Nantucket
She went SOLOOOOOOO! For those who have sought advice or feedback from me on solo traveling in the past that I wasn’t able to give before, I’m all knowledged-up now! Well, for a beginner. I’ll go ahead and spoil the ending: I loved traveling by myself. It didn’t feel strange at all, except for simply doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, however I wanted. I love planning trips with and for friends, but just waking up and deciding what to do for the day was liberating. I noticed that I noticed more. I felt like I was really paying attention to what was around me since I didn’t have conversation with a counterpart(s) to divert my focus. There wasn’t a single thing I did that I wouldn’t do again or I felt was a waste of time. Nantucket in July is delicious.
When I first arrived, I unpacked and settled in my Airbnb. I nearly didn’t go that route and was this close to booking at a regular B&B, but I checked for any new listings one last time and came across Nancy and Jim’s guest suite. The price was the main selling point, but I was also gravitated toward the location, amenities, and the fact that the Wave (free shuttle) had a stop in front of the house, making transportation insanely easy. I felt extremely welcomed and cared for at Nancy and Jim’s and would stay there again in a heartbeat. I walked the cobblestone streets in the evening after a stunning meal at Via Mare.
The next morning, I woke up to the sun and bright, blooming blue hydrangeas outside of my window. I was eager to sink my teeth into downtown and all of the shops Nantucket had to offer. Not before a quick smoothie + breakfast stop at the end of my street at 45 Surfside. After downloading the TransLoc app, navigating the island became incredibly easy, especially since the Wave shuttle is free this summer! There are very few designer stores on the island, and the rest are local spots. I hit up The Skinny Dip down by the wharf, went back to the heart of town to finally see For Now, and found the real treasure: Bon Ton. A tiny, one-room shack that is filled with antiques and knick knacks from around the world. I saw Hospital Thrift Shop hyped up, so my expectations to find rich people’s leftovers was high, but honestly, I was pretty let down. It was packed, so perhaps it was inevitable that things were going to be picked over. But, it seemed to be just a glorified Goodwill. Less unique and charming finds and more generic stuff. With that in mind, I made two trips to Bon Ton.
After walking my feet raw, I came back to rest up and get ready for a sushi dinner at Bar Yoshi. Since I was by myself, it didn’t feel necessary to make reservations. But from what I had seen before I arrived, Bar Yoshi was a hopping spot and I’m grateful I did end up making a reservation. It’s placement on the wharf and the sun going down made it a delightful dinner-for-one. I really challenged myself to try and not look at or scroll on my phone while sitting or eating by myself in places. I didn’t want to make the brave choice to come all the way to Nantucket alone, only to be desperate to not be alone. It allowed me to not just fully be present, but observe and eavesdrop on many conversations 😂
The only dessert that seems to matter on Nantucket is ice cream from the Juice Bar. Notoriously, the line is long and it’s expensive. I braced myself for both as I turned the corner, only to see… no one in line. Had the stars aligned? The locals who stopped me to tell me how lucky I was tells me: yes. I marched right up and proudly ordered a cookie dough scoop on a waffle cone and found a good spot to sit and people watch. After finishing off the cone, I looked up Brant Point Lighthouse. An easy 15-minute walk through a quiet residential neighborhood eventually brought me to the sand.
I popped into a few more shops on my way back and called it a successful day. Thursday arrived and the only thing on my mind was: morning buns. The cinnamon roll + croissant hybrid makes Wicked Island Bakery thee sweet morning treat stop. In researching, many folks warned that getting there super early will guarantee you a morning bun, but I took my time and hoped for the best for whenever I arrived. I got there mid-morning and to my surprise, there were a couple other patrons and I was quickly told that a fresh batch of morning buns were just about to come out of the oven. Another wink from the universe?!
After finishing (in an embarrassing fashion) this celestial baked good, I decided what the day would hold for me: walking the Sconset Bluff Walk. A 25 minute shuttle ride to Sconset brings you to a mini town square with the cutest market and post office you’ll ever see, along with Claudette’s, famous for the sandwiches. Walking to the start of the Bluff Walk is a stunning, head-turning journey in and of itself. Folks have their windows and doors open to let the sea breeze in and the aroma of flowers fill the air. During the walk, there’s a spot where locals have painted jokes onto shells and home-made signs that add a special touch to the journey.
After a late morning and early afternoon filled with walking, I went back to relax before getting ready for my photoshoot! I knew that traveling by myself would likely be 95% photos and videos of scenery leaving the remaining 5% of me taking selfies or asking people to take a picture of me. Instead, I decided to book a photoshoot so that I could have professional pictures of myself that commemorates both my first trip by myself, and my first time to Nantucket! I chose the location of Steps Beach as it reflects the Cape Cod styled homes that rest atop dunes overlooking the ocean in the background, along with signifying arguably the most popular beach on the island. You can find those photos here.
A late evening shoot gave me limited options on food, but I opted for ordering sliders at Stubbys and taking them home to eat in bed after a long and wonderful day.
My last full day on Nantucket was to be spent on Surfside Beach. It was the most recommended to me, and was extremely easy to get to as it was a route for the Wave shuttle! I snagged a buffalo chicken wrap from 45 Surfside (still thinking about it), and utilized the beach chair and towels offered by my Airbnb hosts and posted up for many glorious hours. The south side of the island offered some crazy, mesmerizing waves. I was devastated to leave, but excited to use the outdoor shower waiting for me back at the Airbnb. My last dinner involved hopping on the bus for the 20 minute ride out to Madaket for Millie’s. Blackened mahi tacos were devoured within minutes, along with ice cream from the attached shop. I gathered with strangers to watch the sun go down one last time on the island!
Luckily, my flight wasn’t leaving until later in the afternoon on Saturday, so I took advantage of the hours and went back into town one more time. The highlights of the time left here was going to Nantucket Crisps pop-up shop. Seriously, an entire storefront dedicated to chips. An entire ROOM dedicated to a single flavor. I felt at home and understood by these people. They knew how to bring joy and bring it with FLAVOR. Although I wasn’t able to try every flavor, I did taste the Salt & Vinegar, Shrimp Cocktail Sauce, and Sweet Onion. Thankfully, they sell online so I foresee orders in my future.
After hitting the north (Steps Beach + downtown), south (Surfside), east (Sconset), and west (Madaket) sides of the island, I felt like I took advantage of all that it had to offer. There were still many places to eat that I simply didn’t have the time for that I’d love to come back to, but I got a feel for what Nantucket is all about. There is a deep love for this place, intertwined with history and style and damn good cuisine, especially seafood. It was the perfect place to go to on a solo venture. Although many opt to fly to the mainland and then take a ferry to Nantucket, I enjoyed the convenience of just landing and hitting the ground running. I highly recommend coming here for either a leisure beach trip, or shopping and learning more about the island’s history.
Now… where should I travel solo to next?
