Nantucket Advice

[Hong Jong Fuey]

So I am planning on renting a house in Nantucket during August. I've never been. Bringing the wife and 2 year old.....both of which like the beach, but arent huge sun worshippers. I have a pretty good lead on a place on Madaket which I heard has awesome sunsets, but somewhat unswimmable beaches (due to high winds and surf). I've heard that Madaket is also pretty secluded and very local. That said, the house is walking distance to beach and has water views.

So here's the question - seeing that the wife and kid arent huge beach fans, am I better off renting a place in Town so that we all have access to shopping, restaurants, bars, etc. and can still drive to beaches when wanted? Or is Town a total clusterfuck with tons of tourists (myself included), traffic, congestion? Am I better off driving to town every night if/when necessary? How are the Children's Beach and Jetties Beach in terms of parking?

Any thoughts/help would be appreciated. Or just call me a douche for "summering in Nantucket". Thanks.

[Skipig25]

it's nantucket. if you aren't out in wauwinet, you're in town.

but really, madaket is pretty sweet, and it's nice to be out of town a little bit, it's still a pretty short bike ride in. surf is nice there, but not for a little kid.

on another note: if your wife and kid don't like the beach, why are you going to nantucket for a month. you could definitely find someplace you'd all like for the $$

[Hong Jong Fuey]

it's nantucket. if you aren't out in wauwinet, you're in town.

but really, madaket is pretty sweet, and it's nice to be out of town a little bit, it's still a pretty short bike ride in. surf is nice there, but not for a little kid.

on another note: if your wife and kid don't like the beach, why are you going to nantucket for a month. you could definitely find someplace you'd all like for the $$

Thanks for the advice SP. This is helpful and actually makes me think that Madaket may be the way to go. In terms of beach, its not that the wife hates the beach at all, she just doesnt want to spend all day there (like I do). The only reason Im hesitant to rent in Town (however you want to define Town) is that a co-worker told me that anything within a stones throw of Town is basically like renting at the Jersey shore. Lots of chuckleheads, noise, congestion, etc.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Used to live there and spent every summer of my life there until I was almost 30. Personally I (and many of the people I know there) avoided town to the extent that we could--there would be months when pretty much the closest I'd get to town was the Stop and Shop (worked in Sconset). That said, if a crowded, summer resort scene (increasingly full of people who might otherwise be in the Hamptons) appeals to you, then town might be OK. But I'd stick with Madaket.

There's a harbor in Madaket, and the other beaches there are by no means unswimmable--but you do need to use good judgment, as with anywhere else in the ocean. If you need really calm water you can try for something on Polpis Harbor/around Pocomo (best beach for kids, IMO). But if you're a strong swimmer the only place I'd avoid, really, is jumping in the rip off Great Point (get sucked out out there and the next guy you meet will be speaking Portuguese).

Jetties is fine (not sure about parking during crowded days), but Children's Beach is a dump (maybe it's changed, but it always was). Bottom line--I'd recommend staying outside of town. If you like it you can easily get in (parking is a moderate pain some nights), but if the scene annoys you you won't be stuck there.

Hope you enjoy it--I kind of grew up there and love it, despite some of what's happened to it over the past 20+ years. Feel free to PM me with other questions.

edit: not entirely sure what he meant by 'if you're not in Wauwinet you're in town,' but the way I understand that I'd disagree. You can start on Main Street and walk less than ten minutes and escape most of the town vibe. Go a few miles in any direction and it's completely different. Polpis, Sconset, Tom Nevers, Madaket, etc. are nothing like town.

[Hong Jong Fuey]

Used to live there and spent every summer of my life there until I was almost 30. Personally I (and many of the people I know there) avoided town to the extent that we could--there would be months when pretty much the closest I'd get to town was the Stop and Shop (worked in Sconset). That said, if a crowded, summer resort scene (increasingly full of people who might otherwise be in the Hamptons) appeals to you, then town might be OK. But I'd stick with Madaket.

There's a harbor in Madaket, and the other beaches there are by no means unswimmable--but you do need to use good judgment, as with anywhere else in the ocean. If you need really calm water you can try for something on Polpis Harbor/around Pocomo (best beach for kids, IMO). But if you're a strong swimmer the only place I'd avoid, really, is jumping in the rip off Great Point (get sucked out out there and the next guy you meet will be speaking Portuguese).

Jetties is fine (not sure about parking during crowded days), but Children's Beach is a dump (maybe it's changed, but it always was). Bottom line--I'd recommend staying outside of town. If you like it you can easily get in (parking is a moderate pain some nights), but if the scene annoys you you won't be stuck there.

Hope you enjoy it--I kind of grew up there and love it, despite some of what's happened to it over the past 20+ years. Feel free to PM me with other questions.

edit: not entirely sure what he meant by 'if you're not in Wauwinet you're in town,' but the way I understand that I'd disagree. You can start on Main Street and walk less than ten minutes and escape most of the town vibe. Go a few miles in any direction and it's completely different. Polpis, Sconset, Tom Nevers, Madaket, etc. are nothing like town.

Dex - Thanks a ton. This is really helpful. Probably have to pull the trigger shortly given that we want to bring a car or two to the Island and have to book ferry...so Im leaning towards Madaket. Thanks for the help. Will definetly pm you as I get closer for any hidden gems that I need to look out for. Thanks again.

[iceman]

It ain't the Jersey shore, get that out of your head. The first few blocks up from the docks are pretty busy and you would not want to drive there if you could avoid it. On the other hand most of the good restaurants, stores, galleries and culture is more or less in that area too.

If I was going for a visit I'd stay at the White Elephant for a week or so and do some other things with the other three weeks, like the Chatham Bars Inn on the Cape, a couple days in Boston maybe at The Lenox, a couple days in Portland (Hilton Garden Inn is new and convenient), then go down East to Goose Cove Lodge or Pilgrim's Inn on Deer Isle (Maine), maybe a side trip to Bar Harbor and home.

A month at the beach is a long time, personally I would go from hyper to relaxed to very relaxed to a little bit edgy to feeling caged in by the end of the month but that's me.

[reganized]

My cousin lives on the end of Madaket. I usually take our boat over and visit once a year. Swimming out to the boat at anchor from Madaket can be very interesting. The Cape facing side of Madaket has more swim-able waters but the current can still be insane on that side as well when the tides are flowing.

Just be careful.

When other relatives visit them they bring a vehicle over not for driving but to sherpa-ing food and alcohol over to the Island. The cost of food and booze is insane over there! They fill a minvan with food/beer when they go over.

Bring a couple of surfcasting rods with you!

[Dexter Rutecki]

Definitely good fishing off the beach.

Basically just don't swim near the end of the island (make sure you have at least a few hundred yards to work your way back in) and you should be fine (pretty much common sense).

Food is expensive, but you'd have to be eating a massive amount of it to justify the >$400 cost to bring a car back and forth. Was wondering why you'd bring two cars, actually--a lot of people don't even bring one.

[OldLarry]

Nantucket kills- have fun. You are getting good advice here that you should take to heart. It would be fairly hard to have a BAD time, but those with good scoops like the above definitely avoid some annoying situations.

One awesome thing to do is to go straight to the Sunken Ship when you get off the boat and buy everything you can find with "ACK" on it.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Don't listen to what anyone else says--avoid The Brotherhood (restaurant). Unless waiting an hour to eat mediocre food at three star prices is your thing.

[JimmyCarter]

Stock up on


and get a belt with a golden retriever on it.

[Dexter Rutecki]

Those look way too bright to me to be 'authentic.' I'm partial to the whale belts myself. Give yourself and your family names like Chauncy and Muffy.

[JimmyCarter]

Those look way too bright to me to be 'authentic.' I'm partial to the whale belts myself. Give yourself and your family names like Chauncy and Muffy.

I should've gone straight to Murray's website for the link.

[OldLarry]

btw, what're houses in Madeket going for this summer (ball park)? Just curious- yes I know it's a rather crass question for polite company

[yonskion]

So I am planning on renting a house in Nantucket during August..

If you can get a house just out of town like Hummock pond area you can ride you bike to town easy and still have it fairly quite. You should be able to get a house for about......

[reganized]

A lot of the houses over there are falling into the ocean. One rental had no fresh water two summers ago, just salt water. Now it's gone.

Mr. Roger's owned a home at the end of the island. I met him back in the day. he drove a rusted out Honda.

I'd say they brought food and drinks for 20 people for a week. It was cost effective.

[Hong Jong Fuey]

Was wondering why you'd bring two cars, actually--a lot of people don't even bring one.

We would likely be going with another couple that wants to explore the island and come and go as they please. Neither of them can drive my car (manual transmission). City folk!

[Hong Jong Fuey]

Hey guys - any thoughts on Monomoy?

[AdironRider]

If your open to the mainland of the cape, Orleans is pretty dope for the kicking it on the beach, low key vibe. I spent two summers living right on Nauset beach. Your about three miles out from town and its real quiet. No boardwalks, loud massholes, etc. Since you've got a kid its a nice fit. Your still a ten minute bike ride into town, but dont have to deal with any traffic spewing off of 6 or 6a. Make sure you get a pass to drive on the beach, its the tits. Just dont drive out on the north side, its locals only and the rent a cops will give you a ticket and boot you off. (Ive found you dont have to pay and nothin ever happens to your driving record, use this advice at your own risk).

I was never really a fan of Chatham, but the Squire could be a fun little bar for you an the mrs. to go out and have a little fun with little riff raff around. The Land Ho (Orleans) is similar but has a slightly more local vibe, and the Woodshed (Brewster) is where Chauncy and Muffy's brat kids go and get wasted. Fun place though if your in the mood.

If your really looking for seclusion Truro is dope. Dont bother with Ptown unless its a day trip, but there are some of the best restaurants on the cape out there. The whole queer eye things keeps the eats top shelf.

[iceman]

No ...loud massholes

It's IN Massachusetts, dipshit, what you are not hearing is the bridge-and-tunnel crowd.

There's no place to stay on Monomoy, were you thinking of renting in Chatham or Harwich Port? Both are nice, I'd still go with my earlier recco of the Chatham Bars Inn since it's obvious you have the cashish to swing it.

[Steven S. Dallas]

the Squire could be a fun little bar for you an the mrs.

This is also true of the Squire Lounge in Revere (which is basically the same as Nantucket).

[sidewall]

Only advice I can give is that on certain parts of Nantucket, there are long stretches of what look like exactly the same house over and over. My little sister got lost when about 6 yrs old. That was 25 yrs ago so maybe it's different now.

[iceman]

No, there's just more of them.

Revere kicks Nantucket's ass. Actually you wouldn't recognize Revere if it's been ten years since you've been there.

[Steven S. Dallas]

As a son of Cape Ann and the north shore I am staunchly and unequivocally pro-Revere.

[iceman]

As a son of Cape Ann and the north shore I am staunchly and unequivocally pro-Revere.

Ah, Revere, the Nantasket of the North Shore.