Have Fun, ACK Young! (For families with kids under 12)

A Nantucket vacation with young children is simple with all the island features for families. There are plenty of activities, restaurants, and locales to craft a perfect trip that’s fun for the whole crew!
 
The Brass Lantern Inn is family- and pet-friendly, and is located right in the heart of downtown! If you need a bit more room, the multi-bedroom White Elephant Hotel Residences provide a residential experience with services of a hotel. For an extensive list of inns and hotels, check here.
For a more independence, choose from our listing of vacation homes.
 
Nantucket Island Rent A Car specializes in spacious SUVs and minivans. If you love to bike, there are plenty of options for you. Baby bike seats work well for ages 1-3; child trailers for ages 1-4, and Trail-A-Bike attachments for ages 5-7. The following island bike rentals offer all of those features for very reasonable rates: Young’s Bike Shop, Island Bike Co., Easy Riders, and Nantucket Bike Shop, which also rents clean, safe, portable cribs!
 
It’s easy to find island restaurants with kids’ menus. You can enjoy great, family-friendly food and dining at Sophie T’s, The Brotherhood, or AK Diamond’s.  At Even Keel Cafe, Easy Street Cantina, and The Starlight you can dine on outdoor patios, where you won't have to be quite as concerned about loud giggles or spills. The entire dining room at The Jetties is on an outdoor deck at Jetties Beach!  Takeout is another great option that allows you to get pizza or burgers or wraps from The Strip for the kids and a lobster feast from Easy Street Restaurant & Seafood House for the grownups. Our list of eateries offering takeout and those offering casual family dining will help you choose.

It’s nice to have at least one fancy dinner on vacation, and there are a couple of upscale restaurants that can accommodate young children.  Brant Point Grill has a spacious Harborside Terrace, if the weather is good then the Summer House poolside café will be open, and families are always welcome at The SeaGrille. Or you can check the Nantucket.net Classifieds to find a babysitter for an evening.
 
There’s nothing like a family day at the beach! Check out our full list of beaches. Children's Beach is named appropriately, with its gentle waves and adjacent playground. Or head to Jetties Beach, where the harborside waves are gentle. There, you also have the option of getting full fare right on the premises at The Jetties.  Dionis Beach, Francis Street Beach, and Brant Point are also good choices for beginning swimmers.  If you’ve rented a 4wd, then head out to the  temporary oceanic pool called the Bathtub at Eel Point. Not all the beaches listed have lifeguards, so be aware!

Kids’ activities are found all over ACK! There’s usually something fun and educational happening at the NHA Discovery Room, within the Whaling Museum. The Maria Mitchell Association is chock full of interesting programs for kids. The UMass Field Station offers nature activities with a knowledgeable staff that loves to work with kids! The Artists Association of Nantucket offers a variety of exciting art workshops for kids as young as two. Peak season, the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket or the Dreamland Foundation often stage family-friendly plays. And finally, who doesn’t love cookies? The Nantucket Cookie Company hosts informal cookie-decorating events for kids! Make an appointment with them; they’re located inside Easy Street Cantina. There’s something new added every week to the Nantucket.net Calendar of Events that’s fun for families.

Love to shop? The Sunken Ship is easily accessible and carries classic Nantucket souvenirs, hats, and tees for kids and parents. At Murray’s Toggery Shop you can buy the famous Nantucket Reds for the whole family. Nantucket Bookworks has a kids’ room full of fun and imaginative things that can keep little ones engaged. If you’ve got a four-legged friend, take the family to Cold Noses to bring home a special treat.