Nantucket is one of my favorite places in the world. Nantucket with kids is a trip filled with fun, memories and plenty of great spots to visit. I first went to Nantucket all alone on the ferry when I was 19 years old. I was staying on the Cape with my mom while she took a writing course and decided to see what Nantucket was all about. It was the first time I went to a new place all alone. It was one of the days that really sparked a love of traveling for me. Then, years later, it was the first place Tom and I took a tiny baby Maggie on vacation.

Since we’ve visited many times and truly love the island more and more every time we go. We are very lucky to always be there with friends that know lots about the island, so it’s not somewhere I have ever had to spend hours researching before we go.

Where to stay: We are very lucky to have always stayed as a family with two sets of wonderful friends. You know you have special friends when they invite your family of seven to stay with them… and we are lucky enough to have two sets of friends. This adds to our love of Nantucket: our family gets to spend time with people we love. The only other place we have stayed, was an inn right in town, but that was just Tom & I and they’ve since changed owners. So sadly I don’t have any tips on where to stay except to say: there’s really not a bad place to stay on the island. It’s small, beautiful and you will be happy anywhere. If you do not plan to take your car on the ferry or rent a car, I’d suggest looking at the map and making sure you can walk to town.

And now… here are some of our favorite spots on the island to visit with the kids:

Nantucket with Kids

In Town:

• Children’s beach & playground
• Towne Pool (in the back is the secret candy store!)
• Breakfast/Lunch: Or the Whale
• Sister Ship: coffee & pastries inside and eat outside in the cute setting
• Cru: pretty fancy at night but for lunch I think it’s good for kids because you’re right on the water & see the boats come in. The food is excellent.
• Nantucket Lobster Trap: Dinner
• Brant Point Lighthouse
• Rent bikes
• Shopping
• The Critter Cruise – our favorite thing every year!

• Jetties Beach: Great beach for kids, tons of good shells, and Sandbar is there. So even if it’s not super warm it’s a great beach to be at. Sandbar is a great spot to eat with the kids
• Something Natural: favorite lunch to go OR eat there. There’s a big yard, boat to play on, fun to bring a picnic blanket
• Cisco Brewers: really fun spot with good food options, often music, etc. Visit Bartlett’s before or after

Siasconset:

• On drive out there visit the Sankaty Lighthouse
• Walk around Sconset, visit the playground there
• See the seals and big waves on that beach
• Walk the to see all the cute cottages
• Lunch at Claudette’s
• Dinner at Summer House: great for families, our kids play on the beach while we sit at the table and they run back to eat. Great food and drinks (may be closed this summer, so check)

• Nantucket Aquarium
• Nantucket Whaling Museum
• Bookworks – my favorite bookstore with a great kids area
• Barnaby’s Toy Shop – they also do little classes that are fun
• Discovery Playground at Hinsdale Park

For more ideas for Nantucket, from restaurants to photographers, I suggest checking out this post by Mackenzie Horan. Also take a minute to read about her family history on the island.

Enjoy your time on Nantucket! xo