by Aurore Alonzo, Innkeeper and Guest Blogger
A day trip to Great Point Lighthouse is one of the most amazing outings of the Little Grey Lady! Whether you are a newbie or an “habitué” of the island, the day trip to Great Point Lighthouse will amaze you with beauty and fill you up with extraordinary energy for days! So pack up your gear and cameras, and get ready for a day you won’t forget!
After a restful night and delicious breakfast at the Brass Lantern Inn, head out to Affordable Rentals right around the corner, at the crossroads of Sea St and S. Beach St (a 2-minute walk from the Inn) to pick-up your rental car. But mind you, not any rental car! Only a Jeep will allow you to get to the northernmost point of Nantucket Island. The Great Lighthouse excursion involves a great deal of driving on the beach, which is a fun ride! You will be given instructions by their super friendly and helpful staff on how to get there and a few important things to know before hitting the sandy roads.
Next stop, picnic shopping! Head to Something Natural, roughly a 5-minute drive from the car rental place (on Cliff road, right by Coffin Park, look for the blue mailbox), where you will find the most freshly made wholesome tasty sandwiches! Throw in a few freshly baked cookies, chips and favorite drinks, and you’re ready to pursue the adventure!
Great Point Lighthouse
Head west to Polpis Road and drive all the way to the Wauvinet Hotel through the Wauwinet Road. This easy drive will take about 20 minutes. At this point it is time to deflate your tires and get ready for the sandy trail of Great Point Road, at the end of which you will land literally on the breathtaking beach of the Nantucket National Wildlife Refuge. Drive straight ahead, with caution, and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. Soon enough you will start spotting seals in the water or laying on the sand, they will be as curious about you as you will be about them! The drive to the lighthouse will take you about 40 minutes. In nesting season however, the beach may be closed to protect endangered species, so you would have to park at a certain point and continue walking to reach the lighthouse. (more details)
The Great Point lighthouse sits on a thin spit of beach where the currents of the Atlantic Ocean and Nantucket Sound meet. It is an amazing sight. Take a walk in the back of the lighthouse where you will stand in front of the vast open ocean, with colonies of seals just hanging on the shore. Lay your beach towel flat on the ivory sand, take off your shoes, and breathe!… You made it to the tip of the island and furthest point out East of the coast of North America! Now you may eat your sandwich – we promise it will never taste so good!
Cisco Brewers – always a fun stop on Nantucket
After taking it all in, hold on to that rejuvenating feeling, put your favorite playlist on and make your way back smoothly to town. Hop on Hummock Pond Road and then Barlett’s Farm Road, to reach your next destination, the Cisco Brewery! It is time to enjoy a refreshing drink and listen to some live music at the place that calls itself “one of the top ten coolest spot on earth”! Indeed, the relaxed and friendly atmosphere of our Cisco friends makes a stop by the Brewery a must. Enjoy, with moderation, their world-class wines, beers, and spirits selection, sitting on wood benches with the sky as a rooftop. Unique!
Madaket Beach has the best sunsets on Nantucket
As the day will be winding down, it will be time to make your way to the third and last stop, with a secret mission to catch one of the most striking sunset ever! En route for Madaket beach!… Madaket is located on the western tip of the island, which from the Brewery, is quite a short drive (13 minutes) via Madaket road. The beach there is beautiful, endless, and offers a unique opportunity to take a magical walk during sunset that will take your breath away. The sun transforms into a ball of fire descending into the ocean and paints the sky into a firework of heaven like colors. With the flight of seabirds hunting for dinner as a backdrop, it is a spectacle that will leave you with memories for a lifetime…
We hope you will be inspired by this “Perfect Nantucket Day” itinerary suggestion which will take you from one end of the island to the other, covering her croissant shape deliciously… We will look forward hearing about your experience and feedback soon at the Brass Lantern Inn!
