My favorite things to do on Nantucket in the summer
Nantucket in the summer is what most people consider paradise. It’s typically cooler than the mainland and offers a little escape from the heat while still being warm enough to enjoy all of the outdoor activities. The island has to offer.
There are so many different things to do on the island and so many places to visit, but here are a few of my favorites!
Sconset Walks
The activity I do probably most frequently is go for a walk in Sconset. The quaint cottages and coastal views are unmatched anywhere else on the island and honestly anywhere else I have visited. I typically have the stroller at the moment so we stick to the paved roads however, if you are stroller-free the Bluff walk is a must! The day is only made better by stopping at the Sconset Market. My favorite item there is a delicious whipped goat cheese and cream cheese spread that has a basil pesto and sun-dried tomato topping. You can dip cucumbers in it if you are going low-carb or go in with a sturdy cracker. They are famous on island for their blueberry muffins and their fresh baguettes that come out every day at four. If I am with the family, we will also stop for some ice cream- In the summer the time of day it does not matter on Nantucket. It’s very similar to an airport.
Nantucket Beaches
We have a few favorite beaches on island and it really depends on what we are in the mood for. Now that we have a little one we find ourselves at the calmer beaches more frequently. My favorite beach when we can drive out onto it, a.k.a. the piping clovers nesting season is done is 40th or your point. The calm warmer waters paired with the sunset make for and other worldly experience. Sometimes we bring lunch and sometimes we cook dinner on the grill or over the fire.
When it’s just the Hubby and I and maybe our friends we visit nobody here. The general public will be happy to hear that air. Traffic controllers are in fact, aviation fanatics, and so despite the fact that our entire friend group is filled with controllers, they preferred beach is nobody here at the end of the runway because working 40+ hours a week talking to airplanes is just not enough for these aviation experts. Airplanes taking off right over the beach and a usual active wave surf makes nobody a fun beach for older kids and adults. Just make sure you get there early in the busy season as it’s one of the most popular beaches on the island.
A trip out to Great Point is another uniquely Nantucket experience. Make sure your vehicle has the Great Point sticker- It is different than the rest of the town beaches. My advice is to go out past the haulover a.k.a. the area that sometimes washes over in the winter or with big storms. I find the area past that location has less black flies because you are more in the breeze and away from some of the protected wetland areas. Also be on the lookout for sharks. However, if you want to see nature, there are plenty of seals. It’s a great spot for fishing as long as you can avoid said seals. And there are usually two swans in the little pond just before the lighthouse turn.
It’s really difficult to walk out onto a beach after you’ve had the experience of driving out onto one, but occasionally that does happen. When we do, we typically go to Matt for the calmer harbor and a visit to Millies not to mention another great place to watch the sunset.
Trail Walks
The Nantucket conservation foundation has created and done a wonderful job maintaining so many trails through different parts of the island. We try to explore new ones weekly. It never ceases to amaze me, the different landscapes and different micro areas on the island and how diverse they can be. They have a great app that can be used to see all the different trails and also rate their difficulty and any notes.
Cisco Brewers
I will do a whole restaurant post but it’s an experience of its own so spending a few hours at Cisco Brewers needs to be included on this list. Both family and dog friendly. The Brewery is a place we visit multiple times a week. They have live music every day during the summer. They are always doing things for the community and we love that they stay open year-round to give the locals such as ourselves something to do in the dead of winter.
Kid Specific
Now that we have a two year-old at home I need to add a few kid specific friendly things to this list!
The island has some amazing playground and we rotate through all of them. One of our favorites is, of course, the little pocket playground in sconce it because walking around the rest of town and then going to the playground is a perfect dual activity for my daughter and I.
When we want a more robust playground, we visit the one on old South Road.
Children’s Beach has the best of both worlds with a playground and the beach!
This summer we plan on taking our daughter to do the Nantucket Critter Cruise! Its a one hour cruise in Monomoy where they pull up some lobster traps and have a touch tank so the kids can explore animals that live in our harbor!
Nanpuppets is a roaming puppet shows- with stops at Something Natural, Cisco Brewers and other locations on island!
A second Ice Cream mention.. yes
Another mention that will be included in the restaurant section a visit to juice bar has to be mentioned. Nantucket’s famous ice cream location is in fact worth the line no matter how long it is.
Bike Paths
Riding bikes throughout the island is another popular activity. Just be warned that the island has some deceitful hills - more than you would think!
If it is a rainy day, a visit to the Dreamland to watch a movie is great but what is even better is when it is not raining and you can go watch a drive-in movie presented by the dreamland instead! Bring your FM radio and pick up dinner and get cozy in the back of the car or the truck and watch a movie together under the stars!
Whatever you spend your time doing on Nantucket, you are sure to have a great time! What are your favorite things to do on island?
