What to do on Nantucket: Stay, eat and visit
With its endless beaches, quaint rose-covered cottages, century-old lighthouses, and over 700 historic buildings, Nantucket, MA, is one of the most sought-after destinations on the northeast coast of the USA.
The small yet picturesque island is just 30 miles off the coast of Cape Cod and can be reached by ferry or plane.
The New England island is a popular summer vacation spot for celebrities, history enthusiasts, romantic couples, young people looking for fun, seafood lovers, adventurers, nature enthusiasts, and families.
Here are some useful tips on what to do, experience, eat, and where to stay when in Nantucket.
Where to stay
Nantucket is small, and almost half of its territory is conserved and undeveloped, so the number of available properties for sale is quite limited and offered at seven-figure prices.
On the bright side, the short-term rental business on the island is thriving, allowing visitors to choose from a wide variety of rental residences for their stay. This option can save money compared to booking rooms at luxurious hotels and inns, making the island experience much more authentic.
From small beach lofts to historic houses and stately waterfront mansions, there is a rental property suitable for everyone on the “Little Grey Lady of the Sea.”
Where to eat
Nantucket is a culinary centre with some of the best fine dining, casual chic, and cosy eateries, offering the freshest and best-tasting seafood, local produce, and other delicious dishes for all tastes.
Here are some of the top places to enjoy the best of Nantucket’s cuisine during the holiday.
Millie’s
Named after local native legend Madaket Millie Jewett, this restaurant is a casual, family-friendly place to enjoy reasonably priced Mexican-inspired dishes and snacks.
The restaurant at 326 Madaket Road is the perfect place to visit before or after watching the mesmerising sunset at the famous Madaket beach on the far western part of Nantucket.
It is child-friendly and dog-friendly and offers mouth-watering salads, tacos, quesadillas, sandwiches, children’s menus, and more, all prepared with the freshest organic products from local farms and the ocean.
Dune
Dune is a fine-dining establishment where modern chic meets casual comfort. Established in 2009, it has become one of the top-rated restaurantsin Nantucket, thanks to chef and owner Michael Getter, Chef de Cuisine Joseph Ranstatler, and the friendly professional staff providing impeccable service and food.
Dune is located at 20 Broad Street and features three elegant and comfortable dining areas, a beautiful outdoor patio, and a unique quartzite bar.
Guests can enjoy elevated takes on traditional American seafood and other cuisines while watching the yachts and boats pass through the Nantucket harbour.
The Juice Bar
This small and quaint ice cream and bakery store often has a long line of holidaymakers and locals waiting patiently, especially during the high summer season.
It offers some of the best homemade ice cream in Nantucket and possibly some of the best ice cream flavours and products in the country.
Visitors can choose from more than 40 wonderful flavours of creamy ice cream, low-fat and healthier alternatives, sorbets, frozen yoghurts, and more, served in delicious handmade waffle cones.
Other treats and drinks at the Juice Bar include fresh juices, smoothies, various specialties, and homemade ice cream cakes and pies.
Straight Wharf This famous waterfront restaurant offers upscale seafood and other dishes made of sustainable, locally grown ingredients and the freshest catch of the day.
The classy restaurant is closed during the off-season and can be quite busy in the summer, so it is recommended that visitors book a table at least two weeks before heading off to Straight Wharf for a fabulous dinner or to celebrate a special event.
Don’t forget to enjoy some of the best-crafted cocktails at its bar while taking in the view of the harbour and the Nantucket Sound.
What to visit
Nantucket may be small, but it has numerous historical sites, natural reserves, beaches, and beautiful sites to see. Here are some places and activities to add to the itinerary to experience the best of Nantucket and learn more about what makes it so unique.
The lighthouses
Nantucket is home to three of the USA’s oldest and still working lighthouses.
Brant Point Light is the second oldest working lighthouse in the country and is at the Nantucket harbour, guiding ferries and other mariners arriving at and leaving the island. It has been rebuilt ten times since it was first built centuries ago, and every year, it is adorned with flowers, Christmas wreaths, and flags to celebrate local festivals and holidays.
Sankaty Head Light is a red and white striped lighthouse on the eastern coast of Nantucket, close to the village of Siasconset. It was famously moved back by 400 feet inland a few years ago to prevent it from collapsing into the ocean due to the erosion of the bluffs.
Great Point Light is at the island’s northernmost point and is the brightest lighthouse guiding ships and mariners since 1784. It is located within the picturesque Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge.
The Whaling Museum
The museum is set in a beautifully restored historic building that used to be a factory for making candles from whale oil.
It has more than a thousand exhibits and artefacts from the glorious years when the locals were considered the bravest and most successful whalers in the world.
Visitors can see a real hanging sperm whale skeleton, the first lighthouse Fresnel lens in the USA, and hundreds of treasures, artwork, and other exhibits from those years. There are artefacts and documents from the real captain of the Essex whaling ship who inspired the great American novels “In the Heart of the Sea” and “Moby Dick.”
Don’t forget to go to the viewing deck on the rooftop of the museum to admire the fantastic view of the historic downtown, the Nantucket Sound, the Harbour, and the Brant Point Lighthouse.
‘Sconset Bluff Walk
Sconset is short for Siasconset, the name of the small, charming village on the east side of Nantucket.
The walkway is only one mile long but offers some of the most scenic ocean and landscape views of all walking paths worldwide. The path passes by the famous shingle-style cottages with white picket fences and trellises covered with roses reaching their rooftops.
Visitors can admire these historic homes and their impeccable gardens from up close, the scenic view from the cliffs above the beach of Siasconset, and the Sankaty Head Lighthouse.
Craftmasters of Nantucket
This is one of the best souvenir shops to buy the traditional locally handcrafted scrimshaw knives and other items made by the owner and craftsman David Masters. The charming shop also offers a wide choice of other crafted goods, collectibles, jewellery, and artwork by local artisans in the traditional nautical style of the island, perfect as keepsakes and gifts from a trip to Nantucket.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
YouTube
RSS