Light houses, cobblestone streets, quaint shops and a nor’easter— Nantucket was unforgettable. After a rainy day in Plymouth, we were ready for warmth and relaxation. However, we didn’t find either for some time. Only thirty miles off the coast of Cape Cod, Nantucket is just like I always imagined— well, with less rain.

The rain pouring, our group got off the ferry onto the island into a harsh Nantucket night. No cab could hold all of our group and our luggage, so we proceeded on to our lodging. Rolling suitcases and cobblestones are not a friendly combination, especially when you add in a torrential downpour.

Though the travel to Nantucket was not the highlight of our excursion on the small island, the Maria Mitchell Museum, our wonderful hostel-like accommodation, very well could have been. The apartment, quarters for summer astronomy interns, had a full kitchen, a comfortable meeting room (complete with a computer), two bathrooms (14 people to 2 bathrooms, actually a pretty good ratio compared to previous accommodations) and full showers with great water pressure. Obviously, it doesn’t take much to impress a small-town girl from Kentucky!