Hi friends, welcome back to my Nantucket series! On our second full day on the island, we decided to explore Sconset on the eastern side. It’s about eight miles from town so not walkable. Last visit we rented an electric scooter, but we both decided we’d never do that again. The scooters only go about 30 mph and the speed limit on the main road to get to Sconset is 45 mph so it was a bit dangerous. The scooters aren’t allowed on the bike paths so you’re very exposed. We decided to check out the bus and it was an experience, but at least it was free. (I think there is surcharge pricing at the bus station because it was showing an Uber would be $50 which seemed high to us) The seats aren’t like a normal bus, they face inward, so I was getting a little carsick from the twists and turns and traffic on the route. There are no streetlights, only roundabouts and stop signs, so lots of stop and go. I was very relieved to get off the bus once we reached our destination.
The two main activities in Sconset are the Bluff Walk and Sankaty Light House. The bluff walk is essentially walking through people’s backyards and admiring the beautiful homes. It says the trail is about a mile long, but the views are so great it feels a lot shorter. The trail is not paved and there are narrow parts and tree roots, so just watch your step. It’s a little tricky to find where the walk begins, but look for this little path.
I can easily imagine sitting on these porches with endless views of the ocean.
Sconset sure is stunning!
After exiting the bluff walk Jon and I headed to Sankaty Head Lighthouse. It was built in 1850 and is still used today. In 2007 the ‘Sconset Trust took ownership of the lighthouse and moved it over 400 feet to the northwest because of the eroding bluff. I can’t imagine that was an easy task! The lighthouse wasn’t open while we were there but I believe the public can climb the stairs to the top.
On our walk back to town we got to see the front of a lot of the houses on the bluff walk and a few others that caught my eye. We love just walking around these beautiful streets, it’s so relaxing.
Front Street is a quaint shell lined street in Sconset that is a must. You can also access the start of the bluff walk from this street but I think we took the path less traveled.
Jon and I meandered back into the main square of Sconset and waited for the bus to come. We must’ve just missed one because it felt like we were waiting forever. The driver tried to entertain us with trivia, but most people were over it after the first five questions. Needless to say the bus was not our favorite part of Nantucket, but you just can’t beat free! Despite the logistics to get there, Sconset is definitely worth visiting on a trip to Nantucket!
