May 16 2012
*Warning - long post ahead.
Last week, Joel sent me and email that essentially said:
“I’m taking you on vacation this week, but I’m not telling you where. Attached is the weather forecast so you can pack accordingly.”
Fortunately, he had coordinated the time off with my boss a month ago (good man!), but nevertheless, the trip remained a secret until we landed at the Boston airport and he gave me my boarding ticket to Nantucket.
I admit that I had a mini panic attack when I saw the plane.

I was sitting directly behind the pilot, Hilton, which quickly became a problem when I would unintentionally grab his seat (oops) as the teeny plane shifted back and forth and up and down. Thankfully, Hilton didn’t scold me.

Upon arrival, we settled in at The White Elephant Resort, which is even cuter than it looks in this photo.

Dinner included lobster because, well, when in Rome.

The next morning, we kicked things off with coffee on the balcony overlooking the harbor.

Followed by a walk down Main Street and through town.



If you’re ever in Nantucket, you must pick up sandwiches at Provisions. The Nobadeer (i.e. the Thanksgiving sandwich) is pure heaven.

Then, Joel and I biked 6.2 miles west to Madaket, my favorite Nantucket beach, to enjoy our lunch.

We had the beach all to ourselves, but to say it was windy would be an understatement.


After cruising back to town, some well deserved Whale’s Tale beers at The Gazebo were in order.

That evening we rested our sore legs with a bottle of champagne…….


Before a 7-course tasting menu dinner at Toppers (where meals and sunsets are always exceptional.)



And of course, there was more and more champagne.

We capped off the trip with a final morning in Nantucket.

And I managed to not give myself a heart attack on the flight back.

All in all, it was the most memorable, whirlwind trip of my life.