Our Trip To Nantucket

Hello friends! I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last shared here. Summer has always been a season that my blog has taken a back seat and I’ve become okay with that. We take it easy as a family and we spend our time swimming, traveling, having cookouts with friends and I spend long afternoons reading in my armchair. I just can’t seem to bring myself to hop onto the computer, but after taking an east coast road trip and spending three days in Nantucket, I’m feeling so inspired! I wanted to share a little about our trip, starting with my favorite spot of all – Nantucket island!  Josh and I both agree that Nantucket is one of our all time favorite places we’ve visited. We were so sad when our three days were up but we’ve agreed that next summer will require a week long stay. If you’ve never visited Nantucket, it’s just like every photo you’ve ever seen. It was even better than my expectations! Let me start by saying, I’m not a travel blogger. I just thought it would be fun to share a glimpse into our trip and what we enjoyed most. 

We stayed in Nantucket in mid June. The weather was perfect and such a nice break from our summer heat in Georgia. Mid June is also a great time to visit because you beat the heavy summer crowds. As you might know, Nantucket is known for their hydrangeas but they are not in full bloom just yet in June. Although I was a little bummed that the hydrangeas weren’t blooming yet, the roses were putting on quite a show. They were absolutely gorgeous and left me feeling so inspired to get a few planted along our fence at home. If you want to see the island with its hydrangeas are completely in bloom, July is a great month go. Just know that July kicks off their summer season and we were told the crowds can be a bit much. 

Nantucket was our second stop of our two week long trip. We spent the night in Cape Cod and had a 9 a.m. ferry ride to the island. We booked our high-speed ferry tickets four months in advance with Hy-Line Cruises. They also have ferries to Martha’s Vineyard. I am very prone to motion sickness, so taking a small plane to the island was not an option for me, but that is another option if you prefer to fly. You can also book a longer two hour ferry for a little less, but with motion sickness in mind we thought the one hour ferry would be best. From the ferry dock we were able to easily walk to our inn. 

We stayed in the sweetest bed and breakfast – The Barnacle Inn. I couldn’t recommend it more. It’s downtown and you’re easily able to walk to most shops and restaurants. A delicious breakfast is served each morning on the patio and you’ll also find complimentary cookies and coffee every afternoon. We booked two adjoining rooms with a private bathroom in the middle. It’s perfect if you’re traveling with kids or teens. Nantucket as several adorable bed and breakfasts available that are perfect for a quick stay. Next summer we plan to book a house. That way, our meals will be much easier for the week. Originally we had booked a Jeep rental, but later opted for bikes after I read in several places that bikes were the way to go. This could not have been truer for a number of reasons. During the summer the island can be crowded and they have very limited parking downtown or anywhere for that matter. Getting around on a bike was very easy.

We rented our bikes from Young’s Bicycle rentals and had a great experience. There are so many bikers on the island that those in cars are very cautious and polite to those on bikes. The island is only 4 miles by 14 miles, so very bike friendly. The only exception I might make for bikes is if you’re traveling with anyone elderly.

We loved getting out for a ride in the mornings and evenings when the island is more quiet and peaceful. Biking is a great way to see everything up close. If you stay downtown, getting to Sconset is 8 miles one way. We were able to bike to it one afternoon, but we’re used to biking regularly. Sconset is such a sweet and quiet spot and Sconset Bluff isn’t something you’ll want to skip while in Nantucket. It’s along the water and the homes are absolutely stunning. It’s one of the most picturesque places on the island. We walked along the beach for a bit and Charlie played in a cute park with a nice playground by the beach. We also enjoyed lunch at a great sandwich shop and got ice cream before we headed back to downtown. It’s a really nice and quaint place to spend an afternoon. 

When it came to food, we skipped the fancier restaurants this trip since Charlie was with us.  Instead, we stuck with more kid-friendly spots. One dinner spot we all loved was The Charlie Noble. We had a beautiful view looking out onto the water. The food and service was wonderful. If you’re looking for a quick bit for lunch, the Proprietor is a great place. Their Turkey Terrific lives up to the hype. It’s Thanksgiving dinner all in one sandwich, so yummy! Josh and I are really looking forward to getting back to Nantucket just the two of us to dine in some of the fancy, iconic places, such as Cru and The Club Car. 

We made sure to spend a day at the beach. Two of the beach areas we visited were Steps beach and Children’s beach. Children’s beach is basically downtown and was only 5-10 minutes from our inn. It was very quiet (That might not be the case in their busy season.) and Charlie played with a couple of other children there. Josh and I soaked up the sun and watched the sailboats go by. You’ll also find a playground there that is practically on the beach. There’s benches and restrooms, so you can easily make a day of it. 

While we were there I made sure to pop into a couple of shops and purchased a few treasures to take home with us. I also milled around a couple of antique shops. Prices for antiques were far more than I could swing, but it was nice to see so many beautiful things in one place. 

We had read in several places that we needed to visit the whaling museum. Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world, after all. I wasn’t sure if it would hold Charlie’s interest long enough, but he absolutely loved it! They have a great interactive children’s section where young kids could play for hours. We attended the whaling show that is put on throughout the day as well and we all really enjoyed it. If you’re planning a trip to Nantucket for the first time, I highly recommend visiting the whaling museum. It a fun and affordable way to spend an afternoon. 

When our stay in Nantucket had come to an end, we all decided that three days just wasn’t enough. I’m so grateful we finally got to visit and I can not wait to return. Our trip was a great introduction to the island and we savored every second. I can see why families visit every summer. It’s such a peaceful place, away from it all. After we left Nantucket we headed to Maine for four days. Our trip to Maine is another blog post for another day but, you can read about our past trip to Portland and Kennebunkport in 2019 here. 

Whether you’re traveling this summer or having a stay-cation, I hope you’re all having a wonderful summer so far! I’m so thankful to be in a place in our lives that we get to travel and see new places. I always feel so inspired and ready to create when I get back. It can be a day trip just two hours away or a two week long road trip 20 hours away, I don’t care. It’s just inspiring to see something new and escape the mundane for a time. Here’s to happy travels and a sunny summer, friends!