Deciding between these New England getaways can be difficult. Most of my non-New England friends aren’t familiar with the Cape and Islands. So for first timers, or locals who need weekend inspiration, check out the highlights for a Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket retreat below!
Nantucket
Bike Riding
There’s no need for a car here! The flat island of Nantucket is only 14 miles long and 3.5 miles wide and there are over 33 miles of bike paths. Bike rentals are available and hotels often offer their own fleet as well. Is there anything more New England than biking to the beach with a beach towel and picnic provisions safely nestled in your wicker basket?
Remote
Nantucket is an island 30 miles from the Cape Cod shore. It is further than Martha’s Vineyard. Most places outside of “Town” you can escape the crowds.
Small town charm
Unlike Cape Cod, Nantucket banned chain stores and franchises in 2006. The historical commission forbids neon signs and vinyl siding on its downtown shops and has very strict standards for preserving the architectural character of the homes. And perhaps the biggest nod to a small town: there are no traffic lights.
Nantucket Reds
You can dress preppy anywhere in New England, but Nantucket is the extreme. Take into account that the island is slightly more formal. Murray’s Toggery Shop, Vineyard Vines and Lilly Pullitzer are all at your disposal if you want to look the part.
Brewery
There are breweries in MV and Cape Cod too – but none like this. Cisco Brewers is an institution on Nantucket. Somehow it works for young adults who want to party, families with kids and those who just want to drink a good beer. It’s a good time (and good beer!) for all.
Festivals
Nantucket LOVES festivals! Just a few examples include the Daffodil Festival in the spring, the Food and Wine Festival in May, the Cranberry Festival in October and the Christmas Stroll weekend in December. These may sound lame but the town celebrates with flair. And of course, Figawi is an iconic Sail Boat race that welcomes revelers to the island every Memorial Day. Leave the kids at home for that one!
Martha’s Vineyard
Road trip
Martha’s Vineyard is the Goldilocks’ “not too big, not too small” location. With three major towns, it’s possible to see almost everything in a one to two day road trip.
Cliffs
MV gets a high score for it’s dramatic scenery and cliffs. The best place to see this is a 1799 Gay Head lighthouse surrounded by the vivid Aquinnah Cliffs and sandy beach below.
Gingerbread houses
On Circuit Ave and Trinity Park visitors can discover 318 of the original 500 “Gingerbread House” cottages that remain today. Extra marks for the historic Flying Horses carousel around the corner too!
Jaws
Gotta give extra points to MV for inspiring a shark movement. The Jaws Bridge is a working bridge you can drive over. Disregard the “no jumping” sign and cannonball off.
Cape Cod
Kayaking and Paddle boarding
Cape Cod is victorious in this category. It seems obvious – it’s not an isolated island so there are more inlets and calmer waters to take on these activities throughout the Cape.
More variability/diversity
Cape Cod has 15 towns and is usually broken up by: Upper Cape, Mid-Cape and Lower Cape and Outer Cape. It’s almost impossible to visit them all in one trip. Provincetown is worth a weekend and that’s just the tip!
Golf Courses
Golf is a special game in New England and if your heart is set on playing, you’ll have more luck on the Cape! Not to mention there are some epic Mini Golf places too – looking at you Pirate’s Cove.
Cape Cod Baseball League game
A special pastime, and made slightly more famous by Summer Catch, the Cape Cod Baseball League has been the premier amateur baseball league in the nation since 1885. With 40 regular season games every summer, there’s a good chance you can catch a game when visiting.
Whale watching
April-October is prime season for viewing finbacks, humpbacks, orcas, pilot whales and right whales. Dolphins and seals are often spotted too. And it wouldn’t be the Cape without a shark sighting every once in awhile! MV doesn’t offer whale watching because it’s too far out and Nantucket is a farther journey, so that’s why Cape Cod wins this round.
Lighthouses
There are 22 majestic lighthouses located on the Cape, MV and Nantucket, one of the highest concentrations anywhere. Martha’s Vineyard has five, Nantucket has three and the rest are sprinkled around the Cape’s coast. The quantity is due to the dangerous waters ships had to navigate in dense fog in the mid 19th century. The lighthouses provided navigational aid around the rugged coastlines and to warn boats of dangerous areas.
The good news is you’ll get the following experience on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket:
Beaches
New Englanders often take the white sandy shorelines and clear waters for granted. There are hundreds of public beaches that range from shallow, calm and kid friendly Jetties Beach on Nantucket to dramatic cliffs and thunderous waves at Gay Head Public Beach to salt marshes and marine life at Gray’s Beach on the Cape.
Picturesque towns
Nantucket Town, MV’s Edgartown and Cape Cod’s Chatham and Osterville will offer the picture-perfect New England guise. Think cobblestone roads, boutique stores, art galleries with local artists and little cafes surrounded by historic homes.
Fresh seafood
Lobster rolls, chowder, clams and oysters are fresh and some of the best in the world. You can’t go wrong with the Clam Shack or the Raw Bar on the Cape, Coop de Ville raw bar on MV or the no-frills Straight Wharf Fish Store on Nantucket.
Ice Cream
New Englanders love their ice cream and there are fan favorites all over including Four Seas on the Cape, Mad Martha’s on MV and The Juice Bar on Nantucket.
Blooms
A Cape Cod or Islands visual will always evoke a historic building, bike and some beautiful bright hydrangeas. This is not a scam! The hydrangeas and other vivid plants and flower boxes are out in full force during the summer and into the fall.
Water sports
Time to get salty! Sailing, surfing or boating is offered everywhere and you should absolutely take advantage of it.
Click here for a week long itinerary that includes a bit of all three!
