Thirty miles off the coast of Cape Cod is the beautiful small island of Nantucket.I had visited Martha’s Vineyard before and always heard how Nantucket was a very special place. The island is very tiny being only 14-miles long and around 4 miles wide. But, thousands every summer flock to this island to visit.
Nantucket is a classic American summer destination. In the 17th century, it was a major whaling port, and nowadays it is a popular summer vacation spot.
I visited the island during August during a week when it was abnormally sweltering. The week before I had visited the island had cooler weather. But, when I went there in August, the weather was hot. Even though it is a small island, it is packed with an abundance of things to do. There are so many events and festivals held throughout the summer. Nantucket is the perfect place to spend a day, a week, or even a month in the summer.
How To Get To Nantucket
By Plane – Nantucket has one airport the Nantucket Memorial Airport(ACK). It is a small airport, so you won’t find many direct flights going there. You can fly into Boston, MA or Providence, RI, and then take a flight that goes to ACK.
I looked at options of going from Boston and then taking a flight on the airlines Cape Air into Nantucket, but it is a small seater plane. So, flying into Nantucket might not be the best option if you are not a fan of small aircraft. But it is a bustling airport. There may be other airlines that fly bigger planes into Nantucket, so it just depends where you are flying out of that day.
By Ferry – The easiest way to get to the island I would think is by ferry. You still need to take a plane into an airport near Cape Cod like into Boston or Providence. And, then from there, you need to drive down to one of the ferry terminals in Hyannis, MA.
If you don’t want to rent a car at the airport, you can take a bus either Peter Pan or the Plymouth & Brockton bus from the airport in Boston or Providence to Hyannis. The following ferries go to Nantucket. For different ferry, options visit https://www.nantucketferries.com
–The Steamship Authority High-Speed and Traditional Car Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA
– Hy-Line Cruises High-Speed Ferry, departs from Hyannis, MA
– Freedom Cruise Line departs from Harwich Port, MA
–Seastreak High-Speed Ferry from New York City, NY and New Bedford, MA
Where To Stay In Nantucket
So, like most places, you have two options; either rent a house if you plan to stay more than a week or stay at a hotel. I have not yet rented a house there, but I have some popular hotel recommendations below:
- White Elephant Village
- The Wauwinet
- Greydon House
- The Nantucket Hotel & Resort
Getting Around Nantucket
- Rent a car – if you are staying in Nantucket for more than a week, I would recommend renting a car. If you bring a car over on the ferry, it cost $400. There are car rental agencies on the island, so you need to be sure to book in advance since everyone is booking cars in the summer.
- Take public transportation – Their bus system is called The Wave. The Wave runs routes throughout the island. It works great. You can buy a day pass or summer pass. You can purchase short term passes(1,3, or 7 days) or long term(31 days, summer season). The buses work efficiently and are used by everyone. Plus, it is great not having to worry about where to park. https://nrtawave.com/
- Bike – Everyone bikes in Nantucket. Or at least it looked that way when I was visiting. Whether you are there for a day or a month, it is an accessible island to bike around when the weather is good.
What To Do & See in Nantucket
1. Take the Sconset Bluff Walk
Due to Instagram, the bluff walk has become a must-see attraction within the last few years. The walk is through the backyards of beautiful Nantucket manicured homes. The trail starts in the village of Siasonset. You can take The Wave rider bus to the village square of Siasonset and then from there it’s a short walk to the start of the bluff walk.
Before the walk, I’d recommend for anyone to pick up water at the market on the way in town. It’s around a 2-mile walk, but it is an easy one to do on a day with good weather. The trail begins on Front Street where there is a sign that says no bikes. If you go to the visitor center/visitor kiosk when you get off the ferry, they can provide you an excellent map of the bluff walk. But, if you get lost, follow all the other people who are in Siasonset.
2. Visit the Whaling Museum
The museum tells the story of the islands past. It is a great place to learn about the history of Nantucket. There are plenty of exhibits and short films to watch. I’d recommend between 1-2 hours here. If you are short on time to the island, then I would say it’s okay to skip it. But, if you have the time, then you will be happy you stopped by to visit.
3. Rent a Bike
Even if you are not a big biker rent a bike in Nantucket. There are bike rentals all over, and many bike path options to explore the scenic sites of Nantucket.
4. Visit the Lighthouses
On the island you have three lighthouses to visit:
• Brant Point Lighthouse – Near the Northside of the island and the main part of town is Brant Point Lighthouse. It is the most accessible lighthouse on the island. It is a smaller one compared to the other ones on the island, but it is a beautiful photo spot.
• Sankaty Head Lighthouse– Near the town of Siasonset is Sankaty Head Lighthouse. It is a farther walk from town, but it is gorgeous. If you are doing the bluff walk, you can walk to the lighthouse from the bluff walk trail. It’s about a two-mile way, and no ubers/public transportations can drop you off near the lighthouse.
• Great Point Lighthouse- The hardest lighthouse to get to would be Great Point Light House. It’s located on the east side of the island in the town of Wauwinet. To get to the lighthouse, you need a 4WD car and an OSV Permit( over the sand). If you walked to it ( which you wouldn’t want to do) it would be a 5-mile walk in the sand before you reach it. But, if you are set on visiting it there are jeep tours that are offered that take people out to the lighthouse.
5. Go to the Beach
Nantucket has many beach options to choose from for your trip.
• Jetties Beach ( Northside) – If you are coming from the main part of town there is a shuttle that goes between Jetties and Surfside beach. So, it is easy to get to from public transportation. And, if you are hungry, there is a restaurant called the Sandbar for snacks and drinks. Some other benefits of the beach: you can rent chairs/umbrellas, bathroom and changing facilities, and lifeguards on duties.
• Steps Beach (Northside) – Another excellent beach option. What I love about this beach is how instagrammble it is. I actually never went down to the beach part, but there are many many steps, and people love taking their insta photos here.
• Surfside( Southside) – Locals say that this beach has better waves. I think it is yet another beautiful beach. It is easy to get to with public transportation as one of the bus routes goes between this beach and Jetties. Other benefits of this beach include :chair/umbrella rentals, bathroom/ changing facilities, and lifeguards.
6. Go Shopping!
Most of your shopping needs can get fulfilled in the main part of town from Main Street and the surrounding streets. There are plenty of souvenir shops throughout Nantucket. But, there is also lots of clothing boutiques , beauty stores, and other unique stores to visit.
7. Take a chartered boat tour around the island
What better way to view the tiny island than from afar. There are a few boat companies that offer tours around the island. I would recommend taking one in the afternoon, or if you are staying on the island to do a sunset cruise. It is a fun way to end the day on the island.
Where to Eat in Nantucket
Provisions (cash only) -If you are arriving by boat in the morning I would recommend you go to Provisions for a breakfast sandwich or any sandwich. People love their sandwiches. It is a bit touristy because it is located right by the pier and where everyone gets off the ferries. But I loved the breakfast sandwich I bought. There is a small area to sit inside.
Claudettes (cash only) I think Nantucketers love sandwiches. Another popular Sandwich spot in Nantucket is located in the village of Siasonset. So, if you plan to do the bluff walk, you can stop by here for a snack. There is a small outdoor seating area.
Charlie Noble – A nice sit-down restaurant. Full of popular New England classics.
Nantucket Pharmacy – It is a pharmacy where you can pick up your prescriptions and other OTC medications. But, there is also an old fashion soda fountain counter where you can get ice cream, milkshakes, soup, or sandwiches.
Lemon Press – I loved Lemon Press. They have simple healthy food. There have smoothies, breakfast sandwiches, and different avocado toast options. If you have any dietary restrictions ( vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free) then you have to come here to eat.
Juice Bar – Nope no juice is served here. But, what they do have is fantastic ice cream. It is right next to the Whaling Museum and near the main part of town. Usually, in the hot summers, there is a long line, but it usually moves fast. I heard it is the best ice cream spot on the island.
Proprietors – Is a great solid restaurant with an eclectic mix of offerings. For example, they have : focaccia with bluefish pate, cavatelli pasta, socca pancake( which is made from chickpeas a specialty from Nice, France), and chicken-fried trout.
Sandbar at Jetties Beach – Who doesn’t love a restaurant on the beach. They have small size cocktails, but since it’s the only place on Jetties beach you can’t complain. I did to my surprise like their clam chowder and grilled cheese.
Where To Shop in Nantucket
Goop – Gwyneth Paltrow’s opened up her Goop store in Nantucket for summer. I think it may only be a seasonal store, but it is a fun one to visit if you are a fan of Goop online. It has clothes to skincare items which is a popular seller of theirs. Of course, if you can’t visit the store, you can always shop online.
Skinny Dip – Such a fun clothing store that is curated with a mix of clothes for everyone. Skinny Dip introduces new designers from around the US to their store. It is a seasonal store opened from May to October.
Beauty Counter- A new clean beauty makeup/skincare company. This was a new pop-up store for the summer 2019 season. So, I am not sure if they will be here every summer.
Vineyard Vines – If you are a lover of the preppy/ New England summer look come to Vineyard Vines. Now, Vineyard Vines has stores throughout the US. But, only at the Vineyard Vines in Nantucket, you can buy Nantucket Vineyard Vines logo clothes.
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