If you haven’t made plans to escape to Nantucket this season, we wanted to let you in on a little secret: the best way to summer on the island (and to avoid the crowds) is to plan a midweek getaway here. You will find that Nantucket is as exciting as ever on weekdays (and weeknights!) but plane fares and hotel rates are more affordable, and the crowds thin out during the week.

The other secret we like to share with our guests is an exhaustive list of our favorite beaches. The island boasts 82 miles of picture-perfect, freely-accessible, and highly-acclaimed beaches. The team at Hotel Pippa can outfit guests with towels and beach chairs for a relaxing day at the beach; water games and sunscreen for the family; or snacks and a bottle of wine for a picnic by the ocean. Here are some of our favorite spots we recommend exploring this summer:

Steps Beach

The water is usually calm and a bit warmer on the Nantucket Sound side of the island. Steps Beach is off Cliff Road about two miles from town, sandwiched between Dionis and Jetties, and is not on most people’s radar. As you approach its signature set of stairs leading down, enjoy the view of harbor and the sound. Steps Beach offers protected shores with gentle waves washing onto the sandy beach, and gray-shingled mansions dotting the surrounding sand dunes.

Jetties Beach

The most popular spot on the calm North Shore, Jetties Beach is where locals and visitors mingle. Sandbar at Jetties Beach offers the quintessential beachfront experience – a low-key atmosphere paired with a view of Nantucket Sound. The Jetties Sailing Center, a nonprofit that promotes access to watersports on the island, offers sailboat rentals and lessons for those looking to venture out on the water.

Cisco Beach

After a big storm, experienced surfers on the island rush to Cisco Beach – this spot has a loyal following and is popular with young adults and surfers. It’s also home to Nantucket’s best surf school and visitors can rent surfboards, wetsuits, and stand-up paddleboards. On your way home, be sure to visit local brewery Cisco Brewers and try some of the select beers they brew onsite, which can only be found at the brewery.

‘Sconset Beach

No trip to Sconset Beach is complete without a refueling stop at the Sconset Market to pick up the shop’s famous brownies. The enchanting bluff walk leads to the beautiful and peaceful beach where you can see seals swimming close to the shore. A hidden gem, the beach is never extremely crowded and lends itself perfectly to a romantic walk at sunset.

Great Point

The pristine beach and Great Point Lighthouse (also known as Nantucket Lighthouse) make the long journey to the area worthwhile. The lighthouse sits on the end of a seven-mile strip of sand overlooking Nantucket Sound and Coatue. Here you will find windswept dunes, waving marsh grasses, miles of golden sand, and clear blue waves. Great Point is home to the island’s best fishing, which means you will find a crowd of passionate fishermen and plenty of bluefish (you can sometimes spot harbor seals fighting over them!). The only condition to experience this dreamy setting: four-wheel drive and a beach permit are required.

Brant Point Beach

Technically a swimming beach, Brant Point is much more suited for sitting and watching the harbor traffic. A scenic viewpoint that features Brant Point Lighthouse, the second oldest lighthouse in the US, this spot is ideal to go wave goodbye to friends and family departing the island. One of the most photographed spots on Nantucket, it is also a special favorite for wedding photos. You can also stumble upon an actual ceremony taking place at Brant Point Beach, making it a locals’ favorite for people watching!

So pack up your towel and sunscreen – we hope to see you at the beach or at Hotel Pippa this summer!

Book your stay at Hotel Pippa

For those looking for reasons to return to the island in the off-season, Nantucket boasts additional festivals during the fall, continuously enriching locals and visitors’ time on the island.

Whichever festival you plan to attend, book your stay at Hotel Pippa and enjoy the hotel’s convenient location, steps from the heart of downtown.

Are you ready to kick off the summer season this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend? We, at Hotel Pippa, are excited for the months to come and thrilled to welcome guests for high season on Nantucket. We still have a few rooms available for the holiday weekend – three days of sailing races, strolls on the beach, on-island explorations, delicious local meals, and fun activities.

There are many on-island traditions on Memorial Day Weekend – seasonal visitors make their way to the island among thousands of sailors hailing from all over the country for the Figawi race. The historic cobblestone streets of Nantucket are vibrant with locals and travelers taking advantage of the mild weather, bustling shops and countless events.

Explore the island’s gray-shingled cottages, manicured gardens and blooming hydrangeas by taking a bike ride through the island’s villages and visit Cisco Brewery for beer and wine tastings and local live music.

On Saturday, get up early to watch the Skippers and boat owners prepare their boats, gather their crews, and head out to the start line. Beginning around 8 am, the parade of sailboats head out of Lewis Bay, pass by Kalmus Beach, and gather off the Hyannis Port jetty. The pursuit regatta officially starts at 10 am and finishes at the entrance of Nantucket Harbor, with a parade into Nantucket Boat Basin. Standing on the beach at Brant Point Light is a great spot to watch all the action.

On Sunday, walk the docks at Nantucket Boat Basin and watch the local high school teams from across the Cape and Islands compete in the annual regatta called the Figawi invitational. On your way back to downtown Nantucket, stop for a delicious ice cream at The Juice Bar and collect local souvenirs at the shops. On Monday, the Memorial Day Parade passes through Main Street, an occasion to honor local and visiting military veterans.

Throughout the weekend, enjoy New England cuisine and eclectic foods are Nantucket’s restaurants – most of them reopen for the summer season on Memorial Day weekend and offer the freshest seafood and local produce. We highly recommend making reservations in anticipation of your visit, and our front desk team can assist once on-site as well.

As high season approaches, Memorial Day weekend on Nantucket is the perfect time to reconnect with family and friends, enjoy the island’s beautiful beaches and perfect summer vibes.

After a long New England winter, there is no better spring escape than a trip to Nantucket. A getaway to the charming island that Hotel Pippa calls home guarantees an idyllic break from daily life, blissful temperatures, festive events, and affordable rates.

As Nantucket brightens up, visitors can enjoy a relaxing stroll on the beach or fun explorations through the historic cobblestone streets, gray-shingled cottages, blooming hydrangeas and winding dirt roads leading to the beach. It’s time to take advantage of all the fun outdoor activities, events and festivals offered on island, pre-summer rush.

Pack up a few layers and hop on the high-speed ferries or one of the many direct flights into Nantucket to make the most of your trip. With Daffodil Weekend around the corner (April 26-28), nature enthusiasts can reserve their stay at Hotel Pippa and enjoy the ‘Sconset tailgating picnic, a highlight of the annual flower festival on Nantucket. The weekend festivities also include art shows, tours, a classic car parade, exhibitions, contests, lectures, and the annual Nantucket Daffodil Flower Show.

Before kicking off the summer season over Memorial Day Weekend, Nantucket will welcome the Wine & Food Festival, a prime occasion to pay a delicious visit to the island (May 15-19). Started when the first vintners arrived on the island, it now draws over 3,000 attendees for this annual spring fête and boasts a continually growing family of vintners, wineries, renowned chefs and restaurants. Today, the NWF marks the awakening of the island when restaurants, galleries, activities and tours open for the season, and celebrates Nantucket as a culinary destination.

If you prefer a more low-key weekend getaway to Nantucket, book your stay at Hotel Pippa and plan a bike rental to ride through the winding roads of the island, stopping at Bartlett’s Farm or Cisco Brewers. Reserve ample time to browse the book trove that is Mitchell’s Book Corner or Murray’s Toggery Shop for a selection of Nantucket reds. Dive into the island’s history at the Nantucket Whaling Museum and marvel at the mix of Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival, and Victorian homes in the local historic district. Make sure you save one evening for a sunset walk on one Nantucket’s many public beaches. End your night discovering local art at the galleries adorning Centre Street, across from Hotel Pippa.

We can’t recommend a spring visit enough – it’s the perfect time to experience Nantucket without the summer crowds and you can connect with our front desk team to inquire about special rates and seasonal offers. Don’t wait, book your getaway now! Don’t wait, book your reservations getaway now!

A true Nantucket tradition, the 45th Annual Chamber Daffodil Festival will take place throughout the island April 26-28, 2019. Now is the time to book your stay at Hotel Pippa, located steps from downtown Nantucket and all the excitement of the flower festival.

Daffodil Weekend started as a simple affair in the 1970s, when islanders would show off their classic cars and take part in a community tailgate picnic in Siasconset. Decades later, the festival is a celebration of springtime awakening where islanders and visitors gather to enjoy the blooming flora, warmer weather and vibrant atmosphere around town.

(photo credit: Roberta White)

Organized by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, this weekend of festivities includes art shows, tours, parades, exhibitions, contests, lectures, and the annual Nantucket Daffodil Flower Show. Locals and guests alike are encouraged to enter the different categories of the show, which always takes place at Bartlett’s Ocean View Farm.

A highlight of the weekend is the famous ‘Sconset Tailgate Picnic that follows the Antique Car Parade. The team at Hotel Pippa can source a locally-inspired picnic basket for those who wish to join the festival-goers and see the elaborate picnic displays and all-around fun first-hand.

Other weekend events include a Daffy Hat Contest, a Children’s Parade featuring decorated bikes, strollers, wagons, and other self-propelled vehicles, a window decorating contest, the famous Sconset Tailgate Picnic, a Family Picnic at Children’s Beach, and more! The Pine Woods Morris Dancers often perform throughout the day at various locations. There are activities for all ages, and faithful festival-goers dress up for the occasion and participate enthusiastically.

We always recommend our guests allocate some time for a stroll on the beach and for a drive around the island to see the blooming flowers and stunning gardens. Our front desk team can also arrange dining experiences around town, so everyone can taste the bounty of fresh seafood and spring vegetables and fruits featured on the menus around the island.

Guest rooms are still available for Daffodil Weekend and we look forward to celebrating spring awakening with you! Call our front desk now to book your reservations before the weekend sells out.