As a follow up to my Nantucket Photo Diary, I’m excited to share my Nantucket Travel Guide with you all, noting some of the best spots that my girls and I discovered on our recent getaway to this beautiful & charming island!
As I mentioned in my photo diary, I cannot recommend a trip to Nantucket enough! A girls trip, a family weekend or a romantic getaway…there’s something to do for everyone!
HOW TO GET THERE
We flew American Airlines from Charlotte to Boston. From Boston Logan Airport. we hopped up to Nantucket via Cape Air/Nantucket Airlines which was on a tiny, 10 seater prop plane. If you have a fear of super small planes, you may want to make sure you get on one of the Jet Blue flights that go back & forth between BOS > ACK. We were actually on Jet Blue for our return flight. The 30 minute flight was $380. We did book a bit last minute so if you plan further in advance, I’m sure you can find a cheaper fare.
Another option is the Ferry. There is a fast ferry which takes about an hour to get to Nantucket. Then there’s the [slow] ferry (lol) which will take about 2.5 hours. To get to the ferry, you have to drive from Boston to Hyannis (about 70 miles) and then hop the ferry from here.
For info on the slow ferry, visit: The Steamship Authority
For info on the fast ferry, visit: Hy-Line Cruises
WHERE TO STAY
WHITE ELEPHANT HOTEL | we stayed at The White Elephant Village, an extension of the White Elephant Hotel which could not have been a more beautiful place to stay! The hotel was reflective of the traditional Nantucket style but with a modern vibe. Everything was within walking distance and we completely soaked up the hotel and all it had to offer such as it’s restaurant Brant Point Grill (hotel guests enjoy 15% off meals here), private swimming pool, bicycles & BMW X5’s to drive as a complimentary service to White Elephant guests.
I’ll be doing a separate post all about the hotel!
visit website: The White Elephant
THE WAUWINET INN | Nestled on the northeast shores of Nantucket, this historic inn is a member of Relais & Châteaux and known worldwide for its luxurious amenities, outstanding service and cuisine. The Wauwinet neighbors Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge and a pristine coastline, perfect for outdoor activities & watching the sunset.
visit website: The Wauwinet
GREYDON HOUSE | One of the newest hotels on the Island, Greydon House is a luxury boutique hotel located on Broad Street in Nantucket’s downtown historic district. Greydon House showcases 20 uniquely appointed guestrooms and a locally inspired restaurant embracing the past of this storied island. The original half of the building dating back to the 19th century, was a private residence and most recently, a local doctor’s office. Now an icon of provocative design and halcyon relaxation, Greydon House offers visitors an opportunity to uncover the island’s past and present.
visit website: Greydon House
WHAT TO DO
The Whaling Museum { great for families }
Brant Point Lighthouse
Dreamland Theater { historic theater with cinema + performing arts events }
BEACHES. Surfside, Jetties, Madaket, Siaconset, Children’s Beach
SHOPPING!! There are SO many amazing boutiques scattered all over the Island.
BIKE RIDES. Nantucket is incredibly pedestrian friendly & such a beautiful place to ride bikes
RELAX. Nantucket is an incredibly lo-fi island and perfect for unwinding & disconnecting – go for walks, bike rides, lay in the sun, go to the beach, indulge in good food & drink, watch the sun set, slow down & simply enjoy life.
WHERE TO EAT + NIGHTLIFE
We had some really fantastic meals throughout our trip! Be prepared to spend a small fortune on food while in Nantucket. Just like any other trendy place – think of LA, Miami, New York, etc – food & drink are expensive! On average, a glass of wine/cocktail was $14-$16 and entrees were about $35 – $45. I spent nearly $200 on just two meals on our last day in Nantucket. Granted, we did eat at 2 of the nicest places on the Island.
Most of the Island quiets down pretty early, but there are still some fun spots to hit up if your looking for a little bit of fun after dinner! Many places double as restaurants & after dinner spots starting around 10pm.
Some of our favorite places that we found with good music, food & cocktails, people & all around good vibes.
BRANT POINT GRILL { known for their Sunday Brunch + lunch & dinner }
DUNE
PROVISIONS SANDWICHES { great lunch spot }
ARNO’S { we had breakfast here one morning, really great Italian place }
THE CLUB CAR { dinner + late night in the piano bar }
45 SURFSIDE BAKERY & CAFÉ { catch this cute spot on your way to Surfside Beach }
STATION 21 { dinner + late night }
SUMMERHOUSE { great lunch spot & a beautiful, scenic ride }
STRAIGHT WHARF RESTAURANT { dinner + late night }
LOLA 41 { really fun spot, has a loungy, NYC feel to it. *Late Night Truffle Fries, OMG }
CRU + BACK BAR @ CRU { end of the wharf }
CHICKEN BOX { late night, young crowd }
SLIP
MILLIE’S { Baja-Style meets Modern Mexican }
GREY LADY
TOWN + QUEEQUEG’S + TREE BAR { fun cluster of restaurants + outdoor patio – fun food & libations }
VENTUNO { Italian }
SLIP 14 { dinner + bar }
BOARDING HOUSE
THE JUICE BAR { famous ice cream spot }
THINGS TO KNOW
Cobblestone streets are everywhere. Go easy on the heels, ladies! cute sandals, flats and chunky heels vs skinny stilettos make for better options.
Nantucket has a very relaxed, island attitude. Dressing up to the nines isn’t quite the vibe here… Instead, think of summery, boho, sexy-casual.
HOLY HUMIDITY! During our trip (beginning of August) it was unusually hot for New England however, the humidity + salt air is no friend to our hair, ladies! Us girls let our natural waves/curls be free for most of the trip.
As I mentioned above, just like many popular places to vacation, Nantucket is expensive. I’d allot at least $150 per day and that’s if your thrifty. Penny Pinchers may want to stay home…just sayin’
Speaking of money, many businesses on the Island are CASH ONLY. I recommend going to the bank before leaving town or stopping at an ATM when you first arrive.
SEASON. Summer is a bit of a madhouse on the Island. We took our holiday beginning-mid August and every inch of the Island was packed! I’ve heard from friends & have read that Nantucket in September is absolutely AMAZING! At this time, the crowds have started to thin out a bit + you’ll find better prices on getting & staying here. Much of the Island dies down by the end of October and picks back up in the Spring.
OFF-SEASON. Believe it or not, Nantucket is said to be pretty lovely & remains quite the destination even in the off-season – especially leading up to the holidays. Enjoy the Island’s holiday happenings such as “Nantucket Noel” (Nov. 26) and the “Christmas Stroll” weekend (Dec. 3-5) where 150 Christmas trees are decorated in town + Santa arrives on the Island.
Be sure to bookmark and/or share this post if you think you and/or a friend might visit Nantucket & find this post helpful!!
Whether you’ve already visited Nantucket or your planning a trip to this beautiful place sometime soon, I hope you enjoy and find this guide helpful! xx
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