Cape Cod Biking & Lodging

Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 06:45 AM
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Cape Cod Biking & Lodging

Am planning a first-time trip to Cape Cod for my wife and me in mid September. Aside from checking out some of the Cape towns/villages, a primary interest is biking the Shining Sea Bikeway and Cape Cod Rail Trail. We generally avoid high tourist/commercial areas. Having never been to the area, am looking for some insight into a couple questions.

1. Biking - trying to decide if we should bring our own bikes or rent some there. We're traveling some distance and preference is to not travel with a bike carrier and our own bikes. However, bike rentals seem pretty steep (looking for hybrid type bikes suitable for the trails) and am not sure how to transport rented bikes to the trails if we don't have a carrier. Are there bike rentals near the main trails where you can park and ride for the day? Weekly rental rates are of course cheaper if we plan to go 3 or more days but it wouldn't work if we don't have a means to get them between trails. Also hoping to get to Nantucket for a day and wondered about transporting our own there if we have them or just renting some there.

2. Lodging - we don't plan to spend a lot of time in a room, so not looking for something luxurious or high-end cost wise - just must be CLEAN (e.g. non-smoking, no pets) and quiet. Something along the lines of A Beach Breeze Inn in West Harwich seems to be suitable, or maybe The Chatham Motel, though, the latter weekend dates are booked. What is West Harwich like? Or, any other suggestions?

Thanks!
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 09:20 AM
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September is the best time to visit the cape and biking the trails is one of my favorite ways to enjoy the area.

Rentals are cheaper for extended days and if your have your own car but don't want to bring your own bikes, how about just bringing your own bike rack and then renting bikes. If you are renting a car I have friends who transported their bikes standing up in the area between the front and rear seats by removing the front wheels. they used blankets to protect the car interior.

You could rent daily at each location. Approx. $24.00 for a 24 hr. rental for a hybrid and less money for 8 hrs. Shining Sea Trail has bike rentals at Bike Zone in North Falmouth, Idle Times Bike shop has a couple of locations along the Cape Cod rail trail. As for Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard there are numerous rentals just as you get off the ferry onto the island. There is an additional charge about $8.00 if you take a bike with you onto the ferry but we like to bring a pannier with our lunch, blanket and extra jackets with us on our own bikes.

Enjoy your vacation.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 09:52 AM
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Take a look at the Eventide motel on Rt. 6 (but set back from the road) in South Wellfleet. It is not far from bike rental stores and is right on the rail trail near Marconi Beach. You can also rent a car rack at Idle Times.

Another nice trail is the one in the Provincelands National Seashore in Provincetown. My husband thinks it is the most scenic of all the trails.

Lots of restaurants and shops will be open in September in Wellfleet and surrounding towns as well.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 04:56 PM
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Thanks for the helpful information. Have decided to just rent bikes there either daily as needed or for the week with a carrier rental. After looking at Eventide and not finding availability for all the days needed, have booked at the Wellfleet Motel which had good reviews and is in in the same general vicinity. Seems like a good location. The Provincelands bike trail had not been on my radar - thanks for mentioning!
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 04:59 PM
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since I stay in Falmouth frequently, I'm quite familiar with the shining seas bike trail. Bike rentals are available right in Falmouth, literally across the street from the shining seas. We bring our own bikes so I'm not familiar with the prices. The Shining seas runs about 11 miles, and goes thru some marsh, woods, and a very nice stretch of beach - it's a beautiful ride. If you want to stay in Falmouth,look at the Mariner Motel which is simple but squeaky clean with a nice pool and an easy bike ride to the shining seas and the beach. Also look at the Tides, which is right on a private beach, and Shoreway Acres, which has lots of green space and is close to the beach. All 3 are under $200 a night in high season.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 05:53 PM
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Some cute and well-priced AirBNB options in case you haven't browsed.....

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/14298773

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4401378
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Old Aug 23rd, 2016, 06:49 PM
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Commodore Inn/Motel-West Harwich
Ocean Breeze-South Yarmouth
Platinum Pebble-Upscale Inn-West Harwich
Wequassett-Chatham-Upscale Resort

Re bikes-You can rent them on Rte 34 and get right onto the Rail Trail-Right above Lower County Rd. in I think that's part of W. Harwich
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 01:20 PM
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After seeing some of the motel recommendations in Falmouth, am thinking it might be a good idea to split the week up into two segments ... spend the first Sat-Wed based out of Wellfleet and then go down to Falmouth for Thur-Sat. Can do the Cape Code Rail Trail and/or Provinceland Trail while in Wellfleet and then the Shining Sea Trail and/or MV or Nantucket from Falmouth. If we only stay in Wellfleet, then would be a pretty long day drive to/fro to get to see Falmouth, Woods Hole, and the Shining Sea Trail. Does that make sense? Quaint seaside villages are wonderful ... but traffic jams and motels on busy streets, not so much. I just want to gulp loads of fresh air, if you any of you know what I mean. Never having been there, we just don't know what to expect for any of the particular areas. Based on reviews, am sensing that Hyannis is more commercialized so might only go there if taking the ferry to Nantucket. No matter what, the adventure of seeing something new will make it worthwhile ;-)
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 06:44 PM
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That sounds like a workable plan. You'll get to familiarize yourselves to two different areas.

The Outer Cape won't be terrible busy after Labor Day, so traffic there should be fine.
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Old Aug 24th, 2016, 10:57 PM
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Arrival Saturday and on Sunday you'll have plenty of traffic but you won't have TRAFFIC. Mon-Thurs you'll be in cyclist paradise and won't feel like you're in a "high tourist" environment.

Eventide would have been a step up from Wellfleet Motel at about the same price, and is right at the bike path, but these places have strict cancellation penalties so Wellfleet Motel it is.

If you hit the dates of the Falmouth Dog Show, lodging might be pricey and you'll have dogs in the motel rooms next door. I think it's around Sept 18. For lower rates on those dates look at maybe Parker's River Resort in South Yarmouth, or the Hyannis Inn Motel. They're maybe a 20 mile drive down to Falmouth.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 06:34 AM
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Falmouth and Wellfleet are my two favorite towns on the cape, and they are a long drive from each other. Splitting the week up is a good idea if you want to experience different areas of the cape. Falmouth is a lot bigger than Wellfleet, but still has tons of charm and fabulous beaches. Have you looked at the Holden Inn in Wellfleet? A classic, simple inn close to the water.
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Old Aug 25th, 2016, 10:14 AM
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I've rented and ridden on the Cape and Nantucket. You might want to search the sites and decide on bikes and shops ahead of time. It seems to me that quality wasn't the greatest from the shop we rented for a day ride on the Cape. I searched beforehand for a rental on Nantucket but walked into the wrong shop anyway because they are right on top of each other. The only other advice I have for you is to bring a swim suit. The many ponds you pass look very inviting on a warm day. Have fun!
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Old Sep 28th, 2016, 09:45 AM
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Trip Report:

Thank you for the suggestions provided in this thread - what a great week we had on the Cape! (mid September). Overall, we stayed in Wellfleet the first part of the week to do things in that area then drove through Chatham to South Yarmoth. Took the ferry to Nantucket for a day then came back and went to Falmouth/Woods Hole.

Accommodations:
Day 1-4: Wellfleet Motel. Is a nice enough accommodation, polite staff and no complaints. Good location to explore the outer Cape areas and has direct private access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail which runs behind the property.
Day 5-6: Escape Inn in South Yarmouth. Very basic comfortable rooms, bright, cheery, extremely clean, helpful owner, nice continental breakfast, convenient to the Hyannis ferries, and the most reasonable price I saw.


Bike Trails

Rented bikes from Idle Times for these trails - provided free local delivery/pickup.

Trail to the Cape Code National Seashore Lighthouse. This was easy to get to from the motel (on bikes) and had some good views - mostly considered it a means of getting to the beach with no fees.

Cape Cod Rail Trail. Took this trail from motel to Orleans where we stopped to browse in a couple shops and get a frozen chocolate from the Chocolate Sparrow (great place!). Rode to Skaket Beach and then to the Church of the Transfiguration then on to Nickerson State Park before heading back to Wellfleet. The Rail Trail at least the part we were on is just a great trail to ride on. The trails in Nickerson SP are more strenuous in terms of inclines

Rented bikes from Bike Shack Bike Rental in Provincetown - great bikes and is the closes rental to the Provincelands Trail. This trail has some inclines to be sure but was probably my favorite due to the views and terrain.

Rented bikes from Corner Cycle in Falmouth with easy access to the Shining Sea Trail. Took the trail to Woods Hole first - a nice ride partially along the coast. Then, came back to Falmouth and took the trail the other direction past the marshes and cranberry bogs. Really liked this trail as well.


Activity Highlights (other than biking)
- Sunsets on First Encounter Beach near Wellfleet in Eastham; a great gathering place for folks to socialize and see the spectacular sunsets!
- Great Islands Trail near Wellfleet. You have to hunt or ask for where to park for this one and time it right with the tides, but is a really great walking trail.
- Whale Watch Tours in Provincetown. Fortunately, we chose the earliest boat and missed the tour bus crowds that were on the later ones. Saw quite a number of whales and one breached near us. A highlight of our trip though the tour guide could've not talked so much
- Nantucket. Just wow, what can I say - one day just whet our appetite for a return trip. Loved this island. Walked around the city then took the public bus to Sciasconset to walk around there.
- Woods Hole. We toured all 5 of the areas open to visitors. It doesn't take long but we did linger looking at the fish species in the aquarium.
- Chatham. A really pleasant town to walk around; one highlight was going to the Fishing Pier for lunch and watching the fishing boats unload the fish; another highlight was to walk the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge trail.
- Falmouth. Another pleasant town to walk/browse/eat.
- Cape Cod National Seashore, including Race Point Beach (from the Provincelands bike trail). Just a national treasure, for sure.

Restaurant Highlights
- Not really a foodie but we did eat more cod than ever in our lives and the local catch makes a HUGE difference. Here are a few highlights:
- Moby Dick's in Wellfleet. The name and advertising seemed like it might be cheesy but the crowded parking lot night after night tells the real story of it being a great seafood eating place.
- Arnold's in Eastham fun gathering place for the community with good seafood and ice cream
- Sparrow Chocolate in Orleans. Great cafe just off the bike trail.
- PB Boulangerie in Wellfleet - whew!

The September weather truly was perfect. I will say that the word must be getting out about the shoulder season because there were certainly still plenty of people everywhere we went. I think the new post-season date is shifting from Labor Day to Columbus Day from what we were hearing.

Again, thanks to contributors to these forums who help travel so much more significant than it would without them! Apologies for any typos or errors above - was just trying to capture a stream of wonderful memories.
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Old Sep 28th, 2016, 06:03 PM
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Thank you for taking the time to write a trip report. Much appreciated and happy you had some great Cape experiences. Love the Great Island trail.
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