I’ve been meaning to write this post for a while, so here we go! Back in July Bill and I decided we needed a few days away from our apartment/offices (one in the same lol), so we booked a last minute trip to Nantucket.
To make this post easier to digest, I’m breaking it down into a few categories including how we got there, where we stayed, what we did and where we ate. I’m hoping that this format will answer the majority of the questions I received, while also being a comprehensive guide on how to make the most of your trip!
HOW WE GOT THERE
When traveling to Nantucket, Bill and I are huge fans of taking the Seastreak Ferry from New Bedford, Massachusetts. There are many ways you can get to the island, but personally we like taking this ferry to avoid Cape Cod traffic. Another perk, there’s a parking lot shuttle that brings you right to the terminal and parking is only $15 per day.
I received a bunch of questions on whether or not we felt safe on the ferry during these crazy times. Personally, we did. There is tons of outdoor seating and everyone was wearing a mask. I was compulsively washing my hands, but we felt safe.
If you plan on taking the ferry, be sure to get a good spot outside as you get close to the island so you can see all the sailboats and the Brant Point Lighthouse. This is also relevant if you take the ferry home as legend has it you’re supposed to throw a penny off the ferry as you pass the Brant Point Lighthouse to ensure a return trip.
Long story short, there are numerous other ways to get to the island, but we’ve found this option to be extremely easy. You can’t bring your car on the ferry we take, but if you’re looking to, check out The Steamship Authority.
WHERE WE STAYED
Bill and I usually stay downtown. Since we’ve never brought our car, staying downtown makes sense for us because we can easily walk to restaurants, bars and shops. I’d also recommend renting bikes (we did this year from Young’s Bicycle Shop – they drop off and pick up!) if you stay near town since there are bike paths to beaches and places like Cisco Brewery. It’s somewhat of a trek, but it’s good exercise.
If we want to head further out of town to Madaket for Millie’s or ‘Sconset for dinner and the Bluff Walk, you can easily (again pre-COVID depending on what you’re comfortable with) hop in an Uber or rent a car once your’re on the island.
Anyway, this year we stayed at Union Street Inn, and honestly it was not my favorite. I don’t think we’d stay there again. It was right in town, but I just didn’t love the vibe or our room. It was clean, I’ll give it that, but it definitely felt like more of an B&B than a hotel. We wanted to try something new, but next year I think we’ll stick to what we know 😉
In the past we’ve stayed at The Roberts Collection and I much prefer that. Personally, I think the majority of the hotels on Nantucket are somewhat expensive, so we try to find deals where we can. I’d much rather save on the room and have more money to spend on meals, shopping and experiences.
Although we’ve never personally stayed at these hotels, 76 Main and Hotel Pippa came highly recommended by friends.
WHAT WE DID & WHERE WE ATE
I’m going to break this down day-by-day because I can’t think of an easier way to do it. Please note, we tried to fit a lot in because it was a quick trip. There are so many amazing places to stop and we tried to take full advantage of our time on the island. My hope is to one day create a Nantucket travel guide, but that’s a project for a different day…
MONDAY
- Arrived on the Seastreak Ferry and checked into our hotel
- Mudslides at The Gazebo — this has become a tradition for Bill and I and as soon as we arrive we love stopping by The Gazebo for a mudslide to kick off the trip. Spoiler alert, they’re delicious
- Sandwiches at Provisions for lunch — it works out perfectly that Provisions is directly behind The Gazebo. Once we have a drink we head over to get sandwiches and eat them on the benches outside. I get the Caprese (the bread is so good) and Bill gets the infamous Turkey Terrific (basically Thanksgiving on a sandwich)
- Biked to Surfside Beach — Bill and I love Surfside Beach. We took our rental bikes, picked up some beers and hit the road. I felt that people were very spread out at Surfside which made me feel more comfortable.
- Galley Beach for sunset drinks — after the beach we biked back to our hotel, got ready and headed to Galley Beach. It was my first time there, but I now honestly get the hype. We went for sunset drinks and had a table right in the sand on the water — it was beautiful and a great way to kick off the trip. Definitely make a reservation beforehand.
- The Nantucket Tavern for dinner — it’s the same restaurant as The Gazebo I mentioned above, but we were tired and just wanted a quick bite. It’s pretty casual, and if you just want an easy meal after a long day I recommend this spot. Outdoor seating is available.
- Proprietors for a drink — Proprietors is one of our favorite spots and we wanted a nightcap so made our way there. Great cocktails, great vibe and they have outdoor seating. We haven’t had a full meal here, but the menu looks amazing.
TUESDAY
- Black-Eyed Susan’s for breakfast — this place is a very popular breakfast spot and for good reason. We got there early and put our names in and probably waited 30 minutes. The blueberry pancakes are top notch. It’s also a part of the same restaurant group as The Chanticleer which is our favorite restaurant on the island. More on that later.
- Cisco Beach — after breakfast Bill and I packed up our stuff and biked to Cisco Beach. It’s a longer bike ride than I remembered (LOL), but once you get out of town there’s a bike path and it’s actually really nice. Also all the bike riding cancels out all the food and drinks, right?
- Cisco Brewery — after spending the better part of the day at the beach we biked to Cisco Brewery. It’s on the way back to town and honestly is always one of my favorite parts of our trip. They did a great job spacing people out during COVID. Be sure to try their frosé (and beers) and take full advantage of the food trucks (lobster rolls) and oyster stand.
- Pizza night – Tuesday night we laid low and had happy hour and dinner in our hotel’s courtyard. We wanted to order pizza from Pizzeria Gemelle since it’s one of our favorites, but it was sadly closed Tuesday night. Pizzeria Gemelle is owned by one of our favorite restaurants on Nantucket — Ventuno. We went last year and had such a good meal. Definitely add that one to your list if you’re planning a trip.
WEDNESDAY
- Lemon Press takeout for breakfast — Bill and I love Lemon Press, so breakfast takeout from them was a no brainer. We took it to-go and ate it on a bench down by the marina. They have good coffee, acai bowls and breakfast sandwiches. You’ll wait a little bit but it’s worth it.
- Shopped — After breakfast we walked around town and hit up some of our favorite Nantucket shops. Nantucket Looms, For Now (with Dudley Stephens next door) and Murray’s Toggery Shop are all great places to stop.
- Sandbar at Jetties Beach — later in the day we walked to the Sandbar at Jetties Beach. I’ll say this again, Bill and I don’t mind walking or biking around the island (get those steps in 😂). It was about a mile (20 minute walk) from our hotel but I didn’t mind it at all. We grabbed drinks and a quick lunch, and it was nice to be outside by the beach.
- The Chanticleer for dinner — The Chanticleer in ‘Sconset is my favorite restaurant on Nantucket. It’s the dreamiest spot and the food and service is next level. If you go one place I recommend in this post, go here. We like making our way to ‘Sconset (about a 15 minute drive from town — we took an Uber) at least once a trip, and it always winds up being my favorite part. We made an early dinner reservation outside so we could head over to the ‘Sconsett Bluff Walk just in time for sunset…
- ‘Sconset Bluff Walk at sunset — the ‘Sconset Bluff Walk in my opinion is one of the most beautiful parts of Nantucket. It’s a public footpath that takes you through the backyards of all the homes along the bluff. It’s truly beautiful and the homes are stunning. This is a must if you’re taking a trip to Nantucket.
- Nightcap at or, The Whale — we ended up here because the Nantucket bar scene is very different (understandably so) during COVID. This was a new-to-us spot with a back patio. The patio was beautiful, but the service was not great.
THURSDAY
- Lemon Press for takeout breakfast — again, we went to Lemon Press for breakfast. It’s in a great location and we really enjoy it as an easy, takeout option.
- Steps Beach — after breakfast we walked over to Steps Beach. The houses in the neighborhood near steps beach are beautiful and it’s nice to walk around. Bonus, there are lots of beautiful garden arches — my personal favorite.
- Lunch at Provisions — we probably should have headed to Something Natural since it’s near Steps Beach, but we weren’t hungry at the time. Since we were already back in town, we headed back to Provisions for lunch (still great). I love Something Natural and I’m so glad that there is also one in Greenwich so I can go whenever I want.
- Drinks at The Gazebo — after lunch, heading back to our hotel and packing up we landed at The Gazebo for pre-ferry drinks. We were both sad to leave so had a couple glasses of rosé prior to hopping on the Seastreak Ferry back to New Bedford.
…AND that’s a wrap on our 2020 Nantucket trip. It was short but sweet, and exactly what we needed to reset during these crazy times. I’m pretty sure this is the LONGEST blog post I’ve ever written, but I hope you all find it helpful. If you’re traveling to Nantucket, or want to in the future, please don’t hesitate to email me, DM me on Instagram or comment on this post with questions — I’d love to help you plan your trip!