If lucky or determined enough to brunch at Nantucket’s remote Wauwinet Inn, the lobster roll and bloody Mary from the acclaimed Topper’s Restaurant is exquisite and worth the $41.

It’s not just that the lobster is mouth-watering and the bloody Mary is the right blend of pepper, hot sauce and vodka, you really pay for the view of Nantucket Harbor from the island’s eastern end, a scene that remaines as close to the turn of the 20th century as any on the much-developed East Coast.

Rich in history that dates to a once prominent whaling industry, Nantucket and its modern aversion to well, modernity, has captured the best of old New England. (The island’s governing bodies have established among many local rules a prohibition on any chains with more than 14 stores, except that rascal Ralph Lauren, and tight restrictions on how building exteriors look.)

More than ever, the island has opened up for travelers to sneak in and take an extended (long weekend, anyone?) peek. Nonstop flights from New York City’s JFK Airport and from Boston on JetBlue now fly daily. A second daily flight is being added this month.

The flights aren’t the only good deals Nantucket yields. A resort empire consolidated in the last two decades from existing hotels and cottages on the island by a Boston-based real estate mogul now offers very advantageous “shoulder season” deals.

Shoulder vs. peak prices

Nantucket’s beauty might be more enjoyable in upper-70s temperatures, but the experience certainly isn’t ruined by coats and pants. Plus, what you save on room rates, you can spend on lobster! Here’s a comparison of high and low prices at Nantucket Island Resort properties. Take a look before you decide when to book!
   
White Elephant
Summer: $495 Fall: $195
   
Cottages and Lofts
Summer: $425 Fall: $175
   
Jared Coffin house
Summer: $295 Fall: $195 Winter: $125
   
Wauwinet
Summer: $495 Fall: $225
   
White Elephant Village – Residences &?Inn Residences:
Summer: $950 Fall: $500

Inn:
Summer: $750 Fall: $450 Late October: $275