Nantucket is certainly having a moment this summer. So who better to tell us how to navigate the island than Kelly Williams, the Palm Beach and Nantucket resident, art collector, and chair of the Norton Museum of Art‘s Board of Trustees.

Williams and her husband, Andrew Forsyth, have a historic 1795 house, where her island collections include Nantucket baskets, scrimshaw, and local art. We asked her about her favorite places on the island, where she visits year after year, and how she still experiences the Nantucket she fell in love with in the first place.

 

THE BEST…

BREAKFAST: A fresh cinnamon sugar donut from the Nantucket Bakeshop with a cup of coffee on my screened porch. Or a breakfast sandwich at Island Kitchen.

MUSEUM: The Whaling Museum, of course! Excited to be supporting more exhibitions of fine art

LUNCH: Table in the garden at Chanticleer (The Lobster BLT and duck fat frites). Or The fish sandwich and a sweet tea at 167 Raw.

PLACE TO UNWIND: Madaket Beach in August, after everyone has headed back to school

DINNER: Old-school: Ship’s Inn (Duck Bolognese) or Sea Grille (Lobster Fettucine) New school—Proprietor’s (anything!). Top choice, always Straight Wharf.

COCKTAIL: Icy glass of Sancerre or a Whale’s Tail from Cisco

DATE NIGHT: See the latest production by The Theater Workshop then grab a table downstairs at Le Languedoc. Catching up with Alan and having the chicken livers for starters, the Languedoc cheeseburger and a chocolate pot de creme for dessert. Or Company of the Cauldron for the popovers alone!

VIEW: From the roof of The Whaling Museum.

BEST-KEPT SECRET: Star gazing at the Loines Observatory on a clear night. The Nantucket sky is incredible! And order steamed lobsters ahead of time at Sayle’s (you will thank me when you see the line for walk-ins).

 

BETWEEN US…

WHERE YOU ALWAYS RUN INTO SOMEONE YOU KNOW: The Four Winds Craft Guild and Stop and Shop in mid-island.

DRESS CODE: Daytime: A dress from Space (maybe a Nina Leuca linen dress) and a vintage hat from Peter Beaton; Nightime-a vintage Nantucket red sweater from Murray’s or Knobby Shop with a linen skirt from Atlantic. Katherine Jetter Jewelry from The Vault or vintage Diana Kim England.

SHOES: Sperry’s, Birks or wedges; never heels, the cobblestones are unforgiving!

NANTUCKET DIET: Lobster rolls; Bakeshop donuts; corn and tomatoes from Bartlett’s or Moors End; The fish sandwich and sweet tea from 167 Raw; summer rice salad from Millie’s. And my husband’s epic grilled cheese on Portuguese bread and a cup of chowder.

ONE PIECE OF ADVICE FOR FIRST-TIME VISITORS: You will have a much better experience if you avoid the places mentioned in  “The Five-Star Weekend”, they are great but just overrun.

WHAT’S NEW ON THE ISLAND THAT YOU’RE EXCITED ABOUT: The expansion of the fine arts gallery at The Whaling Museum and the reboot of Faregrounds restaurant and Downyflake donuts.

SOUNDTRACK TO YOUR LIFE HERE: WACK FM. The best radio station anywhere!