While Nantucket Island may be more popular as a vacation destination for history lovers, for romantic couples, and the rich and the famous, it is also an excellent spot to pick for your family summer vacation too.
In fact, this New England Island is very child friendly and offers suitable beaches, eateries, museums, courses, cruises and other venues which can be enjoyed equally both by the parents and by the children.
Even though it is a small island, Nantucket has a wide variety of places and venues to visit when on a trip with the children.
There are various beaches, surf schools, workshops, children camps, lawns, restaurants, ice cream stands, and multiple other amenities to make your visit with the entire family as unforgettable and worthy as possible.
Also, some very convenient private homes are offered for rent by Congdon & Coleman and are suitable for people with children. There are regular bus shuttles, taxis, and rented bikes to get around the island with your entire family too.
Here are some of the ways to get charmed by Nantucket when you are visiting with your kids.
Children’s Beach
As its name suggests, this beach is the most suitable one for families with even the youngest children. It is located by the town on the north beach, where the water is warm, shallow, and calm.
The beach has lifeguards, showers, restrooms, a playground, a grassy field, a snack shack, and everything you will need, even if you are going with a very young baby or toddler.
The Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium
Your kids will adore looking at the local fish and critters at the aquarium of Nantucket. There is even a petting tank where they can touch, pet, and feed the fish and other sea creatures themselves. During the summer, you can take your children to the aquarium to take part in the feeding frenzy or enroll them in the various summer programs offered there.
The Whaling Museum
The Whaling Museum is a one-of-a-kind museum where you can take your children to see an actual real sperm whale skeleton or other artifacts from the famous whaling industry history of the people of Nantucket.
The museum is located in an old whale oil candle factory in downtown Nantucket and is an excellent place to take the kids to have fun and to learn some amazing facts about whales, the ocean, and the local sailors. It is a suitable place for children aged six or above.
Petite Travelers
This is not exactly a venue. It is a company that rents out baby stuff, such as strollers, cribs, play yards, car seats, and beach gear and toys. It is an excellent choice for parents of babies and toddlers who don’t want to bring along all of their baby stuff with them on vacation. You can also rent beach umbrellas and chairs and even hire a vetted babysitter at Petite Travelers.
Nantucket Ice
While it may sound quite unusual for a summer vacation destination, there is an ice rink in Nantucket, where children of all ages can take part in ice skating lessons or enjoy skating with you or on their own.
The local residents of Nantucket fund the ice rink as a way to promote sports, a more active lifestyle, and health for the children.
The Nantucket Atheneum
This is the Town Library, which is set in a stately old building, and which has a library wing dedicated to children and a climbing tree. It is a host of various events for children of all ages.
Murray Camp
This is the most famous and the oldest children’s camp in Nantucket. The 8-week long camp is suitable for kids aged from 4 to 14.
It includes various activities, including swimming lessons, water sports, ice skating, soccer, tennis lessons, fishing trips, art and dancing classes, and more.
The team’s focus is on the safety, fun, and nurturing of the children.
Boat Cruises
Since it is an island, it is no surprise that various sailing boat cruises are offered in Nantucket.
Here are some of the best kid-friendly ones:
Ice Cream Tour
It takes off at Straight Wharf and includes an hour-long tour of the harbor. The children will love viewing all of the boats and luxurious yachts while listening to the captivating stories of the captain of the ocean, the whales, and the local heroes. While on the trip, all children and adults will receive some delicious home-crafted ice cream and frozen treats from the best ice cream stand in town.
Fishing tours
There are various fishing trips organized for children and adults. Usually, the kid-friendly tours are for about an hour and a half and include some sailing, basic instructions for fishing, as well as actual fishing.
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