Cape Cod in October, with infant
 

Hi everyone,

I have finally decided to visit Cape Cod, staying in Chatham, so excited! .....I will be traveling with my husband and 8 month old baby girl....

I have chosen the Wayside Inn....good choice??? Any specific room advice would be greatly appreciated....

I also like the Bradford, but they do not accommodate children..

I have chosen the month of OCtober simply due to finances...cheaper room rates..
Is the cape still active during October?? Shops open?? Too cold??
What about activities.....stroll on the beach? Is the wayside close to a beach?? Whale watching, seal watching?? SHopping?? Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated
Thank you in advance..ladybug:)

Did you tell the Wayside you will be needing a crib? My sister stayed there many years ago and the room was cramped with the crib/playard she brought.

Wayside is in a great location. I don't know its proximity to walk to a beach, but you can to the lighthouse.

Cold? That depends where you come from...my family in Miami think anything under 60 is cold. Also, it will just depend upon how the wind might be blowing. You could have a warm day or a cold day. You'll have to check the weather a day before you visit. Shops will still be open. Whale watching could definately be cold out on the ocean.

I assume you will have a car. Stop at the Christmas Tree Shop on your way...its a good junkaholic's place to go for a fix.

Jr.

I did mention the crib, we will be bringing our own 'pack n play", however, she did say the room was small with only one queen size bed, but I do not have much choice due to the room rates. I needed something around 150$ a night, and this fits the bill...

BTW, looooove the christmas tree shop!!
thanks for you advice Jr!

Hi ladybug,

Never been to the Wayside, but thought I'd suggest The Wood Duck Inn to you. It's a small B&B (3 suites/room) in Cataumet. It's within your budget, and you'll have more room to stretch out in with your husband and daughter.

We particularly like the Garden Suite, which in addition to the bedroom, has a sitting area with a day bed in it. They deliver a Continental breakfast to your room each morning. The B&B looks out over a cranberry bog, so depending on when in October you go you just might catch them harvesting -- really neat when they flood the bogs. It's not the beach, but I just love walking around the bogs and the surrounding area. We love the owners too. Here's the website if you're interested.

www.woodduckinnbb.com

Hi Beth, thanks so much for your reply...I will definately check it out...I just have to find its location in comparison to Chatham, b/c I like that location on the cape very much...centrally located etc...

This B&B allows children???

thanks, ladybug

Ladybug,

Yes, they allow children. Cataumet is is the Upper Cape area, which means it's not far from the Sagamore bridge. This is our favorite place to stay because we love the owners and it feels as if we're staying right next to nature.

But if you want a more centrally located town, have you thought about Brewster? I haven't been myself, but have been curious about this place called the Huckleberry Guest House. I've seen the outside in person and it's very cute and right on 6A (historic and beautiful little road). It gets great reviews on TripAdvisor. The owners seem nice (called one time but they didn't have an opening). It's an entire little house and WELL within your budget. Here's the website (and Trip Advisors).

http://www.scottydog.com/guesthouse.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...achusetts.html

Hi Beth..

I checked out the website for wood duck, it looks perect for our little family! Love the idea of the cranberry bogs....we are thinking about oct 7,8,9. I will inquire about availability.
I checked out a map to see where the town is located....do you think we will still be able to drive to chatham and P town, and visit MV in one weekend???

Are there any beaches in the area?? What about a "little town" to walk around in?? If not, we wouldnt mind a drive...not much traffic in October I suppose...thanks for your help..LB

Hotwire is showing Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster for $151 those nights...that might be an option if you're looking for more "space" they have small townhouses on the resort grounds...

www.oceanedge.com

Hey ladybug,

I think early Oct would be good for the bogs (all depends on how quickly it gets cold), ask to make sure. If you stay there, be sure to get out and walk around. There are little paths, and just over a rise is another pond and paths where birds like to congregate.

As for visiting the other places, we tend to drive all over the Cape when we go so it's all up to how adventurous you guys are. In our opinion this is one of our favorite times to visit (no crowds, and seems as if we live there!) P'town is about an hour away I believe. Chatham less time. On the way to Chatham (on Route 28), if they're still open for the season then, try Golden Boys if you like the whole bellied fried clams. Here's the website. www.goldenboyseafood.com/

If you want to visit MV (never gotten there in all the times to the Cape. We just can't bare to leave it), there's a ferry in Falmouth, which is just south of Cataumet and it's quicker to get there than Hyannis. There's another post about that if you're interested. Personally I think there's plenty to keep you busy on the Cape for just a weekend.

Since you like driving, you should drive Route 6A. It's on the top part of the Cape and is charming with houses and shops. We like the Dolphin Restaurant in Barnstable, it's so nice and cozy, especially in the cooler weather. Along 6A there's also the Heritage Museum & Gardens in Sandwich (just love this town), and also the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History -- if you visit this place, be sure to check out their nature walks just behind it " Three nature trails meander through woodland, salt marsh or on the shore of Cape Cod Bay and guided field walks are offered year round"
www.heritagemuseumsandgardens.org
www.ccmnh.org/

Since you've got plenty of time to plan, be sure to contact each of the town's and they'll send you brochures that can be really helpful. Here's a general Cape travel site you might find interesting. www.capecodtravel.com

One last suggestion, if you guys like trains, think about taking a Scenic train tour -- we did the dinner train one and really enjoyed it. http://www.capetrain.com/

By the way, I'm SO jealous. Haven't been able to get up there lately so I'm living vicariously! If you wind up staying at the Wood Duck, tell Phil and Dawn that the Greene's from South Florida sent you, and give them our best.

If you are worried about cost, I would recommend a place that I LOVED and went in September - they have motel rooms and cabins - the cabins are about $400-500 for the week in September and are huge! The motel rooms are a good size and about $67/night and they have an indoor and an outdoor pool.

http://www.capecodcolonialvillage.com/

we loved it there and you would have plenty of space for your crib!

I just attended my cousin's wedding on the Cape last November. I stayed in Brewster, the rehearsal dinner was at the Wayside Inn, and the reception was at the Ocean's Edge. Here's what I know that might be of help:

Yes, the shops will be open in October and it won't be too cold to walk around. There were tons of people strolling on the beach when we were there in November. We had a good lunch at a place called The Chatham Squire. www.thesquire.com/

The dinner I had at the Wayside Inn was outstanding. Not sure if this is true of every meal there, but I'd certainly recommend it if you have a chance to dine there. There was also a pub-type

My friend who grew up in Chatham told me that the Ocean's Edge has been cited for health violations in their kitchen several times. Our wedding dinner didn't make us sick, but I just thought I'd throw that out there. The estate itself seemed gorgeous.

While you're on the Cape, make a point of going to the Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans. www.hotchocolatesparrow.com I dragged my whole famly there and I'm so glad I did! It's a chocolatier. Their mint hot chocolates are to die for. :) While you're in Orleans, check out the Land Ho! Restaurant or the Yard Arm for seafood. The Land Ho is a little cramped but the seafood is great.

I'm no expert but I believe the whales will be gone at that time of year. But you should check on that.

Oh, one romantic thing you can do with hubby is go watch the sunset from Orleans (ask the locals where) or, if you want to check out Provincetown, watch it from Herring Cove beach. Also, I don't know if this is your thing, but there are tons of hiking trails up there. There's a big Audubon trail and center with a trail that takes you down by the water.

Have a terrific time!

Thank you all so much for your replies... I love hot chocolate!! So will definately try to go to that shop!
Beth, I spoke to Phil of Wood Duck...very nice guy....I think we might stay there! We are loking at staying in the treetops room b/c it has a small kitchenette...what do you think??? I think it would be easier with my baby, her bottles etc...have you seen that room???is there room for a crib??? I am assuming that this is a clean place...I guess I should have asked about that earlier.. Thanks for all the reassurance on going in October...I kinda like the idea of being there a little "off season"

Any othe resturaunt suggestions in that area??? Also what about the beach? walking distance?? Thank you again! LB

Hi ladybug,

Sorry it's taken this long to answer your questions. From my experience the pictures on the website are what you get. Yes, I've seen the treetops (though haven't stayed there). Phil was cleaning the room one day while we were there so we had a look see. It's more casual than the other suite because they tried to make it family friendly, so I can see why you'd think it was better with your baby. As I recall, the bed is in the back separated by a partial wall, and the main room has plenty of room for a crib. There is a small balcony off the main room with a view of the bogs so that's nice.

As for restaurants in the area. I believe our favorite will be closed for the season (though you could check). It's the Chart Room in Cataumet, and if you ever go back in season you HAVE to try their lobster roll that they serve on their Bimini-type bread. OUTRAGEOUS! Another restarant down the road (which we like) is the Silver Lounge. We haven't been able to get to the Chapoquoit Grill, but we hear it's great. Further down the road, in Falmouth, the Nimrod restaurant is nice.

If you stay in Cataumet, be sure to drive around. It's more remote than some of the other towns, but that's exactly why I like it. I feel less like a tourist and more like I've living there. For a more indepth look at Cataumet, be sure to check out this website.
http://home.att.net/~eliot.carter/

We suggested the Wood Duck to one of our friends who was going up for a wedding and they loved it, so if you stay there I sincerely hope you will as well! If you'd like, you can contact me at [email protected] with other Cape questions, just remove "takeout-" part which I've included to try and eliminate any programs scrolling for emails.

Hope you guys have a fantastic time!