Cape Cod in October
 

The end of October will be a girls' getaway at Cape Cod. We are staying at a timeshare in Yarmouth and will have a car. I've been to the Cape several times but not everyone has. Am thinking about a day in P-town and a day in either Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket. Would love to whale-watch, if it's still the season. Have been to P-town, Wellfleet, Truro, Eastham, Chatham, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Hyannis, but haven't explored much of the Lower Cape.

Would appreciate any suggestions of things we shouldn't miss at this time of the year, and especially recommendations of restaurants anywhere on the Cape, including fine dining and casual eateries. Where is the best lobster roll? The restaurant with the best view? A great meal? A great value?

I'll check out other tips on this site and in travel books, but would love to hear from the locals and others who have recently visited the area.

Thanks for any suggestions you can give!

A couple of random suggestions: In the fall, I like taking the Red Maple Swamp and Fort Hill Trails in Eastham.

Also, the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouthport is interesting and a lot of fun. It's only open Fri-Sun this time of year. Even if you don't think you'll have enough time, it's a good place to keep in mind if it rains.

I loved biking through the dunes at Ptown in October. I was amazed at how much "fall color" there was so close to the ground.

If you don't want to bike, see if Art does his dune tours in the fall. I've been in the summer and it's a great experience.

See this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-cod-visit.cfm

for food possibilities. Keep in mind that not every one of these options will still be open when you go -- some are closed after Columbus Day and others shut down as early as Labor Day. I'd go online to check the places you're interested in patronizing.

Hmmm. A lot of that "fall color close to the ground" is poison ivy, which is one of the most prolific "crops" on the Cape and Islands. It is turning here on Nantucket right now. Just stay on the paths and you will be fine, but if you don't know what it looks like, don't pick anything with three leaves for a flower arrangement.

You are likely to have some of the best weather of the year and a few days of fall wind and rain, perfect for a book in front of the fire but I wouldn't schedule my trip to Nantucket or the Vineyard until the last minute.

Love the Bike trails in the fall. Not so crowded and beautiful when they go through the cranberry bogs. My favorite is the shining sea trail which starts in Mashpee on Rte 151 and lands up in Wood Hole. Its 11 miles each way and than having lunch in woods hole is nice. Enjoy

Poison ivy is very pretty in the autumn.

"Shiny leaves of three
Let it be"

Upon rereading your post, I think you it is the upper cape towns that you are missing from the list.

Sandwich has some good exploring places. The Glass Museum (corner of Main St. and Tupper Road) is open every day. Glassblowing demo is every hour on the hour. short history film (20 min) is every hour and half hour. Wonderful glass displays of Sandwich glass and its history as well as changing exhibits of contemporary glass artists. Ricky Bernstein is on until the end of October.

Take a walk through the historic town center. Look at old houses and visit the little shops on Jarvis St.

Go down to the canal and visit the canal visitor center. Grab a picnic lunch and eat beside the canal where you can watch the shipping. There is a wonderful bike path along the canal on the service road. Also for walking--no motor vehicles. Get a different view of the canal; you may see wild animals along the riprap and lots of birdlife. There are quartermile markers along the road so you can know how far you have come and how far it is to the end.

Green Briar nature center is actually in East Sandwich just off rte 6A. See jam making, walk along the nature trails, visit the gift shop and buy products from the jam kitchen. One sniff in the jam kitchen will have you hooked.

As you drive along rte6A you'll see lots of bogs. They have been picked but the color is still on them, and you can get an idea of how cranberries are grown.

Places to eat:

Belfry inn and Bistro. In the former Catholic church on Jarves St. Upscale.

Marshland on Rte 6A. Reasonable prices, home cooked food (meatloaf, prime rib, turkey and gravy plate, sandwiches) Most locals go there for a meal or cup of coffee and pastry.

Aqua Grille--off Tupper Road and Town Neck Road down near the canal. Sort of up scale seafood and nonseafood items.

Hemisphere--Town Neck Beach--eat looking over the water. I have not been here in a while so cannot recommend from personal experience, but do know those who enjoy the view and the food.

Seafood Sam's--down near the canal. There are hotdogs and hamburgers for non seafood lovers. Seafood is broiled or fried. In sight of the canal from the dining room. You order and are given a lobster which lights up when your order is ready and you pick it up at the counter. Seafood is wonderful and the onion rings are the best. Fish chowder and lobster bisque are favorites in my family. I go for scallops.

At the corner by the lights (Jarves St.) is a sandwich place. Eat in or take out.

Brown Jug (corner of Jarvis and Main) has sandwiches to go or eat in. Also sell wine, cheeses, etc. Their sandwiches are a bit more exotic, artsy, whatever, but mind you, I have what my stepmother calls "a broken palate".

Dolphin Fleet In Provincetown offers whale watches through Oct. 30. Dress warm, it's cold out there.

Unless you want to drive all the way to Woods Hole (45 min)for the Martha's Vineyard ferry, the only ferries operating are the Hy-Line fast ferries out of Hyannis to both Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The Steamship Authority also operates to Nantucket from Hyannis. Many restaurants and shops are closed for the season but I am sure you can find interesting things to do if you are flexible.

Check out the Old Yarmouth Inn on Rt. 6A. It's very historical and has very good food (I think one of the oldest inns on the cape).

http://www.oldyarmouthinn.com/

I would love to be on the cape right now. Enjoy!

Thanks for all of the insights! My boss lived at the Cape for a couple of years when he was in the Coast Guard and we were talking about my upcoming trip this morning. He also suggested Rt 6A. We all love to be outdoors, shop, eat, and drink wine. Your suggestions are much appreciated!

Also visit the Heritage Gardens & Museum in Sandwich!
Falmouth is very interesting, too.

dhack: How was your Cape trip?

dhack: Many people don't know that a/the Coast Guard Museum is on the Cape in Barnstable village. http://www.coastguardheritagemuseum.org/ It's worth a stop--there's some neat stuff and information there.