we enjoy places off-season, without the crowds, but is it worth the trip in january? I'm not concerned about the weather, but are there restaurants open, for instance? what about Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard?

The Cape can be a wonderfully beautiful place in the winter and also nice if you stay at a place with indoor pool and other amenities. There are plenty of restaurants open, even in January, although some specific ones may be closed - after Christmas seems like a popular time for some owners to close for 2-4 weeks so thay can get some time off.

While the Cape gets somewhat less snow historically than the rest of Massachusetts, they can get hit with an ocean storm that makes it more beautiful, but also can strand you for hours-day at your hotel or other lodging.

Never been to MV or Nantucket in winter.

Well, it is pretty quiet right now in Nantucket.

If you want to look at historic architecture, wander bundled up on the moors or beaches, or read in front of a fire, this is a great time to be here.

If you want to shop, you can pretty well forget it. Other than our drugstore, our two wonderful independent bookstores, and the two clothing stores at the opposite ends of Main Street, little is open, especially downtown.

Downtown restaurants open and close sort of randomly over the winter as owners take a break or do renovations and painting. The Visitor Center has a list of what is open at any given time and can tell you which tour operators could give you an overview of the island.

There are community/cultural events every week, but sort of one per night. This is a great season to live here, but it is a season that takes a special kind of person to enjoy visiting here.

A recent novel - The Ghost - by Robert Harris (about a thinly disgused post-resignation Tony Blair) is mostly set in Martha's Vineyard during the winter. Harris claims to have researched it the hard way, so you'll gain some insight.

His view is that practically nothing works, and what does doesn't the moment the weather gets worse.

We love the outer cape in January. Keep in mind that there is a year-round population so many restaurants in the Orleans area remain open. Also, Provincetown has several nice places remaining open. Some of our favorites in Orleans are Land 'Ho, Mahoney's Atlantic Grill, Joe's at the Barley Neck Inn, Brewster Fish House, Beacon Room, Finely JP's, Wicked Oyster (both in Wellfleet). Nice lodging on the outer cape is not as plentiful in January but I do know that our favorite, Fort Hill Bed and Breakfast in the National Seashore is open and another, that we have not stayed at, Penny House on Route 6 is also open. You can find other places that are open in Eastham on the Eastham Chamber site:www.easthamchamber.com or go to the local chamber site for the towns you are considering.