As promised…Here are the places we visited on our first Nantucket trip of the year. We went there over the 4th of July long weekend. It is hands down my favorite summer trip to date. Nantucket is what a New England summer should always be.
The month of July is really special on the island. It’s like the hydrangeas and roses know that it’s a holiday and they just like that (snap you fingers) decide to show up!! There are fireworks in the sky and there are fireworks in the blooms.
We were able to fit in some shopping and dining, take a day to bike out to ‘Sconset and back, and fit in some strolling and sight-seeing. We even got to take in a firework show which was an added bonus of being there over the 4th of July holiday.
Getting to the Island…
There are a few different options for getting on and off the island. Some people fly…(I hate planes so I try to avoid them as much as possible.) By ferry boat is the most popular option.
There are two main ferry services out of Cape Cod: The Steamship Authority and Hy-line Cruises. These are great options if you are already on the Cape.
We opted for the third option and to skip the Cape traffic and boarded with Sea Streak out of New Bedford. It’s the closest for us since we live in the middle of Connecticut. Also, we didn’t want to fuss with the holiday traffic getting on and off the Cape.
It was a breeze! We opted for valet service so we just pulled up to ferry dock, they parked our car, and we got in line to board. It was so fast and easy! I am glad we went this route. We didn’t have to worry about parking or taking a bus from a parking lot. It’s best to buy online ahead of time if you are looking to book your ride over to the island.
Places to See…
L I G H T H O U S E S
There are 3 lighthouses on the island. Brant Point Light, Sankaty Head Light, and Great Point Lighthouse. We were able to see Brant Point which is right in the harbor and Sankaty in Siasconset this trip. Great Point is only accessible by beach and most people rent a Jeep with a beach permit to get out to it. I definitely want to try that next visit. Looks so fun!
B I K E T R A I L S
There are several bike trails all over the island. There are also several bike shops right off the ferry dock to rent your rides from. We rented at Cooks Cycle Shop. All rentals come with a basket option, map of the island, locks, and helmet. We opted for the Milestone Road Path to take us out to ‘Sconset.
‘S C O N S E T
Seeing Siasconset in July is a must-do! Just trust me, there is nothing like it!! It’s all rose-covered cottages, ocean views, and bluffs plus an idyllic lighthouse. There are several modes of travel to make the 10 mile trek. You can rent a car or Jeep, mo-ped, or bike like we did. Another option would be to hop on The Wave bus. Even better—find a rental home in ‘Sconset and stay the week. That is definitely on my radar now!
You can see my post about ‘Sconset HERE.
O L D N O R T H W H A R F
Don’t skip over a leisurely walk down the seashell path on Old North Wharf. It’s quintessential Nantucket and you will love every cottage and hydrangea you see.
You can see my post about Old North Wharf HERE.
Shopping & Dining…
W H E R E I S H O P P E D
To be quite honest, I didn’t do a ton of shopping this visit. I was more about the sight-seeing. I did pop into ACK 4170 which I LOVE! So many cute entertaining, home, and apparel goods in this shop. I picked up a candle so I could hold on to the sweet smell of ‘Sconset a little longer.
Also, the Vineyard Vines store on the island is great. I popped into Annie and the Tees to check out the souvenir scene too.
There are so many shops I want to visit when I have more time. You could definitely spend an entire day doing that here.
W H E R E I D I N E D & I N D U L G E D
The Chanticleer– This did not disappoint! A beautiful modern French restaurant with garden seating right in ‘Sconset. The service was great and the food was delicious. You can’t beat the setting either. It has several different dining rooms, each one with its own style. The garden is the place to dine on a nice day.
The Club Car– One night we didn’t want a huge meal and we opted for this cute little spot. It’s tapas style and cocktail centric. We ordered a few small plates and a salad to share. The cocktails were definitely the star. Also, they had delicious house-made strawberry lemonade.
The Juice Bar– You can’t visit the island without getting ice cream from The Juice Bar. It hits the spot after a day of fun in the sun.
I really don’t think you can grab a bad meal on the island. I have so many restaurants I want to try our next time. The list is long and growing! It’s probably what we spent the most money on the whole trip. You’ll definitely want to up your food budget when you stay on the island.
Goals for Next Time…
G E T T I N G O N T H E W A T E R
Next time we visit, I want to arrange a sail or a boat ride around the harbor. There are so many options for this and it would be a great way to enjoy the island. I must investigate!
R E N T I N G A J E E P
This is high on my list, because I’d love to plan a full beach day and stake out our own stretch of beach. Renting a Jeep would be the way to go!
S E E I N G M O R E O F T H E H I S T O R I C D I S T R I C T
I feel like we covered a lot of ground, but I want to see more of the Historic District next time and visit the whaling museum.
S H O P P I N G M O R E
There are tons of shops to explore and I didn’t go in half of them. Next time, I am going to set aside a shopping day.
S T A Y I N G A F E W D A Y S L O N G E R
There is more we want to explore that I haven’t even mentioned yet, and I feel like we never have enough time. Restaurants we haven’t tried, parts of the island we haven’t touched, and hotels we haven’t stayed at. This magical place has so much to offer that I feel like I need to just choose a few things and do them well every time we visit.
So, that wraps up my last post on Nantucket. I’ll be back again, because once you get under the Nantucket spell you always want to come back! I am by no way an island expert, but I intend to be one day (wink, wink!)
We are kicking around going back for the Nantucket Stroll in early December to experience the holiday fun.
If you have recommendations for our next visit—let me have them!