Highlights: The Wauwinet

•The Wauwinet is far, far away from busy corporate life, making this the perfect place to unwind

•Sense of New England and its history is all around, including sprawling silver-shingled cottages and inn, and sea gulls overhead

•Inn’s restaurant, Toppers, prepares creative New England cuisine

•Perfect spot for the outdoorsy set, with biking, kayaking, sailing, beachcombing, and more

•Romance abounds, with massages by the sea and wonderful water views

•The Wauwinet’s “Taste of Nantucket” programs give you an insider’s look at the island, such as lobster hunting with Captain Rob McMullen, a native of Nantucket

•Wi-Fi throughout the hotel is a big plus for those who want to stay connected

Amenities: The Wauwinet

• 36 rooms, 3 story. Closed Closed late Oct-early May. Children over 18 only. Complimentary full breakfast. Check-in 4 pm, check-out 11 am. Restaurant. Tennis.

General Impressions: The Wauwinet

On Nantucket, an island of incredible natural beauty located 30 miles out to sea south of Cape Cod, it’s all about de-stressing in the salty air. The Wauwinet carries on this feeling, where the biggest decision guests have to make when they get up in the morning is whether to have breakfast in the inn’s sunny dining room or take their coffee on one of the patio’s comfortable wicker chairs. Nantucket attracts those with deep pockets‑-certainly a far cry from the time in 1659 when Thomas Mayhew sold his interest in the island to nine purchasers for 30 pounds and two Beaver hats. Today, the whaling boats have been replaced with sleek pleasure yachts.

Located on the northeastern end of the 50-square-mile Nantucket island and just about as far away as you can get from the noise and complexities of everyday life, the silver-shingled Wauwinet stands firmly planted on its grassy carpet by the sea. With traditions reaching back to the mid-1800s when Nantucket was the most prosperous and busiest whaling port in the world, The Wauwinet is New England at its best, a bastion of peace and tranquility.

With a staff-to-guest ratio of 2 to 1, you know you’re going to experience as much personal service as you desire or require. And you do. I found the staff professional and eager to please without being imposing. On the lawn, wicker chaises and white lawn chairs with super-thick cushions entice guests to settle back and relax while gazing out to Nantucket Bay beyond the rugosa hedges, beach plum, and grass-topped dunes.

This is definitely a place for a special occasion or romantic escape. Single leisure travelers should also find the casual hominess of The Wauwinet appealing and comfortable. The hotel also has plenty of places to stroll about both inside and out, places to read outside your room and excellent programs to keep you busy. Although the hotel isn’t set up to cater to business travelers, the wireless access to the Internet is a big plus.

(+) With traditions reaching back to the 1800s, this inn exhibits the ultimate in historic beauty and plenty of amenities designed to help guests de-stress
(-) Since you come to the inn by air or ferry, when the fog rolls in or stormy weather threatens, getting on and off the island may not always run according to your schedule

Guest Services: The Wauwinet

I found the staff at The Wauwinet to be knowledgeable during my stay, and equally important, enthusiastic about wanting to make my stay memorable. At breakfast, it was fun to chat with one of the servers who seemed genuinely happy to be doing what he was doing. Activities were easily arranged, and staff was flexible in making my jeep excursion work around my schedule.

Housekeeping services are offered twice daily along with turndown at night. A concierge is on-site to arrange excursions and handle other requests and for early birds, there’s coffee and tea service along with pastries.

For those who want to go into town by sea, The Wauwinet Lady, a 26-passenger open launch, ferries passengers into Nantucket twice a day, a 50-minute ride.

(+) Bright, friendly staff, many with New England roots

Guest Rooms: The Wauwinet

The 33 rooms and suites located in the inn and private guest cottages are individually decorated, many with an eclectic mix of English-style period pieces and pine country antiques. Chintz fabrics and stenciling add to the warmth of the decor; headboards are custom wood or upholstered. Around the rooms you’ll find special touches, such as baskets, hat boxes, books, and woodcarvings.

Guests will have all the amenities they could wish for to assure a sublimely comfortable experience, as well as extras like Egyptian cotton bathrobes, armoires with padded hangers, Pratesi Italian linens, Caudalie toiletries, bottled water bedside, fresh flowers, and personalized stationary. Windows are large, letting in lots of fresh air and light; ceilings are high; and each room has a flat-screen TV and DVD player.

I especially liked the corner room (No. 101) off the lounge. Here, French doors open onto a generous-sized covered porch, which affords wonderful water views and leads directly to the lawn and beaches. Room No. 302 on the third floor has huge views of the bay, and the cottage suite, Idlewild, has a fireplace, living room, and separate bedroom‑-a perfect romantic retreat affording lots of privacy.

(+) Sea views and salty air delight the senses
(-) Bathrooms, though pretty and certainly well-appointed, are small

Facilities & Activities: The Wauwinet

Awash in history with a strong sea-faring heritage, guests at The Wauwinet will never run out of things to do on Nantucket. You can spend hours walking on the beach, deep-sea fishing, whale watching, and jogging or walking along the many trails that lace the island. Biking is not only a favorite sport, but a mode of transportation. Paved bike paths link major areas of the island, making it easy to get around even when the roads are teeming with traffic. Fishing is fabulous both from the beach and in the waters that surround the island. Ask one of the inn’s experts to show you how to surf cast if you don’t already know.

The Wauwinet’s jitney is available to take you into town, or get some exercise and take one of the inn’s mountain bikes. The cobbled streets, which run from the town pier up to the residential area, are lined with upscale shops housing all kinds of tempting things to buy, including the famous Nantucket baskets with the scrimshaw detail and the faded red Nantucket pants, an island trademark. Several art galleries and craft shops sell work from local and international artists.

Be sure to check out the stately pre-Civil War houses, many built by Nantucket’s sea captains and merchants. Widows walks run along the roofs of several, and flowers spill out exuberantly from gardens everywhere. In fact, with 800 pre-Civil War houses still standing, Nantucket has more buildings listed in the National Register of Historic Places than anywhere in Massachusetts.

The Wauwinet has two private beaches and a number of ocean kayaks and Hobie waves for guests’ use as well as a croquet court and two Har-Tru tennis courts. And for a truly fun day, ask the staff to prepare a picnic lunch and take you via the Topper Too launch to a secluded beach for a lazy afternoon of sunning, swimming, and beachcombing. To unwind, I suggest a massage in one of the inn’s outdoor cabanas.

What I really loved about The Wauwinet’s activities was the unique opportunity to experience its hands-on programs like the Spring Author Series and Taste of Nantucket. I especially enjoyed the lobster outing with Captain Rob McMullen, a native of Nantucket who took me out in his boat to pull lobster traps. That night the lobsters we harvested on our outing were incorporated into the evening’s dinner. I also took a jeep safari to Great Point and Coatue, which took me through nature preserves where I learned about the island’s wildlife and history from an expert. The Wauwinet can also line up four-wheel drive tours, surfcasting expeditions, and bicycle tours.

(+) A virtual playground for those who love the sea and nature, with a huge variety of things to do in and around the inn

Dining & Lounge: The Wauwinet

Chef David Daniel, who was lured from The Federalist at XV Beacon, Boston, garners rave reviews for his cuisine at The Wauwinet. Guests can dine alfresco on the awning-shaded Bayview Terrace or eat inside in the inn’s restaurant, Toppers. Look for Chef Daniel’s fresh herbs and edible flowers that garnish and flavor his dishes, all harvested from his kitchen garden.

Chef Daniel uses a lot of local produce, such as bushberries and cranberries, as well as fresh fish and seafood for dishes like truffled rigatoni and cheeses followed by butter-basted Nantucket lobster, or potato crusted Maine scallops served with Maine shrimp tortellini, spiced carrot emulsion, and pistachio butter. Top your dinner off with a delectable warm Balrhona fudge cake.

Breakfast is served to guests of The Wauwinet only, but the restaurant is open to others for lunch and dinner. Drinks and light fare are available in the bar, and picnic baskets are supplied on request. Room service is available from 8 am to 9 pm.

(+) Fresh local produce and seafood is superb

Business Services: The Wauwinet

The Wauwinet supplies Wi-Fi services to its guests throughout the resort. I was able to sit on my patio and check my e-mails while the gulls swooped overhead and the dune grasses rustled softly in the wind.

The inn also has a computer room with a fax machine and two rooms that will accommodate small meetings for up to 22 people. This location is a good choice for corporate retreats and one that has worked well for those who want personalized attention.

(+) Small meeting rooms, Wi-Fi services, and beautiful views while you work