Nantucket, Heard Of It?

Nantucket for summer. Groundbreaking. But in all seriousness, Nantucket has my heart for a multitude of reasons. The island has an old soul, and I think that’s exactly why I love it so much. For all its chicness, the island isn’t about being showy, although there’s just enough of that to keep me inspired on the fashion and culture front. Aside from the superyachts and gorgeous homes, the flashiest thing you’ll see is a row of hydrangeas in full bloom.

The art scene is rich, the fashion is unreasonably good for a place this small, the food is out of control, the beaches are pristine, and don’t get me started on the shingle houses. Every single one has a name, which is peak old-world charm and something I wish would catch on everywhere. It’s a tiny whaling town that somehow does date night, family trip, and reunion of old friends equally well. Watching the sun drop off a bluff above the water never gets old, no matter how many summers I’ve done it.

Although the island did recently catch some unwanted heat… Nantucket and influencers are having a moment right now, and it’s not exactly a friendly one. In case you missed all the gossip, Four Winds, a super cool local store, put up a No Influencers sign a few weeks back, and the internet did what the internet does—it freaked out. Honestly, I get both sides. I've watched quiet corners of this island turn into content sets and watched a shop owner's patience wear thin after the fortieth ring light of the day. That's real, and it's fair to want to protect a place this special. But I've also watched one post from the right person put a small, family-run shop on the map in a way that changed their whole season, and that matters too when you're trying to survive nine quiet months before summer shows up again. I don't think the answer is picking a side. It's more about being a decent guest—buy something if you're shooting there, ask before you turn a shop into a set, and remember the island will still be here long after your grid isn't.

It’s also a one-hour-and-change flight from DC. & the rest is history…

My family typically rents a house on the island because there is nothing I love more than a revolving door of friends and family throughout the summer. But the hotels on Nantucket are incredibly chic and charming, so if a house isn’t in the cards this trip, here’s where I’d point you.

Greydon House is genuinely worth booking. The interiors alone make the case, easily the best on the island. Roman and Williams did the whole thing, and you can feel it the second you walk in. They built the entire place around the idea of a well-traveled whaling captain's home, so it's moody and layered and a little bit theatrical in the best way. Every room feels considered down to the last detail, the kind of design that makes you want to redo your own house immediately. And if you don't end up staying there, still find your way in for a nightcap. The bar is not to be missed.

Faraway Hotel is one of the coolest places to stay in town. It feels chic, lively, and very Nantucket without being on-the-nose, and the location makes everything easy. I especially love its on-property restaurant Sister Ship for drinks or dinner. It works just as well for date night, a double date, or a fun group dinner, and the courtyard always has the best energy.

The Brant is the new-ish it hotel, tucked into a trio of 17th-century-style houses