Hi friends! 🌞 I’m still soaking up the last bit of my summer break until September, but I couldn’t resist popping in to share a few of my favorite issues from the year so far. Perfect for a lazy afternoon read if you're in the mood to browse…

Plus, I’ve included some quick highlights from our recent family trip to beautiful Nantucket. Think favorite spots, packing wins (and mistakes!), an honest take on our hotel stay, and a few things I learned about traveling with a toddler. I’d love to hear your own tips and favorite travel memories, too—feel free to leave a comment and share.

Take care and enjoy the rest of your summer!
– Alisha

The Best of Downtime Newsletters (So Far) in 2024

• All the books on my summer reading list.

• On planning fun friend dates.

• The case for documenting your outfits.

• Big Sicilian Energy!

• The best pajamas and summery books.

• A helpful phrase to keep in mind.

• A fun chat with author Rufi Thorpe.

A Postcard From Nantucket 🦞

We chose Nantucket for a few reasons: the biggest one being the convenience of a direct flight from D.C. that takes just over an hour. Plus, I went to college in New England and have been missing those classic summers. We were also both craving a fresh lobster roll, and we’d heard the island is incredibly family-friendly.

Our favorite spots…

Quick disclaimer: This was our first time on the island, and we only had three days to explore, so we’re definitely not Nantucket experts! These are just the places we loved during our short stay—take our recommendations with a grain of salt. :)

Jettie's Beach

• For a casual bite of classic seafood: 167 Raw.

• For a delicious and cozy dinner date: Proprieter’s Bar.

• For a fun hang out: Cisco Brewery.

• For breakfast: Black-Eyed Susans.

• For good coffee and people watching: The Handlebar.

• For fun shopping and browsing: For Now for a well-curated collection. (They opened recently.)

• For kid friendly mornings: Children’s Beach playground.

• For ice cream: The Juice Bar. !!! So good we waited in line three nights in a row for it.

Proprieter's Bar was so cozy.

Some packing thoughts and learnings…

• Biggest packing win: The zip-up boat tote was a big life saver! It did double duty as my personal item on the plane and as our beach bag. It was perfect for holding Lily’s essentials—like toys, bibs, and extra clothes—and it held up beautifully throughout the trip. The longer handles made it comfortable to carry on my shoulder, and it felt incredibly sturdy. I also packed a lightweight tote from Alex Mill that I got as a freebie, which became my go-to bag for exploring the island. I loved the boat tote so much that I’m seriously considering getting a smaller version for my everyday bag this fall!

• Biggest packing regrets: Not packing sneakers, athleisure, and packing one too many knits! I saw a woman wearing these at Cisco Brewery which made me wish I had packed mine. The weather was hotter than expected, especially in the mornings, so while I’m glad I packed my Donni crewneck for cooler evenings, I didn’t need to pack my rib knit flares or a second sweater. I could have used an extra pair of shorts or leggings for early (and sweaty) mornings at the playground.

• Realistic beach read packing: This time, I learned from past trips and skipped packing a physical book, opting for my Kindle instead. It was so much more manageable, especially since most of my reading happened in bed right before sleep. The Kindle was perfect for reading on my side with the lights off—much easier to handle than a bulky book! I ended up getting through most of The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand, which I’d been saving just for this trip. :)

On style inspo…

I loved seeing the more laid-back style on the island. I saw it on display most in the early mornings, whether at the playground by Children’s Beach, during our coffee runs, or at one of the many casual outdoor patio spots, like 167 Raw.

Aside from these moments, people are dressed to impress, particularly in the evenings! The style for ladies’ evening wear on Nantucket is what you might expect: a lot of sundresses (I wasn’t the only one in my Hill House dress ;)) and a lot of classic, preppy vibes and flowy linen pants. I loved seeing the chic sun hats everyone wore on the beach and wish I had packed a straw hat.

Where we stayed and my honest review…

For more about our hotel experience and my top tips for traveling with a toddler, check out the full newsletter below—exclusive for paid subscribers! Subscribe here for the full scoop...