March, toward Spring!

March 2021 has arrived and here on Nantucket, it definitely came in as a lion!  The wind chill was 1 degree with wind gusts reported at 70 mph in Madaket!!  But with March comes the delicious knowledge that SPRING is just around the corner.    And we can think of no better place to be than here on Nantucket.   So why not begin thinking about a “Spring Fling” getaway or summer vacation? 

When was the last time you pampered yourself, planned or enjoyed a getaway or a sweet respite?  As the days lengthen, crocuses peek through the soil and the air grows incrementally warmer, the feeling that our world is reopening sends a message of hope and connection.  Now, as the vaccine rolls out and travel restrictions ease, is the time to plan your next great adventure.  And for now, the most trusted travel is in our own beautiful country, which you can explore with no possibility of getting stuck out of the country.  So plan a vacation to someplace you have read about, someplace you may have visited and had hoped to again, someplace you can drive to (with the help of a ferry or a puddle-jumper), someplace revered for its timeless beauty, its wealth of culture, its pristine beaches and world-renowned cuisine.  Come to Nantucket - Voted #2 of 50 Best Coastal Towns in the United States! Come to the Martin House Inn! 

The Martin House Inn combines the charm and romance of a bygone era with all the comforts of home. It also offers plenty of room for social distancing- in our serenity gardens, our spacious veranda, our lofty roof walk with panoramic views of the harbor and town, our comfortable gathering areas.  Our spacious accommodations blend the convenience and comforts of today with the romance and nostalgia of the past.  We offer 13 room choices. See a sampling below:

Located on our first floor, ROOM 1 is a lovely room with loads of light, a stunning, full-sized antique pillow top canopy bed, and private shower bath. 

Travelling with a larger group, or simply want your own private living area?  ROOM 2 is a richly decorated 2-room suite with a queen poster bed, that sleeps up to 4. Its spacious living room with large gas-remote fireplace, sleeper loveseat, flat screen TV with DVD, and board games provides you the comforts of home.  What's not to love?

Venture to our 2nd floor for our most romantic room (ROOM 21) , which features a queen canopy bed, a large fireplace, and a large bathroom with both a tub and shower.  Imagine, grabbing one of the sumptuous afternoon snacks we provide, and your favorite beverage (from your own private mini-fridge) as you return from your day of adventures, to enjoy in the warm, sultry breezes on your own private porch that overlooks our Serenity garden.  What better way to unwind!

 

There are many more rooms to choose from, depending on your preferences, and we invite you to visit our website to view them all. 

What to expect when you arrive?  Camelot style weather, where air conditioning exists but is not really necessary.  Gentle ocean breezes, windswept beaches, sand dunes, blinking lighthouses, cobbled streets, rose covered cottages and a charming pace of life await you on this 50-square mile island, 27 miles out to sea.  Formerly,  the world's top whaling port, the Town of Nantucket is now designated a National Historic District, and the Martin House Inn is in the heart of the historic district- a sea captain’s mansion built in 1803 and the most romantic inn on island.  And although Nantucket is often dubbed a haven for the rich and famous, it is surprisingly affordable and the ambiance down-to-earth.  Leave your make-up and your high heels at home and revel in comfortable shoes and the natural beauty that derives from sunshine and relaxation.  People dress casually when they are on island, spending days exploring the island’s beaches and trails, its historic district and theatres and one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants. 

 

There are many activities to choose from on Nantucket.  We promise, you will never be bored.  Visit our 3 world-renowned lighthouses, take a fishing charter or plan a sailing adventure! Rainy day? Not to worry, we have over 6 museums in-season featuring Nantucket’s history of whaling, shipwrecks, and beautiful lightship baskets, to name a few.  Additionally, there are a myriad of tours available to you.  Bike, Walkabout, Architectural tours, theatre – and whale & seal tours with Shearwater Excursions.  Hoping to enjoy the nightlife?  Visit Nantucket’s CISCO brewery, The Chicken Box and the Muse on the outskirts of town offer live bands.  The Rose & Crown, located within walking distance to the Inn offers live bands and karaoke contests.  What’s not to love?

Jack Vatcher Photography

Prefer a more mellow close to your day?  Why not unwind on our open-air veranda, or sit in the Serenity garden with its glowing fire pit and beautifully lit evening ambiance and soothing fountains.

Reserve now while there is still space, and be proactive in planning your next great adventure!  Now is the time to SOW!  Mention “Spring is On the Way” or “SOW” for a 15% discount on any reservation purchased in full before the first day of spring (March 20^th, 2021).*

 

 *Cannot be combined with any other offer

 

 

 

February Can Be Fabulous

During the endless days of 2020, I learned patience and I practiced gratitude.  I learned that my family and friends and I were among the lucky ones during the proliferation of the pandemic- we had food and shelter and some degree of financial security.  I learned how little I really needed.  I learned an entirely new appreciation for our resilient family of friends and guests.  I call my lessons from 2020 “2020 Vision” and I am a better human with my 2020 vision.  My perspective has changed; my empathy for those less fortunate increased. 

 So with the benefit of 2020 Vision, I know without a doubt that February of 2021 breezed into Nantucket bearing gifts!  While a nor’easter hit the coast, piling multiple mounds of snow over a 2-day blizzard,  Nantucket was spared shoveling as our precipitation came only in the form of rain.  High winds shut ferries down.  Those wishing to come to the island were unable to, and those who thought they were heading home had a swift change of plans.  The Grey Lady and Mother Nature often conspire in this fashion, thick as thieves they can be.  Known  on average for balmier winter temps (39+), low precipitation (1.22”), and low winds (12mph), Nantucket’s weather is  one of the challenges (some say joy) of island-life, and it is magical.   It has taken many years, but finally, I learned in 2020 to embrace the weather offered us; to accept the things I cannot change, to savor the freedom of letting go.  And to enjoy all that February offers - the slowing down, the lengthening days, the beautiful light that makes a bad photograph virtually impossible to take.

Did you know that the month of February has nearly 230 holidays in its 28 days?  In the past, the shortest month of the year has been my longest, but not so in 2021.  A tradition since 1886 and a February event that continues to this day that most everyone is familiar with is Groundhog Day.  Punxsutawney Phil, the famed groundhog, came out of his snug winter abode this year and saw his shadow, portending six more weeks of winter, and sure enough, many snow storms are predicted for this month.  Nantucket had its own nautical version, Quahog Day, bought to the isle in 1982 by former harbormaster Allen Holdgate, Sr. and H. Flint Ranney.  Quentin the Quahog predicted the timing of winter’s end not by shadow, but rather by spitting his juice to the left this year, echoing Phil’s prediction of six more weeks of winter.  In true New England practicality, unlike Punxsutawney Phil who continues his celebrity from year to year, once Quentin’s services are completed he becomes a snack!!

Valentine’s Day is one of the most celebrated of February’s events.   Long known for flowers, chocolates and romantic excursions, it too offers a break from the long winter and a weekend to look forward to as the days lengthen.  Here at Martin House Inn, we offer an array of rooms with fireplaces and  canopy beds to sink into and cozy up with your sweetheart  after a day hiking our many trails, combing our endless beaches, strolling the Town’s historic streets on your self-guided walking tour, or simply relaxing in in front of a crackling fire.  The Artist’s Association will be featuring its Valentine’s Work Online exhibition through Saturday, February 13^th, a perfect opportunity to bring a piece of Nantucket home and to offer your mate a memorable Valentine’s gift.  

The historic Whaling Museum reopens February 12^th.   It is an outstanding way to learn of Nantucket’s fascinating history from the Whaling days to the Great Fire.   And the magnificent Festival of Trees will be on display through President’s Day.  And don’t forget to climb to the roof deck for a spectacular view of the island and harbor (and the Martin House Inn)!

 

Call and book between now and February 10th your next stay and enjoy a 15% discount (not to be combined with other offers).   A Nantucket escape will soothe your soul!

 

Happy New Year and welcome to the long-awaited 2021!

 

As we welcome the long-awaited 2021, with renewed hope for a safer future, we look forward to a ‘new normal’, one in which an excursion to a romantic inn on an idyllic island in the most authentically historic part of the United States for a grand adventure is a first step in healing the scars of 2020. 

Come home to historic Nantucket- a magical island, 30 miles out to sea and one of the easternmost points of the Americas.  We promise, after a few hours, of inhaling the island’s pristine and salty air and relaxing into the warmth and beauty of the Martin House Inn, you will melt into the tempo and gentle pace of the island community and feel a bit as though you have never worked for a living.  Whether you come in our quiet season or in our high season, there is always much to see and do.

The island is rich with history.  Able to boast the largest concentration of Native American names of places in the country, Nantucket, in the Wampanoag dialect, means “far away land”.  Nantucket Island was considered the Whaling Capital of the World from 1800-1840 and, at its peak had 88 whale ships at sea, all around the world, resulting in a per capita wealth for the time that would rival Saudi Arabia’s today.  It was during this period that the Martin House Inn was built by sea captain and gentleman, Nathaniel Sherman for his bride Hepsabeth.  Situated in the heart of Nantucket’s famed “historic district”, this resplendent 1803 mariner’s mansion will take you back to a romantic place and time when the new world was still being discovered and America was hardly yet a notion.  And to a place in time when women ran the island businesses while their husbands were away at sea, whaling.  At the time the inn was built there, Centre Street  was known as Petticoat Row, where all the proprietors actually wore petticoats and kept the island businesses and economy thriving.  The Great Fire of 1846 destroyed much of the island’s business district and the wharfs.  The Great Fire, the discovery of oil in the United States and the dwindling demand for whale oil, the silting up of the harbor, and the discovery of gold in California in 1849 all marked the end of the whaling era prosperity in Nantucket, and the beginning of an economic depression that lasted until tourism replaced whaling as Nantucket’s economic base.  2020 tested that economic base, but Nantucket is resilient and enters 2021 with arms and doors wide open.

Other interesting facts about the island’s history and things to do during your stay include:

Nantucket was home port to two ships that were involved in the Boston Tea Party:  the Beaver and the Dartmouth, owned by the Rotch family, whose offices were located at the foot of Main Street in the brick building now call The Pacific Club.

 

Herman Melville based his novel Moby Dick on the true and tragic tale of whale ship Essex.  This Nantucket ship was whaling in the Pacific off the coast of South America in 1820 when it was rammed and sunk by a sperm whale.  Melville received his information from Owen Chase, a Nantucket resident and a mate on the Essex and one of only eight survivors, who kept the ship’s log. Our local author

Nathaniel Philbrick chronicles the history of the island in The Heart of the Sea, which is now also a motion picture.

 

Nantucket is an island, a county, and a town.  It is the only place in America with the same name for all three.

 

Nantucket’s year-round population is ~11,327 (2018), but its summer population soars to over 50,000.

 

Nantucket has over 82 miles of pristine beaches, only about two miles of which belong to the town.  The remaining beaches are owned by private non-profit organizations and landowners who graciously open them to the public.

 

Nantucket has more than 35 miles of bicycle paths. 

 

Nantucket is 3 ½ miles wide and 15 miles long in size.

 

Nantucket is usually 10% cooler than the mainland in the summer and 10% warmer in the winter because of its proximity to the Gulf Stream.

 

The highest point on the Island is Folger Hill at 109 feet above sea level, followed closely by Altar Rock at 108 feet.  Altar Rock is one of 3 major areas that comprise the Middle Moors.  The other 2 are the Serengeti and the Pout/Poot Ponds.

 

Nantucket Memorial Airport is the second busiest commercial airport in Massachusetts after Logan International in Boston.

 

Nantucket has several noted museums and galleries, including the Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Whaling Museum.

Nantucket is home to the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, Nantucket’s longest running professional theatre, since 1956.  It is also the home to the Dreamland Theatre and the White Heron Theatre, and to the Nantucket Community Music Center.

 

Nantucket is a haven for writers, including Nat Philbrick, Elin Hilderbrand, Nancy Thayer, Jodi Picoult, Alice Hoffman, Barbara White, Cary Hazlegrove, Liza Gershman.  John Steinbeck even came to the solitude of Nantucket’s easternmost shore in Siasconset to work on his greatest novel, East of Eden.  He declared his adopted east-end enclave to be "a beautiful place and the most peaceful I have ever been." (Hartford Courant)

 

Nantucket is known worldwide for its outstanding culinary offerings and sports a plethora of restaurants from family-fun to fine dining. Cisco Brewers, an award-winning brewery and the maker of Notch, was established on the island.

 

Nantucket is famous for its many wonderful festivals- Daffodil Festival, Nantucket Wine Festival, the Luna Festival, the Figawi, the Nantucket Book Festival, the Nantucket Film Festival, the Nantucket Comedy Festival, the Nantucket Dance Festival, the Nantucket Yoga Festival, the Boston Pops, the Nantucket Project, the Cranberry Festival, and Christmas Stroll.

 

Nantucket boasts three award-winning golf courses.

 

Nantucket offers a multitude of water sports and fishing and boating excursions.

 

Nantucket features cobbled streets with one-of-a-kind shopping, including artisan offerings, beautiful clothing, and many jewelry stores and art galleries.

 

Above is just a sampling of Nantucket’s offerings. Even when gatherings are limited, the island is rich in culture and nature.  With multiple beaches, bike paths, parks, golf courses, and Conservation trails, theatres, restaurants, book stores, and our veranda and serenity gardens, the island offers something for everyone. 

The Island is also known for its conservation and Land Bank lands and trails.

The Martin House Inn team looks forward to welcoming you in 2021, and to being a part of your island adventures. Here's to creating memories that will last a lifetime!

 December 2020 - Virtual Nantucket

December on Nantucket has long been famous for our Dickensian Christmas Stroll, replete with cobbled streets lined with twinkling Christmas trees, old-fashioned Church fairs, a talking Christmas tree bedazzling children of all ages, carolers in period garb filling the streets with song, shopping and the warm hospitality of the island stores, Santa and Mrs. Clause arriving by ferry and taking a sleigh ride through town, culinary delights offered by local restaurants and the charm of the island’s historic inns.   2020 is different.  But while we are celebrating a bit differently this year, we are still celebrating.  The Chamber and our community have rallied and reimagined what would have traditionally been Christmas Stroll, creating the Nantucket Noel, a ‘shop local’ initiative.  The Nantucket Noel was created to allow island residents to safely enjoy the magic of the holiday season on Nantucket, while inviting our off-island friends and families, wherever located for the holidays, to support our local businesses.  It is a lovely and inclusive idea to give people missing the traditional Stroll this year the opportunity to bring a bit of Nantucket into their homes! 

The virtual tree lighting was well-received and you can view it, and some of our local proprietors sending messages to all, whenever you’d like…and as many times as you’d like via YouTube.

 Tree decorating, a much loved tradition, is taking place now thru December 4^th.  Judges will choose, and announce, the winner via social media and e-blast.  People’s Choice opens December 5^th.  You can vote virtually for Best Storefront, Best Tree, and Favorite Ugly Sweater!  You may want to submit your own Ugly Sweater to the competition (deadline is December 3^rd).  The Chamber has also partnered with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in establishing Shop Santa’s Village.  Shop Santa’s Village partners nonprofits/businesses that have storefronts in an effort to help ALL businesses have a successful year-end.

 

     

Double-red tickets are in play at participating businesses on 12/5, 12/12 & 12/19.!

Winners will be announced, virtually, December 24^th @ 3pm ET. 2020 has been a year of many firsts, and for the first time this year, you don’t have to be present to win!  Simply tune into local cable NCTV Channel 18, NCTV's YouTube Channel, the Chamber's social media channels, and 97.7 ACK FM to see if you're a winner.

While we cannot all come together in person, we share in countless other ways.  Do you have a favorite Christmas Stroll memory you would like to share?  Submit it to the Chamber here, via images, words, and/or video for all to enjoy!  

And, let us not forget Santa!  You can write to Santa, or sign-up to meet with Santa via Zoom video!!  Yes, even the North Pole has Wi-Fi.  😊

Courtesy Nantucket Chamber of Commerce

   

Looking for holiday gift ideas or dreaming of a trip once this pandemic is in our rearview mirrors?  Why not buy a Martin House Inn gift certificate, for yourself, friends, family, loved ones between now and December 31, 2020 and receive a 15% discount on your total purchase?  You can reach us at (508) 228-0678.  We can email it directly to you or recipient(s).   What better way to usher in a fresh new year than a getaway to our charming little hamlet!

The past year has been challenging and heartbreaking and frightening; we know this.  It has forced us to slow down, to reset.  It has also been heartwarming to witness the way communities have stepped up, joined together, and taken care of one another.  The scarcity and absence makes us more grateful for the abundance and for the connections with those we love, staying at home makes the thought of future journeys and a simple shared meal that much more joyous, and our friends and neighbors help us remember the innate goodness of people.  That goodness, in and of itself is the best Christmas gift we can think of!  We wish you all health, happiness, hope and joy this holiday season, and look forward to seeing you in the not-too-distant future! 

 

 

GIVING THANKS

 

As we leave Indian Summer and the month of October 2020 behind and walk through the last of the falling leaves into the more quiet month of  November, with the Thanksgiving holiday to look forward to and a multitude of reasons to be grateful, we  take time to  reflect and to remind ourselves of all the reasons we are thankful.  

Many have said it; it has been a challenging year.  At the Inn and in the world, it has been a year different from any other- one that challenged all of us and brought out the very best in so many of us.  It’s also been a year to reflect, redesign, rethink, and reimagine.  We have all struggled, but we have also been remarkably enriched by the way our society has pivoted and reinvented itself this year.  At the Martin House, we are in the business of taking care of guests who choose to stay with us.  They are the extended family who we do our utmost to take care of.  For three lonely months, we were unable to do so.  We are thankful that the ban was lifted and we again were able to welcome back returning guests and to come to know guests new to us.   It has been one of the great pleasures of our year to talk with all of you about how you were doing, what your hopes were, what you were thankful for.

We had to redesign how we ran the business.  From sanitizing to breakfast service, we took a step back and made an effort to deliver to our guests a safe environment.  Our incredible staff worked within the CDC guidelines to ensure the rooms were meticulously cleaned using the new procedures.  We modified our breakfast and offered heated outdoor seating areas so that guests could socially distance but still enjoy one another’s company, and a hearty meal to begin their days on this glorious island.  We are thankful that we were able to do so, and were so thankful for all the positive feedback and comments and reviews we received.

 

Restaurants and shops and theaters, having a similar situation upon reopening, had to rethink how their businesses would accommodate visitors to the island.  They went above and beyond, working with the Town, setting up beautiful outdoor seating areas (some with wood dance floors!) with heat lamps so that guests could once again enjoy the delectable delights their menus offered.  They offered virtual entertainment, often at no charge.  We are thankful that we have such a great, imaginative, generous and resourceful community.

 

We continue to hope that the world will soon return to normal but since the timing is at best uncertain, we will continue to reimagine how we can continue to improve and enhance the guest experience.  We are so thankful to be able to host our guests and to welcome so many of you back over and over again.  We look forward to continuing on that journey, and as always, are very thankful for those who make the journey with us.

As a token of our gratitude we are offering a Holiday Season special, 15% off certificates purchased as holiday gifts for use in the future.  Give someone the gift of Nantucket, of a special stay at your home away from home!  Mention “Holiday Gift Certificate” when you call!  Or treat yourself and come to Nantucket between Thanksgiving and Christmas and we will offer you the same discount!

 

Perhaps you would like to share what you are thankful for?