Hey guys!!! Long time no see eh? Thank you so much for understanding that I needed to take a step back. It was honestly pretty difficult at first to not worry about posting an Instagram story or to not be checking up on all my favorite blogs’ updates, but once I relaxed into the pace of Nantucket, all those worries melted away.

In short, I loved Nantucket. Some of you might know I’d been dreaming about going for around 2 years now, and it pretty much was exactly what I expected.

It’s got a decidedly slower pace of life and the vibe of a small town, but that description could never do it justice. It’s also got a relaxed but fun-loving island feel, as well as something else that is entirely unique and can only be explained by the rich history of the island and its isolation.

It didn’t really remind me of any place I’ve been to in the past, not even Martha’s Vineyard surprisingly, though at times the feelings I experienced while there were almost identical to those I experienced while at Bath, England, which was one of my favorite places I ever visited.

I also fulfilled my dream of meeting the lovely Georgie while on the island! We spent a few hours together, walking around, enjoying breakfast sandwiches, then getting some coffee, and finally relaxing on the beach. We talked about pretty much everything I always wanted to talk to her about, from wellness topics to Instagram to life post-grad to Harry Potter. The whole experience felt slightly surreal to me haha because I’ve been following her blog for SO LONG. Just goes to show even the craziest dreams are totally within reach if you just believe you can attain them. 🙂

Before I jump into my recommendations and recap of the trip, I have to mention that Nantucket isn’t necessarily the kind of place you go to in order to check off a list of activities and sightseeing. There are certainly things to see, and I am very glad I did a bit of preliminary research so that I knew what were some things I definitely wanted to try, but I think the best way to really experience Nantucket’s magic is to just walk all around.

Walk aimlessly and admire the adorable gray-shingled houses that feel as timeless as the island itself. Make a quick pit stop at The Juice Bar for an absolutely dreamy waffle cone and then maybe sit on a nearby bench and just people watch and breathe. And then make your way over to a beach, where you can lie in the surprisingly plush sand and watch the waves or pull out a book. No matter how you spend your day on the island, if you are soaking up every sweet and salty moment you are doing it right.

I also highly recommend staying at an AirBnB, especially if you’re planning on going at the height of the season in July or August. We found an absolutely charming place, not far from historic Downtown (definitely try to be within walking distance!), at a very reasonable rate.

Also, you can definitely get away without renting a car; Uber is pretty much everywhere, and there’s a super cheap shuttle that goes from Downtown to several major destinations like ‘Sconset, Cisco, and the airport.

Speaking of, we flew from NYC, which barring delays takes just under an hour. Compared with the hefty ferry rides, I feel like this is the most time-saving option if you’re traveling from New York. And now, what you’re all here for!

I figured the best way to do this is to give you a few highlights. It doesn’t feel right to do a comprehensive recap (too rigid!), but I just want to tell you some things I really think are worth checking out when you’re there.

Eats

The Juice Bar

Yep, this goes at the top of the list. Trust me, this ice cream (and the homemade waffle cone!) is not to be missed! They have a ton of delicious flavors, and I had a really hard time choosing. The first one I got was Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, which was scrumptious and so so indulgent with the giant cookie dough chunks. Yum.

The second time I went with the Carl, which is kind of like Rocky Road (my fave ice cream flavor), and I was honestly wishing I had another serving when I was done. MUST TRY.

Island Kitchen

A great breakfast spot with lots of healthy options! I had the tofu scramble with veggies, and I was sad to see it came sans eggs, but my mom was generous enough to give me one of the eggs that came with her huevos rancheros (which she also really liked). It’s got a really fun vibe and is located right next to Roastd, which I will mention below.

The Proprietor’s Bar and Table

This is a place that wasn’t even on my original list of restaurants. I’d heard about it here and there, but for some reason I decided to put some other spots ahead of it. Well, long story short, we ended up not being able to get reservations to a couple other spots I wanted to try, so on a whim, I made some here.

Guys. This was the BEST meal I’ve had in a long long time. It was small plates, so we tried a bunch of stuff, and it was all OUT OF THIS WORLD. Some menu highlights are the crispy broccoli, warm goat cheese, scallops, and chocolate pot de creme for dessert. DREAMY.

Cru

This was a place I heard TONS about, and it seems like it has its fair share of die-hard fans. From what I’ve heard, it gets pretty crazy at night, but is a fairly mellow lunch spot. It’s right on the water, too, and the prices are pretty steep, but if you can swing it, their lobster roll truly is one of the best. I’m not even sure what makes it so delicious, but it was perfect.

Provisions

Nantucket is really big on sandwiches, and they do them WELL. I’m honestly not a huge fan usually, but I wanted ALL the sandwiches while on the island. I don’t know what it is, but they just make the best beachy food and feel uber comforting. So Provisions is one of the staple spots to get a delicious sandwich right next to downtown and steps away from the harbor. I tried the breakfast sandwich on a croissant, as well as the Caprese. Sadly, I didn’t get to try the Turkey Terrific, which everyone raves about, but that just means it will be my first spot when I return. 🙂

Lemon Press

I had a delicious acai bowl here, and they have abundant smoothie and juice options, and also recently expanded into dinner. Sadly I didn’t get to try it, but it looked great with different small plates and creative flavor combinations. Located right in the historic Downtown.

Club Car

Such a fun place! This was another spot that totally BLEW ME AWAY. This was also small plates, which if you ask me is the best way to go, so we got to try several delicious things. My faves were the roasted cauliflower and roasted summer squash. Sounds so simple, but they managed to give it such a creative twist.

It’s also got a super cool, albeit slightly more mature vibe, and the whole restaurant is designed to be like a train car. So fun!

Places

Cisco

Cisco is a bit of a ways away from downtown, but it’s worth a trip to experience another side of the island. It’s relaxed to the max, and it’s just a great place to hang out for the day.

There’s a brewery, a beach, and Bartlett’s Farm, so pretty much something for everyone. Cisco Beach was super fun; the waves are giant, and I had a great time just letting myself be tossed around in the surf. Bartlett’s Farm had a cool store that we explored for almost an hour, and it’s a great place to grab some food to take to the beach. We went with some hot melty ham and cheese sandwiches (surprise surprise) that we gobbled up on the long walk to the beach.

Word of advice: if it’s a really hot and sunny day, don’t be a hero and just take an Uber from the farm to the beach. The walk feels slightly torturous, even though on the map it looks like no big deal.

Historic Downtown

Though not too big, you can spend several days exploring here. There are so many fun shops, and everything is just so cute and quaint.

Some of my favorite spots to hop into were Nantucket Bookworks, Milly & Grace (SUCH a pretty storefront), Nantucket Looms, The Lion’s Paw, Island Company (I tried on like 10 things in here; SO CUTE). If you pass by an art gallery that catches your eye, definitely wander inside too. Nantucket is remarkably well represented with paint and canvas.

‘Sconset

Another totally different neighborhood on the island. I love that even though the architecture remains pretty constant throughout, each neighborhood has a totally unique vibe. ‘Sconset felt much quieter and more residential to me. We meandered around all the houses, and with some difficulty found the famous ‘Sconset Bluff walk, which takes you on a path where you have the ocean on one side and all the lovely houses on the other.

I really enjoyed ‘Sconset Beach, though I didn’t wade too far into the water because there was a lot of seaweed. But it was quiet and relaxing and the perfect atmosphere for a nice long read, toes in the sand.

Endeavor Sunset Sailing

I feel like you can’t go to Nantucket and not sail, so pretty much as soon as we landed on the island, I booked a sunset sailing trip. It was absolutely lovely, and the sunset on the island is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. You just can’t beat the view of the strikingly red sun seamlessly entering the water, the whole sky ablaze with the brightest pinks and oranges.

Coffee

Handlebar Cafe

I heard this place for so long, and all my high expectations were instantly met. It was everything I want a coffeeshop to be, lots of seating, friendly and fun baristas, chill and welcoming ambiance, and of course, delicious coffee. I had their iced matcha latte and an almond milk latte, and both were out of this world. I especially appreciate that their default cup size is larger than my head. :p

Roastd

This is a relatively new coffee spot, and this is actually where Georgie took me when we were hanging out. It’s such a cool spot, and I’ve honestly not been anywhere like it before. Name a superfood, and it was probably on their ridiculously extensive menu. I went there twice and got a shaken cold brew with brazil nut milk (yup) the first time and then a CBD almond milk latte the second time. Also this was my first time trying CBD, so that was pretty cool! Also the baristas are SO COOL there. Located right next to Island Kitchen.

Honorable mentions: the lighthouses (I only got to see Brant Point, but I hear the others are even more impressive), all the other beaches (I’ve heard great things about Fisherman’s, Steps, and Tom Nevers, but definitely do your research!)

Nantucket was the perfect environment for me to take a break from all the different responsibilities that are largely self-imposed and reminded me that it is perfectly okay to take a step back from things that are not serving me at the moment. It was the perfect chance to take all the pressure off and just reboot before the start of the new school year. In short, it was exactly what I needed.

I really do hope all of you get to experience the magic of Nantucket one day, and hopefully this post will help a bit. 🙂

As always, thank you so much for being here. I love you so so much.

Linking up with Meg for Week in Review

 

Ever been to Nantucket? If not, have I piqued your curiosity?