Day Trip to Nantucket with Kids
Day Trip to Nantucket with Kids – Nantucket is a small but perfectly formed island that’s easy to reach from the Cape Cod port of Hyannis. While many people holiday there, it makes the perfect day trip too, as it’s relatively compact and easy to get around. These are the activities that made our family fall a little bit in love with Nantucket!
Getting There – Day Trip to Nantucket
Getting to Nantucket is part of the adventure. Hyannis is the departure point for the majority of visitors. I’d definitely advise booking a fast ferry if you’re a day tripper, as it takes one hour compared to two hours fifteen minutes, but obviously the slower ferry is more economical. We booked with the the Steamship Authority Fast Ferry to Nantucket, setting sail aboard M/V Iyanough. Onboard, outdoor and indoor seating, great views, plus a cafe/bar make the journey pass quickly. The ferries sail relatively regularly and it’s advised to book ahead, it’s pretty much essential in high season. The views as you arrive of the lighthouse and the harbour are stunning. (For other ways to reach Nantucket click here.)
Explore the Main Town – Day Trip to Nantucket with Kids
When you disembark take time to simply wander the streets and get a feel for the architecture and atmosphere, which is SO different from home. Nantucket was renowned as a whaling town in the late 18th and early 19th century, and when you wander the streets it’s modern yet somehow emanates that frozen in time vibe. A very pretty yet practical town.
Nantucket Whaling Museum – Day Trip to Nantucket
The Whaling Museum in the centre of town worked really well for us. The kids sat for ages listening to hologramatic stories from actors playing real historic Nantucket residents – the children simply liked sitting quietly listening to good stories. There is a dedicated children’s play and discovery area, but the museum itself kinda caught their imagination. Candles made from spermaceti, beautiful carvings on whale’s teeth and bones used for women’s corsets (scrimshaw), horrific tales of cannibalism aboard the Essex whaling ship, a huge whale skeleton in the main hall, plus the views from the rooftop terrace gave us a new perspective on Nantucket.
Children’s Beach – Day Trip to Nantucket
Just a few minute’s walk from the town centre and the Whaling Museum is Nantucket’s Children’s Beach. It’s small, with gently sloping shores, lifeguards operating during popular hours, and it’s tucked behind boats moored in the harbour, so parents don’t have to worry about hungry sealife! There’s also a playground and toilets.
Exploring the Island – Cycling or Catch the Wave
Many visitors stay in the town centre but we were keen to explore further. The cycling trails on Nantucket are fabulous, linking up key attractions, coastal regions and sites. Bike rental is available the minute you off the ferry at Young’s Bicycle Shop and Nantucket Bike Shop. Taxi is another obvious option. But we caught The Wave – Nantucket’s reasonably priced regular bus service. You can also take bikes on The Wave buses. The Wave takes exact fares only, but if you play $10 for an $8 fare, you’ll receive a $2 voucher to use on your return/another journey, so we made sure we had the right combo of change and voucher for the return leg.
Bluff Walk
We caught the bus to Sconset as we wanted to walk the famous Bluff Walk. When property here took an upturn in the 19th century, one developer, who loved walking this particular stretch of Nantucket coastline, wrote into the deeds of the lots that public access/right of way had to remain. This means that, to this day, ordinary folk can discreetly walk past or even through the gardens of millionaire’s gardens (sticking to the paths of course) taking in great seascapes, fantastic beaches and enviable properties!
(FYI we found 2 places to eat when you step off the bus in Sconset, a restaurant called Sconset Cafe and a relaxed cafe called Claudette’s Sandwich Shop offering takeaway and outdoor seating, so we grabbed lunch at Claudette’s.)
Lighthouse Spotting
When you arrive by boat you’ll see Brandt Point lighthouse, and most people who walk Bluff Walk carry on to tick off Sankaty Head Lighthouse too.
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Other Activities
Things we didn’t have time for included a Whale Watching tour, such as the ones from Shearwater Excursions. Visiting the Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum is another option. We were also tempted by a farm visit, such as Barlett’s Farm or Moors End Farm. Shopping – the shopping and independent boutiques on Nantucket looked fantastic, but with the lads in tow I didn’t get a chance to browse. Plus there are a LOT more beaches to visit. For more tourist info visit Nantucket Chamber.
Where to Stay
We rented our own place on the Cape Cod mainland, booking a spacious self-catering detached house through VRBO, and we were delighted. Search for your own property here, or stay exactly where we did (see pics below, only 30 mins from Hyannis)- good price, sleeps 6, reasonable cancellation policy too. Staying in a real town, in a real neighbourhood, with an ice cream parlour next door!
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