Planning to go to Cape Cod this summer time? You’ll be a part of many different households who journey to this particular a part of Massachusetts every year to benefit from the seafood (don’t neglect to get a lobster roll!), stunning seashores, outside actions, and total trip vibe. Though chances are you’ll be tempted to spend a lot of your Cape Cod trip time stress-free, there are nonetheless loads of Cape Cod actions it is best to think about including to your trip itinerary.
Cape Cod is a quintessential summer time trip spot. You may chill out, discover the gorgeous seashores, stroll by means of quaint cities, eat scrumptious meals, spend time in nature, and a lot extra. If you’re searching for a household summer time trip full of high quality household time within the heat climate, it’s among the finest choices in New England.
When you’ll need stunning climate in your journey, there are occasions when the climate doesn’t at all times cooperate. In that case, take a look at this checklist of issues to do on Cape Cod within the rain.
Remember that many of those Cape Cod actions and vacationer points of interest are open seasonally. They could be closed or have restricted hours within the winter months. Examine their particular web sites for particulars.
This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by means of considered one of these hyperlinks could lead to a fee paid to us at no further price to you. We’ve acquired some complimentary/discounted stays and actions through the years, however all opinions are my very own.
The Finest Cape Cod Actions For Households
The Cape Cod Rail Path
The summer time climate in Cape Cod could be actually stunning. If the forecast cooperates, attempt to make as many outside plans as potential to benefit from it.
One of many extra fashionable household actions on Cape Cod is the Cape Cod Rail Path. It’s a 25-mile paved path that goes by means of six totally different Cape Cod cities – Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet.
Free parking is obtainable at a number of parking tons in these varied cities, together with on the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore on the Salt Pond Guests Heart, on Station Avenue in South Yarmouth, and the Trailhead at LeCount Hole Highway in South Wellfleet.
In case you don’t deliver your bikes, there are a number of bike outlets all through the Cape the place you will get bike leases (together with e-Bikes). Remember that you don’t must experience your entire path – you’ll be able to simply select only a small space to experience on in case you don’t need to spend as a lot time biking.
Seashores in Cape Cod
The most effective Cape Cod actions is visiting the seaside. Because of the form and placement of the cape, there are many seaside choices in all the Cape Cod cities. They provide various facilities and have totally different parking conditions, so that you’ll need to do a little analysis upfront.
A few of the extra fashionable seashores embody the next:
- The Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore seashores are a number of the greatest seashores and embody Nauset Mild Seashore in Eastham, Marconi Seashore in Wellfleet, the Coast Guard Seashore in Eastham, Herring Cove Seashore in Provincetown, Race Level Seashore in Provincetown, and Head of the Meadow Seashore in North Truro. It’s an excellent place for your entire household.
- Previous Silver Seashore Falmouth
- Chatham Lighthouse Seashore Chatham
- Crosby Touchdown Seashore Brewster
- Smugglers’ Seashore in South Yarmouth
- Seagull Seashore in West Yarmouth
- Nauset Seashore Orleans
- West Dennis Seashore in West Dennis
- Sea Road Seashore in Dennis Port
There are various different implausible seashores on the Cape – these are only a few choices.
Until you might be staying at a lodge with seaside entry, you’ll must deliver your provides, like umbrellas, chairs, blankets, and towels. You may simply purchase these on the Cape, deliver them from dwelling, or hire them. Many trip dwelling leases additionally provide this stuff. Take a look at this checklist to see issues to incorporate in your seaside bag.
Pilgrim Monument
This Provincetown icon is open and out there to go to this 12 months. It was constructed to commemorate the touchdown of the Pilgrims in Provincetown earlier than they headed right down to Plymouth and is situated on the Outer Cape in Provincetown.
Timed tickets embody a experience up and down the inclined elevator and admission to the grounds, the Pilgrim Monument, and the Provincetown Museum. When you pay to park within the lot, you’ll be able to keep parked there for twenty-four hours (at all times topic to alter), so it’s a superb place to start out your day in Provincetown. After visiting the museum, take the inclined elevator down and stroll to Industrial Road.
Heritage Museums and Gardens
The attractive Heritage Museums and Gardens are situated in Sandwich, MA. Whereas these attractive gardens could not initially appear to be a family-friendly attraction, there are many issues that attraction to youngsters.
Hidden Hole is an out of doors play space, designed for youths ages 2-10. It contains interactive play options in addition to a treehouse. There are totally different themed actions every month – take a look at their schedule on-line.
The Heritage Museums and Gardens additionally gives a 1908 hand-carved carousel, designed by Charles Looff in addition to a historic American automotive exhibit. Tickets for the museums and gardens could be bought on the gate, or on-line upfront of your go to.
Whydah Pirate Museum
The Whydah Pirate Museum is really a gem among the many many nice Cape Cod actions. This indoor museum, situated in West Yarmouth, homes the recovered stays of the Whydah, a shipwrecked pirate ship. The museum does a implausible job of showcasing the story of the pirates on the Whydah – how they lived, how the ship was overtaken, and the way it was shipwrecked. It additionally dispels some myths about pirates basically.
The Whydah Pirate Museum is open year-round and may be very fashionable. It’s particularly busy on wet days in the summertime season, so make your plans early if potential. Timed tickets could be bought on-line upfront. There’s additionally an audio tour that you could add to your tickets.
Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past
The Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past is situated in Brewster, MA, on Route 6A. It’s a small museum, centered on showcasing and educating individuals on the pure world, together with Cape Cod particularly. There are many particular person displays and programming, together with a honey bee exhibit.
The museum is open 7 days every week from 10 am-4 pm through the peak summer time months. Advance ticketing isn’t provided – it’s essential to buy your admission on the entrance. Once more, as an indoor attraction, it is a fashionable spot on a wet day, so plan accordingly.
Miniature {Golfing} on Cape Cod
Mini {golfing} is a very fashionable household exercise on Cape Cod. There are many miniature golf programs on Cape Cod. Some are even mixed with different enjoyable outside household actions, like bumper boats, batting cages, ice cream counters, and arcades.
We prefer to go miniature {golfing} after dinner when the solar isn’t fairly as robust. However a lot of the programs are open all day. The extra fashionable mini golf programs could be very busy, so morning is one other good possibility.
There are many programs situated all through Cape Cod – and a few are extra low-key than others. You may see our favourite miniature golf programs on Cape Cod on this submit.
Whale Watches
Need to see whales of their pure habitat whereas having fun with a ship experience on the Cape? A number of totally different firms are providing whale-watching excursions, in Cape vacationer locations like Hyannis and Provincetown. Whale-watching season runs from April by means of October, and the summer time months are usually probably the most nice on the water.
Like most Cape Cod actions, that is one thing you’ll need to reserve upfront. When you could get fortunate with availability, in the most well-liked peak weeks of summer time, issues guide up early.
Store on Cape Cod
As an avid shopper, no trip is full for me with out getting some souvenirs. Fortunately there are many locations to buy on Cape Cod, together with many native locations in quaint cities. A few of our favourite Cape Cod buying areas (for native finds) embody:
- Industrial Road Provincetown
- Major Road Falmouth
- Major Road Hyannis
- Major Road Chatham
These are downtown areas the place you’ll be able to park your automotive in a single spot after which stroll round to the varied quaint outlets. There’s additionally Mashpee Commons, which gives outside outlets together with some chains, in addition to Cuffy’s, a neighborhood retailer providing Cape Cod souvenirs. Don’t miss one of many many places of the Christmas Tree Outlets, which has all types of knick-knacks.
Fishing Excursions
For a singular expertise (that will finish in some nice meals to prepare dinner later), think about reserving a fishing tour. There are many totally different operators on Cape Cod, providing non-public fishing charters of various lengths. We loved Shark Shark Tuna Fishing Constitution, which operates out of South Yarmouth.
As a bonus, many of those charters will clear something you catch, so you’ll be able to deliver it dwelling to prepare dinner. We received a number of meals out of our catch, which we ready on the outside grill at our trip dwelling.
Like every part else on the Cape, guide early for the very best availability.
Cape Cod Baseball League
Whether or not you’re a baseball lover, or simply need to get pleasure from an reasonably priced night exercise. The Cape Cod Baseball League video games happen in the summertime months, all through Cape Cod. These video games are free to attend, so they’re an excellent possibility for households.
There are groups in lots of Cape Cod cities, together with Bourne, Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans, Hyannis, Yarmouth-Dennis, Wareham, Falmouth, and Cotuit. Video games begin in mid-June and finish firstly of August. You could find extra data on their web site.
We love attending a Cape Cod baseball league recreation. They’re a lot enjoyable and are an excellent afternoon/night exercise for your entire household.
Watch the Seals
Go to the Chatham Fish Pier, situated on the intersection of Shore Highway and Barcliff Avenue, to see seals taking part in by the pier. As an operational fish pier, it’s visited by fishermen all through the day, and the seals come by to see if they’ll seize something to eat.
We love watching the seals from this commentary deck. It’s a enjoyable exercise for youths and is totally free (apart from parking). You most likely gained’t spend an excessive amount of time there, so mix it with another nice actions within the space.
Go to Nantucket or Martha’s Winery
Passenger and automotive ferries going to Nantucket and Martha’s Winery go away from a number of Cape Cod locations daily. The schedules differ all year long, however there are ferry terminals in Woods Gap, Falmouth, and Hyannis.
If you’re going for a day journey, you’ll be able to most likely do a passenger, somewhat than a automotive ferry – which usually has a bit extra availability and is cheaper. For an extended journey, take a look at this 3-day Nantucket itinerary.
Nickerson State Park
The virtually 2,000-acre Nickerson State Park is situated in Brewster, MA, proper off the Cape Cod Rail Path on the decrease Cape. It gives a number of outside facilities for households to get pleasure from, together with climbing trails, bike paths, ponds, campgrounds, and extra. It’s the right place to go to for households who need to get pleasure from nature and the outside whereas on their Cape Cod trip.
The state park does cost for parking, with a diminished price for Massachusetts license plates. There are different facilities together with public restrooms, boat ramps, and showers.
Attend a Competition
Cape Cod is dwelling to many alternative festivals every year – most within the low season. These embody:
- Wellfleet OysterFest
- Cape Cod Pirate Competition
- Harwich Cranberry Competition
Wine Tasting and Breweries
Whereas not applicable for the entire household, Cape Cod does supply breweries and wineries. Some fashionable choices embody Truro Vineyards and Tree Home Brewery (in Sandwich, MA). If you wish to go to the very fashionable Tree Home, make reservations on-line upfront.
Lodge/Trip House Facilities
Whether or not you guide a household resort or trip dwelling, there could also be some facilities that your loved ones can get pleasure from. Fashionable resort facilities embody swimming pools, arcades, and seaside entry. If you wish to spend time doing this stuff, be sure you guide a resort that features a number of enjoyable facilities.
When reserving a trip rental home, search for board video games and different enjoyable actions that you could get pleasure from within the evenings or when the climate isn’t nice.
Saving Cash on a Cape Cod Trip
It may be difficult to save cash on a Cape Cod trip through the busy season. However, there are some things to try this may also help you go to Cape Cod on a funds.
- Keep in a trip dwelling so you’ll be able to put together some meals at dwelling
- Some cities supply weeklong seaside passes so you’ll be able to go to the seaside daily of your trip with out paying for every day
- Convey alongside journey video games to play at evening in your lodge room, somewhat than going out and spending cash
- Journey together with your bikes and go to the Cape Cod Rail Tree, which is free.
- Watch a Cape Cod Baseball League recreation, which is totally free.
Fashionable Lodges on Cape Cod
There are such a lot of choices for motels, resorts, motels, inns, and trip houses on Cape Cod. Some are open seasonally whereas others are open year-round for households. Listed below are a number of the hottest Cape Cod motels:
Further sources: Searching 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.
