Why Honeymoon on Nantucket
The island is just big enough to explore and just small enough to feel like your own. It is about 14 miles long. Bike paths connect town to the main beaches and the village of Siasconset, known as 'Sconset. You can spend days without getting in a car.
The landscape surprises first-time visitors. Beyond the town are open moors covered in heather, wild roses and scrub oak, with ponds and bogs that glow red in fall. The beaches range from calm harbor beaches on the north shore to surf beaches on the south.
Nantucket also has a polished hospitality scene, with historic inns and harbor hotels, fine restaurants and boutiques. For couples from the Northeast, it is an easy escape. For those from farther away, it pairs nicely with Boston or Cape Cod for a New England honeymoon.
When to Go
Peak season runs from late June through August, with warm days in the 70s and low 80s, swimmable water and everything open. Rates and crowds are at their highest, especially around July 4.
September is the favorite month of many locals. The water is still warm from summer, the crowds thin after Labor Day and prices begin to drop. Early October is quieter still, with cranberry harvests and crisp days.
Late May and early June are pretty but cool, with fog common and the ocean still cold. The Daffodil Festival in late April is charming, with antique cars decorated in flowers.
From November to April, many hotels, shops and restaurants close. The island is beautiful and very quiet, but options are limited. The exception is the Christmas Stroll in early December, when the town is decorated and lively for a weekend.
Where to Stay
White Elephant, on the harbor in town, has been welcoming guests since the 1920s. It has rooms and cottages with water views, lovely gardens and an easy walk to Main Street.
The Wauwinet, a Relais and Châteaux inn, sits on a narrow strip of land eight miles from town, between the harbor and the Atlantic. It is quiet and romantic, with two beaches, a free shuttle into town and boat or beach excursions. It is open seasonally, typically from spring through fall.
For more of a village feel, look at inns and cottage rentals in 'Sconset, where tiny rose-covered houses line the lanes. Town has many small, well-run historic inns in former captains' houses, often less expensive than the big hotels and within walking distance of restaurants. In July and August, expect harbor hotels and top inns to run roughly $800 to well over $1,500 a night (approximate); September brings real savings.
Romantic Things to Do
Rent bikes and ride to Madaket Beach on the west end for sunset. The path runs about six miles through moors and pines. The light over the water at the end of the day is the island's best show.
Walk the 'Sconset Bluff Walk, a public path that passes between cottages and gardens on a bluff above the ocean, then continue to Sankaty Head Lighthouse.
Spend a morning at the Whaling Museum, then climb to the rooftop deck for views over town and the harbor.
Take an over-sand tour or guided excursion to Great Point, a long, wild spit with a lighthouse and seals at the tip. Book a sail around the harbor at sunset. Before you leave, follow the old tradition of tossing a penny off the ferry as you pass Brant Point Light; it is said to guarantee your return.
Getting There and Around
Nantucket Memorial Airport (ACK) has seasonal nonstop flights from New York, Boston, Washington and a few other cities, plus year-round service from Boston on small planes. Flights can be expensive and fog delays are common.
Many couples fly to Boston and take a bus or drive to Hyannis on Cape Cod for the ferry. High-speed ferries take about an hour; the traditional ferry takes a little over two. Book early in summer, especially if you want to bring a car.
You do not need a car on the island. Town is walkable, bike paths cover most of the island and a public shuttle runs to 'Sconset, Madaket and the beaches in summer. Taxis and rideshares are available but can be scarce on busy nights.
Food and Drink
Nantucket punches far above its size for dining. Seafood is the star, of course. Look for lobster rolls, clam chowder, fried clams and oysters from nearby waters. In fall and winter, Nantucket bay scallops are a local prize: small, sweet and best just seared in butter.
Breakfast and lunch are casual, with bakeries and sandwich shops in town. Pick up picnic supplies and take them to the beach.
For dinner, the island has fine dining rooms in historic houses and lively spots by the water. Reservations are essential in summer, sometimes weeks ahead.
Cisco Brewers, a short ride from town, has a beer garden with a brewery, winery and distillery in one place, plus live music and food trucks on summer afternoons. It is one of the island's most fun stops.
Honeymoon Tips
- Book early. Summer weekends sell out months ahead, for both rooms and ferry car space.
- Skip the car. It is costly to bring over and parking in town is difficult; bikes and shuttles cover most needs.
- Pack layers. Evenings can be cool and foggy, even in July.
- Watch the surf. South shore beaches have strong currents, so swim where lifeguards are on duty.
- Check for ticks. They are common on the moors and in tall grass; stay on paths.
- Consider September. You get warm water, open restaurants and fewer people at lower prices.
