Nantucket Winter Getaway
5/24/2024
An island 30 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean may not be the first thing that springs to mind as a winter getaway, but we can assure you that Nantucket is a lovely place to visit mid-winter. With 12,000 year-round residents, there's still plenty happening without the crowds and lines of the summer, and you're sure to receive excellent service in the island's restaurants and bars. Our boutique hotel is the perfect base for your Nantucket winter getaway.
Maria Mitchell Center | 89 Nantucket Avenue | (508) 228-9198
Those looking for outdoor adventure and some wildlife spotting will want to bundle up and set out for the beaches and ponds of the South Shore. Snowy owls can be spotted amongst the dunes and deer and rabbit tracks mark the snow-covered sand. Seals can be seen along any of the island's shorelines and nearby rocky islands, while black-tailed ducks and a number of gull species float on the waves. The Maria Mitchell Center, Nantucket's Science Center, offers guided bird walks throughout the winter—even a nighttime "Owl Prowl."
Nantucket Ice Center | 10 Bakus Lane | (508) 228-2516
If there's enough snow on the ground, grab your sled and head to Dead Horse Valley, the only sledding hill on the island. Believe it or not, Nantucket doesn't tend to get too much snow—it's usually 10 degrees warmer than the mainland. Should you strike out with sledding, the Nantucket Ice Center offers indoor skating with skate rentals. Public skating is available from 1-2 p.m. but check the weekly schedule for the latest.
Bartlett's Farm | 33 Bartlett Farm Road | (508) 228-9403
Take a break from the cold at Bartlett's Farm, a celebration of the island's harvest even in mid-winter. This market, greenhouse, and garden center will make you forget about the snow outside with its baskets of local produce, baked goods, and prepared foods. Stock up on supplies for a picnic lunch or a bottle of wine and some cheese and crackers for happy hour.