Nantucket is very small island isolated off Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the East of the United States.
Whether you are going to Nantucket for a leisurely family vacation, a romantic getaway, on a sightseeing trip, or for another reason, here are 7 tips that hopefully will help make your trip there even more enjoyable.
1- Plan in advance
When planning a vacation in Nantucket, remember that the island’s population can swell up from about 10,000 to 50,000 people and more in the summer months.
Since it is a small island, and half of its land is conserved and protected against future construction, the available rental residences can become pretty scarce once the summer kicks off.
So, if you plan to go, start looking for the perfect residence and book it well in advance. This will ensure that you get the house you want, in the neighborhood you want, and at the best price.
Early birds will get a much vaster choice for renting one of the beautiful beach cottages, waterfront houses, large mansions, and other stunning houses on the island.
Also, it is advisable to book your plane or ferry tickets well ahead of your vacation too. Getting there can be difficult in the peak of the summer if you are shopping for tickets at the last moment.
2- Go to a new beach every day
This tiny island, 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, has more than 80 miles of beaches. Unlike on other upscale islands and destinations, all of the beaches on the island of Nantucket are free and open for public access.
So, you can practically go to a new beach every day during your summer vacation.
Some beaches, such as Dionis, Jetties, and Children’s Beach, are preferred by people with young kids. They are on the Nantucket Sound coast, and the water there is shallower, warmer, and calmer.
If you are into watersports, such as surfing or boogie boarding, or want to mingle with the other youngsters in Nantucket, you should head off to the southern beaches like Surfside, Cisco, or Nobadeer.
On the days when you prefer a quieter and more relaxing experience, away from the crowds and the hustle and bustle, you can choose a beach that is more remote and not as popular like the Masquetuck or Madaket beaches.
For some stunning Instagram-worthy photos, you should take some from the top of the steps above Steps Beach, during sunset at Madaket Beach, or at sunset at Siasconset Beach.
3- Try the local food
Nantucket has gradually grown into a culinary center. There are restaurants where you can taste the elevated takes on traditional New England coastal cuisine or other delicacies and unique dishes.
You can choose to go to one of the fancy fine-dining restaurants, which can be compared to the best Michelin-star restaurants in Manhattan. Some of them are Topper’s, CRU, Galley Beach, The Chanticleer, and others.
For a more casual experience but again with delicious seafood and other meals, you can choose to go to the popular Cisco Brewers, Millie’s, or, The Charlie Noble, or, The Whale, or B-ACK Yard BBQ.
4- Pack at least one pair of comfortable shoes
Although it is an upscale vacation spot that attracts many rich and famous people, the dressing style in Nantucket is actually pretty casual and beachy.
Since the island is so small and has an extensive network of bike and multipurpose paths and trails, you can get just about anywhere by foot or bike.
So, make sure to pack some comfortable flats and sandals, and leave those high heels back home.
Just imagine walking those cobblestone streets wearing stilettos!
5- Visit the famous places
Nantucket is known as the county with the highest concentration of historical buildings and sites.
You should visit some of these iconic places if you want to learn more about the island’s fascinating history.
Once known as the whaling hub of the world, Nantucket’s architecture, lifestyle, culture, and charm are all influenced by those whaling years.
To learn more about the captains and whaling ships that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby-Dick, you should visit the Whaling Museum.
There are also three of the oldest still-functioning lighthouses, which are iconic for Nantucket. Make sure to pay a visit to the Brant Point, Sankaty Head, and Great Point lighthouses.
Other historical sites to see include the Downtown area, the Old Mill, the Old Gaol, and the Oldest House.
Other famous places to explore are the picturesque Sconset Bluff Walk and its rose-covered gray shake cottages, the Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum, the Lightship Basket Museum, and others.
6- Where to buy unique items
Nantucket is a pretty expensive place to go on a shopping spree. But there are some stores, galleries, and shops where you can find unique items and clothes available only on the island.
Murray’s Toggery Shop on Main Street is the original and only store that sells the famous Nantucket Reds pants and apparel. These faded red cotton canvas clothes are the epitome of the New England coastal style.
If you want to buy some nautical-themed, locally crafted scrimshaw decorations and items to bring back some of that Nantucket nautical charm home with you, then you can visit the Craftmasters of Nantucket store. It offers all kinds of authentic handmade traditional scrimshaw items, such as cufflinks, knives, buckles, and jewelry made by owner David Masters.
Gift and Box is another charming local store for handmade items and gifts. Kate, the friendly store owner, offers a wide variety of 100% handmade art, apparel, ceramics, cosmetics, and nautical-themed souvenirs you can buy as gifts or keepsakes from your Nantucket vacation.
7- Ask for advice
The friendly and tight-knit community of the island is one of the main features that make this idyllic island so unique.
Most of the local people will happily stop and chat with you and will readily give you advice or tell you some interesting facts if you ask them.