As our final destination, we spent a relaxing few days in Cape Cod, MA. There’s truly nothing like being by the water. It just hits you with a wave of relaxation!
We originally planned on staying at Village Inn, but due to last minute change of our trip dates.. we stayed at the Veranda Cape Cod Family Resort in Yarmouth. They treated us very well there and we had a great time! Here are some of the things we did while at Cape Cod:
Where to Stay:
The beautiful part about Cape Cod is that there are so many cute places to stay at. They also have a lot of places that serve breakfast. My recommendation would be to find those places and book them. It saved a lot of time and energy and makes it really feel like a vacation.
Listed below are a selection of places to stay at in Cape Cod. Most of them serve breakfast and are moderately priced. You’ll notice they are separated by town. Cape Cod is a large Cape. Driving from one side to another could take an hour. So, make sure you plan your activities according to where you’ll be stying if you don’t want to drive to far.
1. Yarmouth & Hyannis
- Village Inn Bed & Breakfast
- Veranda Cape Cod Family Resort
- Captain Farris House
- Anchor In Hotel
2. Sandwich:
- Isaiah Jones Homestead Bed & Breakfast
3. Falmouth:
- Frederick William House
4. Dennis Port/Harwich:
- The Tern Inn Bed & Breakfast Cottages
- An English Garden
- The Platinum Pebbles Boutique Inn (adults only)
5. Chatham:
- Captain’s House Inn
- Pleasant Bay Village Resort
- A Little Inn on Pleasant Bay
6. Provincetown:
- Somerset House Inn
- Revere Guest House
- Crowne Pointe Historic Inn (adults only)
- Benchmark Inn
- Carpe Diem Guesthouse & Spa
Things to Do:
There are quite the variety things to do in Cape Cod. However, keep in mind that this is a town and not a city. It’s quite laid back, slow paced and quiet. So, if you’re looking for a great a big night life.. you may want to look elsewhere.
Cape Cod prides itself on being a wonderful vacation getaway for that reason. You can find things to do by the water, at restaurants and even within their small town areas. Look below to see what you can add to your itinerary:
1. Lighthouses:
Cape Cod is known for their beautiful lighthouses. Not all of them are easily accessible though. So, I recommend doing your research. National Park Services gives a lot of details about both beaches and lighthouses you can visit. It also shares any fees or permits associated with them. Also, be sure to note the entrance fee-free days that are listed on their website.
- Nauset Lighthouse
- Race Point Lighthouse (it’s about a 30 minute walk from the parking area. If you obtain an ORV permit, you can bring your eligible vehicle and drive across the dunes)
2. Walk/Bike/Shop the Small Towns:
Something about exploring small towns is just so enjoyable. Some places you may be staying at may offer bikes for you to ride around time. However, if you are interested in using a bike service, they are also available in a fee towns throughout the Cape as well.
Chatham in particular has a really neat downtown area with lots of restaurants and cute shops to browse. If you’re interested in buying some Cape Cod gear, I’d highly recommend you check it out. There’s plenty of free parking, but it’s also really close to the bike rental shop as well.
- Provincetown (Bike Company HERE)
- Chatham Main Street (Bike Company HERE)
- Hyannis Main Street (Bike Company HERE)
3. Beaches:
Keep in mind that this is also a residential area. So, you’ll notice, between June and Labor Day, a lot of beaches require permits to even park there during the day. And they aren’t cheap! However, after 4pm they are typically not at the gate to ticket you. But keep in mind, there are no life guards during this time.
You’ll also notice quite a few private beaches that do mot have parking lots. So, if you are staying close to one of these, you can easily bike or walk over for free. There are also some beaches that don’t require a permit but still require a fee to enter and to park. The pricing for these are much more reasonable and open to anyone. I’ve listed them below.
- Nauset Beach ($25 for car parking | $15 walk-in entrance)
- Marconi Beach ($25 for car parking | $15 walk-in entrance)
- Race Point Beach ($25 for car parking | $15 walk-in entrance)
- Head of Meadow Beach ($25 for car parking | $15 walk-in entrance)
4. Hiking Dunes:
On one of the cooler breezy days, we decided to explore one of the dunes that Cape Cod has to offer. We then realized that this are has quite a few dunes that are absolutely beautiful to hike through. However, a lot of them are loxated up North, closer to Provincetown.
If you’re interested in adding this to your itinerary, look below for some suggestions:
- Dune Shacks Trail
- Race Point Lighthouse (30 minute hike across dune)
- White Crest Beach (steep dune trail heading to beach)
5. Whale Watching:
We absolutely loved our time whale watching! It was one of the highlights for sure. If you plan on going, keep in mind it typically takes about 4 hours total. It can also be very windy, so bring a warm sweater. And, be prepared for a lot of movement as the boat rocks back and forth. You may feel seasick at some point.
Regardless, we thought this rare opportunity was worth it. So, for around $70 per person.. we booked our tickets. If you’re interested, look below for some of the companies we either booked with or considered. Because of Cape Cod’s distance, we chose the one that was closest to where we stayed. I suggest you do the same thing:
- Hyannis Whale Watching (Barnstable)
- Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching (Provincetown)
- Captain John Boats (Plymouth)
- Sea Salt Charters (Provincetown; pricier tickets)
6. Vineyards/Wineries:
Although not known for these, the Cape offers a few vineyards to enjoy. Again, adding to the relaxing vacation theme. You can enjoy your time at one or all of these vineyards.
- Truro Vineyard
- Cape Cod Winery
- First Crush Winery
Where to Eat:
Now, to talk about my favorite part of vacations.. the food. If you talk to any local at Cape Cod, they’ll usually begin recommending their top places to eat. Why? Well, Cape Cod has some if the best sea food and, on top of that, a large amount of restaurants. So, if you feel yourself getting hangry, head on over to some of these spots.
Breakfast:
- Good Friends Cafe
- Three Fins Coffee Roasters
Lunch/Dinner:
- Tumi Ceviche Bar & Ristorante
- Fanizzi’s Restaurant
- The Mews Restaurant & Cafe
- The Ocean House Restaurant
- Hearth & Kettle Yarmouth
- Brax Landing Restaurant
- Bookstore & Restaurant
- Brazilian Grill
- Lobster Pot Express
- Sesuit Harbor Cafe
- Raw Bar
- Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar
Dessert:
- Caffe Gelato Bertini
- Cape Cod Creamery
- Sweet Escape Homemade Ice Cream
- PJ’s (ice cream shop in the front)
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