Nantucket is a small island located about 30 miles off the southeast coast of Massachusetts. It used to be one of the world’s largest whaling ports, and therefore one of the richest places on the planet, but it is now mostly a higher end tourist destination. We took a day trip to Nantucket while my parents and grandma were visiting. November is definitely the off-season, but we were still able to fill our day with plenty of fun activities!
Brant Point Lighthouse on the way into the Nantucket Harbor.
Brant Point Lighthouse on the way into the Nantucket Harbor.
Getting to the Island
We think the best way to get to Nantucket is by ferry. There are two main ferry options that we know of during the off-season. The Steamship Authority offers a two hour and 15-minute option for $37/person roundtrip and Hy-Line Cruises offers a 1-hour option for $77/person round trip. Both ferries go from the Hyannis Port to the Nantucket Port. We opted for the fast ferry in order to decrease the risk of getting seasick and to better utilize our one day on the island.
A glimpse of the cottage mansions from the ferry.
A glimpse of the cottage mansions from the ferry.
Getting Around the Island
We don’t recommend bringing a car on the ferry because Nantucket is small enough to utilize other forms of transportation. The fast ferry is only passengers anyway so that makes the decision easier. Also, the roads are crazy narrow and cobbled, so if you’re not a local, it seems a bit unsafe. If you are able to bike, this is a great way to get around the island. Otherwise, Ubers are on the island, so this is what we utilized.
The roads get a bit narrow on this island!
Island Kitchen
We were hungry when we arrived, so our first order of business was to find brunch. We found Island Kitchen about 1.25 miles south of the ferry terminal. They have a nice, heated outdoor area to sit in if inside seating is full. Adam had “The Animal”, which was a breakfast sandwich with two panko-crusted eggs to break open on top of the sausage. We all enjoyed our brunch in this traditional cottage-themed restaurant with an impressive chef.
Island Kitchen
The outdoor heated portion of Island Kitchen.
Island Kitchen
The outdoor heated portion of Island Kitchen.
Whaling Museum
After our tasty brunch, we headed back downtown to get our history fix in. The Nantucket Historical Association has a $20 pass you can purchase that includes entrance into the Whaling Museum along with several other historical sites on the island. In the mid-1800s, Nantucket was the whaling capital of the world, so it was quite fascinating to learn about this dangerous occupation. The Whaling Museum is set up very well with a variety of exhibits and historians wandering around to answer questions. We highly recommend this stop during the off-season.
The Whaling Museum
Where there’s a ton to learn about the whaling capital of the world!
And there are historians to help tell the story!
Don’t forget to check out the observation deck on the roof of the Whaling Museum for views of the Nantucket Harbor!
The Whaling Museum
Where there’s a ton to learn about the whaling capital of the world!
And there are historians to help tell the story!
Don’t forget to check out the observation deck on the roof of the Whaling Museum for views of the Nantucket Harbor!
Other Historic Sites
Included in our ticket for the Whaling Museum was entrance into a few other historical houses walking distance away. We enjoyed wandering down the cobblestone streets to these historical sites. The Hadwen House, Thomas Macy House, and Greater Light each had their own interesting stories and were fun to peruse with the help of a guide to fill in the blanks.
The charming cobblestone streets of Nantucket!
Hadwen House where a whale-oil businessman/philanthropist lived with his family.
The Thomas Macy House where a shareholder of whale ships lived.
The Greater Light where two educated, artsy, Quaker sisters lived.
A glimpse of the inside of the Greater Light.
A peek from the inside looking out of the Greater Light.
The charming cobblestone streets of Nantucket!
Hadwen House where a whale-oil businessman/philanthropist lived with his family.
The Thomas Macy House where a shareholder of whale ships lived.
The Greater Light where two educated, artsy, Quaker sisters lived.
A glimpse of the inside of the Greater Light.
A peek from the inside looking out of the Greater Light.
Downtown Nantucket
Nantucket has a really cute downtown because they have preserved the streets and traditional cedar shingled buildings through city laws and statutes. You almost feel like you’re in a different world as you bop in and out of the shops along the main drag. They have a nice blend of touristy shops, local hang outs, and higher end boutiques.
The cute downtown Nantucket.
Fun fact: people refer to Nantucket as ACK due to this being the airport code.
The cute downtown Nantucket.
Fun fact: people refer to Nantucket as ACK due to this being the airport code.
Sconset Bluff Path
While half of our group was shopping downtown, the other half was checking out the Sconset Bluff Path on the far eastern side of the island. This is about a 2-mile public path that provides picture-perfect views of classic Nantucket cottage mansions, each with perfectly manicured lawns and postcard-like beach views from the ocean-side bluff. There are public access points to reach the beach at each end of the trail to enjoy walking on the sand for a bit as well. Otherwise all the staircases to the beach are private for each cottage. We have William J. Flagg to thank for the creation of this public path through a private neighborhood in order to make these beautiful views less exclusive.
The Sconset Bluff Walk
Where you will find perfectly manicured lawns …
… and great views of the water.
You can even get down to the beach!
The Sconset Bluff Walk
Where you will find perfectly manicured lawns …
… and great views of the water.
You can even get down to the beach!
Cisco Brewers
In the mid-afternoon, we all met up for some live music and drinks at Cisco Brewers while basking in the autumn sun. This is a cool spot because there’s a brewery, winery, and distillery all in one site. It’s a mostly open-air venue with only the bars being indoors. There’s a food truck as well if you’re hungry. Transportation to and from Cisco is easy because they constantly run a free (donations recommended) shuttle from downtown to/from Cisco.
The entrance of Cisco Brewers.
Where they have beer,
wine,
live music,
and a free shuttle to/from downtown!
The entrance of Cisco Brewers.
Where they have beer,
wine,
live music,
and a free shuttle to/from downtown!
Brotherhood of Thieves
After the Cisco shuttle dropped us off downtown, we wandered around a bit until deciding on dinner at the Brotherhood of Thieves. This restaurant has a couple different vibes: a loud dimly lit basement complete with a cozy fireplace or a slightly more formal upstairs with separate rooms to break up the noise. We opted for the upstairs so we could hear each other as we debriefed the day. The food was good here and we especially enjoyed their fresh-baked cookie skillet and ice cream for dessert. After dinner, we enjoyed a night stroll around downtown Nantucket before boarding the 8:20 p.m. Hy-line ferry.
Brotherhood of Thieves
The downstairs option.
The upstairs option.
Downtown is still cute at night!
The Hy-Line fast ferry.
Enjoying some hot cocoa on our one hour trip back to the mainland!
Brotherhood of Thieves
The downstairs option.
The upstairs option.
Downtown is still cute at night!
The Hy-Line fast ferry.
Enjoying some hot cocoa on our one hour trip back to the mainland!
Don’t let the off-season stray you away from Nantucket. We were able to pack a lot into our 10 hours on the island. Even in November, there are plenty of activities to find on this quaint island and it sure is nice to avoid the crowds!