How is the weather in Cape Cod in last two weeks of September? Is it too early for fall colors? For a four night vacation I am considering Cape Cod or Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket or Boston. Can you suggest which to go for and must-see places in your suggested location? Thanks.

Too early for fall color in these areas - only in far northern New England in mountains will you see much color.

As far as which place on your list - what do you like to do/style of vacation. That would help.

The temperature on Cape Cod is still almost summer-like during most of September because the ocean waters that totally surround it are warm and continue to give their energy to the narrow land mass. To be honest, if you are looking for glorious fall foliage colors, then the Cape is probably not the destination for you until late October or early November. That's when the marshes turn golden and the swamp maples take on a reddish glow. However, if you want crystal blue waters, just a hint of fall in the evenings and warm sand dunes on deserted beaches, then September and Cape Cod come to mind!

We do not have any particular preference of what we like to do!! We plan to spend a night in Boston and see monuments and may be catch a show. Then spend two nights on/near one of the islands. So long as it is not completely deserted, lack of crowd is not a problem.

Let me ask this. If you had to spend two nights on Nantucket or MV or Capecod, what would you do at that time of the year? Thanks.

Hello!

I am reluctant to reply because some folks on this board think there is not enough diversity of opinion and accuse some of us of monopolizing posts. If Gene hasn't given you the benefit of his /her expert advice in another day, I'll gladly share MY opinion with you! Hang on....there's good tips coming!

Marthav1,
For a four day vacation, I would think you would want to choose just one of your four choices. There is much to do, even in September, when the weather is usually quite nice, in MV, Nantucket, or the Cape. Of course in Boston, you could stay a week, and still have not seen or done what you had planned!
I suggest you go into the search box, with all these locales, here on Fodors, and I think you will come up with a myriad of ideas.
Yellowbyrd, don't let him get to you- can't please everyone, you know!
Once you have decided, based on your research, then come back, and we can be more specific.

Yellowbird: Please accept my apology. I did not mean to offend you. I think we are both trying to accomplish the same goals and that is to make people aware of what a truly great place Cape Cod really is.

I am not familiar with Fort Hill Inn but I'm sure it is everything you say it is. I do know the National Seashore area quite well and agree that it is most magnificent.

I have ties to Cape Cod on many levels and that includes the entire Cape from the Canal all the way to Provincetown.

You are correct to inform the OP of your views on the best places to stay and see and I stand corrected for criticizing your posts.

My humblest apologies === Gene

Gene and yellowbyrd: Give me specifics!

Marthas Vineyard is quite agricultural, with sheep farms, horses, beautiful rolling hills amidst the marshes, inlets or MV Sound and the Atlantic. Each village is unlike the other- Menemsha a small fishing village, Edgartown, a busy and lovely sea captains town with many shops and galleries, Oak Bluffs, where nightlife abounds, and the lovely campground cottages preserved and still occupied from the turn of the century, Aquinnah- or as it was known Gayhead and it's magnificent cliffs over looking the Atlantic- Laid back, lazy, wander through the towns, walk the beaches, visit the glassblower , art galleries, stay at a lovely inn-my favorite is in Memensha. Do it on your own, or take a guided tour bus, once off the ferry in Vineyard Haven you will see several,
The Cape-upper Cape, with the historic village of Sandwich, the boardwalk, the Heritage Museum, the Thornton Burgess House, the Hoxie house, the old Grist mill, The Daniel Webster Inn, and the Belfry-a great bistro.
The Mid Cape-Yarmouthport, Dennis,Brewster. The Kings Highway the old Rt. 6a run thru these scenic and historic towns, and their beautiful sea captains homes, inns, galleries and restaurants, browsing the antiques shops along 6A all the way to Sandwich is a fun fall thing to do.In September, Harwich has it's Cranberry Festival, bay side beaches are wonderful to walk, and the tidal flats of Brewster are to explore. The Museum of natural history is here, and has lovely walks.In Dennis you have the Cape Cod Playhouse, the oldest theatre on the Cape, which will still be open.Yarmouthport has the wonderful Seamens chapel. at the end of a nature walk, and the old Bangs Hallet House that houses the Historical Society.
I've not even gotten to the Lower Cape- Orleans, Chatham, both with much to offer. Or the Outer Cape- only three miles wide from bay to Ocean, that includes the towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown, with much of their land in the National Seashore, so available to everyone, as well as the lighthouses,theatres, art galleries and restaurants of Wellfleet and Provincetown.
_Do research the towns- Fodors has some great suggestions, but the area is so rich and vast, without knowing what you like it is impossible to tell you which you should do!
Where ever you choose, you will enjoy, I am sure. Hopefully, Yellowbyrd and Gene will come back to the thread and give you more input.