look, i'm biased with my 5 stars but i make no apology. this is the beach of many happy memories, and there is a good reason why.
when i was a kid i never understood why people thought Nantucket was such a fancy place to go. all i knew was that my uncle & aunt had a place there forever and that was where all the Chans went over the summer if you didn't want to wait until Christmas to see your peeps. we'd go clamming and crabbing and feed the ducks...and of course go to the beach. and this is the one, because it's walking distance from the house.
i get it now as a quasi-adult why people get all woo-woo when i say i'm going to Nantucket, but Madaket is so far away from Nantucket Town and/or 'Sconset -- both literally and figuratively -- that i'm happy that's where my peeps ended up all those years ago. sure, it's a drive (or solid bike ride) from Town, but it's well worth it. parking, even during peak times in summer, isn't awful, and because the public beach is right next to a "private" beach (where the residents go), everyone spreads out and it never feels crazy crowded. the water always feels so good, and curious seals will come check you out. sometimes the waves can get a little wild, but even on many windy days, the water will be relatively calm.
the best part of course is the SUNSETS...even this longtime Los Angeles-dweller, who has seen many a splendid beach sunset, has been totally and utterly WOWed by the sunsets at Madaket Beach. watching a fiery orb slowly descend below the watery horizon, turning the sky all colors and bathing the sand in a golden glow, is an experience you need to have if you've made it all the way out to Nantucket, let alone all the way out to Madaket. i will say it again: DO NOT MISS THE SUNSET HERE. (disclaimer: weather permitting!)
Millie's is right down the street so you can easily grab some grub and make it a sunset dinner picnic if you want to, if you are not lucky enough to have Chinese aunties who have already prepared some kind of seafood feast for you wrapped in aluminum foil. see, many happy memories. just go. read more