Nantucket Dog Friendly Vacations: A Barking Good Time
by Janine Franceschi
Nantucket has always been a very "dog-centric" place. People on Nantucket love their dogs (and your dogs too). It is practically impossible to walk down the cobbled Main Street of this historic whaling town without having every third person stop you to chat, pat, or nuzzle your pup. It is not to be understated; these islanders can be just giddy when it comes to their dogs, making it the perfect vacation destination for you to bring yours along.
People who want to travel with their pets make up a rapidly growing segment of the travel market and many savvy island businesses have decided to run with the pack and cater to this growing market niche.
The doggie paddle won't do it…
Thirty miles out to sea, getting to Nantucket with your furry four-legged family member is easier than you might imagine. The two main options are to take a ferry or a plane and believe it or not, Fido travels for free with both ferry companies and for only $10.00 each way by plane.
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One of many dog-friendly trails |
Cape Air offers direct flights from Boston’s Logan International Airport and Providence, Rhode Islands T.F. Green. Your pet will need to be in a kennel if you are flying out of Boston or Providence. However, if you fly from Hyannis, a mere 15 minute flight, your dog can just walk up the three steps into the plane and enjoy the ride. He is not allowed to sit on the seats and usually there is only one dog per flight allowed, (unless of course you have two or more who live together). This is not always a steadfast rule however, I flew from Nantucket to Hyannis the other day and there were three people and four dogs on the flight, it was a little furry, but the pilot didn’t mind… when she’s not flying she has a part-time job as a dog walker.
Being in the dog house never felt so good…
This season there are several hotels and inns offering pet-friendly accommodations on Nantucket and a quick call to the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce provides some great options. When I called to inquire about availability for the prime, two-week period of August 4th through the 18th, five places had one of their pet-friendly rooms available for the 14-day period.
Accommodations span the range from bed & breakfast to hotel and nightly room rates range from $200 to $395 per room, per night. Keep in mind that this is the most sought after time period of the season and off-season rates will be substantially lower. There is no contest though, when it comes to the alpha dog of accommodations… The Woof Hotel, stands on hind legs towering above its competition. A 12-room inn on the property of the Harbor House Village in the Brant Point area of the island, the Woof Hotel has taken pet-friendly accommodations to a level entirely unheard of on Nantucket until now.
After traveling to Nantucket you are shown to your room; which has been named for a famous Nantucket dog and your pampered pooch receives a welcome basket filled with treats and toys. Food and water bowls, a cozy pet bed, and an accident clean-up kit round out the gifts the Woof Hotel hopes will make your pet feel welcome and relaxed. If he wants to feel really relaxed, a pet massage can be arranged through the pet concierge who will also make sure that all pets and their owners know about the Friday night play date aptly titled, "Yappy Hour" where the dogs can play together and the owners can drink "Hair of the Dog" a local beer brewed by the Cisco Brewery.
How to pass the time with the pup…
Nantucket has an abundance of wonderful walking trails. Walking Nantucket, A Walkers Guide to Exploring Nantucket on Foot, by Peter B. Brace is a wonderful starting point for planning moderate to strenuous walks island-wide for you and your pet to enjoy together. Each Conservation Commission owned walking trail begins with a plastic baggie dispenser for your convenience to take along for easy clean ups and Tuppency Links, the best place for a good Frisbee toss, even has a basket of tennis balls for your pup's enjoyment; it's only asked that you return them to the basket for the next dog to enjoy.
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A basket of balls for visiting pups |
There are several excellent pet stores on island where you can get your dogs Nantucket vacation souvenirs as well as any pet supplies you may come to need during your stay. The Nantucket MSPCA occasionally offers events for pets and their owners so it's worth a call to peruse their calendar of events.
Several island photographers offer pet and family portrait services, a wonderful way to commemorate your Nantucket vacation.
Getting around on the island is easy since well behaved dogs travel for free on the Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) shuttles. Remember too, that there is a large tick population on Nantucket and precautions should be made for preventative treatment with your vet prior to your arrival on the island.
Is Nantucket going to the dogs? You bet it is, and everyone's lapping it up!
If You Go: |
Contact Information
Getting There:
By Ferry:
Steamship Authority
South Street Dock, Hyannis, MA
Steamboat Wharf, Nantucket, MA
www.steamshipauthority.com
Car Ferry information and reservations (508) 477-8600
High speed passenger information and reservations (508) 495-3278
Hy-Line Cruises
Ocean Street Dock, Hyannis, MA
Straight Wharf, Nantucket, MA
www.hylinecruises.com
High speed and traditional passenger ferry
information and reservations 800-492-8082
By Airline:
From Boston & Providence:
Cape Air
800 352-0714
www.flycapeair.com
From New York:
US Airways Express – Colgan Air
800-428-4322
From Hyannis:
Island Air
800-248-7779
www.islandair.net
Nantucket Airlines
800-635-8787
www.nantucketairlines.com
Once You’re There:
Nantucket Regional Transit Authority (NRTA) Shuttle
Federal Street, Nantucket
Schedule and rate information (508)-228-7025
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Nantucket Branch
28 Crooked Lane, Nantucket
www.mspca.org
Information and events (508) 825-2287
Cisco Brewers
5 & & Bartlett Farm Road, Nantucket
www.ciscobrewers.com
Information (508) 325-5929
Nantucket Chamber of Commerce
48 Main Street Nantucket
www.nantucketchamber.org
508-228-1700
Nantucket Conservation Foundation
2 Union Street, Nantucket
www.nantucketconservation.org
(508) 228-2884 for public walking trail information and maps
Pet Friendly Accommodations:
The Woof Hotel
Harbor House Village
South Beach Street, Nantucket
www.harborhousevillage.com
Information and reservations 866-325-9300
Brass Lantern Inn
11 North Water Street, Nantucket
www.brasslanternnantucket.com
Information and reservations 800-377-6609
Safe Harbor
2 Harbor View Way, Nantucket
www.beesknees.net/safeharbor
Information and reservations (508)-228-3222
Seven Sea Street Inn
7 Sea Street, Nantucket
www.sevenseastreetinn.com
Information and reservations 800-651-9262
The Beachside at Nantucket
30 North Beach Street, Nantucket
www.thebeachside.com
Information and reservations 800-322-4433
The Maury People Sotheby’s International Real Estate
Private home vacation rentals
35 Main Street, Nantucket
www.maurypeople.com
susan@maurypeople.com – Susan Chambers
lisa@maurypeople.com – Lisa Winn, Rental Manager
Information and bookings (508) 228-1881
Pet Specialty Shops:
Cold Noses
#1 Courtyard, Straight Wharf, Nantucket
www.coldnoses.com
(508)-228-5477
Geronimo’s, Ltd
119 Pleasant Street, Nantucket
www.geronimos.com
800-738-7297
Sandy Paws
4 South Water Street, Nantucket
(508)-228-0708
Photographers:
Cary Hazlegrove Photography
www.hazlegrove.com
(508) 257-9691
Kristina Ransom Photography
www.kristinaransomphotography.com
(508)- 221-1882
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