The morning sun backstrokes past your table as you poke through a selection of artisanal cheeses and fresh-baked pastries. You gaze out over the harbor, catching a glimpse of an early-bird sailboat as it slices through the waves. That's when it hits you. The Veranda House isn't a hotel - it's a bed and breakfast, 2.0.
Eighteen spacious rooms embrace a clean aesthetic, where white linens match the white walls, and handsome wood furniture (offset by the occasional color piece) plays off the hardwood floors. The fuss-free backyard is quintessentially New England, with handsome Adirondack chairs strewn across the sprawling property.
Nantucket's quiet charm is the main attraction, and The Veranda House's gracious staff is brimming with suggestions. Grab a bike and head for the beach, or arrange a sailing lesson with one of the locals. Follow it up with a trip to Cisco Brewers, also a distillery and winery. Then stroll over to Brant's Point, America's second oldest lighthouse.