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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Nantucket, Travel ·

bACK in Nantucket (again!)


Yes, yes, yes, we need to move to Nantucket because at this point, we’re trying to be there as much as humanly possible.

I know.

I’ll keep you posted when/if we do, but for now, last week, just the hubs and I went for a few days and spoiler alert, had the best time.  I took a few pics (but not a ton!) and have them to share today.  Make sure you check out my IG for my Nantucket highlight in Stories and my Reels as I have way more behind the scenes videos of our time on the island.

If you missed it last month, this was our second trip to Nantucket this summer.  We took the kids in June and you can read all about that HERE.  BUT, here are some pics from this trip without ’em…

Helllllo!  We flew into ACK and arrived in time for a late lunch.  That night, we enjoyed the most delicious dinner at The Nautilus.  I kept telling Andrew that it was just the meal our besties would love.  I really love MY SKIRT 🙂 .  I love it so much that I bought it in black too.

It was truly such a great dinner!

Love him so much.  I love that he loves Nantucket so much too 🙂 .

The next morning, we had breakfast at Island Kitchen, stopped by Bartlett’s Farm for provisions and then headed…

…to the beach.

My favorite guy in our favorite place.

After a day at the beach, we cleaned up…

…and headed to Sconset Cafe for dinner.  It’s BYOB, so we brought a bottle of rose from Bartlett’s for the meal.

Oh so charming!

After dinner, we headed back into town to catch the end of the Yankees/Sox game.  It was the perfect way to end the day…other than the fact that the Sox lost.  Boo.

The next morning…

…breakfast with a view at Brant Point Grill!

I love watching the ferries and boats come in and out of the harbor.

Extra spicy?!  I’ll take one, thank you!

I ordered the most “protein” thing on the menu.  Hahaha!  If you listen to The Bestie Breakdown then you know that in basically every single episode I talk about my “love of meat”.  Bahahaha!

I clearly stopped taking pics because I go straight from breakfast to dinner (we went back to the beach in between!)…

…at Galley Beach!  Awwww!  We hadn’t been to Galley Beach in a few years, but it’s always one of our favorites.  Dinner on the beach, amazing food, gorgeous sunset views…you know, if you’re into that kind of thing 😉 .

I shared a Reel on IG of all the details from our night here.  Check it out for more videos from behind the scenes.

After dinner…

…we went back into town and watched the end of another Sox/Yankees game.  Yuck.  The good news is though…they won the first two in the series, but we won the second two the following two nights.  #somewhatofavictory

I can even have fun with a Yankee 😉 .

Another morning, another look at the harbor!

Yard games at the White Elephant are always fun.

And then we spent the rest of our Saturday enjoying town…

…we always love the Saturday morning farmers market…

…and bubbles blowing all over Main Street…

…lunch at Slip 14…

…a great morning/afternoon!  We finished it off with…

…a drive out to Cisco Brewery!

This is such a gem in the middle of the island!  Live music, food trucks…so much fun!

…we had a snack…

…or two (lobster empanadas!)…

…and then headed back into town.

For dinner on our fourth and final night…

…dinner at The Summer House Restaurant!  Gorgeousssss!

We had a table on the patio overlooking the yard, the pool and the ocean…

…and we loved every bite!

And that, my friends, was our trip bACK to Nantucket!

And yes, we’ll be there again soon 😉 .

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Comments

  1. polly pover says

    Didn’t you once say that you were not “beach people”? What changed for you? Maybe you hadn’t found the right beach when you said that? Or just changing needs? How awesome you found “your place”! I think of that feeling as it is a like a cat crawlig into a bag..Just feels like ahhhh….peace!

  5. Amy Heinl says

    What a beautiful trip in your favorite place…when you find it, it keeps calling you back. I hope you plan to go sometime during Winter Stroll. That would be amazing. Thank you for sharing your trips there. They are some of my most favorite posts

  6. Elizabeth Feldpausch says

    All of your trips here are really making me want to visit!!!

    Have y’all ever been in the fall? Is it too chilly then?

    Do you have a link for your clutch in the first photo?
    Thanks!!

  7. Alysa says

    Hi Shay! I’ve heard that many people avoid the beaches up there due to the high presence of sharks in the water. How do you handle this, especially with your kids?

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Well, you know me, I’m not a big worrier. Certain beaches are super crowded, so there are a lot of people on the island there for sun. We’ve only been there one time when a shark was spotted by the life guards (almost all the beaches have life guards) and they raise a flag to let you know. There are some cool shark tracker apps too you can use to watch/follow sharks as well. I feel like going to any beach (Hawaii, Florida, etc) has a certain risk of unwanted sea friends.

      • JH says

        Can you do a post on how not to worry ? I really admire this about you and would love any tips you may have!

    • Nicole says

      Love this!! So many yummy treats and drinks! I was wondering if you kinda have a rule of thumb with how many drinks you have or how often? You just balance things so well!! I love hearing your mindset with it! I love having drinks, but always feel so bloated after!! Any tips?!

      • Mix and Match Mama says

        On vacation, I don’t try to minimize or limit the experience with what I eat or drink as I find it all adds up to a part of the experience. I try to enjoy the moment and then I can go back to my normal when I’m home. I think after a trip, I always feel a bit off, but I don’t let it discourage me. Those were great memories I’ll have forever 😉 .

        • Donna Mason says

          Absolutely agree with this Shay. It is all a balance in life. On vacation you have to live life and the experience to the fullest. Then as you said when you are back you get right back to the healthy lifestyle of eating and exercise. This trip looked AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING Shay. So happy you had such a special time there with Andrew.

  8. Amy Coose says

    Can you please link more of your outfits? Love the top you wore to the Sconset Cafe, and your bathing suit, too!

    • Gail Young says

      The Downyflake (great pancakes) was a fave of mine back in the 80s-90s. Used to sail over from The Cape all the time. Miss Nantucket-especially The Chicken Box (fun nightclub)—and also Martha’s Vineyard. But don’t miss getting caught in hurricanes (Bob in 91–lots of huge oak trees were destroyed on the island) or navigating through Wood’s Hole. Bostonian transplanted in Delray Beach, FL now.

  10. Jaren says

    Oh my gosh!! I can’t believe we will be there next week!! I’ve followed all your posts for so long, and it’s actually going to happen! Yipee!!!

  12. Claire Bauer says

    If you fly into ACK, do you need to rent a car or can you walk places once leaving the airport?

  13. MelanieL says

    I love this so much and that you’re going again soon! We are like that with “our place” too, Saint Augustine, FL. We keep finding ourselves wanting to go back more and more! 🙂

  14. Kim says

    Love looking at all your vacation pictures! Nantucket looks amazing. Your shoes in the first picture on the first night at dinner are perfect. Can you link them? Thanks for making this a happy place everyday!

  15. Maggie Walsh-Phanenhour says

    Love when you post these trip recaps!
    Do you always stay at the same hotel?? And do you rent a car when you’re there?

  16. Beth Valenta says

    Absolutely beautiful pictures! All the food looked amazing. This is on my bucket list for sure.
    Link to your shoes in the first pic. So cute!

  17. Megan says

    I just finished a super cute new show on Amazon Prime called The Summer I Turned Pretty, which is based around spending the summer in a beach town like Nantucket. Reminds me of your pictures..I think you’d love it!

      • Sally says

        It’s based on the book by Jenny Han. I haven’t read it yet but I’m reading another book by her called…It’s Not Summer Without You.

    • Jenn Workman says

      Megan, that is on my list to watch! It was filmed where I live (Wilmington, NC)…another great beach town:)

  18. Kristy Jones says

    You both are so darling. Sid you guys buy a place out there? Did I miss that announcement?🤪 or did you stay at your favorite hotel?

  19. Ashley P says

    If you move there, you can be neighbors with Elin and tell her to stop writing these ghost storylines! Lol!

  21. Kristine says

    Amazing pictures! Sounds like a great weekend getaway!
    Would you mind linking your kindle case? I just bought one on Prime Day and couldn’t decide on one. Yours is super cute!

  22. Ellie says

    I have always wanted to see a post on how you handle your kids being at home when you and Andrew travel alone…do they split up and stay with friends/family, do you leave detailed lists (prob so!), prep food, arrange carpools, leave money for groceries, etc? Obviously things look a lot different in the summer vs the school year! It must be a lot with 4 kids but I am certain you have a great system and would love to hear it!

      • Jenn says

        I was thinking exactly the same thing! I would love to travel more with my husband but the work that goes into prepping is extensive, just being gone for a couple days! More details on how you prep this so whoever is watching your 4 sweet kids can manage it all would be great!

  23. Lyndsey says

    When it’s just y’all two, do you rent a car? Or how did y’all get to Sconset/Cisco? xo

  24. Nancy says

    Hi Shay!
    Longtime reader and even longer time Nantucket resident! Just wanted to let you know, locals say “on” Nantucket and not “in” Nantucket. Happy to see you enjoying our island! It’s the best place in the world 🙂

  25. Lindsay says

    Where do you suggest staying for a romantic getaway with my husband and no kids?!

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      There are so many great places! You could stay at one of the many inns and bed and breakfasts or you could stay somewhere like The White Elephant, The Beach Club, Wauwinet!

  26. Dana says

    I just returned from a trip to Boston, with with a few days visiting Plymouth, Hyannis, Nantucket & Newport & Providence. Love the New England Area! Boston is now one of my favorite cities. I was at the Red Sox/Yankees game on Thursday. It was a great game even with a loss. And yes I was cheering for the Red Sox’s. I used many of your suggestions for Boston & Nantucket. Thank you for the travel tab with all the great information! I stayed at the Lennox Hotel in Boston. Perfect location and amazing place to stay! Will Definitely be back soon!

  28. Spencer says

    Hi Shay! Love the pictures!! I’m curious – does your travel agency plan trips to Nantucket? You planned an Alaskan cruise for us several years ago, and I’d love to take my mom to Nantucket but feel a little overwhelmed in planning such a trip. 🙂

  29. Erika Slaughter says

    AWWWW!!! Great pics! I think we might need to do this trip AGAIN! We had so much fun visiting the first time!

  30. Mary Kruft says

    Love your Nantucket stories & definitely want to go! I know some fly right to Nantucket, some drive fr Boston & Ferry.., coming from NW FL or from Dallas, how do you usually go? Do you rent a car? VRBO or Hotel? Thanks so much & glad you had some quality couple time💕

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      We have done it different ways but during the summer season, we can fly from DFW to ACK with only one short layover in the middle. Off season, DFW to Boston’s Logan Airport and then a car drive and ferry.

  31. Pam says

    Nantucket sounds dreamy!
    I love reading about your family’s travel adventures!
    One serious question I have that I have never read you cover, and am asking you (and Andrew) about because you are both serious travelers and have stayed in many hotels, and because I’m OCD & cleanliness is not “clean enough,” and probably that no one else has asked is:
    How do you deal with staying in hotel rooms that you don’t know if they have really been thoroughly cleaned or not, and how do you all handle sleeping on sheets that you don’t know if they are really thoroughly washed or not, or you don’t know if there are bed bugs (I have read numerous articles about this) and am wondering how to deal with these concerns.
    I know it probably seems silly to you, but it really does freak me out some about these things. If you or Andrew have any answers regarding the above, I would truly appreciate you all sharing how you deal with this stuff when you are traveling.
    I wish I could just let it go and not worry, but so far, that is not something I can do.
    Anyway, thank you for sharing & if you do have any thoughts or suggestions about this, thank you both in advance!
    A fellow Irving High School graduate & “Toy Tiger” here 🙂
    (u can email me the response if you don’t want to put it in comments)

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Oh goodness, Pam, listen…I just don’t think about it. Maybe another sweet blog reader will have advice for you, but I just wouldn’t want to not travel just to avoid these potentials. I don’t think about it/it doesn’t phase me, so it’s not on my radar. Maybe someone else will have advice for you though!

    • AngieN says

      I have a friend who packs her own sheets/pillows/blankets when she travels. She knows they’re clean and it relieves a lot of stress for her.

  32. Dana says

    Just returned from a trip to Boston and a few days in Plymouth, Hyannis, Nantucket, Newport and Providence. We took a day trip to Nantucket and loved the island. Next time will definitely stay longer. Boston is now one of my favorite cities to visit. I stayed at the Lennox Hotel. It was in a perfect location & an amazing place to stay. I have been following your blog so thank you for all the great recommendations. It was super helpful. I was at the Thursday evening Red Sox’s game. It was a great game even with a loss. And yes I cheered for the Red Sox’s even though I am from Pittsburgh.

  33. Kellie says

    Hi! Obviously seafood is a huge part of Nantucket, but if you’re not a huge seafood person, would one still be satisfied lol?

  34. Jeanne says

    Actually headed out of Nantucket right now – my first visit to the island but definitely not my last! 2 of my kids have been here working for the past few years ( daughter at Sankaty beach club and my youngest at Bartlets farm ) so it was great to visit them! Have you done the tour of the brewery at Cisco? Highly recommend it! Learned a lot + free tastes of several of their products! So sad to be leaving!

  35. Reece says

    You can have it. Just spent two weeks there. Takes too long to get there. I will take Hawaii any day where service is great unlike Nantucket. I will admit the restaurants are very good. No vet on the island. My 3 year old dog almost died getting her to Cape Cod Animal Hospital and my son got sick. He went to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital where they treated him for a virus. He got back home and his Dr. could not believe that the hospital diagnosed a “virus”as he has severe Strep Throat which is what I said all along . All you had to do was look at his throat. I had not been there in 8 years. What use to be a great place doesn’t exist anymore. I will not go back.

    • Aja says

      That’s so crazy! Interestingly enough, my husband won’t go back to Hawaii because he found the people so rude. People’s experiences are so different.

  36. Marie says

    Do you ever feel bad about the environment and your grandchildren who will have such a hard time to live on our planet? Those to go cups are already so painful to watch (in Germany most coffee places don’t Even sell coffee in paper/plastic cups anymore). But you fly so so so often, you take cruises and you buy so many clothes. Those three things are one of the biggest factors for our climate :/

      • Allison says

        Why not do try ons with local businesses? Does your town square have businesses you can promote?

        • Mix and Match Mama says

          I really always try to stay authentic to where I shop, and I don’t tend to buy clothes at the boutiques in our town. That being said, you do often see me post about the restaurants I frequent down there, the piercing parlor I adore, the ski shop we basically live in during the winter and things like that. I promote the square in the authentic way I shop it.

  37. Karah Stracener says

    I love that VV hat!!! Thanks for sharing your trip. Nantucket is on my bucket list and I’m hoping one day my husband and I can visit. How many days would be sufficient for your first trip do you think??

  38. Erinn says

    I love all your posts but especially the travel ones, you give such great detail! Where is your travel bag from in your airport photo? Thank you!

  39. Renee Scarfone Gillies says

    Looks like you had a great time! I think you have one of my Nantucket necklaces on in one of the photos. Skar Designs from the farmers market 🙂 I just came across this post randomly on Google.
    Thanks! ❤️

  40. Ashley Keeney says

    You have to go to 167 Raw next time! It’s the best lobster roll on the island without a doubt – a short bike from Cisco – and amazing fish ceviche as well! You will love it.

  41. Robin D says

    Thank you for giving us such great details so that we can try these trips for ourselves :). I love love your pink lipstick/ gloss you’re wearing. Can you share a link?

  42. Marci OGrady says

    Love all your travel posts! You make traveling look so easy! My husband and I are about to book our trip to Nantucket for the first week in October. Wondering if we should stay by the beach with a view or near the downtown? Your thoughts?

  43. Candice Ibarra says

    Hey Shay! My husband and I are going to be in Nantucket for one day (for the first time!) If you had to choose one breakfast, lunch, and dinner spot where would you suggest we go?