Happy Monday, friends!
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. As sad as it is for me to say, I’m settling in on this Monday morning for our last week on Nantucket.
I know!!!!!
How did these last two months go by so quickly?!
Sigh. Half of my kids start school next week, so we are going to make the most of this week before heading back to Dallas. The only thing getting me through this sad time is the fact that pumpkins are just around the corner 😉 .
I hope you’re ready for a highly requested blog post topic this morning because today I’m sharing my…
…A DAY TRIPPER’S GUIDE TO NANTUCKET!
But of course, a few disclaimers up front 🙂 .
#1: I have never actually “day tripped” to Nantucket, so take everything I say with a grain of salt. I’ve only ever visited as an overnight vacationer or a resident. What I’m about to suggest is based off of those experiences as well as the feedback I receive from friends/family and YOU after day tripping on the island. Needless to say though, per usual, take everything I say with a grain of salt.
#2: Nantucket is NOT a year around destination. I have been here every single month out of the year and I firmly believe if you’re coming to visit (especially a day trip), you are going to want to arrive June 1-October 8th-ish. If you come mid-October through May, you will find almost everything shut down (hotels, restaurants, shops, cafes, almost everything). I want you to love Nantucket, so come when it’s “open”.
#3: You better check that weather though before you make your trip over. Any time you are coming to Nantucket, you are heavily relying on the good Lord to provide you the appropriate weather. I cannot tell you how many times in my own life my own flights and/or ferry has been cancelled due to weather.
This summer alone, Andrew and three teenagers were stranded in Philadelphia because their connecting flight couldn’t get into Nantucket due to fog, so they got stuck in Philly at 10:30 at night…and then Andrew had to rent a car and drive them overnight the six hours to Hyannis, Massachusetts to board a 6:00 AM ferry to make it over the next day. My parents’ trip here this summer? Delayed by fog almost one full day. Getting one of the teens back to Texas this summer? Delayed by weather almost the entire day. When Madeley and I returned to Nantucket from Boston this summer after seeing the Sox play? Our flight was delayed by 3 hours and after we touched down, they closed the Nantucket airport for the rest of the day. You guys…weather is the fickle friend of the island year around including the “high season”. If you are coming for the day, make sure the weather looks clear BOTH GOING AND RETURNING or you will get stuck on Nantucket and there are no hotels to quickly get into…the city starts opening the community center and high school gyms for you to sleep in.
I’m not trying to scare you, I just don’t want you showing up on my front porch asking to stay on my couch 😉 . (Kidding, I would welcome you gladly!). Fog and wind are the weather foes you’re looking for when determining if going over is a good idea or not.
Alrighty, so those are my disclaimers. Now, what should you bring for the day? I would suggest:
#1: Obviously your wallet and ID. Most places on island take Apple Pay, but I’d bring a credit card and maybe even a bit of cash.
#2: Comfy walking shoes. You won’t walk anywhere far, but you will walk, so bring comfy FLAT shoes. Those historic streets and sidewalks made out of cobblestones are no joke. You want flat shoes.
#3: Layers! Nantucket weather varies throughout the day. It’s chilly, it’s foggy, it’s sunny, it’s drizzling, it’s chilly, it’s sunny…I would recommend a light jacket or layer (or more, check the weather, it could be cold!).
#4: I don’t recommend the beach for day trippers. If you’re coming to Nantucket for a day trip it means you’re coming from either Martha’s Vineyard or Cape Cod…so you should go to the beach at either of those destinations instead. Beaches aren’t exactly convenient nor are there places to change/shower/get the sand off of you. This isn’t a “beachy” kind of day trip, so I needless to say, I wouldn’t bring a swimsuit.
Now, let’s begin your day 🙂 .
Step one is getting to Nantucket. Please read my post on: HOW TO GET TO NANTUCKET. This post is very detailed and covers all of the various ways of getting to the island throughout the year. If you are coming for the day, you are coming on one of the speed ferries (make sure it’s a speed ferry!). I suggest buying your tickets prior to the day you depart (again check THIS POST for exact ferry details and more info) and not waiting until the day of to purchase as they do sell out during the busy season. These ferry companies are REALLY good about refunding and exchanging tickets, so I would buy them early and then, should the weather look iffy and/or you want to change the time/day of your reservation, make changes later.
So, you arrive (I would suggest the morning, ideally around 10:00)…
…the beauty of arriving on Nantucket by ferry is that it LITERALLY drops you off right smack in the middle of everything. If you take the Hy-Line Speed Ferry, you will step off the boat and immediately step exactly where you want to be on Nantucket. The very famous Cru restaurant? It’s about 15 feet to your left when you get off the boat. I’m telling you…you’re in the middle of the action just by disembarking.
Begin your day by hanging a right and start walking towards Main Street…
…shopping is a BIG deal for day trippers and there is PLENTY to see and do. You will find so many quaint little shops as you begin your (short) walk to Main. Take a look over to your left at the marina because there are even more shops back that direction too (just on the other side of the Stop and Shop). Shops, shops, and more shops.
You can spend hours strolling Main Street and the surrounding streets (Centre, Federal, Broad…you will easily be able to see all of it)…
From bookstores to antiques, home decor, art, apparel, jewelry, there are so many shops…
…you can spend all day just popping in and out of stores. Truly, you could. Should you make any LARGE purchases, almost all of these shops ship too (so you don’t have to lug it around all day).
For lunch, I have an entire blog post dedicated to NANTUCKET LUNCH SPOTS. Make sure you check out THIS POST for a breakdown of the various places one could enjoy lunch.
Now, if you’re looking for something to do between shopping, I have a few suggestions…
You could visit the Whaling Museum. It’s located right “in town” and you do not need to buy tickets in advance (you can get them when you arrive).
It’s a great little museum! We have been so many times, and I always enjoy myself. Make sure you climb to the top of the museum for their special outdoor area which will give you gorgeous views of town.
The Maria Mitchell Aquarium is tiny but very hands on should you be looking for something right there in town to do with little kiddos. Again, pre-purchasing tickets is not necessary.
Another fun option would be an HISTORICAL WALKING OR BIKE TOUR. You will want to schedule these tours in advance. These tours vary in length, but they’re very common around town.
Speaking of biking…
…should you want to get outside of town a little bit, you can always rent a bike. Young’s Bicycle Shop is my personal favorite. It’s located right in town. You can rent bikes or scooters there for the day. Biking on the cobblestone is a bit tricky and there are no stoplights on the island, so that takes a bit of getting used to as well (traffic never stops), but should biking be your thing, this is a great shop.
If you’re here on a Saturday morning…
…check out the local farmer’s market. You will most likely see me there too 🙂 . This is also located right “in town” and filled with vendors selling everything from art to jewelry to baked goods, fresh produce, jams and more…
…it’s a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning.
Your day trip to Nantucket would not be complete without a stop at…
…The Juice Bar for ice cream. It is famous for a reason…the ice cream is insanely delicious. If you see the line stretching down the block and around the corner, don’t fret. It really does move quickly.
More shopping should round out your day…
…and before you know it, it will be time for dinner…
…I recommend Nantucket Lobster Trap often for day trippers because it’s fairly easy to get into, it’s very festive/quintessential New England coastal, the food is amazing and it’s right there in town. I have an entire comprehensive post on NANTUCKET RESTAURANTS (with over 50 options!) for you to read too where I break down the island by dining categories.
Before you know it…
…it will be time to head back to the ferry and say goodbye to the island. The Nantucket Tavern is another great lunch or dinner spot located right by the ferry. Their clam chowder is my personal favorite on the island. This is one of our family’s favorite spots for people watching and delicious food.
A few final thoughts:
#1: You do not need a car on Nantucket. Should you want to venture outside of “town”, it is very very easy to grab a cab, get an uber, or take the free public transportation, The Wave.
#2: Please know, it’s pricey. I am so fortunate to meet people just about every day from this little blog world who make their way to Nantucket. One of the most common things I hear when I meet these lovely people is “everything is so expensive”. I often think of Harrison Ford in Six Days, Seven Nights when he says “It’s an island. If you didn’t bring it here, you won’t find it here.” Everything is brought on to Nantucket which means that everything costs more. Just plan accordingly.
#3: If you get here and decide you want to head back early (maybe because of the weather, maybe you’ve seen enough), head to the ferry’s ticket office, and they’ll put you on an earlier boat. They make it really easy.
#4: Do I ever see Elin Hilderbrand? All. The. Time. It’s a small island…if you look closely, you might see her too 😉 .
Whew! Okay, did I cover enough? Please, please, please feel free to drop your questions below! I am so happy to answer them for you today!
Don’t forget, I have so many posts on Nantucket that you can read HERE.
I hope you have the best Monday, friends! I’m off to enjoy my last full week here. I’ll see you back here tomorrow. xx
Elspeth Mizner says
This was sooooo helpful! Thank you for putting it together! Enjoy the last week!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Becky says
Thanks for this post! My family (from Buffalo, NY) is headed this weekend to Boston. We are hitting up a Red Sox game and doing the tourist things there. On Monday, we are doing a day trip to Nantucket. My husband and I did a longer trip 3 years ago, but this will be the first time with our kids, ages 11 and 9. We received a phone call that the last ferry of the night was canceled, so we will have unfortunately only about 6 hours now on Nantucket from 12:00- 6:00 p.m. I would love your opinion on these questions….
– One of my favorite things from my last trip was the Sconset Bluff Walk. However, given that we only have 6 hours, I can’t justify spending 1 hour roundtrip on the Wave to and from town. Does that sound right for time?
– Another idea I had was to walk to Sandbar for lunch right off the ferry, and then walk back into town to shop, get ice cream, etc. Is walking to Sandbar from the ferry doable? I did not go there my last trip, but I thought the kids would like to see the beach/ocean.
– Or should we do a quick lunch, walk around and shop, and then do a nicer dinner before getting back on the ferry at 6:00?
Sounds like you will be gone on Monday! I said to my husband, “I wonder if we will see Elin Hilderband or Shay, the blogger always follow!”
Mix and Match Mama says
Literally just saw Eline yesterday afternoon 😉 . I hope you see me! I would love to say hi! I think if your time is limited, I would take a cab or Uber if you’re planning on leaving town and not The Wave (to save you so much time). Today is super cloudy right now, so right this minute, I’m thinking you should go to Sconset instead of the beach…but if it comes up, I would take an Uber or cab over to Sandbar. It always feels like a “vacation” spot.
Jami Romano says
Love this!
Sarah Shaneyfelt says
Enjoy your last week of summer! It’s the same for us, and it makes me so sad!
MeetTheShaneyfelts
Emilee says
Have the best week closing out your summer!
Susan says
I just love this. these details and little tidbits you share are what make your travel planning so great too!
Lisa N says
Love how you love it and share it. You’ve mentioned possibly downsizing someday when the kids are grown. Could you live there year round in the off season or do you see it as a seasonal home even at that point? My knowledge of Nantucket before you came from Wings lol so I remember their complaints about the off season.
Mix and Match Mama says
I would love to live here year around…but Andrew’s job is in McKinney, so we wouldn’t be able to make that work.
Nikki says
If people do want to go to the beach for a day trip, Jetties, Childrens & Surfside all have public bathrooms/showers. I’m local to MA and have done day trips to Nantucket a number of times and always go to the beach with no problem. 100% agree about watching the weather though, nothing worse than sleeping in the ferry station or airport overnight 😉
Jodi says
I was going to say the same, Jetties is a great place to beach it and have lunch at sandbar for a few hours:) they even rent umbrellas!
Laura says
What an informative post. Nantucket has been on my bucket list for a long time. I don’t see my husband loving it but my sisters would make great travel companions. Thanks for all the tips.
K.K. says
It looks like such a charming place!!! 🙂 Thanks for all the tips.
Tiffany says
Enjoy your last week!
Side subject…as per your rec, finally watching Derry Girls (in prep for a trip to Ireland next week 💚). I love this show! The characters make me laugh an and smile- esp Clare. Thx for the rec!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh gosh, I love that show so much!!
Elana says
Love the Nantucket posts! One suggestion if you are doing a day trip and want to do the beach- Jetties beach is a 10-15 min walk (adults) or you can take the Wave like we did with our 2 girls and had a blast. We brought towels in our beach bag but you can rent chairs for the beach and they have a changing area for after. You could buy toys too, but we didn’t need them with our 2 young girls (4&6). The literal sandbar in the ocean makes it so fun for them! We swam and then had lunch at the Sandbar right there, took the Wave back to town, walked a bit and got ice cream from the Juice Bar before letting them each pick a souvenir and heading back on the ferry. They loved it!
Lauren says
Several girlfriends and I are flying in mid September for several days to celebrate all of us turning 50 this year. All of your posts on Nantucket have been so helpful! Keep them coming 🙂
Beth Valenta says
Love all these wonderful tips! It is on my bucket list for sure. Enjoy your last week and I have already lit a pumpin candle…sheer happiness.
Jessica Hiestand says
If you are planning to rent a house for a week, are beaches accessible? I’ve just read so many are permit only. Are the public beaches pretty crowded in summer? I’m assuming you could uber to one if you don’t have a car?
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh goodness, yes! There are so many beaches for “walking on” and enjoying. Jetties is the most crowded walk on beach (because it’s the closet to town), but there are other beaches that are less crowded. I personally enjoy Jetties though because of the crowd. It feels “festive” and like summertime.
Patty Anderson says
What a great, informative post! I love how well you always break things down so there’s nothing left to chance.
Jenn K says
We day tripped last week from Cape Cod and used many of your previous shopping/dining tips! We also did a bus tour that we caught right near where the ferry dropped us off. It ran for an hour and 15 minutes and was a great chance to see “further out” than where we could walk and hear the driver’s running commentary on the island.
Danielle says
Hi Shay! I am going to buy those blackout shades that you recommended, and I thought you had posted a video or reel about how Andrew installed them but I can’t find it…do you still have it? Thank you!
Mix and Match Mama says
I shared a video in my Stories, but I don’t think I saved it. If you’ll email me, I’ll try and email it to you! mixandmatchmama@yahoo.com
Gina Haywood says
Thank you so much! We are coming tomorrow!
Mix and Match Mama says
I hope you have the BEST time!
Allison says
Very informative and helpful post! Love your tips and things to prepare for as well! If I ever make it up there, I’ll be referencing all your posts! Also wow – Lovejoy goes back a little early! I teach in Allen ISD and didn’t realize they go back a few days before us.
Noel says
Happy end of summer Shay!
We’re renting a house on ACK for the month of August and can’t wait. Maybe we’ll see you or even Elin!
The house is walking distance to Tom Nevers beach, so our kids are very excited.
Thanks for all your *guides*, they’re going to be super useful for restaurant hopping!
CJ says
The last time we went on a day trip to Nantucket, we rented bikes at Young’s then biked all the way to Sconset, did the Sconset Bluff Walk, biked all the way back to Brant Point before catching the ferry back to the Cape. Sore bums after biking 24 miles in total but worth it.
Laura Holmes says
Have fun with your last week on Nantucket! I’m reading this post from the Nantucket Hotel. 🙂 Very excited to be here for the week and will be taking lots of your recs!
Mix and Match Mama says
YAY! I hope you have the BEST time! If you see me, please, please, please say hi!
TGK says
I love ACK, thanks to… YOU! ❤️ One question. I thought any time after Memorial Day (in May) was “game”? I visited this year, week of May 26, and again week of July 7, and I LOVED my May stay noticeably more. While it was chilly, I was still able to spend time at the beach in the sun and didn’t notice anything hadn’t opened yet? And from personal experience, yes, I will second you- it’s not easy to get a last minute hotel for a night on the island (in July). Because of this, I had to spend one night at the hotel by the airport. Like, walked in wheeling my luggage and asked to book a room for the night and it cost more (per night) than the nice inn I’d stayed at in town! But it was clean and I was grateful that they had an open room… and the staff was so nice!
Mix and Match Mama says
They call it June-uary here because the weather gets randomly cold and chilly in June. Most of the shops are open, but you’ll always find some in town that don’t open until later on in June. The seasonal flights open up around the 18th, so I kind of think of that as when it officially opens.
Lindi says
Nantucket looks beautiful, but I actually think this post makes me never want to go there. Lol. I guess you really gotta want to go! I can’t imagine how much effort it takes to go back and forth as much as you do. Isn’t the travel piece tiring?
Mix and Match Mama says
I typically get invigorated by traveling. It’s always been something that “fills my cup” so to speak.
Noah says
This may be a strange question but I’d rather ask it than assume and be wrong! If we were to ever see you walking around (like in the Farmer’s market) can we come say hi? Or would you rather we respect your time with your family?
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh my goodness, please come say hi! I am SO grateful for this community, if you ever see me out and about, I would LOVE to say hello.