The Wauwinet

“It takes a bit of extra effort to get yourself to most very special places.” So says the brochure for The Wauwinet, and it’s true. This inn is located on a spit of land jutting into the sea, a ten-minute drive from the town of Nantucket, with a wildlife refuge north of the inn providing many more miles of wonderfully wild isolation. Comprised of a cluster of cottages and the main house with 26 bedrooms, the inn is furnished with tasteful and comfortable seating areas, queen or king beds, and full bathrooms. I found it almost impossible to choose a favorite because the rooms are cozy and individually decorated with original country antiques, and have very attractive artwork and views to the bay or the garden. The ambiance is most definitely sophisticated and yet very comfortable. The Wauwinet’s restaurant, TOPPER’S, is fabulous in its setting, décor, food and service—and its 20,000 bottles of wine. Seafood is always a specialty but there’s a full menu for your enjoyment. Paths lead to beaches on either the Atlantic or Nantucket Bay and the grounds have flower gardens with climbing roses, hydrangea and an expanse of lawn overlooking the ocean—all enclosed by sand dunes and yet opened by paths leading to sparkling waters. Keep busy with sailing, tennis, biking, walking, sea fishing, and bird watching—or settle in for a decadent day of pampering at their exclusive Spa by the Sea.