In My Footsteps: A Traveler’s Guide to Nantucket Review - All-Inclusive Guide to The Iconic Island Destination

  • Print

In My Footsteps, A Traveler's Guide to Nantucket, from author Christopher Sutterland and Schiffer Publishing, presents a well-researched travel tome which serves as a personal tour guide to the quaint, pristine, unspoiled and historic island.

Nantucket Island, the southern most island off the tip of Massachusetts, is a sister island to Martha's Vineyard, the summer destination of politicians, celebrities and intellectuals, and sits due east and south of the Cape Cod peninsula and is only accessible by plane or ferry.

During the summer tourist season, most major airlines fly daily from Boston and other eastern seaboard cities and a fast ferry and a slow ferry each make multiple runs throughout the day. Nantucket prides itself on an Island Paradise.

Christopher Sutterland, an islander, has created a series of guidebooks dedicated to the islands off Massachusetts, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod, to help city dwellers who are traveling to Nantucket enjoy each as a native.


In My Footsteps: A Traveler’s Guide to Martha’s Vineyard Review - Compact, Beautiful, Informative


In My Footsteps, A Traveler's Guide to Nantucket starts the island journey dividing the island into geographical regions: Downtown and Nearby Beaches; From Downtown, West to Madaket; From Madaket, East, and South to Surfside; Along Milestone Road, East to Siasconset; Sankaty, Wauwinet, and Polpis  and From the Rotary Back to Downtown.

For those who come to this island, as it is as close to a car free city, there are only three transportation choices for sightseeing, beach-combing and dining.

Most visitors chose bicycling for day activities and walking for night activities, staying within walking distance to their accommodation. Nantucket does have a local bus system, The Wave, that runs from 7:00am to 11:30PM. Other forms of guided transportation I'm sure are also available.

Depending on the length of the stay as most Nantucket stopovers are a combined trip to the Vineyard or weekend trips from the Cape In My Footsteps: A Traveler's Guide to Nantucket provides well-planned, well-researched and thought out iconic island destination explaining in page headers the beginning of the tour for any of the areas, the distance and the length of time, on average, it will take to reach the destination.

In the downtown and nearby beaches section Lola 41, a trendy eatery, which has been reviewed in Zaget and The New York Times Magazine, is well known and clearly a top dining choice. Oran Mor Bistro and Bar is also another top rated dining destination. After a long day of beaching and sightseeing either will provide a locally sourced deliciously prepared dining experience.

For those who are wired, Nantucket Island is connected and using the smart phone for directions may place you in the vicinity and after which it is probably best to know some points of interest are marked by a name carved on a stone as it is with STEPS BEACH.

You'll know you've arrived when you see the rock sign that says, "Welcome to Steps Beach." It is secluded; beautiful, pristine with Atlantic Ocean shimmering views as far as the one can see.

A must see, cannot leave the island with a stop is of course the Nantucket Whaling Museum, located in the "From the Rotary Back to Downtown" section. For the more than the history, as Nantucket, was the Whaling capital of the world in the 18th and early 19th century and the island houses the fully intact skeleton of a 46 foot long sperm whale. The Museum offers reduced hours in November, December and March with and open daily from Mid-April through the end of October.

Sutterland's In My Footsteps guidebooks provide seasonal information and the Traveler's Guide to Nantucket does as well.

In each section, summer season information, Lifeguards, parking, concessions or vending machines, and restrooms. He also includes dune protection and specialty information necessary for a safe holiday.

In My Footsteps: A Traveler's Guide to Nantucket, as his others, provide a comprehensive guidebook complete with local, out of the way, and seasonal information. With over 195 pages of color and black & white photographs it is easy to see why Nantucket is simply called paradise.


A Pink Suitcase Book Review – Empowering Stories from Women Who Dared


Nantucket has labored to keep its image as a throwback to a simpler time. The historic lighthouses, cottages and purely for the history, which dates back 397 years to 1621 when European settlers first set foot on the "faraway land."

In My Footsteps, highlights world-renown restaurants and eateries, points of interest, secluded, out of the way beaches, and conservation lands and of course excellent shopping options with everything from island wear to memorabilia.

In My Footsteps: A Travelers Guide to Nantucket is available at most fine bookstores, online and directly from Schiffer Publishing.