Part two of our trip to Cape Cod to celebrate my mom's birthday was a day trip to Nantucket! None of us had ever been but have been dreaming about it for years so we were SO excited! There is so much to do in Nantucket, especially during the summer. Nantucket lies just 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod, accessible only by ferry and plane, making it the perfect day trip destination. We woke up bright and early and hopped on the ferry at Hyannis Port (the same port we caught a ferry to Martha's Vineyard from - check out my guide here!). The town of Nantucket is picturesque - with cobblestone streets lined with beautiful homes and shops, all with their own hand-painted signs. Since we ended up going the week after Labor Day, some of the popular summer activities were closed, but we still had the best time! Here are a few tips on what to do while you are there!
Nantucket IS an island, so of course there are plenty of beautiful beaches to choose from. But, since we were only there on a day trip we decided to maximize our time by walking up and down all of those cobblestone streets I told you about! Walking around Nantucket is a full day activity in itself. There are so many cute shops to stop in, restaurants to eat at, and the waterfront area is so beautiful. You'll see plenty of historic buildings, bursting hydrangea bushes and cute island-themed knick knacks!
One Straight Wharf, Nantucket, MA
When I told my Instagram fam that we were heading to Nantucket the recommendations came pouring in and I can't tell you how many people told me we MUST go to CRU! The restaurant is spectacular and the views are unparalleled. We ordered some Bloody Marys and noshed on New England Clam Chowder, Oysters, Mussels, and more! The large floor to ceiling windows of CRU open to the pier and we had an amazing table. What could be better than eating delicious seafood with your loved ones while watching the yachts go by!?
There are many lighthouses to choose from when visiting Nantucket, but my favorite by far was the Brant Point Lighthouse. There is a ton of history here - it is the second oldest ligthhouse in America (built in 1746) and is also the lowest light in New England at 26 feet above sea level. We ended up walking from town and it wasn't too bad of a walk, plus there are some BEAUTIFUL houses on the way!
4 Harbor Square, Nantucket, MA
If you read my last post about our day trip to Martha's Vineyard you know by now that the Dirty Banana is a staple on the Cape. A ton of you told me that The Gazebo was THE PLACE to get one on Nantucket, and you were all right! The Gazebo is a lively, open-side structure, right in the middle of downtown. It really is hard to miss and is pretty much guaranteed to be jam packed. I highly recommend sipping the beverage of your choice while enjoying the ocean breezes, people watching, and picture perfect view of the busy Nantucket harbor!
Honorable Mentions
Unfortunately, we ran out of time to do EVERYTHING we wanted to do, so I figured I would leave you with a little list of what we wish we could've squeezed in!
Cisco Brewers is a little inland from the downtown area of Nantucket, and we weren't able to make it there, but there’s a free shuttle from the visitor’s center from 12pm – 6:30 pm daily. The coolest part about Cisco Brewers is that you are also able to try wines from Nantucket Vineyard and spirits from Triple Eight Distillery! If you like alcohol you will definitely enjoy yourself here! They even have food trucks stationed nearby with pizza, seafood and other bites. AND Cisco Brewers often has live music - my fave!
The Whaling Museum was on every list that I saw detailing what to do in Nantucket, but unfortunately it was closed when we went. The museum is over eighty years old and houses some amazing artifacts, including a skeleton of a sperm whale skeleton that looks like it's diving from the ceiling!
Of course you could spend far longer than just a day on Nantucket, but if you don’t want to stay at a pricy Bed & Breafast (and trust me they are PRICY!) or are just stationed somewhere on the Cape, a day trip is perfect! I can't wait to head back to Nantucket during the height of summer season so that we can experience even more of what it has to offer! Any recommendations? Leave them in the comments!
xoxo. Alexandra
