Planning to go to Cape Cod this summer time? You’ll be 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, out of doors actions, and general 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 contemplate including to your trip itinerary.
Cape Cod is a quintessential summer time trip spot. You’ll be able to chill out, discover the attractive seashores, stroll by means of quaint cities, eat scrumptious meals, spend time in nature, and a lot extra. If you’re on the lookout for a household summer time trip stuffed with high quality household time within the heat climate, it’s among the best choices in New England.
Whilst you’ll need stunning climate in your journey, there are occasions when the climate doesn’t all the time cooperate. In that case, take a look at this checklist of issues to do on Cape Cod within the rain.
Take into account that many of those Cape Cod actions and vacationer sights are open seasonally. They could be closed or have restricted hours within the winter months. Test their particular web sites for particulars.
This submit incorporates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by means of considered one of these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us at no further value to you. We’ve acquired some complimentary/discounted stays and actions through the years, however all opinions are my very own.
The Greatest Cape Cod Actions For Households
The Cape Cod Rail Path
The summer time climate in Cape Cod may be actually stunning. If the forecast cooperates, attempt to make as many out of doors plans as potential to benefit from it.
One of many extra widespread household actions on Cape Cod is the Cape Cod Rail Path. It’s a 25-mile paved path that goes by means of six completely different Cape Cod cities – Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet.
Free parking is obtainable at a number of parking heaps 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.
If you happen to don’t carry your bikes, there are a number of bike outlets all through the Cape the place you may get bike leases (together with e-Bikes). Take into account that you don’t have to experience all the path – you may simply select only a small space to experience on should you don’t need to spend as a lot time biking.
Seashores in Cape Cod
Among the best Cape Cod actions is visiting the seaside. Because of the form and site of the cape, there are many seaside choices in all the Cape Cod cities. They provide various facilities and have completely different parking conditions, so that you’ll need to do a little analysis upfront.
A few of the extra widespread seashores embody the next:
- The Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore seashores are among the greatest seashores and embody Nauset Gentle Seaside in Eastham, Marconi Seaside in Wellfleet, the Coast Guard Seaside in Eastham, Herring Cove Seaside in Provincetown, Race Level Seaside in Provincetown, and Head of the Meadow Seaside in North Truro. It’s a fantastic place for all the household.
- Previous Silver Seaside Falmouth
- Chatham Lighthouse Seaside Chatham
- Crosby Touchdown Seaside Brewster
- Smugglers’ Seaside in South Yarmouth
- Seagull Seaside in West Yarmouth
- Nauset Seaside Orleans
- West Dennis Seaside in West Dennis
- Sea Avenue Seaside in Dennis Port
There are numerous different improbable seashores on the Cape – these are just some choices.
Except you’re staying at a lodge with seaside entry, you’ll have to carry your provides, like umbrellas, chairs, blankets, and towels. You’ll be able to simply purchase these on the Cape, carry them from dwelling, or hire them. Many trip dwelling leases additionally provide these items. Take a look at this checklist to see issues to incorporate in your seaside bag.
Pilgrim Monument
This Provincetown icon is open and accessible to go to this yr. It was constructed to commemorate the touchdown of the Pilgrims in Provincetown earlier than they headed right down to Plymouth and is positioned 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 may keep parked there for twenty-four hours (all the time topic to vary), so it’s a great place to start out your day in Provincetown. After visiting the museum, take the inclined elevator down and stroll to Industrial Avenue.
Heritage Museums and Gardens
The attractive Heritage Museums and Gardens are positioned in Sandwich, MA. Whereas these attractive gardens might 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 teenagers ages 2-10. It consists of interactive play options in addition to a treehouse. There are completely different themed actions every month – take a look at their schedule on-line.
The Heritage Museums and Gardens additionally provides a 1908 hand-carved carousel, designed by Charles Looff in addition to a historic American automotive exhibit. Tickets for the museums and gardens may be bought on the gate, or on-line upfront of your go to.
Whydah Pirate Museum
The Whydah Pirate Museum is actually a gem among the many many nice Cape Cod actions. This indoor museum, positioned in West Yarmouth, homes the recovered stays of the Whydah, a shipwrecked pirate ship. The museum does a improbable 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 on the whole.
The Whydah Pirate Museum is open year-round and may be very widespread. It’s particularly busy on wet days in the summertime season, so make your plans early if potential. Timed tickets may be bought on-line upfront. There’s additionally an audio tour that you may add to your tickets.
Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past
The Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past is positioned 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 per week from 10 am-4 pm in the course of the peak summer time months. Advance ticketing isn’t supplied – you should buy your admission on the entrance. Once more, as an indoor attraction, it is a widespread spot on a wet day, so plan accordingly.
Miniature {Golfing} on Cape Cod
Mini {golfing} is a extremely popular household exercise on Cape Cod. There are many miniature golf programs on Cape Cod. Some are even mixed with different enjoyable out of doors household actions, like bumper boats, batting cages, ice cream counters, and arcades.
We wish to go miniature {golfing} after dinner when the solar isn’t fairly as sturdy. However many of the programs are open all day. The extra widespread mini golf programs may be very busy, so morning is one other good choice.
There are many programs positioned all through Cape Cod – and a few are extra low-key than others. You’ll be able to see our favourite miniature golf programs on Cape Cod on this submit.
Whale Watches
Wish to see whales of their pure habitat whereas having fun with a ship experience on the Cape? A number of completely 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 typically essentially the most nice on the water.
Like most Cape Cod actions, that is one thing you’ll need to reserve upfront. Whilst you might 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 procuring areas (for native finds) embody:
- Industrial Avenue Provincetown
- Major Avenue Falmouth
- Major Avenue Hyannis
- Major Avenue Chatham
These are downtown areas the place you may park your automotive in a single spot after which stroll round to the assorted quaint outlets. There’s additionally Mashpee Commons, which provides out of doors outlets together with some chains, in addition to Cuffy’s, a neighborhood retailer providing Cape Cod souvenirs. Don’t miss one of many many areas of the Christmas Tree Retailers, which has all kinds of knick-knacks.
Fishing Excursions
For a singular expertise (which will finish in some nice meals to prepare dinner later), contemplate reserving a fishing tour. There are many completely different operators on Cape Cod, providing personal 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 may carry it dwelling to prepare dinner. We received a number of meals out of our catch, which we ready on the out of doors grill at our trip dwelling.
Like every thing else on the Cape, guide early for the most effective availability.
Cape Cod Baseball League
Whether or not you’re a baseball lover, or simply need to take pleasure in 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 a fantastic choice 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 initially of August. Yow will discover extra info on their web site.
We love attending a Cape Cod baseball league recreation. They’re a lot enjoyable and are a fantastic afternoon/night exercise for all the household.
Watch the Seals
Go to the Chatham Fish Pier, positioned on the intersection of Shore Highway and Barcliff Avenue, to see seals enjoying 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 will seize something to eat.
We love watching the seals from this commentary deck. It’s a enjoyable exercise for teenagers and is totally free (apart from parking). You in all probability 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 depart from a number of Cape Cod locations day-after-day. 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 may in all probability do a passenger, quite than a automotive ferry – which usually has just a little extra availability and is inexpensive. 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 positioned in Brewster, MA, proper off the Cape Cod Rail Path on the decrease Cape. It provides numerous out of doors facilities for households to take pleasure in, together with climbing trails, bike paths, ponds, campgrounds, and extra. It’s the right place to go to for households who need to take pleasure in nature and the outside whereas on their Cape Cod trip.
The state park does cost for parking, with a diminished charge 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 acceptable for the entire household, Cape Cod does supply breweries and wineries. Some widespread choices embody Truro Vineyards and Tree Home Brewery (in Sandwich, MA). If you wish to go to the extremely popular Tree Home, make reservations on-line upfront.
Lodge/Trip Residence Facilities
Whether or not you guide a household resort or trip dwelling, there could also be some facilities that your loved ones can take pleasure in. Well-liked resort facilities embody swimming pools, arcades, and seaside entry. If you wish to spend time doing these items, you’ll want to guide a resort that features numerous enjoyable facilities.
When reserving a trip rental home, search for board video games and different enjoyable actions that you may take pleasure in 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 in the course of the busy season. However, there are some things to do this might help you go to Cape Cod on a funds.
- Keep in a trip dwelling so you may put together some meals at dwelling
- Some cities supply weeklong seaside passes so you may go to the seaside day-after-day of your trip with out paying for every day
- Convey alongside journey video games to play at night time in your lodge room, quite 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.
Well-liked Motels on Cape Cod
There are such a lot of choices for motels, resorts, motels, inns, and trip properties on Cape Cod. Some are open seasonally whereas others are open year-round for households. Listed below are among the hottest Cape Cod motels:
Extra assets: Searching for extra Cape Cod journey ideas? Click on to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
