Backroads

Meet in Nantucket Town Take advantage of the island's extensive network of bike paths, riding past lighthouses, white-sand beaches bordered by tall grasses and beautiful 19th-century mansions Break from your bike to stroll along the ocean at Siasconset and Surfside Beaches, or walk out by a cranberry bog  Picnic at the Nantucket Life-Saving Museum, where daring sea rescues are chronicled  Spin along picturesque cobblestone streets lined with shops and galleries Feast on fresh scallops, clams and lobster at one of the island's hip restaurants.

Enjoy a relaxing ride past old barns, osprey nests, wildflowers and verdant island grasses Board a private chartered boat for Martha's Vineyard, simply called "The Vineyard" by locals  Stroll through historic Oak Bluffs, now a chic stop for shoppers Pedal on a seaside path toward Edgartown, a 19th-century whaling port known for its spectacular Greek Revival, Federal and Victorian architecture Explore roadside galleries filled with local and world-renowned artists' watercolors, photography and sculptures Follow both bike paths and roads on gentle grades and up a few steeper climbs to the great sand barrens and colorful Gay Head Cliffs Take in exhilarating sea air and spectacular ocean views as you cycle to Vineyard Haven  Ride past one of the island's many bird sanctuaries Ferry back to the mainland at Woods Hole.