade stories from your adventures as the sun sets over the
island. There is a female dorm and a male dorm and a stay is about $42 for the night.

  • Incredible beach side location
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Free continental breakfast
  • Fully equipped, shared guest kitchen
  • Access to chairs and boogie boards

Surfside Beach on Nantucket

Posted on by Thor

Surfside Beach is a short drive from Glen Weimer‘s cottage on Nanucket. He let me  borrow his car and I packed a beach umbrella, sunscreen and a blanket along with my sketch supplies. I set up early and watched as people arrived to soak up the sun. This  is a rare moment where I was sketching not to document a particular event, but just sketching for the joy of sketching. Line didn’t seem as important in this beech scene.

With the sketch done, I closed my eyes and relaxed while breathing in the salt air. This incredible island it a true escape. It was a warm beautiful day, and I needed to recharge my personal battery.