Nantucket Island is not simply an upscale vacation destination for the rich and the famous. This island, located 30 miles south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has something that anybody will enjoy. It is a perfect spot for a summer vacation for the whole family or a romantic getaway for a couple. But it is also a place to include in your bucket list if you are a history enthusiast, a surfer, an angler, a golfer, a foodie, or a traveler.
Reasons to visit Nantucket in the spring
Since the island becomes overly crowded during the peak of the summer season, which is in July and August, it is good to plan a trip during the shoulder seasons, which are spring and fall.
The official summer season when the restaurants, stores, and most venues on the island reopen begins around Memorial Day in late May. But the returning seasonal residents and most vacationers prefer to spend time in Nantucket during the high season in July and August. During those months, the population of the island can expand up to five times when most hotels and rental residences, as well as the restaurant tables, are completely booked.
Also, the prices can surge during these two summer months.
To beat the crowd and plan a more affordable trip to this New England Island, you can go in the spring. Choose the end of April or May if you want to be able to enjoy most of the amenities, which are usually closed off-season.
If you like, you can go to Nantucket earlier at the beginning of spring, when the town and the island are more authentic, and when only the permanent residents are there.
Here are the top reasons for visiting Nantucket in the spring rather than the summer:
It is more relaxing
If you prefer to enjoy the tranquility and avoid the crowds, springtime is the perfect time to go to Nantucket. You won’t need to compete with hundreds of other tourists and vacationers for a good table at the best restaurants and will not need to deal with the hustle-bustle of the crowded streets, beaches, and other venues.
Travel and accommodation are more affordable
During the spring, you will have a wider choice of available short-term rentals in all neighborhoods of Nantucket than when summer comes. Plus, the prices are not as steep off-season as they are during the peak of the summer.
There are many available residential rentals on the island suitable for all preferences and budgets. If you choose to go with a group of friends or relatives, you can share the cost, and your trip will be even cheaper.
Travel fares for the ferries and airlines to and from Nantucket are also substantially lower in the spring, fall or winter.
You can spend a perfect Easter in Nantucket
This picturesque New England town is among the best choices to spend an idyllic Easter. The different restaurants and other venues offer special Easter deals and organize various events for Easter every year. You can take part in an unforgettable adult egg hunt which is held at the 5-star restaurant Topper’s in Nantucket!
You can attend the Daffodil Festival
This is an annual festival held during the last weekend of April. Various festivities celebrate the coming of the spring. Some of the events include Daffodil Regional shows and contests, a retro car parade, a children’s parade, a dog parade, a hat pageant, a tailgate picnic, art exhibits, and more.
Most museums and restaurants open in April
Even though the season officially starts at the end of May, most restaurants, museums, and other venues in Nantucket open in April. If you go then, you will be more likely to book a better table at the restaurant of your choice and enjoy the local museums without having to deal with crowds.
The Nantucket Wine & Food Festival
If you are a wine lover, you will appreciate the annual Nantucket Wine and Food Festival, which will take place from May 18th to May 22nd in 2022 for the 23rd time.
You can book your tickets now and join in on the fun-filled event, which includes different wine tastings, lunch and dinner pairings, wine seminars by the best sommeliers, winemakers, and chefs in the world, and more.
Activity ideas for your spring trip to Nantucket
Nantucket is one of the best-preserved historic towns in the USA and prides itself on some of the most beautiful beaches and sights. There are many things to do and places to explore when you go to Nantucket, no matter the season.
Here are some spring activity ideas when visiting Nantucket:
The Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge
This is a stunningly beautiful natural preserve on two peninsulas on the northern coast of the island of Nantucket. You can see deer, seals, raptors, shorebirds, and other wildlife in their natural location, and during your walk or ride, witness some of the most beautiful ocean views and landscapes in the world.
There are 16 miles of walking trails in the wildlife refuge where you can walk through the sandy dunes and beach and marsh grasses, beach plums, maritime oaks, heather, and a whole savannah of red cedar. Some of the trails you can explore include the Inside Trail, the Beach Trail, and the Coskata Woods Trail.
Most of the refuge is accessible with a special beach permit and a 4WD vehicle as well.
While in this beautiful wildlife refuge, you can see one of the three lighthouses of Nantucket – the Great Point Lighthouse, which is located at the island’s northernmost point.
Cisco Brewery
Even if you don’t like beer, the Cisco Brewery is definitely a place to visit when in Nantucket. It is the only outdoor brewery in the USA and is located right beside the Nantucket Vineyards as well as the Triple Eight Distillery. This means that you can get a taste of the best locally made beer, wine, and liquor.
You can take a tour or take part in a tasting, or enjoy sipping on your chosen drink in the beer garden while enjoying some seafood or dumplings and listening to live music.
Some of the best drinks to try while there include the Whale’s Tale Pale Ale, the Shark tracker, the Gale Force Gin, and any of the local syrah’s, pinots, merlots, or chardonnays.
You can reach the Cisco Brewery and any other venue or area on the island by bus or bike. There are many bike rentals in Nantucket, and a network of bike paths covers the entire island. You can even take your own bicycle with you on the ferry, and it will cost you only $14.
Come prepared for all kinds of weather
The weather on the island has always been unpredictable. So, you should be prepared for all types of weather, ranging from sunny and 60 degrees to rainy and 40 degrees. So, make sure to bring along some suitable shoes for rain, and a raincoat or sweater, along with sunglasses and sunscreen, when you visit Nantucket in the spring.
