downtown Nantucket

I'm back in Nantucket for another epic 24 hours. 

If arriving from the airport (vs via ferry), I consistently start my day in Nantucket at Handlebar.  The coffee is fantastic, the ambiance is beautiful, and it's the perfect location to start a walk around historic downtown Nantucket.  Handlebar is basically the first establishment, located at the very end of downtown, and I always need caffeine after an early flight.  

My first trip to Nantucket was via the ferry from Cape Cod and that had been my only experience with Brant Point Lighthouse.  While it's a beacon of fun-to-come for riders of the ferry, I hadn't ventured out to the beach to see the lighthouse close up.  This trip, I made the short walk from downtown to see the famous lighthouse in person.  Like all New England lighthouses, this one has a unique story and history.  Brant Point was established in the mid-1700s and was the second lighthouse of colonial America (number one being Little Brewster Island in the Boston Harbor).  In late Spring, the sand is covered is stunning, blooming, Beach Morning Glory.  Sand, Sea, Lighthouse, Flowers - a photographic reminder of what makes Nantucket so special.  

The neighborhood walk, back to downtown from the beach, is breathtaking.  Every home is grand in size and stature.  The porches and gardens surrounding the homes compliment the beach atmosphere and the New England traditional style.  Nantucket is known for its flowers (climbing roses, bushy hydrangeas, and over the top window boxes) and the homes near downtown rival those of Sconset and other more country-like neighborhoods.

Back in the heart of downtown, it's time to do some shopping.  After a quick walk along the water and through a small park filled with roses, I'm off to marvel at the picturesque storefronts of town.  The shingled buildings and overflowing window boxes make this the most charming place to window shop.  Even if you never set foot inside the store, you will fall in love with the shop.  

Wandering out onto Swain's Wharf Road, I was enamored by the quaint cottages, and in mid-June the landscape was just starting to burst with color.  A few of Nantucket's most photographed homes are located on this wharf and I was eager to have my own copies of the photos as well.  Imagine all the trellises covered in roses.  Someday I hope to see it. 

Being a flaneur is my favorite pastime but then again, so is lunch!  The cutest space to grab a meal is Lemon Press.  There was a wait for a table, so I grabbed an acai bowl to-go and sat on a Main Street bench to people watch as I ate.   The view from the outside is just as pretty as the view inside.  

After the quick lunch break, my shopping continued at one of my favorite Nantucket shops, Mitchell's Book Corner.  On my last visit I met Elin Hilderbrand and had her sign a copy of her latest novel.  Ironically, this time Elin was in NJ promoted her newest book so I missed her by a week.  Nevertheless, the store is darling and loaded to the gills with Nantucket literature.  I spent an hour just browsing the 2nd floor before grabbing a pre-autographed copy of 5 Star Weekend.  The purpose of my trip to Nantucket was to secure of copy of this book, so mission accomplished!  

The next shopping area I tackled was the pictorial area of Old South Wharf.  The teeny tiny shops are adorable and filled with beautiful artwork and clothing.  There are a handful of restaurants with stunning views and boats can pull right up to the wharf to park at the Nantucket Boat Basin.  At the entrance to the wharf, there is the light-filled, brightly colored, shopping mecca, Skinny Dip.  I coveted every single dress in the store.  

Swapping Old South Wharf for Old North Wharf and Straight Wharf, I did a bit more window shopping and then knew it was time for the cult favorite, The Juice Bar.  The ice cream here is legendary and I hadn't tried any of the flavors in my previous visits.  Shockingly the line was short and I was able to chat up the worker and get some recommendations on his favorites.  I worked in an ice cream stand in NY for 7 summers so felt right at home chatting it up with the staff.  The ice cream lived up the hype and I became a fan for life.  

Dinner was just a quick salad along the wharf as it began to rain, but I was able to seek shelter in one of the prettiest hotels I've ever stayed, the Greydon House.  I'll come back to Nantucket for the decor of this hotel alone!  The Greydon House is a hotel favorite and you can see more of this historic and gorgeous hotel here.  

Sconset and Sankaty Head Lighthouse are two of my other Nantucket favorites and early summer is the most beautiful time to see the roses bursting from their vines along the seaside homes.  This Nantucket neighborhood is probably one of the prettiest places I've been in my life, rivalling even the stunning cliffs of Italy and the South of France.  It's almost June again so it is definitely time to start planning my next 24 hour trip to Nantucket.  Maybe I'll convince Matt to come along this time too :)