FAIRY, A BIKE, AND AN UMBRELLA.
>> SPRING IN NEW ENGLAND.
IT’S HARD TO PREDICT WHAT KIND OF WEATHER WE WILL GET, BUT EVEN ON THIS DAY, THE EYELET -- ISLAND OF NANTUCKET WITH ITS PRISTINE BEACHES AND WEATHERED HOMES STILL LOOKS
PICTURE-PERFECT AND IS STILL ENJOYABLE TO EXPLORE.
>> SPRINGTIME IS CERTAINLY QUIET HERE ON NANTUCKET.
NO CROWDS, NO LINES, AND MANY STORES ARE STILL CLOSED FOR THE SEASON, BUT THERE IS DEFINITELY ENERGY IN THE AIR AND THINGS ARE STARTING TO BLOOM.
IT’S A SPRING TRADITION GOING BACK TO THE 1970’S.
THOUSANDS MAKE THEIR WAY TO THE ISLAND FOR THE DAFFODIL FESTIVAL.
>> IS A HAPPY EVENT FOR ALL AGES.
FAMILY AND CHILDREN DRESS UP.
CLOTHING IS ESSENTIAL.
THAT’S ALL ABOUT BEING FUN AND FESTIVE.
>> WE CAUGHT UP WITH A MEMBER OF THE NANTUCKET CARD AND CLUB TO LEARN ABOUT HOW THIS ANNUAL EVENT EVOLVED.
THEY HAD A SPECIAL RESIDENT.
SHE REALIZED THAT A LOT OF HER ISLAND FRIENDS NEEDED AN ACTIVITY IN THE SPRING.
THEIR RESOURCES BY THE END OF APRIL HAD PRETTY MUCH RUN OUT, SO SHE WANTED TO DO SOMETHING TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC FOR THE ISLAND.
>> AND THE FESTIVAL WAS BORN, NOW IN ITS 45TH YEAR.
DAFFODILS DECK OF EIGHT - DECORATE THE ISLAND AND A SEASONAL FLOWER SHOW.
>> MANY LIKE TO STORE THE ISLAND BY BIKE, SO IT IS A TANK AWAY WITHOUT A TANK.
BICYCLE RENTALS ARE BIG BUSINESS ON THE ISLAND THERE ARE MANY OPTIONS, BIKES ARE AN ISLAND MAINSTAY SINCE 1973.
ON THIS DAY, THE CO-OWNER LEADS TH WAY AS WE HEAD OUT ON A TWO WHEELED CRUISER.
>> THE ISLAND IS 14 MILES LONG.
WE HAVE A LOT OF CONSERVATION LAND, A LOT OF OCEAN.
THE WHITE HOUSE -- LIGHTHOUSE IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
IT’S GREAT WASTE TO WRITE A BIKE.
AND LEARN.
THE PAST PROVIDES THE SCENERY ALONG THE ROUTE AND TO THE WHALING MUSEUM, WHICH TELLS THE TALE OF NANTUCKET’S RISE AND FALL.
IN THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEETINGHOUSE.
FREE NANTUCKET OR’S USED IT -- FREE LOCALS USE THAT AS A GATHERING HOUSE, MANY WHO WORKED IN THE WHALIG INDUSTRY.
HE SET >> IT SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND 1.5 OR MAYBE EVEN MORE ENSLAVED IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT THE SAME TIME AN ALL-BLACK CREW WAS SETTING SAIL FROM NANTUCKET.
THEY WERE PAID AN EQUAL SHARE SO IT ALLOWED SAILORS TO ACHIEVE LATE WEALTH TO B PROPERTY.
>> THE MEETINGHOUSE WAS ALSO A SAFE HAVEN FOR ESCAPED SLAVES.
IT’S BELIEVED SLAVERY ON NANTUCKET WAS ABOLISHED IN 1773, 90 YEARS BEFORE THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION.
A STROLL DOWN MAIN STREET IS ALWAYS FUN.
HOP IN AND OUT OF SHOPS.
OR, HOW ABOUT A KEEPSAKE FROM THE ISLAND >> IT’S ALL HANDS TIED FRENCH.
-- FRINGE.
THEY SET UP SHOP NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.
>> THE IDEA WAS TO OPEN A WEAVING STUDIO TO KEEP ISLANDERS EMPLOYED ALL YEA ROUND BUT ALSO HAVE A GIFT SURE -- STORE.
PRODUCING LOCALLY PRODUCED ARTWORK INCLUDING TABLE RUNNERS, NAPKINS, AND TOWELS MADE UPSTAIRS.
>> WE EMPLOY OVER 20 PEOPLE YEAR-ROUND SO WE ARE A MAJOR PLACE FOR EMPLOYMENT ON THE SMALL ISLAND, WHICH WE ARE PROUD OF.
WE REPRESENT A LOC INDUSTRY THAT IS KIND OF HARD TO FIND THESE DAYS.
HAND WEAVING IS REALLY SPECIAL.
>> ALSO SPECIAL, A NIGHT STAY AT THE LUXURY BOUTIQUE HOTEL.
ON THIS NIGHT, A WINE TASTING.
>> THIS RESTAURANT IS HEAVILY INFLUENCED BY SEAFOOD AND LOCAL VEGETABLES.
IT IS DESIGNED TO MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE STAYING IN A WEALTHY WHALING CAPTAIN’S HOME FROM THE EARLY MID 1800S.
>> OUR DINING ROOM AND BAR AREA TOUCHES ON THE CHINA TRADE, THE SPICE TRADE AND VARIOUS DARK WOODS AND HAS FURNITURE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD AND BLENDS THE WHOLE THING TOGETHER.
THERE ARE 20 ROOMS, EACH WITH SPECIAL DETAILS THROUGHOU A CHARMING PLACE TO STAY FOR A SPRINGTIME GETAWAY.
IT’S BEEN A GOOD RIDE, NANTUCKET.
UNTIL NEXT TIME.
THEY PLAN TO REOPEN NEXT WEEK , AS LONG AS STATE REGULATIONS PERMIT.
THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN MEETINGHOUSE IS ALSO CLOSED FOR NOW BUT THEY HAVE AN ACTIVE MEETING PAGE WITH INFORMATION AND POSTS.
THE FESTIVAL WAS CANCELED