A Nantucket Weekend at ‘Flerwin’

Last June, Matt and I had hopped on the ferry out of Hyannis and set off for a quiet childfree getaway on Nantucket.  It had been a couple of years since we had been out to the island just the two of us, so we were really excited to get back out there to unwind, relax, stroll the streets, and take long walks on the beaches.

Unlike the other times where we stayed at the local hotels, we were invited to stay at a newly renovated private home rental, ‘Flerwin’, which is located 1/2 mile from the charming historic town center.

We prefer to depart Connecticut for Nantucket early in the morning, so we can be on a late morning ferry out of Hyannis. I love the ferry ride compared to flying.  When I lived in New York City I opted to fly to the island, but now it makes more sense logistically to drive and I personally enjoy it more.   To me, it is part of the whole experience, traveling and arriving by boat.  As we disembarked the ferry at lunch time, we made our usual first stop at Provisions, located in the South Wharf, very close to the Hy-Line ferry. Their handcrafted sandwiches are delicious, and we love to kick off our trip with one of them!   I love the Sicilian Tuna and  “The Original” egg sandwich with their tomato chipotle jam.

We made our way the short distance to ‘Flerwin’, our home away from home for the next three days.  It is an easy walk however, with luggage you may prefer to hop a local taxi, which we did.  The name ‘Flerwin’ was taken from a combination of the owner’s two yellow Labrador Retriever dogs, Fletch and Irwin. The adorable summery blue colored cottage is located on York Street with entrance and two parking spots available from the charming Boyer’s Alley, located behind the property.

‘Flerwin’ is the essence of the modernized Nantucket Beach bungalow with all the coastal chic feels you would want with a Nantucket rental. The highly desirable town location was ideal; just a quick ten-minute walk from all the favorites.

As we made our way into the three-bedroom, three-bathroom cottage, I was already fully smitten with the coastal design and décor.  The perfectly appointed beach home resembles a Serena Lily showroom with all the coastal hues, natural fabrics, rattan, modern white kitchen, great bright light, with little hints of nautical Nantucket, it is a gem!

The cottage is spacious and meticulous; perfect for a family vacation or even a girl’s or boy’s weekend. I think it would be fun to even go back with another couple!  Oh, and did I mention, it is dog friendly?!

The owners are super welcoming and left us (as they do all their guests) custom monogrammed canvas tote bags which are perfect for a beach day! There was also a bottle of wine chilled in the refrigerator and a few other personalized gifts for us to enjoy our stay.

There was not one amenity overlooked. The linens / bedding full of luxurious comfort, which is the way it should be on vacation. The property is divine, inside and out.

The beautiful thing about traveling to Nantucket in early June is that is still relatively quiet, which I love.  It is easy to get a dinner reservation and the streets are yours to explore.  However, the weather in Nantucket in early June can still be chilly and unpredictable.

That first afternoon we settled in and spent the afternoon in the beautiful cottage relaxing before getting ready to walk into town for dinner.  That night, we opted for an early dinner at the classic Nantucket eatery, the Club Car.   We enjoyed fun cocktails and the small plates before walking our dinner off and taking the long way back to the cottage.

The next morning, we woke and headed out early. We started our day with a walk down to the Lemon Press for breakfast. We were the first ones to arrive, so we had the place to ourselves! I had one of the best avocado toasts I have had with a fried egg on top.  Love this spot!

It was a beautiful day, chilly but perfect. The sun was shining bright and we were looking forward to heading out to explore the rest of the day.

As we ventured out, I really wanted to walk the “Sconset Bluff Walk”, which I have never done. The bluffs overlooking Sconset Beach are magical.  As we made our way along the cliff walk, we hardly saw a soul (again that perk I love about a non-peak visit).   The dirt trail weaves in and out of the trees, right past some of the most beautiful oceanfront real estate.  It is truly unique all the way down to the end at the Sankaty Lighthouse.  At times you feel as if you are trespassing on the beautiful grounds of these gorgeous homes, but the walk is open to the public and is to be enjoyed season after season.

After our walk we went into the cute Sconset Market for some goodies and afternoon coffee. This is the cutest little general store. We sat outside on the bench, enjoyed the moment, the warming sun and just being thirty miles out to sea.

The rest of the day, we spent strolling the cobblestone streets of the historic town center.  We popped in and out of some of my favorite island stores.  I can never leave without a visit to Milly & Grace and Nantucket Looms.  We popped into Murray’s Togglery and picked up a pair of their special edition Nantucket Red Tretorns.  Nantucket has some of my favorite shopping in New England.

For dinner our second night, we planned to go to our special island date spot, Topper’s at the Wauwinet.    This is where we celebrated my 40^th birthday, so it always holds such special memories.  A visit to the Wauwinet is always a treat.   We usually arrive for a pre-dinner cocktail on the lawn and / or inside at the cozy little bar.  I love that bar so much.  The service and the meal are always perfect. I never want the night to end when we are at Topper’s.  When it does end, it is bittersweet because I know we won’t be back for a some time.

The following morning the weather started to turn as the day was going to be windy and rainy.  We went for an early breakfast at the popular eatery, Black-Eyed Susan’s.  I probably don’t have to tell you how good the breakfast is here.

I had some shooting planned for that day, but as we left breakfast, the rain and wind started, and I realized I had no rain gear with me.  If you ever need any type of active wear while on the island, we love Haul Over.  We made a quick trip in for some rain gear to take on the island’s elements!

Sometimes the best shooting days, are the worst weather days.  As the wind picked up, we headed out to Cisco and Madaket beaches. The Atlantic was wild from the wind. The white capped ocean had the most vibrant turquoise undertones against the periwinkle colored gray sky.  This was wild Nantucket in its element.

Next up, we headed over to Bartlett’s Farm. It is the best. Whether you need produce, fresh flowers, a gift, there is plenty of local goodness to be found. Right nearby is also the popular Cisco Brewers, which is always a fun day date!

While it is always nice to go out to dinner on the island it is also equally as nice to stay in and cook. ‘Flerwin’ has great outdoor space, with a full outdoor dining table and rattan couches for evening lounging and grill for that summer barbeque.  I definitely recommend picking up some food and fresh flowers for the table at Bartlett’s Farm and then ordering seafood from Sayle’s.  After dinner, enjoy a nightcap on the front porch rockers and enjoy the quiet buzz of the neighborhood.

The next morning it was time to head home.  We planned our departure accordingly so we could enjoy our final meal, brunch at Cru.  Cru is a must and very popular with those visiting the island.  Located on the south wharf, full of nautical style, it is right across from the ferry, with gorgeous water views.  We sat outside, enjoyed a lobster roll, oysters and a Bloody Mary before our departure.  It was the best ending to a lovely weekend getaway!

We absolutely would go back to ‘Flerwin’ again but next time with Pippa or perhaps some friends.  It is such a gem and the location made it so easy to enjoy the best Nantucket has to offer.  The property is listed with Great Point Properties, link here.  Please feel free to follow them on Instagram @FlerwinACK .

If you have any questions, about ‘Flerwin’ or our time in Nantucket, please don’t hesitate to ask.