Beholden

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On December 3, 2013 In Blog

Thanksgiving may be in the rear view mirror, but the spirit of thankfulness is still alive and well here on Nantucket. Many on the island (and around the country) took to their Facebook pages or Twitter feeds and spent November documenting their personal “30 days of gratitude.” Although I did not publicly join in the fray, I was moved by the accounts and reflections which caused me to pause and consider how many things (big and small) we all have to be thankful for. In her inspirational bestseller “Help, Thanks, Wow,” Anne Lamott imparts, “When you are aware of all that has been given to you, in your lifetime… and in the past few days… it is hard not to be humbled, and pleased to give back.”

Nantucket offers all of us countless daily reasons to give thanks.  Her sunrises and sunsets, pristine beaches and rolling dunes, charming storefronts and quaint cottages, historic landmarks and cobblestone streets…and the people, from then and now, who made it all possible. But somehow when we pause to consider all this, gratitude seems insufficient.  We owe a debt to the island. On this tiny body of sand in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, many have formed lifelong friendships, met their soul mates, raised children and grandchildren, celebrated birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and family reunions. Long walks in Sanford Farm at dusk or along ‘Sconset Beach just as the sun crests over the water have brought clarity of mind, ignited untapped creativity and ushered peace and calm into life’s chaos.

As Nantucket summer residents, our home was a continuous revolving door of family, friends and visitors.  Our family discovered one of life’s hidden treasures…and knew the only response was to introduce the island’s charm to others. Now that we live here year round, our desire to share the island has not diminished, but simply been transformed as we welcome guests to the island during every season and reveal her hidden “secrets” gleaned from personal experience and long time local residents. Devotion to the Grey Lady is contagious and evident as we watch friends who were once summer guests purchase their own Nantucket homes and fill the calendar with visits from friends and loved ones because they too realize the island’s magic is something to be shared.

This holiday season, there are innumerable ways we can…and should… give back to the island that has given so much to us…countless great causes, organizations, people and businesses who need our support and involvement to ease their burdens or assist in their missions.  But perhaps the simplest way we can express our gratitude and “give back” to Nantucket is by sharing her with others…to throw open wide our island doors and invite friends, family and first time visitors to experience the calm…the history…the hospitality…and the inexplicable beauty that is Nantucket.

Share the moments.

Shellie Dunlap

Petticoat Row

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On November 19, 2013 In Blog

Merriam-Webster defines a petticoat as a garment characteristic or typical of women…a feminine article of clothing traditionally worn under a longer skirt. The modern day women of Nantucket, while no longer sporting petticoats, are at once feminine and edgy…smart and sassy…entrepreneurial and industrious.  In short, there is nothing “typical” about them. They are determined to honor the contribution and reputation of a long lineage of Nantucket women, while paving the way for a new generation of island businesswomen, merchants, entrepreneurs and successful moms.

I had the pleasure of attending an event this past week hosted by an organization aptly named “Petticoat Row.” From its earliest beginnings, Nantucket has relied on its women to not only manage the home-front, family and land while the men were at sea, but to literally “set up shop” and be creative in establishing and overseeing local businesses that contributed to the island’s vibrant economy. The most famous of these female entrepreneurs were the shopkeepers (Mary Nye and others) of “Petticoat Row,” located along Centre Street, in the heart of the Old Historic District. Taking a page from their ancestors playbook, this new consortium of Petticoat Row visionaries are passionate about women, commerce and all things Nantucket.

With a few hundred in attendance, the Nantucket Hotel ballroom was buzzing with local women (and a few men too!) casting their visions, updating each other on new endeavors and sharing both successes and difficulties they’re encountering along the way. My favorite part of the evening was the “all-star panel” facilitated by Holly Finigan, one of Nantucket’s newest entrepreneurial rising stars, who interviewed four long time successful island businesswomen. From Nalu to Susan Lister Locke Jeweler, Stephanie’s Nantucket to Jessica Hicks Jewelry Design, each woman told a piece of her story, encouraged us with her wit and wisdom and most importantly reminded us how critical it is for all of us…residents and visitors…to shop locally.  Nantucket can only sustain itself if retailers island-wide are successful.

With the holiday season approaching, why not make a plan to invest in the island we all love with a gift that’s uniquely Nantucket. What’s on your list? Perhaps a gift certificate for a salon treatment, dinner for two or a whale watching tour. Clothing, books, furniture, jewelry, art, gourmet food items or a Nantucket basket…island merchants can help you make your list and check it twice. If you’re unable to visit the island for Thanksgiving, Christmas Stroll or any time before the holidays, most merchants conveniently offer online shopping opportunities through their websites or will gladly ship if you prefer to place a phone order. If you’re lucky enough to be here in person, be sure to take a stroll up Centre Street during your shopping spree and pause to pay homage to Mary Nye and the hundreds of other entrepreneurs who paved the way on “Petticoat Row” for Nantucket’s flourishing economy.

Shop ACK!

Shellie Dunlap

Lions, Tigers and Bears

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On November 5, 2013 In Blog

Click photo to view Halloween gallery

Remember the scene from the Wizard of Oz when the Wizard presents a ticking red heart to the Tin Man and suggests that “A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others?” If there is a sliver of truth to this, then Nantucket’s heart must be filled up and overflowing on a daily basis with so many people who love the Grey Lady and her traditions. This ubiquitous affection is never more present than during island-wide celebrations that give young and old, residents and visitors, seasoned revelers and first-time participants an opportunity to let their hair down and have some good old fashioned fun.

The “yellow brick road” (or cobblestone paved Main Street as it were) looked like a scene right out of Oz last Thursday night as hundreds of costume clad enthusiasts gathered downtown for the annual Trick or Treat parade and candy gathering festivities. The streets were brimming with creepy goblins, wart faced witches, green slimy alligators and a giant yellow banana…and yes folks, those were just the “grown-ups.” The kids were equally creative with appearances by Glinda the good witch, owls, dinosaurs, Mr. Blue Man and even a couple of Dorothy’s. The plastic pumpkins were overflowing with candy bars and lollipops and shouts of “Trick or Treat” and “Happy Halloween” resounded as the enthusiastic crowd paraded their way up Main Street.

As I watched the scene unfold from the steps of our Main Street office, I was reminded that while this island may not be Oz…there can be no denying we’re certainly not in Kansas…or Iowa…or anywhere on the mainland…anymore.  Nantucket is its own kind of Oz. It mesmerizes new visitors with its beautiful beaches, historic homes, delicious restaurants, unique shops and charming cobblestone streets. Those same magical qualities are at the core of why so many have chosen to put down roots on the island and for those who have been here for generations it’s why they’ve never left. But beyond the obvious…the beauty and charm, the good food and lovely homes…there is more – so much more. The people of Nantucket…the ones who don crazy costumes and those who prefer to tag along in street clothes…who close their businesses early to hand out candy or snap photos…who gather together whenever an occasion presents itself to share some laughs with fellow neighbors and celebrate island life…that is what is at the heart of this enchanted place and would no doubt have Dorothy clicking her red shoes three times because there really is no place like home.

If you missed the festivities on Thursday, be sure to add a Nantucket Halloween bash to your bucket list for next year. You can join the ranks of the Tin Man and Scarecrow on Main Street…or perhaps join fellow goblins and ghouls at weekend parties at Lola 41 or The Chicken Box. Wherever you choose to celebrate, you can be assured there will be no shortage of tricks or treats, lions, tigers or bears.

Oh my…

Shellie Dunlap

Family Affair

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On October 22, 2013 In Blog

For those of us in the Baby Boomer generation and beyond, the phrase “Family Affair” brings to mind the 1960′s sitcom of the same name.  The dashing and debonair Uncle Bill is charged with raising his brother’s three young children. A daunting task for a successful corporate bachelor, manageable only with the assistance of his “right hand man,” the robust and dignified, yet warm and sensitive Household Manager, Mr. French.  Cissy, Jody and little Buffy Davis (who was rarely seen without her beloved Mrs. Beasley doll) stole our hearts and made us feel like an extension of their family unit. This was our very early exposure to television’s depiction of the unconventional blended family and one whose weekly storylines reminded us that it truly does “take a village” to raise the children.

Nantucket has a long standing history of banding together as a community to nurture its families. In its earliest days, as the sea captains pulled up anchor and embarked on journeys that would leave them separated from their wife and children for months on end (sometimes years!), Nantucket and its people purposed to work together, neighbor helping neighbor, to maintain homes and businesses and provide loving care and education for the children. Today, those deep rooted family values and community efforts are still evident with a multitude of great schools (both private and public), terrific family focused organizations like the Nantucket Boys and Girls Club, Mentoring Youth Nantucket, Nantucket S.T.A.R. and Community Network for Children (to name a few), all working in sync to provide a safe, healthy island haven where Nantucket families can thrive.

Perhaps most endearing are the family stories that unfold from time and experiences on Nantucket. I repeatedly hear accounts from people whose grandparents first brought them to the island decades ago and who continue to summer here with their own grandchildren. The island is steeped in history so there are countless narratives from those who have twelve generations of Nantucket tales to share of family successes and tragedies…dreams realized and others too soon dashed.  I’m a hopeless romantic so I am partial to the tales from couples who met here while working as young adults, married on the island and now have homes, careers and children in the Nantucket school system.

The stories are all unique, but the common bond is consistent…we all love gathering our family together on Nantucket. Little Cate in the photo above (who I encountered on the new Cisco Bike Path this summer) has discovered at an early age what we all know to be true – even something as simple as a morning bike ride is better when the whole gang comes along for the ride.

Make a plan now to organize a Nantucket family activity or reunion. Fly a kite on Coatue with the kids, host a clambake with three generations of cousins, go surfcasting in Madequecham with grandpa, take a Surfside Beach stroll with a sibling, bike through ‘Sconset with mom or organize a Madaket sunset sail for the whole crew. Enlist island friends and neighbors to help attend to the details or check the Nantucket Bucket for upcoming family friendly activities and keep it…

all in the family.

Shellie Dunlap

Happy Meal

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On October 8, 2013 In Blog

Click photo to view gallery of Restaurant Week Indulgence!

Anna Thomas, the highly acclaimed author of several cookbooks, including the popular “Love Soup” once said, “We all eat and it would be a sad waste of opportunity to eat badly.”  When you’re lucky enough to visit or live on Nantucket the odds are incredibly slim you’ll ever stumble across a bad meal. Our little island boasts more high end eateries and brilliant chefs per capita than almost any place in the country (and possibly the world).  While they burst at the seams and book well in advance during the busy summer season, the local restaurants bring it home during the shoulder season when they showcase specialty prix fixe menus to encourage residents and visitors alike to answer the dinner bell and gather friends and family around the table for a happy meal.

This fall’s Restaurant Week was one for the record books (at least at my house). With a jam-packed summer work schedule that left us too busy (or too tired) to frequent many of the fabulous restaurants, my husband Dan and I made sure to snag prime tables at three of Nantucket’s finest eateries last week. We munched on Duck Confit Carbonara (doesn’t it just sound decadent?) at Le Languedoc on Tuesday, celebrated our anniversary with Wok Fried Lobsta (I wanted to lick the plate) at The Pearl on Thursday and wrapped up the week with friends savoring Pumpkin Chowda and an Apple and Burnt Cinnamon Galette (not your mama’s apple pie!) at Straight Wharf on Saturday.  Each dish and every meal was as good as the one before and each left me amazed and grateful to live in a place with such a wide variety of culinary talent.

The abilities and hearts of Nantucket’s chefs and restaurant owners extend beyond the walls of their beautifully decorated dining rooms. The Inquirer and Mirror this week reported that several of Nantucket’s restaurants (including Ventuno and Boarding House) foster camaraderie and teamwork by serving “family meals” to their staff before the doors open each evening. Several island chefs invest in the local youth by mentoring students of the Nantucket High School culinary program and participating in the Junior Chef competition that took place at Cisco Brewery this past Sunday. Just last evening, several of the island chefs joined forces to serve attendees a delectable three course meal with all proceeds going to benefit the Nantucket Food Pantry.  The masterful creations these culinary artists serve up are extraordinary, but the creative ways they find to utilize their talents to benefit Nantucket and “pay it forward” is equally impressive.

The Nantucket restaurant scene stays vibrant all year long with many of the restaurants remaining open through the winter and offering specials to entice the local residents and visitors to step “out to dinner.”  2 for 1 Sushi Sunday at Lola 41, $10 Chicken dinners from Pazzo, $5 burger night at Met on Main, 3 courses for $25 at Town and Queequeg’s and 3 courses for $15 at Fifty-Six Union are just a few of the options that help ensure Nantucketers and island guests will have a menu of affordable dining selections during the off-season.  If you missed this year’s restaurant week, or if you’re just in the mood for some fine Nantucket fare, make plans now to reserve a table someday soon at one of your favorite island bistros where you’re guaranteed to have a gastrointestinal extravaganza.

Worth the weight.

Shellie Dunlap

Change Of Pace

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On September 24, 2013 In Blog

The fresh and funny author Alexandra Potter writes in her entertaining The Two Lives of Miss Charlotte Merryweather, “My legs are programmed to trot briskly and my arms to pump up and down like pistons, but I force myself to stroll past the stalls and pavement cafes. To enjoy just being somewhere, rather than rushing from somewhere, to somewhere. Inhaling deep lungfuls of air, instead of my usual shallow breaths. I take a moment to just stop and look around me. And smile to myself.”  As I drove out Polpis Road recently, I was forced to stop and wait for the “pedestrian” in the photo to cross the road. Mr. Turtle was taking a page from Ms. Potter’s book as he casually sashayed across the road…enjoying his “somewhere.”  As I tapped my fingers on the steering wheel, he shot me a glance over his shell that said, “Slow down sister…it’s September and I’m in no big hurry.”

It’s shocking how quickly it happens – this change of pace.  Our bustling little island, that just weeks ago was operating at maximum capacity and a frenetic speed, has adjusted its tempo and recalibrated its attitude. There’s a noticeable difference in the “urgency” all over the island, but I notice it especially at intersections and the rotary where July and August had all of us impatient and pushy and now finds most of us relaxed, even cordial, as we gladly let a car or two pull in front of us recognizing their destination is just as important as ours. Schools are back in session, the harbor is beginning to empty and there is parking for one and all at the Stop and Shop. Even Mother Nature has weighed in on the dramatic shift as temps fell into the 50′s last week prompting all of us to reach for our sweaters and check the status of the wood pile.

The “shoulder season” on Nantucket, particularly the fall, is one of my favorite times on the island. With all her summer guests departed, the Grey Lady offers an invitation to those of us left behind to pull up a bench or a porch swing and just bask in the beauty…the fresh salt air…the calm…that is at the very core of all things wonderful about Nantucket. As the leaves begin to drop and the colors change moment by moment, it’s the perfect time to take long walks at Tuppancy Links or Sanford Farm, a bike ride from Cisco to ‘Sconset and back again or meet up with those friends you’ve been too busy to see all summer for a cold drink at Cisco Brewery or a fall cook together around your own kitchen counter.

September is the ideal time for guests to visit Nantucket…either for the first time or a return trip. The island tells a different story and shares a different side of herself during this quiet time of year. It’s a great time to show up with no itinerary at all and plan to simply fill the days enjoying the quiet, exploring the scenery and letting the island refresh you. If you’re looking for a change of pace this fall, take some advice from Alexandra Potter and come enjoy just “being” on Nantucket.

Slow Down.

Shellie Dunlap

Footprints

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On September 10, 2013 In Blog

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I have a favorite picture frame displayed prominently on my desk with an engraved quote that reads, “Our memories of the ocean will linger on, long after our footprints in the sand are gone.” The special moment preserved in this frame is one of all of my children gathered together on Cisco Beach on a warm summer evening just as the sun is setting. With each of them now living in a different corner of the country, these occasions when we can all be together on Nantucket are priceless and memory worthy.

As another spectacular Nantucket summer winds to a close, it’s the perfect time to reflect. The rumination is bittersweet as we consider the “wow moments,” embrace every special person and occasion that was part of this season’s Nantucket story and lament those opportunities missed because the calendar was too satiated or father time simply would not shift his beach buggy out of high gear.

With a peek into my own rearview mirror on this bright September morning, I find myself pondering not only where my flip-flops had the pleasure of treading this summer, but wondering if they left any impression. Held dear are the ‘Sconset sunrises, sunsets on Cisco Beach, fishing in Madequecham and the stolen beach day in Quidnet with friends. Many are the Friday night memories at Ventuno and the mid-week lite bites at the Tree Bar. Oh those dinner parties with old friends and new, sand castle building with one granddaughter and the privilege of assisting another in putting her tiny toes in the Jetties Beach sand for the first time. Regret that there weren’t enough long bike rides, books read beach-side or leisurely strolls with friends and family.

Others footprints and their personal journeys left a lasting impression on this Nantucket summer. Several in our tight knit community battled difficult illnesses with courage and grace, but mustered the energy to encourage others along the way. Parents of a special needs child inspired onlookers as they celebrated a first tandem bike ride with whoops and hollers as they whizzed down the Cisco Bike Path. Then there was the rental home owner who quietly apologized that she was unable to offer her home for rent in August because it was being gifted to a friend facing an aggressive end-stage illness. This one stopped me cold and had me lingering in front of that house more than once in recent weeks…pausing to sit quietly and consider the bigger picture of Nantucket, the futility of the worrisome “small things” and the big ways the island and its people make us all better.

Where did your family leave footprints on Nantucket this summer? A waterside sunset at Galley Beach, a fish caught off Brant Point or perhaps a Rosa Rugosa lined path leading straight to the doorstep of your first Nantucket home? Celebrate these memories and more as you begin designing your Nantucket footsteps for next year.

Make an impression.

Shellie Dunlap

Time For Change

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On August 27, 2013 In Blog

 

It’s been said, “You don’t know what you don’t know, but when you do know you have to do something about it.” When Darcy Creech, founder and CEO of Peter Beaton Inc of Nantucket, visited a child named Joyce in the tiny village of  Olkolili, Tanzania in 2010, she discovered something she did not know…Joyce and the other 2300 residents of the village had no clean drinking water.  The nearest supply was 2.5 miles away and Joyce along with the other children and women of the village were spending hours each day hauling water. Darcy also learned that the multitude of health and developmental issues being suffered by the children of Olkolii all pointed to the same problem – the disease infested water the villagers were consuming. Once Darcy became aware of the problem, she knew she could not sit by and do nothing. She got busy developing a way to use her successful Nantucket fashion company to reach beyond the shores of the island to bring relief and restore health to little Joyce and the other residents of Olkolii in Tanzania.

Darcy created an initiative called Hydrex Philanthropic (a division of Peter Beaton Inc) to help fund the clean water project. She designed a beautiful and colorful watch and committed to use 100% of the proceeds to finance the mission.  The watches became an instant hit, sold quickly and in just a few short months the $60,000 needed was raised and today the villagers of Olkolii are all enjoying clean water, a substantial decline in childhood illness and death and the opportunity to experience something we Americans take for granted.  Darcy is now working on her third overseas initiative, building a Child Development Center in Kiio, Kenya. This project is being funded in part by 100% proceeds from the sale of her latest bright orange designer watch and she’s well on her way to reaching the goal.

The people of Nantucket never cease to amaze me with their generosity and creative ability to benefit others. In recent weeks, there’s been talk of “donor fatigue” as so many non-profit organizations host summer fundraisers on the island. There may be some donor fatigue, but there is no heartstring fatigue. Nantucket residents and visitors care deeply about one another, the island in general and the needs they discover around the globe. It’s inspiring to watch local individuals and organizations get creative and intentional in their efforts to use their time, not just their money, to benefit others.

Some days it’s as simple as “doing what you can do.” Darcy sells a fashion accessory through her Nantucket retail store.  Our own Carolyn Durand, along with many others, participated in Swim Across America this past weekend to raise money for cancer and PASCON. Jason Bridges of Nantucket Bike Tours hosts island tours to raise money for Nantucket Wheelers so the elderly and special needs individuals can own specialty bikes. People who enjoy long walks join fellow walking enthusiasts to log a few miles for Autism Speaks. There are many more island organizations and individuals who have found creative ways for all of us to be part of “paying it forward” both on Nantucket and beyond.

What are you passionate about?  Get involved with a Nantucket organization or business to swim, bike, golf or shop to benefit others.  Gather a group of Nantucket friends and neighbors to design your own unique product or event to bring awareness to a cause that’s important to you.  It can be as complex as hosting a several hundred person soiree or as simple as taking a walk or purchasing a new watch.

It’s about time.

Shellie Dunlap

In The Trenches

Posted by Shellie Dunlap On August 13, 2013 In Blog

Merriam Webster defines a trench as “a place, position, or level at which an activity is carried on in a manner likened to trench warfare – often used in the phrase in the trenches.” The very nature of the word trench conjures up images of hard labor…digging, sweating and digging some more.  It also implies the notion of safety – a place to go to hunker down, hide out or take cover.  It rarely is a concept referred to in the singular sense – this trench digging business is a team sport.  One for all and all for one and together we can make it happen.

On any given August day on Nantucket, virtually all the service industry people have an innate understanding of being in the trenches.  Regardless of our line of work, we all recognize that it truly does take a village to make a tourist island hum.  The caretakers rely on the plumbers, the restaurant owners depend on the delivery guy, the non-profit organizations put their faith in the event planners and volunteers and all of us take for granted the diligence  of our public servants who help ensure we are protected and secure through it all.  There are more…many more.  I dig, you dig, our friends, neighbors and perfect strangers take their turn at the shovel and together we masterfully navigate the trench and enjoy each others company along the way.

For summer residents, day-trip visitors and island guests, Nantucket provides a different type of trench experience.  They leave the craziness and busyness of off-island lifestyles…the perspiring work of their own trenches…to come to a place where they can hunker down, settle in and find a safe haven.  A special kind of trench – the good kind.  The little girls in the photo remind me that ditch digging doesn’t have to be gloom and doom work nor does it necessarily need to have a purpose.  Some days it’s fun to dig just for the sake of digging.  Visitors to Nantucket find camaraderie with others in their “good trenches.”  They golf, play tennis, sail, fish and dine together.  They become entrenched with one another and Nantucket by supporting local charities, volunteering for island organizations and improving the overall quality of life on the island we all love.

On this, one of the busiest weeks of the Nantucket tourist season, I feel grateful to live in a place filled with so many incredible fellow trenchers.  The next time you dine at a restaurant, get groceries bagged at the Stop and Shop, car filled at one of the gas stations, sink unclogged by the plumber, weeds pulled by the landscaper, bicycles delivered by the bike shop or banged up finger stitched at the ER, take a brief moment to thank your fellow trench diggers for their role in providing all of us with a spectacular Nantucket experience.

Dig it.

Shellie Dunlap

Le Petite

Le Petite - Nantucket
Posted by Shellie Dunlap On July 30, 2013 In Blog

Last week, as the news stations flooded our television screens and mobile devices with gloom and doom stories of crash landed airplanes and politicians behaving badly we found a glimmer of hope as word came across the ticker that a royal bundle of joy would soon arrive on the scene. Even as we went about our work days, we paused periodically to check the Twitter feed or glance at our home page for any update on the birth of His or Her Highness.  When the announcement was finally posted outside Buckingham Palace, the world uttered a collective “ohhh,” our hearts were warmed and for a brief moment a little Prince reminded us that there is still hope and promise in the world.

I love how Nantucket brings out the kid in all of us. It’s fun to stop by the new Petite Travelers location on Orange Street where I always get the urge to pause and “test drive” the latest toys, gadgets and gizmos displayed on their lawn. Mini grocery carts, lawn mowers, beach chairs and pop up tents. You can purchase child size Adirondack chairs for your summer home lawn or entire tiny cushioned patio sets for your Nantucket veranda.  My new favorite is the miniature hard plastic gas pump. The last time I was there, a fresh faced brown eyed little four-year old, trying out a new riding toy, sidled up beside the pump while I was admiring it.  He emitted a boisterous “Vroom, Vroom” and I asked him if he wanted me to fill ‘er up.  He nodded emphatically.  I filled, we both giggled and off he sped.

Bill Cosby famously said, “The essence of childhood, of course, is play, which my friends and I did endlessly on streets that we reluctantly shared with traffic.”  There is perhaps no better way to enjoy Nantucket Island than through the eyes of a child. To a little person, the island is one giant sandbox…and Bill Cosby would be delighted to hear there are still many quaint tree-lined neighborhoods where kids can kick a soccer ball or ride their bikes in the street.

Ask any child on Main Street Nantucket what he or she loves most about the island and you’ll likely get a short list; the beach, the ice cream, the bike rides, the Sunken Ship and of course the secret candy room at Force Five Sports.  It’s entirely possible you could also get this same answer from any number of adults. Nantucket compels all of us to take a page from our children’s playbook – simplify our lives, take ourselves less serious and invite our friends to play in our sandbox.

Tap into your inner child while on Nantucket this summer.  Take a Critter Cruise, learn to sail with Nantucket Community Sailing or check with Nantucket Bucket for a full menu of kids activities. For something more impromptu, organize a family bike ride, go turtle hunting in the marshes, build a sand castle and by all means stop at the Juice Guys for ice cream. Put down the mobile devises, pick up a sand shovel and let the playing commence.

It’s a small world.

Shellie Dunlap

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