Summer is finally here! I love this time of the year because it means we are outside more with our dogs, enjoying the water, trails, and sunshine. Our favorite vacation spot is Nantucket—the most pet-friendly place I’ve ever been. Even though we sometimes go off-season when the crowds are smaller, we also enjoy summer visits there.
My husband, Pete, and I have been taking the ferry to the island of Nantucket with our two boxers, Deuce and Elle, for the past seven years. From the moment we get on the ferry to head to the island, the dogs are excited, wiggling their tails at everyone they see along the way, sniffing every nook and cranny at the ticket booth as we get our tickets for the boat.
As we wait patiently in line, other dog-lovers come and visit with us; some bring their dogs over for a sniff as we humans compare our favorite spots on the island. We all climb onto the ferry, and the only scary moment is when Deuce has to walk on the gangplank, which is very rough and shiny. He hates this and will go as fast as he can, with one of us in tow.
Once we’re all settled on the boat, we relax and watch the dogs as they survey everyone and look out the windows. Elle and I walk outside onto the deck, and she just sniffs and holds her head high, looking out at the water. We watch the town of Hyannis grow smaller and smaller as we get out to sea; other travelers come to say hello as we look at the sparkling, blue-green water and listen to the birds and waves. We are so content, I wish we could do this together all the time. Meanwhile, Deuce and Pete are inside. Deuce gets nervous easily, so the two of them stay put, watch out the window, and have a snack.
When we arrive at the island, Pete and I each take a dog, gather up our belongings, and schlep off the boat, balancing everything as best we can. It’s amazing how much we bring for just a few days—between the clothes, shoes, jackets, dog food, bowls, etc., it sure adds up! We head for our favorite dog-friendly bed-and-breakfast, the Safe Harbor Inn, just a short walk from the dock. As we walk along the winding cobblestone streets, I think about how truly magical this island is—I always feel so relaxed when I’m here. As soon as we reach the island, life seems to go at a different pace.
Michael, the innkeeper, is always there to greet us and is wonderful to us every time we stay there. We look forward to seeing him, and so do Deuce and Elle. He gives them special dog treats, and even made us an Easter basket one year when we were there during the holiday. Our favorite room is the one that has a separate entrance so we can come and go without disturbing anyone too much.
The first thing we do after we arrive and settle in is go to the playground and play ball; then for a run along the beach. Deuce and Elle are so funny to watch—they run around playing tug-of-war with long pieces of seaweed, and Deuce makes the mistake of taking a sip of the ocean water—oops! They run and run, and when we have all had enough fun, we go back to our room for a rest.
A little while later, we venture out into the town. We walk along the docks and look at the boats, and imagine sailing on one of our own. Every part of the town is beautiful to us—from the tiny (and not-so-tiny) sun-washed cottages with flowers in every windowbox, to the driveways and paths lined with white stones and seashells. We head to the pet supply store and then go for an ice cream at an outdoor restaurant where we know the dogs are welcome. Of course, we are all on vacation, so the dogs get a lick or two of our ice cream.
This place is so dog-friendly—every person who sees us coming says hello to us, but they really want to say hello to our dogs. There are even some wonderful pet-sitters on the island if you need to hire someone to take care of your pet while you go to dinner or go someplace they are not allowed. Deuce and Elle just love the attention they get on the island. They wiggle their tails nonstop until we are back in the car on our way home.
We always leave feeling like all of us have had a true vacation, and look forward to our next trip to Nantucket, where it really is a dog’s world.
Karen Newsham is the owner of Happy Tails Pet Care, a local pet-sitting and exercise service, and has over 20 years of experience with domestic animals. She can be reached at karennewsham@comcast.net.