how we survived: a quarantined vacation to cape cod and nantucket

Well, we did it! We left our house upstate and spent multiple nights elsewhere!

Let’s address safety concerns first: we tried to limit our exposure to other people as much as possible. To start, we drove from our house to Chatham on Cape Cod, with only a quick stop in Stockbridge for an outdoor lunch. The hotel we chose, Chatham Bars Inn, has multiple buildings; our room’s door actually led straight outside, as opposed to a communal hallway. To get from Cape Cod to Nantucket, we did take a ferry, which was the largest group of people we were around the entire trip. While you can sit outside on these, you have to act fast if you want a seat with any shade. Since it’s an hour-long ride and Avvie’s only four, we weighed our options and sat inside, where everyone kept their mask on the entire time. We also waited to basically be the last off the ferry so that we didn’t have to wait in line with other people. Once on Nantucket, we could walk to our hotel (which, I really don’t recommend so I’m not gonna bother linking) and the check-in system there was entirely virtual, which definitely limits contact. In both places, we ate all of our restaurant meals outdoors and basically only went inside to pee, if we needed to. Also, both towns had strict limits on the amount of people in a store at one time and everyone was required to wear a mask, which definitely made us feel safer.

Now, the $100,000 question: would we do it again? I think so? I think it was incredibly important to not only have time off from work for Mike and me, but to leave the house. It was a needed emotional reset. But, was it weird to have to remember your mask every time you stepped outside? And was it a bummer to get nervous when it felt like the beach or the main street was getting crowded? Yes and yes. Obviously we didn’t catch anything while we were there (it’s been two weeks now), but there was always a teeny bit of worry in the back of my mind that it would be possible. And, of course, the only way to mitigate that feeling is to stay at home.

But, do I think you can take a vacation that’s essentially just as safe as staying in your town? Yes. Apart from the ferry, we were basically doing the same sorts of activities — hiking, biking, strolling — that we do here, just in a new location with better seafood. And obviously, all of those are outdoor pursuits, which makes it that much easier to do without being close to other people. We were also going from one low-risk area to another, which is very important to factor in when you’re considering vacationing.

Ultimately, only you can decide what you feel comfortable doing. But please, PLEASE remember to wear a mask anytime you’re near other people and respect social distancing guidelines.

Now, here’s what we did:

Looking down to Chatham Bars Inn’s private beach.

We decided to stay at CBI because I had heard it was a wonderful property for families and that the town of Chatham was adorable (both are true). The hotel also boasts a gorgeous private beach, a big pool, and plenty of outdoor areas to enjoy a cocktail or watch the ocean. Our room had a very cozy bed and chic coastal decor, not to mention a welcome fruit plate that was delicious. We also ate at the on-site restaurant, which was wonderful. I definitely recommend this place enthusiastically.

But my favorite part was that they were running a socially distanced kids camp that was totally free! Avvie had a BLAST going every morning; one day they went on a treasure hunt all over the property and the next they frosted their own cupcakes. It was one of the first time she’s gotten to spend time with other kids her own age since March, so I’m very happy she was able to participate. And, in case you’re wondering, the kids wore masks the whole time and the entire camp was outdoors.

We mostly stayed on property, but did venture into town for a lunch and some ice cream. The hotel will even drive you if you don’t feel like walking. Chatham is as adorable as they say, with my favorite type of preppy shops, lots of restaurants serving lobster, and a lovely, quaint vibe. The beautiful homes along the walk are also not worth missing.

Also, the lobster. Don’t forget the lobster.

My lobster roll at Chatham Bars Inn. I am a cold, mayo girl.

While that was our first time in Chatham, we have been to Nantucket many times before. We try to make it there for about four to five days every summer and had actually always been planning to be there over July 4th this year. While originally we were going to fly out of Newark pre-pandemic, we thought it was safer to drive (and then we could also stop on the Cape along the way). The ferry from Hyannis is fairly quick at only one hour and drops you right into town, which is actually a lot easier than getting there from the airport. We generally like to test out a new B&B or hotel in town every year; some years are better than others, ha. My favorites include White Elephant, 76 Main, and The Roberts Collection.

Previous posts about Nantucket have my go-to spots, so I won’t bore you with that again, but I will pull out a few things that are especially nice to do during this era of social distancing.

Rent bikes: Nantucket is the only place in the world I like to bike, because the bike paths are so well-protected and beautiful. Once you get out of town, there’s no need to wear a mask the entire time either, because you won’t see very many people. It’s just blissful.

Beach time at Madaket and lunch at Millie’s: An easy bike ride is out to this quieter beach, which is right next to everyone’s favorite Mexican spot. Millie’s has a huge tent set up outside, so it’s very easy to steer clear of other patrons.

Sandwiches at Something Natural: If you look closely, you’ll see that many a Jeep has the same tire cover. It’s probably from Something Natural, a sandwich shop with a cult following just outside of town. You can place your order via touch screen and then either take them with you, or eat them in the large park area next to the shop.

Drooling over the houses on Cliff Road: I am a huge sucker for fancy homes and there are some seriously gorgeous ones along this stretch.

And, of course, toes in the sand everyday.