Spring Forward with a Trip to Pet Friendly Nantucket
Guest Blogger, Alexandra Barlowe
Our guest blogger, Alex Barlowe, and Luna in an iconic Nantucket photo at Brant Point Lighthouse
Nantucket in the spring is a dog’s paradise. As the island begins to wake back up from its winter slumber, with tiny daffodils budding and shops and restaurants starting to open back up for the season, the island offers an oasis of wide-open beach walks, beautiful strolls, and places to sip + stay with your favorite pooch at the pet friendly Brass Lantern.
Ahh yes, springtime on Nantucket is the perfect New England getaway after a long, snowy winter (especially if you happened to be living in a small apartment with said pooch, and avoiding the cold weather). So with the first signs of sunnier days, my boyfriend and I packed up the car and, of course, our furry little companion, Luna, and took off toward the sea. Thirty miles out to sea, to be exact, with no plans in mind except stepping out of reality for the weekend.
So here are our six favorite ways to enjoy springtime on Nantucket with your pup!
1. Adventuring on the Ferry
A trip to Nantucket is a dog friendly vacation for so many reasons…starting with the fact that both of the ferry options allow for your pooch to ride for free! We decided to bring our car along for the weekend, so we arrived in Hyannis and took the slow Steamship ferry over to Nantucket. It was a chilly day by the sea, and the lull of the waves rocked all three of us to sleep. From afar, the grey lady seemed enveloped in a thick band of fog but as we rounded Brant Point, it was as if the skies brightened and welcomed us back to the island. Nantucket has a way of working her magic like that – and it was so good to be back. As for Luna, this was her first puppy trip to the island!
2. Stay + Relax at the Brass Lantern Inn
The Brass Lantern rolls out the special pet welcome for pet guests!
After the wobbly boat ride and a wobbly drive over the cobbles, we checked into the Brass Lantern Inn and were ready to unpack and unwind from the day. With a quaint, downtown location, the Brass Lantern Inn abounds with seaside charm. The first thing I noticed were the historic, wooden interiors and bookshelves lined with with tales of the sea. It had that old time New England feel that makes you want to light a candle, have a hot toddy, and lock yourself away in a brick library.
And the best part…this was a totally pup friendly Bed & Breakfast! Luna was even greeted with an adorable doggy care package in our room filled with a green bandana (it was St. Paddy’s day, after all), a travel water bowl, a book of puppy poetry, and a little satchel of welcoming treats from Geronimo’s and Cold Noses. Additionally, the inn provides pet beds, food and water bowls, pet towels, pet toys, and a list of pet-friendly restaurants (hello, patio dining!) in town during the warmer months. Yes, I think Luna found her puppy home away from home.
There are miles and miles of sandy beaches – enough for the most exuberant pooch!
3. Run, Fetch, Play at Cisco Beach
Nantucket’s wide-open beaches may just be a dog’s heaven. There is room to run, sand to be dug, reeds and shrubby brush to roll around in, and countless sticks washed ashore from the winter to be chewed on. And there are so many other dogs. Dogs to meet. Dogs to sniff. Dogs to play with and dogs to wrestle. Seriously, there might just be as many dogs as humans on the island this time of year.
We kicked off the weekend with a beach walk at Cisco. This is one of my favorite island walks during all seasons, but I especially loved the softer color palette of Cisco in the spring. With honeyed dunes and muted seascapes, the expansive beauty of Cisco contrasted seamlessly with the white foam and rolling blues of the Atlantic. The natural beauty of Nantucket is just stunning – and Luna had a blast unning freely through the salty air!
4. Puppy Party at Cisco Brewery
A trip to Cisco Beach just feels incomplete if not finished off with a stop at the Brewery. And, boy, were we glad we did! Cisco Brewery seemed to be the hotspot for golden doodles on this particular spring day. There were cold brews, live music, and a handful of doodles skipping around the brewery looking for all the love and all the belly rubs. I think it’s safe to say they stole the show! It’s a pup’s world, after all, we’re all just living in it.
5. A Beautiful Stroll in Sconset
For our next outing, we packed Luna up in the car and drove across the island to the village of ‘Sconset, with its grey-shingled cottages, white picket-fences, and seashell covered walkways. The quiet state of ‘Sconset in the early spring is filled with romantic nostalgia. The leaves were just beginning to bud, making way for the rose covered village that ‘Sconset becomes over the summer, and the sun was just barely peaking out in a way so typical for March’s fickle season.
For a favorite dog walk, make your way over to the Sconset Bluff Foot Path. Left over from the days of looking for whale spouts, this unadvertised walking path begins just past the Sconset Market (perfect for picking up picnic items during the warmer months). Make sure to leash your pup, as you will be walking through people’s backyards, but once you get out to the bluffs – the view is exquisite!
6. Get the Perfect Shot at Brant Point Lighthouse
Nothing speaks to iconic Nantucket like the Brant Point Lighthouse. Located a short ten or fifteen minute walk from town, the lighthouse is a perfect post-dinner destination for a sunset shoot, or a sunrise excursion with your dog. Have a pup with a ton of energy? Make it a longer walk by starting out at Jetties beach and walking along the shore and up through the sandy dunes, with Brant Point as your end location. Time it right with the sun and you won’t be disappointed!
Whew! Spring on the rock is a truly special time and we love sharing our Happy Place with our happy pups. Now time for a nap…after all, it’s exhausting work being an island pup!
