This past Sunday, my yearly day trip to Nantucket took place. The small island off the coast of southern Massachusetts is absolutely my favorite destination in the entire USA! It’s quaint cobblestone streets, gorgeous beaches, art galleries, old sea captain homes, and gift shops galore make this a haven for tourists who seek a scenic and relaxing time away from home.
The easiest way to get there is by ferry from Hyannis, Cape Cod. It is a two hour and fifteen minute ride by the inexpensive regular ferry or a one hour ride by the expensive fast ferry. I took the slower ferry. The ride is always smooth sailing on those waters.
After a two hour ride which went by quite quickly, we arrived at our destination! The infamous Brant Point lighthouse greeted us. The partly sunny, partly shady harbor glistened with the silhouettes of row boats, sailboats, and yachts with a background of a church tower and small cottage businesses.
Upon arrival on shore, I strolled down the street past art galleries displaying the seascape paintings of local island artists.
Multiple upscale and island wear clothing boutiques dotted my path.
As I walked up and down “Main Street”, my eyes caught the view of many gift shops selling beach items, local crafts, and a multitude of other items.
My walk on the cobblestone street brought me down to the boat docks. Many extravagant yachts and sailboats were docked there. Tourists such as myself can sit on the benches there and enjoy the ocean view.
After a bit of taking in the fresh air and the shops, I headed back towards upper Main Street. There, I gazed upon the old sea captain homes. Some of the glamorous homes were made of red brick with a widow’s walk on their roof tops to search for arriving ships in the distance.
The Jared Coffin House was built for one of the original residents of the island back in 1845. He was a successful businessman. The mansion is now home to a hotel for guests.
I was famished for a mid-day meal! For lunch, I stopped by an island favorite “The Brotherhood Of Thieves”((Brotherhood Of Thieves). The wait staff was friendly, helpful, and vegan-ready! I ordered the homemade veggie burger consisting of black beans, broccoli, and corn. My side order was the sweet potato fries. Everything was fabulous! The burger was incredibly delicious!
After my meal, I walked by The Rose and Crown. This has been an island staple in the dance club and music scene for several decades.
As I took the twists and turns of each road and alley, I came across the many picturesque island homes which proudly displayed beautiful flowers and bushes in hues of blue and pink.
My next stop was the Nantucket Lightship Basket Museum. Visitors can learn about the creation of these baskets. Items for purchase include lightship basket handbags, jewelry, and household goods and accessories. I purchased a lightship basket necklace.
My next destination was Surfside beach! The island can boast of several breath-taking beaches including Surfside, Cisco, Madaket, Sconset, and Jetties. Surfside is always a great choice, as there is a city bus($2) that goes there, as well as concession stand and rest rooms on the premises. I enjoyed my visit to gorgeous Surfside Beach with its soft white sand!
When I arrived back in town on the evening bus, I made a stop at the old church tower of the Unitarian Church. The Congregational Church on Centre Street also has an impressive tower. During earlier hours, anyone can climb to top of the tower for an outstanding view of the island and ocean.
Evening was just upon us. After my time at the beach and walk about town, it was time for a refreshing, freshly squeezed juiced at The Juice Bar (12 Broad Street). This place had been in operation for almost 40 years, sometimes with lines extending to the sidewalk! The lines were short during my early evening visit. I ordered a freshly squeezed watermelon juice. It was very refreshing and absolutely delicious!
It was time for dinner before waiting for the return ferry trip. Centre Street Bistro(Centre Street Bistro) is known for it’s vegan-friendly food with upscale dining options. I ordered the vegan Pad Thai with tofu, rice noodles, and veggies in a red curry, topped with sliced mangoes. It was superb and flavorful to my taste buds!
As a frequent visitor to Nantucket for many years, I am very pleased with the improvement of the vegan dining scene and it’s offerings on the island. Center Street Bistro offers a tofu scramble for breakfast, as well. During my afternoon strolls, I found several cafes and restaurants which offered veggie burgers on their menu. Fog Island(Fog Island) offers veggie burgers and sandwiches. Dune(Dune) offers more upscale dining with a vegan plate containing hot and cold items. Vegans can now rejoice and happily dine on Nantucket! I enjoyed my vegan meals and scenic sightseeing during my island visit! I strongly encourage any vegan tourists to visit stunning Nantucket: my vote for favorite destination in the USA!