Cape Cod
 

Going to Cape Cod later this week and weekend for business meeting..have a few hours to myself..what/where is the one most important place on the Cape to see or do???

With just a few hours, where on the cape is your business being conducted?

Hyannis

If it's a nice day, the National Seashore. Probably either Nauset Light or Marconi beach, depending on where you are. The miles of unspoiled sand dunes and beach are breathtaking.

If you have the time, call one of the Dune Tour companies in Provincetown, and go out to ther Provincelands, viewing the dune shacks that still house artists and writers who have been chosen to work there. If yhour here on a weekend, drive along Ocean View Drive in Wellfleet, and at White Crest Beach, on the Atlantic, you will see the kite surfers riding the waves, as well as the wind riders catching the thermals off the cliffs(dunes).
Visit the Chatham fish pier, view the lighthouse, rent a bike and bike the rail trail, rent a kayak and paddle the ponds in any of the towns, visit the National Seashore Visitors center in Eastham, and walk to the Old Coast Guard Station at Coast Guard Beach. Afraid you'll have to stay a bit longer to be able to enjoy all these things!

Sorry, forgot to add get out of Hyannis, if you can- if not, take a tour of the harbour, I believe they still go past the Kennedy compound. You'll get a bit of a feel of the Cape on the water, but not in Hyannis itself. nIt really is just another small city.

Take a drive down RT6a - its very quaint.

I agree with Zootsi....with just a few hours to escape Hyannis (and I suspect you've never been to CC), I would head straight for the National Seashore. Maybe Marconi Beach. The sand dunes are incredible.

Then I'd follow Bennie's advice and drive Rt. 6A on the way back.

If Im correct in thinking you have time .....DO go to Nantucket for the day or even a few hours.Not sure where you are from ..but Nantcket is like no where you have ever been .While in hyannis if you like Mexican OR Southwest traditional foods DO go to Sam Diegos .Nice southwest atmosphere and great food

FOUR SEAS ICE CREAM!

Here is what I would do with just a few hours in Hyannis:

Get down to Kalmus Beach/Park at the end of Ocean Street. Take a stroll around then move up Ocean to walk along the Korean War park and Kennedy Memorial.

Move along to the Ocean Street Docks park then go to the Kennedy Museum on Main Street.

Go to Wood's hole. Check out the lighthouse then take the ferry to Martha's vineyard. Have a nice time . From Belgium. Paul

capecodshanty - Why "get out of Hyannis"? I was actually thinking about renting a house there for a week this summer for our whole family. We have a grown daughter and her husband, their two children (2 and 10 months), and two teenagers (18 and 14). I thought that a house within walking distance to the beach and the shops in town would be perfect for us. Could you recommend another place on the Cape? The only other time we've been up there, we stayed at New Seabury. I would appreciate your input. Thanks.

Can't speak for capecodshanty but Hyannis is generally the most suburban of the villages on the Cape. It doesn't have the same small town feel as Chatham or even Falmouth because of the malls and prevalence of chain restaurants. But it does have a nice harbor area, and mini golf and movies. The further out on the Cape you go the better the beaches tend to be.

I agree with capeshanty, zootsi and others in that, you really need to go up to the elbow of the Cape (look at a map)to start to see the more natural and expansive parts of the Cape. That's basically beyond Chatham up to P-Town as stated. There are other pockets of beautiful things, beaches, historical villages, resturants and shops closer to Hyannis if your time is limited. How much time do you actually have, will it be during the day and are you more interested in quite outdoor locations or is activity ok?
Enjoy!
Sherry

p.s. just looked at joewilly's dates which means my message to him was quite after the fact and irevellant. I wonder where he went or if indeed he had time to venture out.
S

TexasJill, it is hard to get a house that is a walk to beach and also the town. The only place I can think of would be the Kalmus Beach area. That's at least a mile to town maybe more like two. Hyannis is a city and you would miss a lot of the flavor of the Cape. It is central if you want to do day trips (Martha Vineyard, Nanucket, Woods Hole, Heritage Plantation in Sandwich).

The Outer Cape (starts with Eastham) has the National Seashore and is beautiful. The bay beaches are warm and perfect for small children. Teens love the Ocean beaches. Lovely shops and galleries in Orleans and Wellfleet. What kind of vacation are you looking for? We can help!

Hello Texas Jill,
We have a place in N.Truro down the Cape that we rent out. We're on a bayside beach and when the tide is out you can walk up to P-town, walk around, have lunch at one of the many outdoor resturants, check out the shops and then take the trolley which runs often back to the cottage. Opposite the bayside of the penisula is National Seashore which has as others stated, endless beautiful ocean beaches. You'll also find great bike and hike trails, good kayaking, lot's of childrens activities, ferry's to Boston, whale watching and more. The town before Truro is Wellfleet which is a great walk around town - got to drive to get there. There's also a flea market and a drive in as well. We use cyberentals.com. If your thinking of booking, check the site out soon as our end of the Cape is already booking for next year. I'm sure you'll find a cottage/house to suit your needs.
Best of luck;
Sherry

Not sure where you are from, but we took the boat tour at Cape Cod years ago--I didn't understand a single word the tour guide said (it was my first trip to Boston) but it was nice being on the water and get a feel of Cape Cod. The elderly lady sitting behind me didn't undestand a word either so I didn't feel so left out.

We are from Fort Worth, Texas. Cybor and gomiki, we are planning to stay one week. The guys will want to play golf a couple of times; we did a whale watching trip out of P-town last time and I think most will want to do that again; we like shopping and eating. I wanted a place where my daughter and I would be comfortable when stuck at home with the kids at nap time and a place close enough to shopping and stuff that the teenagers won't get bored. We'd like to go over to Nantucket and/or Martha's Vineyard and want to find Four Seas Ice Cream again. I just said close to the beach because I like to look at the water, but I don't really anticipate spending that much time there. We are used to 80 degree water and the ocean up there is just too cold! I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you!

TexasJill: I've stayed in Hyannis for a one week vacation the past two summers. Hyannisport, actually....right on the beach. My SIL rents an absolutely huge, beautiful house and invites us along with some friends. That's why I go there. The harbor is very picturesque, and the views of the water and the ferry's going by are very nice.

But the water is dark and just plain "icky." Huge seaweed, clams, crabs, etc. Yes, fun to look at, but it can get smelly. I won't swim in it, and sometimes the kids won't because of the smell. That's my biggest disappointment. I'm a beach person.

Have visited Chatham for the day and every time I do I regret it because I wish I was staying there instead. The beaches are just beautiful.

But Hyannis is close to everything from restaurants to shops to miniature golf. You can always take day trips.

I hope this helps. Have fun!

I checked out cyberrental.com and found some places in Chatham that sound nice. A friend of mine has a couple of houses on Martha's Vineyard but I'm afraid that would be out of our price range (about $2,000 for the week). Thank you for your help. Any information is appreciated.

Sorry for not replying to your question, TexasJill, but just returned from the Thanksgiving Holiday.
My only reason for "getting out of the city" comment, was most vacationers want a "Cape Cod " experience, and to me Hyannis no longer is able to provide that. It has become a year round city, and because of the large mall on one of its main highway, the downtown area has suffered. In the summer it is very crowded, but if you wish to be close to the mid-cape I would suggest Centerville or Cotuit.
As some other posters have said, Chatham, Orleans, Wellfleet, would give you a better feel of the Cape. All have Chamber of Commerce's, and I would call or google and sign up for their brochure, which is published just after the New Year. It will give you the flavor of each of the towns, which are quite different. All have beautiful beaches, and both Chatham and Orleans have large shopping areas, with Chatham having the better "downtown". Wellfleet 's village is funky and fun, but smaller than the other two.
Do get the brochures from each town. Beside Cyber rentals, there is also a site called "Weneedavacation.com, which also has many homes to rent in the areas. Let us know if we can help!

Hi Texas,
Chatham is a really nice location with a cute little walk around town, great beach, and a good selection of nice resturants, although it is a little costlier than other towns heading toward P-town. It seems like it may be a good central location for you to get to whaling boats 45min. away or the ferries to the islands which would be the same. Let me know where you decide on and if you need any further help.
As for golf, it's pretty prevelant on the Cape but the only place I'm familiar with is Highland links (think that's the name) in Truro - it's a pretty course overlooking the water, and a lighthouse that you can tour. My husband goes there after practicing at a driving range in Wellfleet.
Cheers;
Sherry

Texas, Chatham is a lovely town and has all the things you are looking for. Well, not Four Seas...my favorite ice cream. That is in Centerville. I agree that the ocean beaches are very cold. The bay beaches are much warmer, esp. Eastham and Brewster.

There are golf courses everywhere. Try Hyannis Chamber of Commerce for a complete list. I think times need to be reserved in advance. They fill up quickly. If there are baseball fans, a Cape League game in Orleans is fun. Many pros have played in this league.

Chatham has a band concert on the Town Green every Friday evening in the summer summer. Orleans has free music at the gazebo at Nauset Beach on Monday at 7:00. Both are fun..all ages. The beach setting at Nauset is nice.

Cape Cod...so much to do, so little time.

Ok, where is the four seas icecream place? I may have to check this place out.
Sherry

Like the advert when I post a reply!! Four Seas is in Centerville, at the Four Corners.It's good, but there is also one in Harwichport, (whose name escapes me) equally as good.

Hmmm. four corners - not too familiar with that area - where is that?
Thanks;
Sherry

If you can't make it to Four Seas, Sundae Schools in Dennisport, Harwich, and Orleans are nice too.

Four Seas is on Main Street in Centerville, on the right, just before the traffic light. (If you are coming from Hyannis). If you turn left at the light you go to Craigville Beach. It's an original place from the 50's.

I've seen several stars from Melody Tent shows in there. My favorite is ginger ice cream. I love Four Seas ice cream but Sundae School has whipped cream to die for!