Cape Cod in early April

Old Mar 20th, 2005, 10:36 AM
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Cape Cod in early April

We are planning a long weekend on the Cape the first week of April. Having never been before we have some questions:

- Which area to stay in. Mid Cape seems sensible, want somewhere as uncommercialised as possible, ideally with local restaurants.
- Which accommodation. We have 5 nights and would like to stay in the same place the whole time. Don't really mind if it is B & B, Inn, resort, or cottage - doesn't look as if availability will be a problem, so i guess we will have the pick. It MUST have a sea view, and ideally a bit of wow factor. Don't want to spend too much, but will up the budget for the right place.
- Any recommendation of things to do. If it's fine, we'll walk/cycle. If not, we'd appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 10:57 AM
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Not sure about the price, but check out the Chatham Bars Inn.
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 11:12 AM
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Things to do? I think you'll still be able to build a snowman.
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 11:26 AM
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chatham is the place to stay. still chilly but beautiful and ocean well i actually think there may be water on 3 sides!
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 11:55 AM
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Chatham Bars is going to way too expensive for us!

Will Chatham be colder being on the ocean, rather than on the Bay - very worried about that snowman ;-)
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 12:01 PM
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Believe it or not, most accomodations on the Cape aren't right on the water. Try the Wequassett (sp?) Inn in Chatham and Ocean Edge (both condos and rooms) in Brewster. Can't think of any smaller and cheaper inns on the water. Someone else may. I really, really doubt that you will have snow then although it could be pretty chilly and raw.
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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 06:24 PM
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Some ogher places on Cape Cod, with seaview and some wow factor:

Mid Cape
Red Jacket Beach Resort - South Yarmouth
Lighthouse Inn - West Dennis

Lower Cape
The Cove - Orleans
Sandcastle Resort, Provincetown Inn and
Lands End Inn - all in Provincetown

Upper Cape
Seacrest Resort - Falmouth

Other notes: Ocean Edge and Wequassett will be pretty much same rates as Chatham Bars Inn, expensive.

Things to do: Bike the Rail Trail; Visit towns of Chatham, Hyannis and Provincetown; Go to Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, Museum of Natural History in Brewster and Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

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Old Mar 20th, 2005, 07:03 PM
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Check out weather.com. I agree with Jacqueline that if it's not snowing, it still may be chilly and raw.

The first time I went to the Cape was after attending a Boston conference in March. We were bitterly cold. I love biking the dunes of Provincetown (especially in the fall), but would not have been able to manage the wind (or the temps) when I was there that March. Not much was open then either.

I'm not sure where to recommend with a sea view and WOW factor. There are some places that come to mind in P'town, but you say you want mid-Cape. If you have never been before, I think you will be surprised at how uncommercialized the Cape is. I wouldn't worry too much about that.
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Old Mar 21st, 2005, 08:27 AM
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You've definitely been given good suggestions--especially about the places to visit. I would recommend either Chatham or Orleans for basing yourself as they are centrally located and not too summer-dependent.

Rooms with WOW and a view are hard to recommend. If you can live without the view, you might like to try the Whalewalk Inn on the Eastham/Orleans line. It looks luxurious. So does the Captain Freeman Inn in Brewster. But neither have water views.

Some restaurant ideas:

Beacon Room, Orleans,
Sparkfish, Brewster
Bramble Inn, Brewster (if they're open)
Land Ho, Orleans (casual but great for lunch or dinner)
Joe's Beach Bar/Barley Neck Inn, Orleans

Enjoy it. We love the Cape during any season. If you dress for the cool temps and don't expect to do too much biking, you'll be fine. Three years ago it was 90 degrees in late April!
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Old Mar 21st, 2005, 09:18 AM
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Check out Beachside Village in Falmouth. Some of those others that people recommended--like Seacrest--IMHO are not any different than if you were in a FL place.

Beachside is a former motel, turned timeshare--and done really nicely w/attention to detail--that still rents out rooms by the night--when not filled with owners--and is right on Surf Drive Beach with ocaean views across Vineyard Sound from a number of the units.

It is a 3/4 mile walk to Falmouth Center and a short bike ride to the Shining Sea bike path that goes between Falmouth and Woods Hole. In WH, you can also take the ferry for a day trip to Martha's Vineyard, if you want.

Not exactly sure what you mean by "wow" factor but the "wow" factor here is quintessential New England Cape Cod ambiance. I am afraid that on the Cape that, again IMHO, wow and uncommercialised are somewhat mutually exclusive w/a few notable exceptions.

I will be happy to give rstrnt recs if you decide to follow up on this place. BTW, I have no connection other than this being a place DH and I have been going for >25 yrs.
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Old Mar 21st, 2005, 12:18 PM
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Many thanks for all the replies.

Wow for us is a sunset over the water, watching the yachts go out early in the morning, and things like that, so I'm pretty certain we'll find it on the Cape.

Several of the places mentioned will still be closed when we are there, but have come up with some other thoughts:

Anchor In in Hyannis. Looks to be in a great position (maybe noisy as it is on the harbour?), and has a great rate. Does anyone know it?

Bayside Resort, Lewis Bay. Sounds like a good location. Any further info?

Sadly, Beachside Village have no availability for our dates.

Once we have sorted the accommodation we'll be back for more restaurant recommendations!

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Old Mar 21st, 2005, 12:36 PM
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Anchor Inn has been the choice of our guests from Ca. for many years. It's located on the inner harbor in Hyannis, and walking distance to Main St. shops and restaurants. April is not the best month, however if you want to take the ferry to Nantucket and spend some time touring than you'll be able to do so without all the thousands of other tourists in season. Beachside Village in Falmouth sounded great, as I love to bike the path to Woods Hole, and it's only 45 min. by ferry to Martha's Vineyard. Maybe you can check back from time to time and see if they have room.

Whatever you do, take the time to drive along Rte. 6A and you will see the REAL CAPE COD, that is, the many beautiful antique homes, galleries and great restaurants. Find a beach in Dennis (off 6A) for a great sunset, or see if you can find the Kennedy compound, you'll be sure you have, however, I wouln't bet on it. The compound is in Hyannisport and if you can find your way to the Hyannisport Country Club you'll be rewarded by the most magnificent view of Squaw Island and a killer sunset as well.

We often take our home towns for granted but whenever I get the chance to praise it I remember why I live here.

Have a wonderful trip
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Old Mar 24th, 2005, 04:44 AM
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If you stay in Chatham, book the Cranberry Inn! Beautiful inn on Main St. with a pub, excellent full gourmet breakfast, gorgeous rooms and the innkeepers are wonderful. Walking distance to everything downtown. Impudent Oyster, Squire and Vinings Bistro are excellent restaurants. April is a pretty time of year, my husband I say every year in April for our anniv. Enjoy!
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 09:44 AM
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An update!

We have now booked to stay at Inn on the Sound in Falmouth. A helpful colleague suggested a side trip to the mansions at Newport RI, so suddenly that seemed a more sensible location. But we will definitely take in all the places you have all suggested.

So now any dinner recommendations around Falmouth would be appreciated. I'm a seafood freak, hubby much happier on meat, so we'll probably hit both sides while we are there. Not looking at upscale places, just really good food and pleasant service. Good views a bonus!
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 11:21 AM
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Just a note on watching "yachts go out in the morning". You do realize that there will be very little yachting activity going on the first week of April?
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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 01:04 PM
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My thoughts, exactly. You say that you are going during the beginning of April. There will not be much, if any, activity going on in the waters. With the exception of fisherman, it will be way too cold for boating of any kind. Be prepared for it to be blustery and cold and fairly desolate. Here's the Accuweather forecast for P-town for the first week of April (not so good...)


Saturday 4/2 Windy and rainy
High 50° F

Saturday Night 4/2
Cold with rain
Low 39° F

Sunday 4/3
Partly sunny
High 50° F

Sunday Night 4/3 Partly cloudy
Low 37° F

Monday 4/4
Mostly sunny
High 50° F

Monday Night 4/4 Mainly clear
Low 39° F

Tuesday 4/5 Increasing cloudiness
High 53° F

Tuesday Night 4/5 Overcast, rain possible; cold
Low 39° F

Wednesday 4/6
Rain
High 52° F

Wednesday Night 4/6
Mostly cloudy
Low 35° F


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Old Mar 28th, 2005, 03:09 PM
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WoW! Hitting 50* ? That's great!
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Old Mar 29th, 2005, 09:04 AM
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Falmouth is great! I heard Inn on the Sound is beautiful, too. We stayed at the Scallop Shell Inn. For dining, Quarerdeck is excellent, Liam McGuires is great for Irish music. La Cucina Sul Mare, Nimrod are both great, also. Go to Woods Hole and eat at the Fishmonger or Landfall. Enjoy!
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Old Apr 1st, 2005, 08:53 AM
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Thanks for the suggestions on where to eat.

With regard to the weather - we're Brits, we're used to it!!! We'll come prepared.

Janie - what was the Scallop Shell like? We contemplated it, but wondered if it may be a bit over the top.
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Old Apr 4th, 2005, 10:26 AM
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The Scallop Shell Inn was very unique! She included all your liquor, beer, ANYTHING you wanted in the price of the room! She would even go out shopping for you if there was something she did not have. Pool table in the main room w/ TV. Breakfast was incredible, but you eat with all the guests. She is a very funny person, but when my husband and I stayed in both nights playing pool and enjoying the libations, she stayed in the main room with us at her desk. (maybe she thought we would take our car out while drinking?) She is different, that is for sure. The Inn rooms are beautiful and the service was great, right across from the beach and she has everything for the beach, too. We wanted a little more privacy, but glad we tried it. The BBB is right next door, great Irish music. If you stay in town, you are in walking distance to the restaurants I mentioned. We stayed at the Palmer House Inn. Have fun!
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