I had a difficult time narrowing down spring break destinations this year. If you read my previous post about visiting Lynchburg after reading Love & Whiskey in 2024, you know I love traveling to places inspired by books.
This time, I was in the middle of reading Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand when I had the idea to visit Nantucket. While many of her books are based on the island, the ones I had read made it feel like a place I’d never actually venture to. Since it’s an island, I wasn’t sure if I could make the logistics work within my timeframe. After doing some research and pricing everything out, I made an executive decision: I was going to Nantucket for four days.
Here’s everything I did during my time on my new favorite island.
DAY 1
I woke up super early Saturday morning to head to the airport. There was a lot of buzz about long TSA lines due to a partial government shutdown, and I didn’t want to risk missing my flight, especially since I had a connection in Boston before heading to Nantucket. I arrived at the Atlanta Airport at 2 AM. Ironically, I was too early for TSA PreCheck and had to go through the general line. Even then, it only took about 25 minutes to get through security and another 20 minutes to get to my terminal, which ended up changing anyway.
Running on just a few hours of sleep, I found a seat to lie across and take a nap before my flight. I decided to start my trip in a luxurious way and visited the Delta Sky Club once it opened. I was shocked to see the line wrapped around the corner, but it moved quickly. I grabbed a quick breakfast before boarding. While waiting, I got a notification that my seat had been upgraded to first class! I felt extra fancy! Getting upgraded is one of my favorite travel experiences.
The flight to Boston was smooth, and I had time to grab lunch before boarding my next flight to Nantucket via Cape Air.
I knew the plane would be small, but seeing it in person was still shocking. The terminal felt like it was tucked away in a quiet part of the airport, and the planes looked tiny compared to what I expected. There were fewer than eight people per flight, and mine had just six passengers plus the pilot. I’ll be honest, that 55-minute flight was the scariest flight I’ve ever taken! I was seated just two rows behind the pilot and could see directly into the cockpit. While the views were beautiful, the turbulence made me question all my life choices 😅. I kept reminding myself I’d be fine, but I definitely said a prayer as soon as we landed.
Once we arrived, I grabbed an Uber to my hotel, The Veranda House, part of the Nantucket Resort Collection. I learned it had been completely burned down a few years ago, had recently reopened, and was absolutely beautiful. As a book lover, I loved that there were books throughout the hotel. They also offered a small breakfast each morning, along with snacks and drinks in the lobby. I upgraded my room the week before to a king balcony harbor-view room, and it was 100% worth it.
After settling in, I explored downtown. My first stop was Cafe 22, where I got a caramel latte. I usually prefer iced coffee, but the 50° weather (a big shift from the 80° I left in Georgia) called for something hot. Walking through downtown Nantucket felt so peaceful. I stopped by Mitchell’s Book Corner and bought a signed Elin Hilderbrand book, picked up a hat from a small shop, and grabbed a cute long-sleeve sweater from The Nantucket Clothing Company. Since everything was within a short walking distance, I dropped my bags back at the hotel before heading to dinner at Queequeg’s. I didn’t have a reservation, so I arrived right when they opened at 5 PM. The locals I talked to were so kind, and they loved hearing about my Cape Air experience (one bartender even joked and called it “Cape Fear”). I ordered clam chowder and shrimp scampi, and everything was fresh and delicious. After a long day of travel, I went back to the hotel, relaxed by the fire pit, and called it a night.
DAY 2
I woke up early and started my day with brunch at Island Kitchen. I ordered steak and eggs with a mimosa made from fresh orange juice. It was soooo good!
From there, I took an Uber to Siasconset (or “Sconset” as locals call it). I had heard great things about the Sconset Bluff Walk, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The path runs along the backs of private homes with stunning ocean views. It was a little tricky to find at first (thanks, Google Maps 🙃), but once I did, it was worth it. I only saw a handful of people along the mile-long walk, which made it feel even more peaceful. My only regret? Wearing heeled boots. The gravel path wasn’t terrible, but comfortable shoes would’ve been the better choice.
Afterward, I walked to Sankaty Head Lighthouse, where I learned about how it was moved due to erosion. The views were beautiful, and I took a few more photos before heading to Cisco Brewers. In addition to beer, they have a wine and distillery station. Since it was the off-season, it was much quieter than expected. I grabbed a beer flight, relaxed for a bit, then headed back to the hotel to freshen up.
Dinner that night included stops at Brotherhood of Thieves for oysters and shrimp cocktail, followed by Lola 41, where I lucked into a sushi special. Along with my tuna and salmon sushi, I had salmon lo mein, which was delicious! The food, and conversations with locals, were highlights of the night! I ended the evening with a walk to Brant Point Lighthouse before heading back to my hotel to sit by the fire pit and rest for the night.
DAY 3
I started my day determined to get a lobster roll! I found Walter’s Deli, but despite Google saying it opened at 9 AM, my hotel’s list said 10 AM—so I waited. Since it was the off-season, options were limited, but the lobster roll was absolutely worth it!
The rest of the day was slow and relaxing. I caught up on sleep and spent time reading the books I picked up earlier in the trip. It was the perfect way to fully enjoy the calm energy of Nantucket. Later, I had dinner at The Sea Grille. I ordered oysters and their free-form ravioli with lobster, shrimp, and scallops, easily one of the best meals I had on the trip. At this point, I can confidently say: every single thing I ate in Nantucket was amazing. That night, I checked out The Chicken Box, a well-known dive bar on the island. It was fun to experience, but it definitely felt like a typical dive bar, just in a very upscale location. A lot of the crowd seemed to be visitors or people working on the island. I had a few drinks, enjoyed the atmosphere, and called it a night before my travel day.
DAY 4
I spent my last morning slightly regretting my decision to go to The Chicken Box the night before 😅—especially knowing I had a long travel day ahead. My ferry with Hy-Line Cruises was scheduled for 10:30 AM, so I made time to grab clam chowder from Stubby’s and enjoy a few final moments by the dock. The high-speed ferry got me back to the mainland (Hyannis Port) in about an hour. There were more people than I expected for a Tuesday morning, and while there was outdoor seating, it was too cold for anyone to really enjoy it. The ride was smooth, and I actually fell asleep during the last 30 minutes.
Once we arrived in Hyannis (I couldn’t believe I was less than 10 minutes away from the Kennedy Family Compound), I grabbed my luggage and took an Uber to the Hyannis Transportation Center. I already knew there was a 12 PM and 12:30 PM Plymouth & Brockton (P&B) bus to the airport, and I made it just in time for the 12 PM route. The bus felt more like a charter bus, and there were fewer than 15 people on board. After a few stops, I arrived at the Boston airport around 2:15 PM. TSA wasn’t an issue this time, and I made it back to Atlanta without any problems. I was just completely exhausted but fulfilled!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ever since I left Nantucket, I feel like I’ve been on “island time”…moving slower, not rushing, and just enjoying the moment.
While I loved visiting during the off-season and connecting with locals, I would love to return during the summer when more places are open, the weather is warmer, and I can fully enjoy the beaches. I just have to make a mental note that prices increase once the weather warms up!
Nantucket is a 10/10 recommendation from me!
