Arriving on Nantucket with its quaint cobblestone streets brings you away from the stress and realities of everyday life. Couple that with the most perfectly designed beach house and property worthy of the XXXs your resort sanctuary awaits at the White Elephant.
A bustling 66 beautiful guest rooms and suites to fit the highest of standards with indulgent amenities to make you feel like you are at your perfectly decorated beach house away from home. Arriving at our hotel suite, the staff couldn't have been more welcoming. Upon entering our room the fireplace was going to keep the chill out and there was a bottle of wine with a lovely handwritten note from the staff. To our surprise, our sweet pup, Harvey also had a welcome box filled with a bed, toys and treats for him to feel at home. As much as Harvey loved his travel bed, my husband and I were overjoyed with the fluffy linens and loads of pillows that made up the cozy hotel bedding.
One of the best parts of staying at the White Elephant is that while it's central to everywhere in town, yet it's also private enough that you don't have to worry about the hustle and bustle of the ferry traffic in the center of town. The property offers you almost everything you could need without leaving the resort we can all agree that there is so much Nantucket magic to explore in its adult playground. With a quick walk, bike or jog you can get to the Galley or Jetties beach and hang out with the locals. You'll see the most beautiful sunsets at Galley and eat an absolutely delicious meal but if you get stuck on the waitlist for a room and have to wait until fall, you can at least catch the end-of-year celebration at Jetties beach. Other local faves are lemon press, the beach, shopping on Main Street and concerts at the box.
Don’t forget to enjoy a spectacular dinner off-property. Topper’s at The Wauwinet, a sister property to The White Elephant, which the hotel provides complimentary van transportation. Topper's offers an exquisite wine list and oysters so fresh because they came from the Ocean you are overlooking while enjoying. It's rated the best overall restaurant on Nantucket Island and couldn't be more well deserved.
While it’s easy to hop a quick flight on Tradewinds or Cape Air, if you want to have a car on the island, ferries typically sell out by the end of February. If you happen to not be able to land a spot on the car ferry, make sure you find yourself in the lobby at 9 am to hope to take advantage of the White Elephant x BMW partnership. Guests can check out one of the X5 or 7 series cars for a few hours. It is on a first-come, first-served basis and you can sign up with the front desk upon check-in to win the car for the day.
On your way to the airport or ferry ride home.... Your immediate thought is how do I plan my next trip back? Truly, there is always another ferry so you could just stay, but the truth is just like when we were kids, we had to leave at the playground when it got dark. We would recommend planning your trip back for Stroll. There is nothing more fun than the Nantucket magic aligning with Christmas magic when Santa arrives on Main Street. For that trip, don't forget your ugly sweater and get your room early since they sell out before summer ends!
Perfect packing list:
Rain gear - morning fog can create a dew on the grass and in the air
Swimsuit + SPF + easy summer totes
Comfortable sandals and shoes for all the walking on cobblestones
Cash $$ many small local shops are cash only
Fun dresses you can throw on easily