Nantucket gets its nickname “The Grey Lady” from the frequent cloud cover and occasional showers it experiences, but don’t fret if a little rain comes your way. Whether you’re looking for a culturally enriching experience or a day of sipping and snacking, there’s plenty to do no matter what the weather looks like. Read on for four of our favorite rainy-day Nantucket itineraries.
WHAT TO DO IN NANTUCKET ON A RAINY DAY
On days you can’t hit the beach, take the opportunity to explore the best indoor activities the island has to offer. Read on for everything you need to know about what to do on a rainy day in Nantucket.
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Nantucket’s Whaling Museum is a must-see, rain or shine. The museum offers an in-depth look at the 18th-century whaling industry that put Nantucket on the map. Visitors to the museum can take interactive tours of the Hadwen & Barney Oil and Candle Factory and the whaleship Essex, access rare film footage, and marvel at a 46-foot sperm whale skeleton. The fun doesn’t stop there: Explore all of Nantucket’s best museums on your rainy day travels.
Nantucket Shipwreck And Lifesaving Museum
The waters surrounding Nantucket are home to more than 700 shipwrecks, earning it the nickname “graveyard of the Atlantic.” Egan Maritime’s Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum tells the stories of these shipwrecked sailors and the mariners who risked their lives to save them, displaying more than 5,000 artifacts, including period surfboats, beach carts, vintage photographs, and Fresnel lenses from local lighthouses. As if this wasn’t already the ideal rainy day activity, the museum is located in Folger’s Marsh, a perfect place to watch the raindrops fall on the swaying seagrass.
Cisco Brewery
Located in the agricultural region of the island, Cisco Brewery makes a great place to knock a cold one back while enjoying the sound of rain and views of nearby sandy farms. The local brewhouse, the only one of its kind on the island, offers up seasonal craft brews with live music and the occasional food truck out back. Be sure to take a growler back to the hotel for a nightcap.
Nantucket Dreamland
As the name implies, Nantucket’s crown jewel is where you go when you want to spend a few blissful hours taking in the arts. The theater offers daily film screenings and drive-in movies as well as performing arts productions, live comedy, and concerts. Talk about the perfect rainy day spot.
Nantucket Bookworks
There’s no better way to spend a rainy day than with a good book. Find a new (or old title) to cozy up with in your room at Nantucket Bookwork or sister store Mitchell’s Book Corner and shop for gifts or souvenirs while you’re there— they have some of the best selections on the island!
COZY UP AT PERIWINKLE INN
Reserve a Stay
The best cure for a rainy day is an afternoon curled up underneath a warm blanket with a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a good book. When you book one a whaling-era-inspired room at Periwinkle Inn, you get all of that and more, including a plush queen-size bed, lovely harbor views, and a copy of Moby Dick to complete your rainy day reading list.