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Nantucket is a tiny, charming island off the coast of Cape Cod and is an ideal destination for anyone who wants to experience a traditional East Coast American summer. On Nantucket, you will find sandy beaches, ice cream, cobblestone streets, high-end shopping and excellent restaurants.<\/p>\n
Nantucket maintains a reputation as a getaway haven for families from the East Coast. It is home to the most expensive house ever sold in Massachusetts, at $ 38 million – a testament to the island’s desirability.<\/p>\n
If you visit Nantucket during the summer, you are likely to encounter a celebrity or two. I personally spot celebrities every time I visit.<\/p>\n
In this article, I will share why Nantucket is one of my favorite places in the world. Nantucket feels like home to me and will to you, too; it has a feeling of warmth that I can’t quite explain.<\/p>\n
Here’s my local’s guide to Nantucket, Massachusetts, with all my tips for planning an unforgettable getaway!<\/p>\n
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Every memorable trip starts with excellent accommodation options. Before we dive into what you must see in Nantucket, let’s explore hotel options.<\/p>\n
Nantucket is not a budget destination, but it is possible to find affordable accommodations here. These are 12 of the top-rated hotels in Nantucket. We’ve organized them by luxury, mid-range and budget.<\/p>\n
Luxury Nantucket Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n Mid-Range Nantucket Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n Budget Nantucket Hotels<\/strong><\/p>\n Nantucket is a perfect getaway for any occasion – a family vacation, a romantic getaway, a mother-daughter trip, a solo trip, and, of course, a girl’s trip! You will not find anything else like Nantucket; it is charming, beautiful, and unique.<\/p>\n There is no such thing as too much time on Nantucket. It depends on how much you want to spend your time and how much time you have. As accommodation on the island is costly, especially in the summer, many people opt for day trips to the island and stay on Cape Cod.<\/p>\n I have done mostly day trips to Nantucket because I live on Cape Cod during the summers, and I can tell you that a day trip is worth it. If you can, a week on Nantucket is magical.<\/p>\n You cannot visit Nantucket without going to the beach. Some of my favorite beaches are Jetties, Cisco, Surfside Beach, Great Point, Sconset, and Siasconset.<\/p>\n Jetties is the beach closest to downtown Nantucket. It is a great family beach because of its manageable waves and food options.<\/p>\n The Sandbar<\/a> is a great place to eat lunch and is located on the beach, so you will not have to pack up all your stuff to get food. Jetties also has bonfires at night, perfect for after-dinner s’mores and drinks.<\/p>\n Cisco is an excellent beach for surfing and is more geared toward the younger crowd. You can rent surfboards at Cisco if you want to have a go at surfing or attempt to body surf. Just be aware of currents, especially if you are not used to being around the water. I wouldn’t bring kids to Cisco because of the waves and strong winds.<\/p>\n Surfside is another surfing beach on Nantucket. Just like Cisco, you can rent surfboards at the beach. I prefer Cisco because it is a more local spot and less crowded, but Surfside is also a great option.<\/p>\n Surfside has food trucks at the beach, while Cisco does not, so if you plan to spend a long time there, opt for Surfside. The taco truck at Surfside is incredible!<\/p>\n Great Point is a quiet beach in the northeast part of the island. It is not easy to get to Great Point and it is not the safest beach. Great Point is known for allowing high-rise vehicles on the beach and camping.<\/p>\n While Great Point is gorgeous, it is a bit unsafe because of the lack of other people and marine life. This past summer, swimming at Great Point was banned due to the high concentration of sharks near the shoreline. So, if you go to Great Point for a day or night, don’t swim.<\/p>\n South of Great Point is Sconset Beach. Sconset Beach is an excellent place for a beach day. Be sure to check out Siasconset and the Siasconset Bluff Walk while in the area.<\/p>\n Near Sconset Beach is Siasconset. Similar to downtown Nantucket, Siasconset has shops and restaurants that will keep you busy for hours.<\/p>\n My favorite shops in Siasconset are Parchment, Sconset Market, and Sconset Bookstore Wines.<\/p>\n Being an avid hiker, I needed to find the best trek on Nantucket. The two-mile Siasconset Bluff Walk was my favorite because of the views of the water.<\/p>\n Downtown Nantucket is full of unique shops and restaurants. While the shopping and food are top-notch, don’t forget your wallet because it is pricey.<\/p>\n My favorite shops in downtown Nantucket are Millie & Grace, Blue Beetle, and Cattivo Nantucket. You will also find great food options downtown; my favorite is Born & Bread.<\/p>\n Nantucket Harbor is right in downtown and is an excellent place for a walk after a meal. Admire the massive yachts. Some of them even have helicopters on them!<\/p>\n Suppose you are looking for the perfect Nantucket aesthetic, head over to Orange Street. Orange Street is one of the oldest streets on Nantucket. On the brick road right off Main Street, you will find Nantucket-style homes, colorful Jeeps, and gorgeous flowers.<\/p>\n While on Orange Street, take a moment to admire the Nantucket homes; the homes on Orange Street are the oldest on the island.<\/p>\n One of the most lively parts of the island is Cisco Breweries. Located 2 miles from Cisco Beach, Cisco Breweries is home to food trucks, live music, and a lot of beer. Cisco is up and running from lunch to late at night in the summer.<\/p>\n The minute you set foot on the island, you will notice the number of bikes and bikers. Almost every street on Nantucket is bike-friendly. Many people will bike around the island because it is so tiny and beautiful.<\/p>\n You can rent a bike right after getting off the ferry at the Nantucket Bike Shop<\/a>.<\/p>\n Fishing is huge on the Cape and Islands. While I am not a huge fan, pretty much everyone I know from the Cape and Islands is obsessed with going out fishing. Nantucket is a great place to fish!<\/p>\n Nantucket offers a variety of enjoyable tours for exploring the area, taking to the water, and visiting unique landmarks. For a trip to Nantucket, here are two great tour options:<\/p>\n The earliest departing ferry leaves at 6am, and the latest returning ferry leaves at 7pm, leaving plenty of time to explore the island.<\/p>\n The ferry brings you right into downtown Nantucket. When you arrive, grab breakfast at Born & Bread Bakery<\/a> or Lemon Press<\/a>.<\/p>\n Next, walk around downtown Nantucket. Pop in a few stores; my favorites are Millie & Grace, Blue Beetle, and Cattivo Nantucket.<\/p>\n Right next to the downtown area is the Nantucket Marina. The Nantucket Marina holds gorgeous yachts that make for a lovely walk.<\/p>\n The best sandwiches on the island come from Provisions<\/a>. Grab some sandwiches to go so you can enjoy them on the beach. I recommend the Thanksgiving sandwich!<\/p>\n One of the many beaches on Nantucket, Jetties, is perfect for a day trip because it is within walking distance of downtown Nantucket. Jetties is also great for kids because there are practically no waves.<\/p>\n If you have enough time before your ferry leaves, you can grab an early dinner at one of the many restaurants downtown; Lemon Press also serves a great, quick dinner.<\/p>\n Nantucket is a seasonal destination. The summer is the time to visit Nantucket; the island is alive, the weather is fantastic, and the spirits are high during the summer.<\/p>\n During the winter, Nantucket becomes a ghost town with only a few residents remaining and cold weather. Most shops and restaurants will be closed from Labor Day to Memorial Day.<\/p>\n While summer is a great time to visit the island, it can get costly. If you want to save money, the fall is a great time to visit. You won’t be able to experience the beaches as much, but you will see the fall foliage and fewer crowds. If you visit in the fall, go in September or October because November can get cold and rainy.<\/p>\n Nantucket has adorable holiday decorations and a great Christmas market, so the holidays are also an excellent time to go.<\/p>\n There are a few ways to get to Nantucket. You can book the fast or slow ferry from Hyannis, MA<\/a>, or Harwich, MA<\/a>.<\/p>\n Alternatively, you can fly to Nantucket. It’s a small airport, but there are flight connections via Boston and New York.<\/p>\n You can also take a ferry from Boston<\/a>. The cheapest way to get to Nantucket is to take the slow ferry from Hyannis. If you are arriving in Boston, you can take a bus from Boston Logan Airport to Hyannis and hop on a ferry.<\/p>\n Walking or biking is the easiest way to get around; Nantucket is tiny. If you are going to a faraway beach, you can purchase a bus day pass<\/a> that goes all around the island.<\/p>\n Jeeps are popular on the island because the cobblestone streets are more accessible to drive on with them.<\/p>\n There’s nothing like laying on a beach in Nantucket reading a book. Here are some of my favorite beach reads, all about Nantucket.<\/p>\n I hope you’ve found this Nantucket guide helpful and are now excited to visit this charming peninsula with your girls!<\/p>\n If you have questions about Nantucket or would like to share tips with our readers, please comment below. And suppose you’re interested in visiting other cities in the United States. In that case, you can check out all our Bachelorette party articles<\/a> for inspiration or all our girls getaway guides<\/a> for other trip ideas.<\/p>\n We hope that this article has inspired you to visit Nantucket, Massachusetts. If you have any questions or advice to share with our readers, please leave these in the comments below. <\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Want to share your own travel tips by guest writing for We Are Travel Girls? Please visit our<\/i><\/b> Contribute Page<\/a> <\/i><\/b>for guidelines and to submit your article.<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n\n
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<\/p>\nWhy Visit Nantucket<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nThings To Do In Nantucket<\/h2>\n
1) Go To The Beach<\/h3>\n
Jetties<\/h4>\n
Cisco<\/h4>\n
Surfside Beach<\/h4>\n
Great Point<\/h4>\n
Sconset<\/h4>\n
Siasconset<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\n2) Visit Downtown Nantucket<\/h3>\n
3) Walk Down Orange Street<\/h3>\n
4) Cisco Breweries<\/h3>\n
5) Bike Around Nantucket<\/h3>\n
6) Take A Fishing Charter<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nBest Tours To Take In Nantucket<\/h2>\n
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Nantucket Day Trip Itinerary<\/h2>\n
Where To Eat Breakfast In Nantucket<\/h3>\n
Where To Go Shopping In Nantucket<\/h3>\n
Visit Nantucket Marina<\/h3>\n
Where To Have Lunch In Nantucket<\/h3>\n
Jetties Beach<\/h3>\n
Where To Eat Dinner In Nantucket<\/h3>\n
![\"Lemon](\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/lemon-press-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBest Places To Eat In Nantucket<\/h2>\n
Breakfast & Coffee<\/h3>\n
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Lunch<\/h3>\n
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Dinner<\/h3>\n
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Late Night Hangouts<\/h3>\n
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<\/p>\nBest Time To Visit Nantucket, Massachusetts<\/h2>\n
![\"Average](\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/nantucket-average-weather.png\")
<\/p>\nHow To Get To Nantucket, Massachusetts<\/h2>\n
How To Get Around Nantucket<\/h2>\n
![\"Cars](\"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/nantucket-cars-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\nBooks About Nantucket, Massachusetts<\/h2>\n
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<\/p>\nNantucket, Massachusetts Guide Wrap Up<\/h2>\n
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