Bethie

Heading up the coast in Sept. and will have 2 days to explore the Cape and surrounding area. (possibly 3 days if I can be convinced it is worth it.) Are considering doing Martha's Vineyard one day. Have heard Chatham and Orleans are worth visiting also. What best to do there?
Will probably be staying in Barnstable. Heard a couple good things about the Acworth Inn there. Does anyone know anything about Ashly Manor, Beechwood Inn or the Sea Breeze there. Are they real pricey? Is after Labor Day considered "off season"?
Have a month to make our way thru Maine, to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. So must sort of budget our time and $$.. But not to the extent of being uncomfortable or cheating ourselves out of "must do's".
Appreciate advise. Thanks!

Fannie2620

Go a little further to Wellfleet, Truro or Provincetown. These towns are just past Orleans(you will see one of the largest Stop and Shop markets there)
Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown have the oceanside beaches part of the national seashore as well as kettle ponds and many lakes.
If you have never been to Provincetown it is worth at least one trip in your lifetime. It is the eastermost point in the U.S. Also, P Town is known for its people watching. Have fun.

milemarker0

September is a great time to visit the Cape. If it's midweek, the crowds will be gone, the weather will be nice...if it's the weekend, slightly more crowded but not crazy.

Hotel rates will be slightly lower than the summer, but most places consider Columbus Day weekend now the end of the "high season"

If you're spending one day on the Vineyard, then I would consider the 3 days to see more of the Cape.
Barnstable and the mid-Cape are nice but different from the lower Cape (Chatham/Orleans) which is different from the Outer Cape....Wellfleet and Provincetown (Which while very far East, is not the Easternmost point in the continental US...parts of Maine are further East)

Hard to offer "must-do's" as I'm not sure what you like, but there is great bike riding, beaches, fishing, hiking, shopping (antiquing), bars, food, etc...all of the different areas of the Cape offer something for almost everyone.

Dreamer2

I would definitely include Provincetown, Nantucket, and Chatham - the best the Cape has to offer! Take the Dunes Tour at Provincetown - looks like you're on another planet! All three have fantastic restaurants, and fun shopping. Hopefully the Whaling Museum will be open again soon on Nantucket - it's a great stop, as is climbing up the church tower for the view. Pay extra for the fast ferry out to the island; makes for a great day trip. Chatham is a lovely town, but not unusual in any way like the other two. Just charming and pleasant.

In Maine, I'd try to stop at Ogunquit and Kennebunkport, Portland, and Camden on your way up.

Have fun!

jillsf

If it' only 2 - 3 days, stay on the Cape. Wellfleet and Truro are much nicer areas than Chatham and Orleans, which feel more like suburbs. The landscape and beaches are wonderful around wellfleet/truro, and the towns much less touristy. MV and Nantucket are great but you need more than one day there.