Travel

Weekend on Nantucket | Affordable Island Fun in Photos

Digital editor Aimee Seavey shares her images from a recent spring “shoulder season” budget weekend on Nantucket in this colorful slide show. Thanks to a discount hotel stay, affordable bike rentals, and making the most of quick meals like burgers and hearty breakfasts, the visit was both affordable and fun. Read more about Budget Weekend on Nantucket.

By Aimee Tucker|Jul 09 2012| Print icon

A red Chevrolet pickup truck is parked on a street with brick-paved and dirt sections, near buildings and greenery.

You'll also spot a fun vintage car or truck...or two.

Photo Credit:
Digital editor Aimee Seavey shares her images from a recent spring “shoulder season” budget weekend on Nantucket in this colorful slide show. Thanks to a discount hotel stay, affordable bike rentals, and making the most of quick meals like burgers and hearty breakfasts, the visit was both affordable and fun.
A spring weekend on Nantucket.
We started our weekend on Nantucket via ferry, and would be getting around on foot. Fortunately, Nantucket accommodates pedestrians beautifully.
Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Greeting, beautiful Nantucket!
Greeting, beautiful Nantucket!
From the ferry, make you way up Main Street. In necessary, get your bearing at the Compass Rose at Gardiner's Corner.
From the ferry, make you way up Main Street. In necessary, get your bearing at the Compass Rose at Gardiner’s Corner.
Nantucket's Main Street (this view is looking down towards the water) is cobblestoned and lined with charming shops and eateries.
Nantucket’s Main Street (this view is looking down towards the water) is cobblestoned and lined with charming shops and eateries.
Whales, whales, everywhere.
Whales, whales, everywhere.
Did I mention the whales?
Did I mention the whales?
Heading down Center Street.
Heading down Centre Street towards our hotel.
The Jared Coffin House.
Our discount digs for the weekend, The Jared Coffin House.
Weathered gray and cheery red are badges of honor in Nantucket.
First up was a leisurely stroll around downtown. Weathered gray and cheery red are badges of honor on Nantucket.
If you love historic architecture and design, you'll swoon for Nantucket. Don't say I didn't warn you.
If you love historic architecture and design, you’ll swoon for Nantucket. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
A history-lover's paradise.
A historic home-lover’s paradise.
Architecture buffs love it, too.
Architecture buffs love it, too.
Color, brick, and Old Glory.
Color, brick, and Old Glory.
You'll also spot a fun vintage car or truck...or two.
You’ll also spot a fun vintage car or truck…or two.
Plus what I suspect is the most elegantly-stocked thrift shop in New England.
Plus what I suspect is the most elegantly-stocked thrift shop in New England.
And lots of beautiful spring flowers.
And lots of beautiful spring flowers.
Early Nantucket lilacs.
Early Nantucket lilacs.
Even the cracks in the ground have something lovely to show.
Even the cracks in the ground have something lovely to show.
Wanting to see more of the island than downtown, we opted to rent bicycles for the afternoon. Our route? The path to Madaket Beach.
Wanting to see more of the island than downtown, we also opted to rent bicycles one afternoon. Our route? The 6.2 mile route to Madaket Beach.
Our path took us past some more lovely scenes.
Our path took us past some more lovely scenes.
Even a swan or two...
Even a swan or two…
Until we finally reached our windy destination.
Until we finally reached our windy destination.
Madaket Beach in the spring is windy!
Madaket Beach in the spring is windy!
And too cold for swimming, but not for strolling.
And too cold for swimming, but not for strolling.
We strolled past the impossibly beautiful scene at the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, where Garndner and Milk Streets meet Main Street...
On the way back, we stopped to walk our bikes as we got closer to downtown. We strolled past the impossibly beautiful scene at the Soldiers and Sailors Civil War Monument, where Gardner and Milk Streets meet Main Street…
And past the "Three Bricks," built by Joseph Starbuck.
And past the famous “Three Bricks,” built by Joseph Starbuck.
Later, we capped off our day with a visit to the Nantucket Whaling Museum.
Later, we capped off our day with a visit to the Nantucket Whaling Museum.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
The dark and cozy Brotherhood of Thieves is the perfect bar for a burger (even veggie) and a beer.
And let’s not forget the food! The dark and cozy Brotherhood of Thieves was the perfect bar to grab a burger (even veggie) and a beer right after we arrived.
For breakfast (my favorite meal on vacation), there were blueberry pancakes at Arno's.
For breakfast (my favorite meal on vacation), there were blueberry pancakes at Arno’s.
An omelette and hash browns, too.
An omelette and hash browns, too.
And for dessert? The Juice Bar had the perfect answer...
And for dessert? The Juice Bar had the perfect answer…
A generous scoop of maple walnut ice cream.
A generous scoop of maple walnut ice cream.
Photo Credit : Aimee Tucker
And if that wasn't enough, there was always Leah's Fudge.
And if that wasn’t enough, there was always Aunt Leah’s Fudge.
Until, at last, it's time to head back to the mainland. Until next time, Nantucket!
Until, at last, it was time to head back to the mainland. Until next time, Nantucket!
Read more about Budget Weekend on Nantucket.

Aimee Tucker

Aimee Tucker is Yankee’s senior digital editor. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.

More by Aimee Tucker

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