Nantucket, MA
Nantucket is the ideal New England summer destination
After one short (yet wonderful) visit, I am eager to return. I instantly loved this quintessential harbor town, with its shingled beach cottages along the wharf and boats swaying back and forth on the water. The gardens are overflowing with hydrangeas and the streets are buzzing with people moving in and out of its adorable shops.
It felt like a scene right out of an Elin Hilderbrand beach novel. And then like magic, Elin herself was there signing books at Mitchell’s Book Corner as we were unexpectedly walking down Main Street. Can’t get more iconic than that!
Nantucket has been high on my travel bucket list within the US. But I had put off planning a trip after realizing that this seemingly close location is about as far as a flight from New York to California and can sometimes be more expensive to reach. But I’m so glad I finally got there, and I can’t wait to go back, regardless of my previous statement.
There are many reasons to love Nantucket. There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches to relax on and clear waters to cool off in. Fashionable boutiques to shop in. Beautiful luxury hotels to stay in and delicious seafood restaurants to dine in. As an island with an expensive and exclusive reputation, it’s easy to assume it’s small and isolated. But my experience in Nantucket left me with a different opinion. It felt charming and warm, laidback and inviting.
While vacationing in Cape Cod for a week back in July, my family and I traveled to Nantucket for a day, on a quick ferry over from Hyannis.
We arrived early, grabbed a coffee and strolled the town. Not only through the Commercial district on Main Street but also the winding residential roads. We spent a few hours at Cisco Brewers, had lunch, and explored pretty much every shop along the wharf before taking the ferry home. Though we were exhausted on our return, we all wished we could’ve spent more time there.
Nantucket Style
One of my favorite aspects of Nantucket is the adorable New England style and architecture. From the beachy cedar-shingled homes to the flower covered buildings and cobblestone pathways, there is something so special about the style on this little island. The second I stepped into this sweet town I felt drawn to explore every street, afraid that I’d miss something historic or beautiful.
Taking it one step further, I love the way people dress in Nantucket. It’s sophisticated (without being as preppy like I thought it was) but also a little laidback and beachy. I feel like Nantucket invites its guests to come play along and participate in the theme. I donned a new flowy, blue and white dress, for walking around on a warm sunny day.
Getting There
Since Nantucket is an island it can be a journey to get to. Thankfully there are a few options.
Going from NYC the fastest, but pricier option is to fly. The duration is only around 1 hour and 20 minutes, and the arrival to Nantucket Memorial Airport is quite central on the island. But due to demand the roundtrip tickets can skyrocket in the summertime.
Another option is to drive to Cape Cod, which from New York is about 6 hours, and then to take the Hy-Line cruise over to Nantucket. On summer weekends traffic can be unexpected on the I-95, especially going over the bridge into Cape Cod. I suggest leaving early! Once you arrive in Hyannis you can book tickets for the ferry here. Passengers can book the fast ride to save time, but if you are traveling with your vehicle to the island then be aware that the trip is over two hours.
A final option is to take the Seastreak Ferry, which picks up on 35th street in Manhattan and sails all the way to Nantucket. In total it takes about 6 hours. But it’s a scenic option and you never have to worry about traffic. A roundtrip ticket is about $260 per person. For those directly in Manhattan it saves the extra time going to and from the airport, as well as the associated cost.
I think given the amount of travel it takes to get to Nantucket it’s worth spending at least a few days! You won’t regret it.
And be sure to stop by the Compass mural on Gardiner’s Corner in Nantucket and take note of your distance from ACK!
Where To Stay
There are many hotel and home rentals in Nantucket. While there are some luxury accommodations to choose from there are also reasonable options. Here are some below!
Splurge
Centrally Located in Town
Cozy Inn’s and Boutique Hotels
Shopping in Nantucket
There are some amazing retail stores, fashionable boutiques, and home décor businesses around Nantucket. I love that even though there are a few recognizable chains in town there are double the small businesses to explore.
Each store is more beautiful than the next, from the outside storefront to what’s being sold within it.
Here were some of my favorite clothing boutiques in town:
Of course there is also a Lily Pullitzer, Vineyard Vines, and Veronica Beard if you are looking for some popular retailers.
Here are some cute Souvenir & Home Décor Stores as well:
Going Beyond Town
The most popular and busiest area on the island is right in town by where the ferry drops off. Be sure to check out the shops on Main and Centre Streets, as well as Federal and Water Streets. I loved walking around and exploring stores along the wharf.
When in town many people pay a visit to the Whaling Museum on Broad Street. But if you want to get closer to the action you can book your own whale watching tour with Shearwater Excursions. Sailing around the island is another popular activity, as well as golfing at great courses like Miacomet.
Beyond the central town there is a lot to explore across the island, including Sconset and Madaket! Another popular place to stop by is the Sankaty Lighthouse.
Hit the Beach
It was on my list to explore one of the nearby shores at Jetties and Steps Beach. And coming off the ferry this is probably one of the closest beaches. I had seen so many pictures of the staircase descending down to the coast, and wanted to see the ocean here for myself!
There are multiple beaches to choose from, but here are a few more I’ve heard are great:
Madaket Beach
Surfside Beach
Sconset Beach
Cisco Beach
Dining in Nantucket
There are many great restaurants in Nantucket. Though we didn’t get to dine out at one of these during our trip I received some recs of these spots below, or stumbled on them during my visit! Here are the restaurants I have saved for my next trip!
Here are some great casual food spots worth checking out:
And for those bars, nightcaps and cocktails here are some options for going out for either Happy Hour or After Dinner:
Cisco Brewers
I had such a fun afternoon visiting Cisco Brewers! It wasn’t a far drive and we took a free shuttle from the middle of town that the brewery offers. When we got there we grabbed some drinks and looked for a table. It’s pretty busy in the summer so expect to wait for a table if there are a lot of people there.
We found an empty spot and grabbed a really delicious lunch from the food trucks. Even though Ryan had to head to the airport before the brewery, I got to have a fun reunion with my friend Lexi! She taught me an important tip that I feel is my duty to pass along here - the Triple Eight Distillery has a blueberry vodka cocktail that I personally preferred way more than the beer. It was a really fun afternoon and it’s a great place to gather with friends.
Going Back to ACK
Now that summer is coming to a close it’s actually a great time to plan for a trip next year to Nantucket. I hope this post might help you make your own vacation plans. It’s a great destination for all types of travelers; whether planning a couples trip for a long weekend, a weeklong family vacation, or as a group of friends.
I think it’s easy to see that I loved my time in Nantucket, and I hope it’s a place you might consider visiting too!
Xx Gab
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