Cape Cod or Outer Banks
 

Hi. Trying to decide between the two. For those of you who have been to both or live there, what are the pros and cons? Thanks.

For a varied, many-sided experience, go for the Cape. The "warm" season is shorter there, though.

The Outer Banks is a narrowly-defined, almost-pure ocean embrace. There is little east-west movement, and not too much in the way of diversions that you would find in Cape Cod.

The Cape, in many ways, has more character. But the Outer Banks is more elemental. I love 'em both....

WOW! Hard to beat Bookhall's post.

I also would suggest Cape Cod.

There is just more of everything there than Outer Banks.

Whichever is closer.

Cape Cod.Much more to do and see.You can take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket.Paul

Ditto for Cape Cod. It has everything that the outer-banks has plus great food, theater, shopping, small villages, great architecture, gardens, biking, museums, entertainment.

The Cape!!! I love OB, but you get more character in the Cape. Choose OB if you are going in Sept or later, or if you are into surfing.

I think it depends somewhat on when you want to go and where you are coming from (how used you are to the heat) In summer I think the Outer Banks are too hot but the beach season there starts earlier, lasts longer.

The best time I ever had on the Cape was a trip in late September because there far fewer people than in the summer, but it wasn't classic beach weather. I like going to the beach to be on the beach rather than in stores, theaters, etc. so Cape Cod in high season isn't that appealing.

Trying to decide too on the Cape or OB for a couple of days in September..
Is the water still warm to swim?

I love the Cape for a lot of reasons, but the water is freezing (to me) in mid-summer. In September? Brrrrr!!!!

Probably most people would find it too cold to swim on the Cape in september. You might find it swim-able if you are used to really cold water

Thanks starrs and V..
Living on the West Coast..the water gets to a high of 74 and we think its warm but too cold for people on the East Coast.
If you have a fav hotel/town, would love to hear it..
P-town sounds lovely!

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your responses. My husband and I live in WA State. We will be taking a driving trip along the east coast. We will be in DC & plan to be in Cape Cod the second week of Sept. My husband likes to swim and sit on the beach. I like to shop and walk around. We both love hot weather. (I'm a native Texan). That is why we were considering Outer Banks. Possibly VA Beach or Rehoboth Beach in DE.

I'd do Outer Banks. Less congested, and you can rent a house RIGHT ON the beach.

(Although it's getting a little late because the houses will be booked up -- and they pretty much all rent for a one week minimum.)

Hi gluvscats..
We'll be there the same time..can't wait.
Have a wonderful trip!

Hey Tahiti Tams,

Please e-mail. I'd love to chat with you.

GG
[email protected]

Hey GG..
I will e-mail you later..

I will vote for the Outer Banks - especially if you're coming from the Pacific Northwest. The South East beaches are just so beautiful - and the swimming is divine - and it's very different from Pacific beaches.

If you want something a little more Cape like - try Ocracoke or Roanoke Islands - they feel a lot like the Cape to me. And they also have lots of guest houses and inns (the Outer Banks leans more to hotels, motels and rental houses). September in North Carolina is the best time to visit! Can you tell I love the Outer Banks? I live in New England now, and my annual visit to Nags' Head is my favorite week of the year.

Can you please give me a couple of choices of moderately priced places to stay in Cape Cod? We will going for 5 days and would also possibly like to stay 1 night in either MV or Nantucket?? Help plz -

What's moderate and which part of the cape do you want to stay in. Each part of the cape has its own personality like the somewhat commercial Upper cape towns of Falmouth and Sandwich , very commercial mid-cape towns like Hyannis and Yarmouth, quant shopping towns like Chatham and Orleans on the lower cape and the more "beachy" towns on the outer cape in the National Seashore like Eastham and Wellfleet.

The All Seasons Motor Inn centrally located on Cape Cod in South Yarmouth has been voted best mid-Cape Motel for the past 14 years by readers of Cape Cod Life magazine. Summer rates between $129 - $165 include both indoor/outdoor pool, free Continental breakfast, Workout Room, Game Room, Sauna Whirlpool.

Also look at Red Jacket Beach Resorts which have four different resorts on the Cape.

bookmarking - for future reference

Tams...

just so you know, the water is warm enough for swimming and the air temperatures plenty comfortable on the OBX as late as the end of September which is when we are often at the beach for as long as two weeks at a time.

If you want solitude there are plenty of places where you can get that.

The OBX is, IMO, <b>all about</b> the beach, rather than an oh, BTW, there is this beach out there.

If you want the fabulous beaches that the OB are known for and yet you want to do more than just go to the beach, head for the outer Cape where the National Seashore is. We stay in Eastham at the Fort Hill B+B in the park on the ocean side...but the cape is just 3 miles wide in Eastham so you are never very far from the water, either ocean or bay. Although Fort Hill is a protected area with ocean views, walking trails and historic museum, it is not far from beaches, fine dining and cultural attractions. The accommodations are luxurious, full breakfast is delicious and even though you do not have to pay a room tax, the rate may be more than you are looking to spend-- but IMO is well worth it if you want to experience historic cape cod!

Lindsy - We chose to stay in S. Wellfleet on the outer cape in May for exploring the Nat'l Seashore beaches/trails, Provincetown and Chatham area...stayed at Eventide Motel.

Another vote for Cape Cod. There is so much to do - various hikes, a great rail trail for biking that is over 20 miles long, different beaches, small towns for shopping, etc.

We were a few days in the Outer Banks and I think we saw all the attractions other than the beach. They were fun - we climbed the lighthouse in Corolla; visited Ft. Raleigh National Historic Site, climbed the dunes at Jockeys Ridge and I don't think we missed much else.

I agree the water temp is much more agreeable in NC v. MA. But the ocean was so rough. I have swum many times in red flag conditions in Cancun and stayed in the water for an hour. I love the ocean and the waves. The waves in the Outer Banks pounded me senseless and at one point I got quite afraid - for the first time ever for me in the ocean. My mom was talking to someone who said that rough conditions are the norm - I can't speak to that - maybe someone else can address that. My boys LOVED it - but I would never want younger kids near the water there - whereas the Cape Cod Bay beaches are perfect for the little ones.