This trip was a check off my bucket list and I am so happy we went! Nantucket was everything I had hoped for and more! This small little island off the coast of the mainland of Massachusetts was so charming and beautiful!
In this post I want to talk about what we did, where we ate and things I regret.
I first off want to say that I am from the Philadelphia area. Going up to Nantucket is something that isn’t as common here as it is to go to the Jersey shore or Outer Banks. Which I don’t really understand since it’s literally 45 minute plane ride away as opposed to a 7+ hour drive to the Outer Banks!
Where We Stayed
When deciding where we should stay, we decided it would be best to stay as close to the town of Nantucket itself. We decided to rent this little Vrbo property about 5 minutes outside of town. I will just say that this was honestly the most disappointing aspect of our trip. The house was fine and served its purpose for the most part and was fine for sleeping but that’s it. I will just say this, if you want to go the route of doing a rental property, I recommend Nantucket Rentals that is what we will be doing next time we come visit.
What We Did
These were the things I definitely wanted to do:
- Go on the infamous Bluff walk
- Do some shopping in town
- Go to the beach
- See the hydrangeas
- Go to Cisco Brewery
- Eat amazing food
We got to do 5/6 things which I would say is pretty good!
The Bluff Walk
This was honestly my favorite part of the entire trip. Located on the other side of the island in a little town called Siasconset. This walk is about a mile long and it is so charming. You are on a little designated path that goes through people’s backyards. But these backyards are on another level. Beautiful coastal homes facing the ocean and tons of beautiful hydrangeas, roses with perfect manicured lawns. And on the other side you are seeing the ocean. Do this if you go to Nantucket. Trust me you won’t regret it.
Shopping
There are tons of cute little shops in town that I was so excited to check out. There was one thing I noticed while walking around the island; there are no major chains. (Target, CVS..etc) The only exceptions I saw was Vineyard Vines, Ralph Lauren and Lily Pulitzer. Another thing to keep in mind when you’re on the island, everything is expensive. Like everything. In all the clothing stores, the average price for a cute little sundress was $200 and that was on the lower end. So if you wanna do some shopping, get ready to spend some $$$.
That being said though, there are a ton of really cute little shops. My favorites were Hill House, The Skinny Dip, and The Blue Beetle!
Beaches
I really didn’t plan on swimming at the beach since the weather on Nantucket usually doesn’t go above 80 degrees which is really nice but in my opinion, not exactly the perfect swimming weather. But that’s okay! We explored two beaches, Jetties beach which is closer to the town of Nantucket. And Sconset beach which is in Siasconset right near where the Bluff Walk starts. We didn’t though get a chance to explore Cisco beach which was on the wishlist.
Food
There are so many amazing restaurants on the island that offer a variety of cuisines. We went to a lot of different places both fancy and casual that I wanted to share!
The Nantucket Lobster House
This was our first restaurant that we went to on our trip and it was such a great place to kick it off! It’s right outside of town and has a very nautical woody vibe. My sister and I both got the lobster roll (since if you’re in the New England you have to!) and it was delicious!
Claudette’s
This little place was right near the entrance of the town of Siasconset. Their menu is short and simple but everything was so fresh and yummy! If you love a good sandwich for lunch, come here it’s a good one.
Cru
This place is a very popular spot amongst locals and tourists alike and I can see why. It’s located right on the Harbor so your view is all of the beautiful boats and yachts. This is an upscale seafood restaurant. My sister tried the oysters and loved every one she had. I had a yummy crucumber cocktail and it was so good! I loved this place. The music was bumpin, the service was great and the food was delicious. I see why everyone loves it.
The Juice Bar
This place was probably the most popular spot that we visited on the entire trip. There’s almost always a line out the door. However, we can see why since their menu consists of fresh homemade ice cream and juices. One of my all time favorite ice cream flavors is cake batter and when I saw they had it on their menu, I was sold right away. It was delicious and I also want to note that their waffle cones are warm!
How We Got Around
If I could say one thing it would be this, rent bikes. We rented bikes during our stay and they were so convenient especially when in town. We just had to find space on a bike rack and lock up and we were good to go. I will say though if you plan on exploring the whole island, take advantage of their shuttle service that can transport you and your bikes to wherever you want! This is where we made the mistake, since we decided to bike to the town of Siasconset and the trip in total was 15 miles with hills. Unless you are used to riding a bike and biking long distances, I wouldn’t recommend this approach. I learned that the hard way.
Final Thoughts
I overall loved Nantucket and would love to go back! My sister and I talked about possibly visiting on the shoulder seasons like in April or September since it wouldn’t be as crowded and the prices wouldn’t be as high. Since we know a little bit more about the island, we would definitely hit some places we didn’t get to go to (Cisco beach and brewery!) and we might even see if we could explore nearby like Martha’s Vineyard!
Have you ever been to Nantucket? If so, what are your favorite spots to visit?
Talk to you soon!
Vic
