Family-Friendly Activities to Do in Nantucket

So, you have already booked your dream house or loft in Nantucket and are heading off on vacation with the family?

First of all, congratulations on your choice! This picturesque island is a top vacation destination, not only for the rich and famous but also for families with kids.

It has various child-friendly beaches, eateries, and activities to keep the little ones happy while you, too, enjoy that well-deserved vacation.

The best way to reach Nantucket

The least expensive way to reach the island is via the Steamship Authority Traditional Ferry from Hyannis port in Cape Cod. The round-trip ticket costs $20 per child aged 5-12 and around $40 for each adult. Kids under 5 travel for free.

The ferry is a really fun way to get to Nantucket, but it takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes. If you have fussy small children, you may want to choose the faster option – the passenger-only ferry from HyLine Cruises, or hop on a plane to the Nantucket Memorial Airport.

The most suitable accommodations for families with children

While there are various hotels and inns on the island, it may be a wiser and more convenient option to book a short-term rental residence. There are hundreds of private homes which are offered for visitors, even during the peak of the summer season.

You can save money by paying for several luxurious hotel rooms and even make your stay more cost-effective by sharing the residence with friends.

In the comfort of your home, you won’t need to worry about the children being loud or about having to order food from outside, as you can prepare your own food and snacks there too.

If you are planning on spending most of your time at the family-friendly north shore beaches, you can search for a residence nearby.

The earlier you book the dwelling of your choice – the better the price you will get!

For even more savings, consider planning your trip out of the peak season and go to Nantucket in the shoulder seasons, which are May, late September to mid-October.

Venues to visit and things to do with your children in Nantucket

Thankfully, there are many child-friendly activities and venues to choose from in Nantucket.

Ice Cream Cruise

This is probably one of the most enjoyable adventures which you and your kids can enjoy when vacationing on the island.

The one-hour Ice Cream Cruises include enjoying the shoreline and ocean views while eating the creamiest and best ice cream and frozen treats from the Juice Bar.

The cruises take place 6 times a day. Shearwater Excursions also offers other cruises suitable for kids, including boating and fishing, where the children can learn the basics of fishing, sailing, tying knots, and more.

Critter cruise

This is another one-hour cruise that most children will love. The boat is called Monomoy, and there they will not only sail around the harbor and watch the boats and yachts but can experience catching lobsters, crabs, critters, and fish.

There is even a touch tank on board, where the little ones can touch some of these sea creatures.

Surf Lessons

You can sign your children up for private or group surf lessons at one of the two surf schools in Nantucket. There are even surf camps organized throughout the entire summer season.

The two surf schools are located on Cisco Beach and on Nobadeer Beach, which are both on the south shore of Nantucket. There you can rent all of the surfing gear, wet suits and other equipment you need if you feel like surfing yourself.

Endeavor Sailing

For children who can endure longer cruises, we recommend booking one of the oldest sailing charters on the island – the Endeavor.

The boat’s Captain Jim will keep you and your kids interested by telling some fantastic sailing and whaling stories from the past.

You can even book a special Pirate Hunter Adventure cruise on the Endeavor for even more excitement for the little ones.

The Sconset Playground

Take the kids on a walk on one of the most beautiful walking paths in the country, called Sconset Bluff Walk. Along the way, you can explore and view the iconic cottages with gray shingles and crawling pink and red roses.

On the way, you can grab some snacks at the Sconset Market and head to the Siasconset Beach, Sankaty Head Light, and the Sconset Playground.

The playground has various picnic tables, benches, swings, rope climbers, and other play structures for you and the children.