Cape Cod in September with toddler
 

Hi! My husband and I are looking into flying into Boston with our 18 month old and then renting a car and going over to Cape Cod for a couple of days in late September. We would love some advice!

First, what kind of weather should we expect at this time of year? Will there be some pretty foliage to enjoy yet?

Second, where to stay? Years ago my family and I visited and stayed at The little inn on Pleasant Bay and just loved it so this is one option for sure. With a toddler it's nice to have a little space in room or some space for him to run around outside of room in a nice spot. Would love to be close to water/definitely a view of water. From what I remember about the Inn there was lots of grass around the room which would be nice for our son to play in. Also, what area of cape cod is the best to stay in?

Third, what to do? We will have our stroller and just 2, maybe 3 days. Would love recommendations on sights, lighthouses, places to watch boats, things our toddler would find fun as well!

Lastly, where to eat? Toddler friendly however yummy for my husband and I!

Thank you so much, I look forward to hearing your advice and suggestions!

Skaket Beach at LOW tide on Massachusetts Bay in Orleans is wonderful for toddlers with broad expanses of shallow, wading depth water.. If you stay in Pleasant Bay, you are not far from it.
For lighthouses, visit Chatham Light, near Pleasant Bay and Eastham Lighthouse
A little north in the National Seashore area. The Narional Seashore has wooden walkways theough parts of it, so steoller friendly. For warmer waters, there are many fresh water lakes on the Cape. Pilgrim Lake in S. Orleans also is near Pleasant Bay. We took our kids there when small to swim and later for swimming lessons.
There are many lobster in the rough places which would be fine to being a toddler.
I have had lots of experience with toddlers visiting this area!

Plus weather should be perfect, water will be warm and crowds gone in September.

Re lodging you might look at Commodore Inn/Motel in W. Harwich. W/ pool and very near beach) Also, Ocean Mist in South Yarmouth.On beach with inside pool and outside pool. In W. Harwich The Weather Deck is good for kids and near Ocean Mist you have comparable Seafood Sam's.

Your child might enjoy Trampoline Center on Rte 28. Nearby are the Pedal/Paddle boats.

Was going to suggest Skaket too, because when the shallow rising tide rolls in over sand heated by day's sun, the warm is lovely warm. Just be mindful of whether it's going out or coming in, but a great beach for little ones.

I would suggest you look at the places along 6A between North Truro and Provincetown. It is on the bay side, so calmer water, many places on or near the water and you can take the stroller to P town and enjoy the fun.

With a toddler I would look at a condo or cottage rental so you have a kitchen and room to spread out.

The bay in Provincetown, Truro, etc. is wonderful at low tide for exploring.

Just a few notes:

Skaket Beach is good for toddlers because of the tide pools, but you need to manage expectations about the beach in late Sep. I don't know where you're coming from, but "warm" is relative, and you may not think the water there is warm enough, though in the shallow tidal pools, it may be tolerable.

Then there's the air temperature. I would guess in late-Sep it averages no more than about 65 degrees. That's nice, but not what some people consider beach weather. And that's the average. It could dip into the high 50s at that time of year.

So what I'm saying is, don't draw this picture of warm, sunny beach days with "warm" water. You could be disappointed.

Things to do:

Take a ride to Provincetown and take the little one into the library to see the replica of the ship inside. P'Town could be crowded on weekends that time of year, but it should be sparse on weekdays.

See the seals and the boats returning with their catch in Chatham.

There are a zillion places to eat along Rte. 28, and most are kid-friendly. After all, the Cape is a family resort, so most places are set up for kids. The linen-napkin places for oldsters will be obvious. One rec: Go to the Cottage Street Bakery in Orleans and order a "dirt bomb." Don't ask why. Just do it.

Thank you so much for the recommendations so far! We are coming from Oklahoma! 50 & 60 degrees sounds nice! Will there be pretty tree foliage at this time yet?

Cape Cod does not have the right trees for pretty foliage, and it's still too early for other nearby parts of MA or NH. You'd have to venture to northern NH or ME to get any good color in September.

I second the comments about temperatures. The coldest winter I ever spent was a Labor Day on Cape Cod recently. Cloudy, drizzly, windy, with daytime high temps in the mid 50's when you want to be in shorts & t-shirt. Very comfortable when it wasn't wet as long as we were wearing long sleeves, but not beach weather by any means.

Comments about temperatures are quite well taken. Early Sept. can be pleasant, latter Sept. is who-knows!????! First frost inland can be as early as Oct. 1, though usually later. Nonetheless, staying on the inner, bay-side of the Cape offers nice views, quiet locations. This is hurricane season, unfortunately, but toward the end of it (if you're lucky). In any case, bay is a little more protected.

On a lighter note:

Wondering if your toddler is old enough for this: http://www.edaville.com/

It's a low-intensity theme park (Thomas the cartoon train, etc.), very pleasant, open Thurs-Sun. in Sept.

About Edaville -- it's not right ON the Cape but it's not far from the canal bridges. Stop on the way to or from?

And don't let me scare you re: hurricanes -- your odds are heavily in favor of NOT having anything but maybe a great sunny period or a little fog.

Cape Codders leave the Cape and go inland (Vermont, etc) to see foliage.
Mostly scrub pines on the Cape.

Any suggestions on specific places to stay? Thank you!

Hmm. Have you read all the posts?

What lighthouses should we see?

Here's a list: http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/capecod/lighthouses/

Some are open to the public.

While we are there we are planning on getting family pictures taken- wanting to capture our son meeting the ocean and sand for the first time. I would love a quiet/not busy beach with some tide pools and just very cape cod- looking.
Any chances there is a beach we could go to with a lighthouse in the background for pictures?
Any suggestions on where would be a good place to have the pictures done at?

Skaket Beach