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You may have heard of this year's trend: Hot Girl Summer... but I'm trying to cool down (especially with this heat wave!) and am more inclined for a Yacht Girl Summer. For this week's Muse, I've rounded up three of my favorite summer vacation getaways, that just happen to have something in common: they are all islands! They're all in the US, and just a short flight (or boat ride) away. If you can travel by boat, that's the best. It was hard to narrow down my faves, but these guys made the cut: Nantucket, Mackinac Island, and The Hamptons (Long Island).
Sprinkled around the Midwest and New England, these islands all hold a special place in my heart. And each summer, I desperately try and make a visit to all three of them! They are all unique charming in their own ways, and you're always guaranteed a great time. Maybe you've been to some of them yourself and have created your own fond memories. But there's always a reason to come back for more... let's check them out!
Nantucket
Where To Stay
The White Elephant
Nantucket Hotel
Faraway Nantucket
What To Do
Beaches: Galley, Jetties, Sconset, Madaket, Steps.
Shopping: art galleries, boutiques (Skinny Dip, RL, Blue Beetle, Milly & Grace, Murrays, Cattivo...so many!)
Bike Ride: I love riding the trail from town, (stop at Brant Point & Steps Beach), then make it all the way out to Madaket for lunch at Millie's!
Visit the Lighthouses: Brant Point and Sankaty are my faves.
Boat Ride: cruise around the island or hop the ferry over to Martha's Vineyard for the day!
Eat and Drink This (There are too many good ones!)
Cru- favorite lunch spot on the marina, love their lobster roll
Nautilus- dinner in town, asian fusion
Boarding House- in the heart of town, lovely dinner
Galley Beach- upscale dinner for best sunset
Sandbar- casual dinner, also fun for lunch...love their frose!
Lola 41- fun asian fusion dinner spot
The Bean- fave coffee in town
Juice Bar or Jack & Charlie's- toss up for best ice cream!
Gazebo Bar- great for lunch (best mudslides) and late night drinks
Club Car- *iconic* late night cocktails & piano bar
Millie's- bike from town for a great lunch in Madaket (amazing tacos)
Summer House- love driving out to Sconset and having lunch by the pool and then heading down to the beach
Mackinac Island
Where To Stay
Iroquois Hotel- highly recommend, the Lighthouse Suite is to die for!
Grand Hotel- an island staple, I stayed for 2 nights after checking out of the Iroquois.
Mission Point Resort
Chippewa Hotel
What To Do
Bike the Trail- Mackinac has an amazing trail that circles the entire island! I highly recommend having a bike for transportation around the island.
Visit the Fort- Fort Mackinac is a great historic landmark to tour.
Great Golf- the Grand Hotel Jewel Golf Course offers beautiful vistas of Lake Huron.
Buy Some Fudge- Mackinac is well-known for their fudge...stop into one of the many shops to buy a few flavors to bring home.
Go on a Carriage Ride- there are NO motor vehicles allowed on the island! But you can catch a ride on one of the many horse-drawn carriages.
Marquette Park- Hang out in the park, have a picnic, watch the action going on in town!
Visit Arch Rock- a short hike in the woods, and you'll find one of the island's hidden gems.
Eat and Drink This
Pink Pony- in the Chippewa Hotel, facing the marina--a great spot to sit outside and the most adorable gift shop!
The Carriage House- in the Iroquois Hotel, grab a table on the outdoor patio to watch the boats out on the bay
1852 Grill Room- so iconic for Mackinac, and has a great patio facing the marina!
The Gate House & The Jockey Club- both part of the Grand Hotel, these are super fun and eclectic spots for lunch and/or drinks
The Grand Hotel- if you are staying here, then you can experience the "Grand Hotel Dinner" ...don't forget to grab a rocking chair on the porch for a post-dinner cocktail!
the Hamptons
Where To Stay
Baron's Cove (Sag Harbor)
Topping Rose House (Bridgehampton)
Gurney's (Montauk, there are 2--I've stayed on Star Island, it's smaller and quaint. But both are very nice!)
Marram (Montauk)
Surf Lodge (Montauk)
What To Do
Shopping-
Sag Harbor- Love Shack Fancy, Goldie, The Wharf Shop, Sag Harbor Books (this bookstore is amazing!)
East Hampton- Ralph Lauren (love this location! Make sure to stop by RRL behind it), Les Toiles Du Soleil, Stoney Clover Lane, Kirna Zabete
Montauk-
Take a Bike Ride- biking is a great way to get around Long Island...especially with all of the traffic.
Beach Day- there are many great beaches to visit. Some of my faves are: Main Beach (East Hampton), Ditch Plains (Montauk), Kirk Park (Montauk), Gurney's (have their own beachfronts!), Havens (Sag Harbor)
Go on a Sunset Cruise- Sail Montauk offers a lovely (private) sunset sail, remember to BYOB & snacks.
Take a Ferry Ride- there are a couple ferries that run to different places, which makes for great day trips! Some spots to check out: Shelter Island, Greenport, and Block Island.
East and Drink This
Sag Harbor: Le Bilboquet (try the cajun chicken), Bagel Buoy Market (breakfast sandwiches are bomb), Tutto Ilgiorno (wonderful pasta), Grindstone Coffee (amazing coffee and donuts)
East Hampton: East Hampton Grill, Nick & Toni's (iconic, celeb-sighting)
Bridgehampton: L&W Market (great spot to stop in for sandwiches and to-go food)
Montauk: Gurney's (Scarpetta and Showfish), Duryea's, La Fin Kitchen & Lounge, LUNCH (Lobster Roll...iconic!)
That wraps up my yacht girl summer/island getaway travel guide. If this heat wave trend continues, you'll be sure to find me seaside all summer! I've already started planning trips to 2 of these charming islands this summer, and am hoping to try some new spots I can share with you. Make sure to follow along with me on my Instagram where I share most of my day-to-day activities :) Have a great weekend, friends!
-Molly