We once spent a day on Nantucket...
August 6, 2013 5:28 AM Subscribe
I'm planning a day trip to Nantucket with my husband. We want to take advantage of living close enough to just go for a day... but what should we do there? If you were only spending 6-8 hours on Nantucket, what would you do?
We're thinking of renting bikes, riding around, spending some time at a beach, and grabbing a nice lunch. Do you have recommendations for which beach or where to eat? Also, my husband is an experienced road bike rider, but I'm not. I can ride a bike (it's been years, so hopefully it's true that you never forget), but I'm timid about it. Is Nantucket traffic light enough to not freak me out?
What other things should we make sure not to miss?
We're thinking of renting bikes, riding around, spending some time at a beach, and grabbing a nice lunch. Do you have recommendations for which beach or where to eat? Also, my husband is an experienced road bike rider, but I'm not. I can ride a bike (it's been years, so hopefully it's true that you never forget), but I'm timid about it. Is Nantucket traffic light enough to not freak me out?
What other things should we make sure not to miss?
If your planning horizon goes as far into the future as December 6 to 8, you might plan to attend the 2013 version of the annual Nantucket Christmas Stroll.
posted by paulsc at 6:12 AM on August 6, 2013
posted by paulsc at 6:12 AM on August 6, 2013
Nantucket bike riding is the easiest, it's great! I mean, except those few blocks of cobblestone streets. There are plenty of dedicated bike paths, and though I haven't been during the high season, the roads seem fine to me. Bikes are expected and nobody's in a huge hurry.
Surfside is nice and quiet, Steps Beach is pretty. Those two are where the weather was nicest when I was there a couple months ago but your weather may vary. I had a delicious lunch at Dune, awesome dinner at Corazon del Mar, and a great time people-watching on the patio at Cisco Brewery.
posted by clavicle at 8:03 AM on August 6, 2013
Surfside is nice and quiet, Steps Beach is pretty. Those two are where the weather was nicest when I was there a couple months ago but your weather may vary. I had a delicious lunch at Dune, awesome dinner at Corazon del Mar, and a great time people-watching on the patio at Cisco Brewery.
posted by clavicle at 8:03 AM on August 6, 2013
Best answer: My wife is at work, but she went to Nantucket every year from birth through age 23, so she has thoughts. Her thoughts are below
Surfside is the best beach, especially if you like a decent amount of waves, but if you don’t have a car it’s a bit far away unless you like long bike rides. The waves are bigger than on the mainland side of the island and it is marginally less crowded (if I remember correctly). I’m not particularly a Madaket fan (I might even have spelled it wrong) but I know other people are I guess. Also Surfside is good because since it’s so much more surfy you don’t get pinched by crabs as much as on the calmer side of the island.
There are lots of areas with bike paths outside the town itself and drivers on Nantucket for the most part are aware that there are bikes around so other than the cobblestones (which aren’t everywhere) it shouldn’t be too bad.
If you sail renting a sailboat can also be fun but watch out because I have almost been run over by a ferry so just know that it’s a possibility. For this you’d probably want to do some research first to figure out precisely where you’d want to go to rent something and maybe even make a reservation. If you’re into other types of boats or fishing or whatever there are plenty of things you can charter. Again, I’d check ahead of time and make a reservation. ALSO it’s been maybe twenty years since I did this BUT if you have kids with you there’s this pirate ship called the Endeavor and you can go out on it as a PIRATE and they give you HATS and EYE PATCHES. GREAT TIMES! PREPARE TO BE BOARDED!
If you like historical stuff, there’s some really cool places for tours. I am a fan of the Old Mill in particular, and I haven’t been there in years but the oldest house on Nantucket and the old gaol are both pretty good I think. There’s also the Maria Mitchell Observatory but I don’t know if they give daytime tours. Also definitely the Whaling Museum is good but the Old Mill is the best. Make sure to tip the very nice but awkward teenager who gives you a tour!
If you like shopping, there are a lot of options in town. Avoid the stuff right by the ferry dock as it tends to be more expensive but if you walk around town, especially the smaller streets, there are some places with lovely clothes and whatnot. Also, the candy store (whose name I forget) is really good. Hell, this is going to bug me, I DEFINITELY know the name. Sweet something? Maybe Sweet Inspirations? Whatever, it’s super good and they have lots of confections. My cousin used to get chocolate covered potato chips there every year. In general things tend to be pretty expensive because it’s an island and people go on vacation but if you like shopping there are options including clothes, antiques, tacky junk for kids, pet stuff, nice jewellery, whatever. If you are going with kids I think Aunt Leah’s Fudge Shop is a decent place for penny candy and the store next to it is kind of a tourist trap but has the kind of random junk kids love (at least I did when I was a kid – plastic bows and arrows, little crystal animals, whatever). If you’re looking for nicer clothes, especially for men, Murray’s Toggery is really good and apparently where Nantucket Red originated. It’s preppy but in an old-money WASP way so more like LL Bean than Vineyard Vines unless it’s changed since I was last there (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is only sort of true; Murray's is still a place to get outrageously colored pants with tiny whales them). Main Street is obviously the Main Street but anywhere between that and the street with the Whaling Museum (Broad Street) is good so don’t feel confined to just that one area.
If you like picturesque cobblestones, Nantucket town is also the place for you, although it’s not the best for biking, again because of the cobblestones. Really just walking around town can be nice, especially if you’re not used to small New England towns (but even if you are).
In terms of food, you can probably get better suggestions from Yelp than you can from me because it’s been so long but if you want something nicer the Languedoc (spelling?) is good. Definitely make a reservation. If you want something less formal (WAY less formal) I think Steamboat Pizza is good.
If you’re still there for the evening, I would suggest getting some ice cream (plenty of good options, including both Congdon’s and Nantucket pharmacies on Main Street. They look identical and are right next to each other. It’s kind of weird.) and walking around the docks looking at the boats, especially if you have kids with you but either way it’s just a really pleasant way to spend an evening.
I hope this is helpful! Honestly, I wouldn’t worry TOO much about making plans. If you like beaches, go to the beach! If you like biking, rent a bike! If you like looking at boats, look at boats! The only thing you’d probably need to plan ahead is if you want to rent/charter a boat. Also make sure you check hours for stuff like the Old Mill so you don’t show up and realize it’s closed. Have fun!
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:06 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Surfside is the best beach, especially if you like a decent amount of waves, but if you don’t have a car it’s a bit far away unless you like long bike rides. The waves are bigger than on the mainland side of the island and it is marginally less crowded (if I remember correctly). I’m not particularly a Madaket fan (I might even have spelled it wrong) but I know other people are I guess. Also Surfside is good because since it’s so much more surfy you don’t get pinched by crabs as much as on the calmer side of the island.
There are lots of areas with bike paths outside the town itself and drivers on Nantucket for the most part are aware that there are bikes around so other than the cobblestones (which aren’t everywhere) it shouldn’t be too bad.
If you sail renting a sailboat can also be fun but watch out because I have almost been run over by a ferry so just know that it’s a possibility. For this you’d probably want to do some research first to figure out precisely where you’d want to go to rent something and maybe even make a reservation. If you’re into other types of boats or fishing or whatever there are plenty of things you can charter. Again, I’d check ahead of time and make a reservation. ALSO it’s been maybe twenty years since I did this BUT if you have kids with you there’s this pirate ship called the Endeavor and you can go out on it as a PIRATE and they give you HATS and EYE PATCHES. GREAT TIMES! PREPARE TO BE BOARDED!
If you like historical stuff, there’s some really cool places for tours. I am a fan of the Old Mill in particular, and I haven’t been there in years but the oldest house on Nantucket and the old gaol are both pretty good I think. There’s also the Maria Mitchell Observatory but I don’t know if they give daytime tours. Also definitely the Whaling Museum is good but the Old Mill is the best. Make sure to tip the very nice but awkward teenager who gives you a tour!
If you like shopping, there are a lot of options in town. Avoid the stuff right by the ferry dock as it tends to be more expensive but if you walk around town, especially the smaller streets, there are some places with lovely clothes and whatnot. Also, the candy store (whose name I forget) is really good. Hell, this is going to bug me, I DEFINITELY know the name. Sweet something? Maybe Sweet Inspirations? Whatever, it’s super good and they have lots of confections. My cousin used to get chocolate covered potato chips there every year. In general things tend to be pretty expensive because it’s an island and people go on vacation but if you like shopping there are options including clothes, antiques, tacky junk for kids, pet stuff, nice jewellery, whatever. If you are going with kids I think Aunt Leah’s Fudge Shop is a decent place for penny candy and the store next to it is kind of a tourist trap but has the kind of random junk kids love (at least I did when I was a kid – plastic bows and arrows, little crystal animals, whatever). If you’re looking for nicer clothes, especially for men, Murray’s Toggery is really good and apparently where Nantucket Red originated. It’s preppy but in an old-money WASP way so more like LL Bean than Vineyard Vines unless it’s changed since I was last there (EDITOR'S NOTE: This is only sort of true; Murray's is still a place to get outrageously colored pants with tiny whales them). Main Street is obviously the Main Street but anywhere between that and the street with the Whaling Museum (Broad Street) is good so don’t feel confined to just that one area.
If you like picturesque cobblestones, Nantucket town is also the place for you, although it’s not the best for biking, again because of the cobblestones. Really just walking around town can be nice, especially if you’re not used to small New England towns (but even if you are).
In terms of food, you can probably get better suggestions from Yelp than you can from me because it’s been so long but if you want something nicer the Languedoc (spelling?) is good. Definitely make a reservation. If you want something less formal (WAY less formal) I think Steamboat Pizza is good.
If you’re still there for the evening, I would suggest getting some ice cream (plenty of good options, including both Congdon’s and Nantucket pharmacies on Main Street. They look identical and are right next to each other. It’s kind of weird.) and walking around the docks looking at the boats, especially if you have kids with you but either way it’s just a really pleasant way to spend an evening.
I hope this is helpful! Honestly, I wouldn’t worry TOO much about making plans. If you like beaches, go to the beach! If you like biking, rent a bike! If you like looking at boats, look at boats! The only thing you’d probably need to plan ahead is if you want to rent/charter a boat. Also make sure you check hours for stuff like the Old Mill so you don’t show up and realize it’s closed. Have fun!
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 9:06 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thank you very much for your replies!
We did rent bikes (from Young's) and rode them up Cliff Road to Dionus Beach, stopping at Something Natural for an awesome sandwich and homemade iced tea. We hung out at the beach for a while, then changed our clothes and biked around some more before heading back to town. We had delicious chowder, and lobster bisque at Brotherhood of Thieves (and a couple of much needed beers). Then we wandered around for a while, got a pasty at Nantucket Pasty Co. (the one dud of the day), and a milkshake at Congdon's, before catching the ferry back to Hyannis.
It was a very satisfying Nantucket day.
posted by Kriesa at 12:50 PM on September 5, 2013
We did rent bikes (from Young's) and rode them up Cliff Road to Dionus Beach, stopping at Something Natural for an awesome sandwich and homemade iced tea. We hung out at the beach for a while, then changed our clothes and biked around some more before heading back to town. We had delicious chowder, and lobster bisque at Brotherhood of Thieves (and a couple of much needed beers). Then we wandered around for a while, got a pasty at Nantucket Pasty Co. (the one dud of the day), and a milkshake at Congdon's, before catching the ferry back to Hyannis.
It was a very satisfying Nantucket day.
posted by Kriesa at 12:50 PM on September 5, 2013
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I don't know what exactly you and your husband like to do, but my wife and I loved the Whaling Museum. We went on a whim and it turned out to be an absolute blast. If you're a museum fan, I would definitely take some time to see it.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 5:46 AM on August 6, 2013