An island some 26 miles off the southern coast of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Nantucket has for many years been a haven for writers and artists due to its relative seclusion and natural beauty. Originally settled by the Wampanoag Indians, Nantucket transformed under English settlers into the world’s leading whaling port in the 18th and early 19th centuries (and served as the inspiration for Herman Meville’s masterpiece Moby Dick). Today it is a seasonal tourist destination with a strong and distinctive local community.

With only 10,000 year round residents, the population swells to 50,000 in the peak of summer. Nantucket boasts 80 miles of sandy shoreline – all of it open to the public – and bike trails that criss-cross the island. For guests of the Colony, October offers breathtaking fall foliage and quintessential island events like the Cranberry Harvest Festival and the Annual Chowder Contest. Temperatures at this time can range from the 60’s during the day to the 30’s at night so Colonists and Mentors should pack a range of clothes.