Cape Cod is stuffed with enjoyable little cities to go to, and Hyannis MA isn’t any totally different. Whereas some visitors to Hyannis might comprehend it as the placement of most of the fashionable retail chain retailers on the Cape (like Goal, House Depot, and Kohls), Hyannis additionally provides some distinctive experiences like different quaint Cape Cod cities. In case you are visiting the world, you might be questioning what to do in Hyannis with youngsters.
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Enjoyable Issues To Do in Hyannis MA With Your Household
The place Is Hyannis?
Like the remainder of the Cape Cod cities, Hyannis is situated in Barnstable County. Nonetheless, surprisingly, it’s additionally the most important village within the city of Barnstable, and never its personal metropolis. Different Barnstable villages embody Centerville, Cotuit, Osterville, and West Barnstable.
Hyannis is within the mid-Cape part of the area. Along with the actions beneath, it’s additionally residence to Cape Cod Hospital, Barnstable Municipal Airport, and the Hyannis Transportation Heart.
The Hyannis area of Hyannis Port is named the summer season residence of the Kennedy household – the Kennedy compound. It’s situated alongside the Nantucket Sound.
Principal Road Hyannis
Positioned a number of blocks up from Ocean Road is Principal Road Hyannis, the quaint buying road. Right here, you’ll discover numerous retailers, together with ice cream retailers, eating places, reward retailers, clothes retailers, vintage shops, and extra. Most of those are impartial retailers, with a number of native chains (together with Comfortable as a Grape).
The Hyannis Principal Road space additionally hosts native occasions in the summertime season. In years previous, this included Zumba, Motion pictures on the Inexperienced drumming, dwell music concert events, and Tai Chi. From Late June by way of Labor Day, there’s additionally a trolley that runs a loop from Principal Road to Hyannis Harbor. It’s additionally a brief stroll across the city middle.
Paid parking is obtainable on road and in municipal and personal tons. Free parking is fairly uncommon in Hyannis in the course of the summer season months.
Harbor and Whale Watching Cruises
With that attractive harbor location, it’s no shock that there are many harbor and whale-watching cruise choices. If you wish to spend a while on the water seeing Cape Cod from a distinct vantage level, I’d advocate that you just take one in every of these cruises.
A number of corporations are providing these forms of journeys. Fashionable choices embody Hy-Line Cruises, Bay Spirit Cruises, and Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises.
In case you do need to take a Whale Watcher cruise, you need to know that they run for about 3 1/2-4 hours. This is because of each the gap that should be traveled, in addition to the velocity that should be maintained.
Whilst you could possibly discover last-minute availability for these cruises, I undoubtedly advocate reserving upfront. Availability might be restricted within the busy summer season season, and with good cause. They’re plenty of enjoyable.
Seashores in Hyannis MA
There are lovely seashores virtually in all places you look on Cape Cod, together with a number of choices in Hyannis. Don’t overlook to take a look at our seashore packing record earlier than you go so you could have all the necessities. There are additionally plenty of retailers on the Cape the place you should purchase what you want.
Kalmus Seashore is situated on Ocean Road, alongside Nantucket Sound. It’s a public seashore, providing paid parking for visitors. In case you are hungry, the Kalmus Seashore Snack Bar provides snack bar fare, in addition to native Cape Cod specialties, like lobster rolls, chowder, and fish. It’s undoubtedly one of many higher menus of the snack bars I’ve seen!
Different sandy seashores in Hyannis embody Veteran’s Park Seashore and Keyes (Sea Road) Seashore.
Cape Cod Mall
I don’t typically advocate visiting the mall on a household trip when there are such a lot of different actions, however it’s good to have one close by in case you forgot any necessities. The Cape Cod Mall is conveniently situated in Hyannis and provides many fashionable chain retailers. Retailers and eating places embody Barnes and Noble, Goal, Macy’s, Marshalls, 5 Guys, and Jersey Mikes.
The mall additionally provides Ryan’s Digital Actuality, Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery, an escape room, and Regal Cinemas, that are nice choices for every time the climate isn’t cooperating. Whereas we all the time hope the climate is ideal throughout our Cape Cod holidays, often you’ll get a wet day on Cape Cod.
Artist Shanties
I really like looking for distinctive presents and souvenirs and all the time love shopping for one thing handmade as a memento from our trip. Within the months of Might by way of October (with some vacation occasions in November/December), the Hyannis HyArts Artist Shanties are open. They’re situated within the Hyannis Harbor Overlook and Bismore Park.
The shanties are little shacks that includes totally different artists every week. The artwork is on the market, though guests are all the time welcome to browse.
Once we had been there, we noticed various merchandise together with plenty of hand-crafted merchandise like jewellery and work. There are additionally picnic tables and outside video games within the space, so it’s the most effective locations to hang around.
For extra specifics, together with parking choices and opening dates/hours, go to their web site. Remember the fact that the artists range by week.
Ferries to Martha’s Winery and Nantucket
Wish to go to “the islands” portion of “Cape Cod and the Islands”? You possibly can take a ferry to both Martha’s Winery or Nantucket from Hyannis Harbor on both the Steamship Authority or Hy-Line Cruises. Each islands might be visited for day journeys or an extended keep.
It takes about an hour to get to Nantucket on a high-speed ferry, or two hours and fifteen minutes on a normal ferry. Hy-Line provides the one ferry to Martha’s Winery from Hyannis – a one-hour journey to Oak Bluffs.
In season, (particularly weekends and holidays), the ships do ebook up. So that you’ll need to reserve your ferry upfront so you could have your best option of occasions and dates.
Whereas a day journey is definitely doable, we do advocate spending an extended go to on Martha’s Winery and/or Nantucket. There may be a lot to do and also you’ll most likely need to spend so much of time there.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
Considered one of America’s most well-known households, the Kennedy household, spent a lot of their summer season trip time on Cape Cod. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is a well-liked Cape Cod attraction providing displays that includes the historical past of the household, together with Robert F. Kennedy in addition to JFK’s household. It’s an effective way to be taught extra about US historical past whereas in your Cape Cod trip.
The museum modifications hours seasonally, so that you’ll need to verify their web site earlier than going. There may be an admission cost.
Cape Cod Baseball League
In case you get pleasure from baseball and go to in the course of the summer season, contemplate attending a Cape Cod Baseball League sport. This newbie summer season league performs video games in ten Cape Cod cities, together with Hyannis. Cape Cod Baseball League video games are free, and there aren’t any tickets. Donations could also be accepted.
The Cape Cod league performs video games from late June to early August. Hyannis’ workforce known as the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and residential video games are performed at McKeon Park on the Judy Walden Scarafile Area, which is situated behind St. John Paul II Excessive Faculty in Hyannis, MA.
With no value for tickets and no obligation, Cape Cod baseball is a superb sporting occasion choice for households. Take a look at the schedule and venue info on their web site.
Fishing Charters in Hyannis MA
Fishing is without doubt one of the hottest actions in any seaside group, and Cape Cod isn’t any totally different. If you wish to go fishing whereas on trip, probably the most handy manner is to ebook a fishing constitution. That manner, you gained’t have to fret about packing something however your private belongings.
A number of totally different fishing boat corporations go away from Hyannis Harbor, together with Hy-Line cruises. These fishing journeys provide 4-hour cruises which are open to a number of events. It’s also possible to ebook a personal constitution, which is dearer however is likely to be higher for youthful youngsters.
Cape Cod Potato Chips
One of the crucial scrumptious snacks in Massachusetts is Cape Cod Potato Chips (our favorites are the Salt and Vinegar chips). The Cape Cod Potato Chip manufacturing unit is situated in Hyannis.
It’s presently closed on account of elevated manufacturing due to the present state of affairs. Nonetheless, when it’s open, visitors can tour the manufacturing unit, watch the potato chips being made, and get samples. There’s additionally a retail retailer on the finish of the tour (which can be closed briefly).
Cape Cod Central Railroad
If you wish to discover Cape Cod from a distinct perspective, the Cape Cod Central Railroad provides a dinner practice leaving from Hyannis. This journey is for adults and youngsters aged 12 and over.
The practice fare features a five-course dinner and a three-hour practice trip, so it’s greatest for older teenagers or adults. For teenagers that love trains, different practice choices can be found, leaving from Buzzards Bay.
This contains THE POLAR EXPRESS™ practice trip, which takes place over the Christmas vacation season. The Polar Categorical leaves from Buzzards Bay and is 60-90 minutes lengthy. It’s a extremely popular vacation exercise, so buy tickets proper after they go on sale.
Pirate Adventures Hyannis
Pirate-loving youngsters will get pleasure from a trip on the Sea Gypsy VIII with Pirate Journey Hyannis. This ship units sail from Hyannis Harbor from Memorial Day to Labor Day every summer season.
In line with their web site, Pirate Adventures Hyannis is greatest for teenagers aged 3-10. It contains enjoyable actions for teenagers on each the dock and onboard. In season, there are 5 sailings of the Sea Gypsy VIII per day. The overall journey is ninety minutes, and reservations are advisable.
You possibly can be taught extra about Pirate Adventures Hyannis on their web site.
Cape Cod Melody Tent
The Cape Cod Melody Tent and its sister tent (the South Shore Music Circus) are the one continually-operated tent theaters within the spherical in the USA. The Melody Tent is situated in Hyannis and provides dwell leisure all through the season. Tickets and the schedule are obtainable on their web site.
Along with all of those enjoyable actions, there are many different issues to do within the close by space. These actions embody the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, which provides bounce homes, inflatable water slides, and extra, Nickerson State Park, the Heritage Museums and Gardens, mini golf, the Whydah Pirate Museum, the seashores of the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore (a number of the greatest seashores in Massachusetts), the Cape Cod Rail Path, and the Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past.
See issues to do in Falmouth right here and issues to do in Mashpee right here.
Consuming in Hyannis
Whereas Hyannis is the place you’ll discover a number of the fashionable chain eating places within the US, it’s additionally the place you will get some scrumptious native dishes. Considered one of my favorites is Uncooked Bar on the Bluewater Grill.
Uncooked Bar is greatest identified for his or her big lobster roll, however in addition they provide many different dishes together with chowder, salads, burgers, mac and cheese, and extra. In addition they have nice cocktails, and outside seating proper alongside Ocean Road.
For sandwiches, kabobs, soup, and salads, go to the Ocean Road Cafe and Deli. It’s an excellent place to select up lunch to eat outdoors.
One other enjoyable choice is Baxter’s, situated on the waterfront. The menu contains fried seafood, lobster rolls, soups, salads, and extra. There’s additionally a youngsters’ menu. Throughout the way in which, technically in Yarmouth, is Tugboats, one other enjoyable, family-friendly waterfront restaurant.
Different fashionable eating places in Hyannis embody Spanky’s Clam Shack, the Bare Oyster, and Faucet Metropolis Grille. Don’t overlook to go to Cape Cod Creamery for some post-lunch/dinner ice cream.
The place to Keep in Hyannis
We all the time keep at our residence in Yarmouth throughout our Cape Cod holidays. However there are some nice family-friendly accommodations and resorts in Hyannis. A few of the extra fashionable choices embody:
There are additionally a number of chain accommodations together with the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Doubletree by Hilton, Courtyard Cape Cod Hyannis, and Vacation Inn Cape Cod.
Examine the map to see extra lodging choices (affiliate hyperlinks on the map).
On the lookout for extra Cape Cod journey suggestions? Click on to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
