We are planning a family vacation to the Cape in June - 5 adults, 2 very young children - and are trying to decide the best place to stay. Have read that Chatham is a good place for families, and also Brewster with all the tide pools. We are looking for more of a quaint, less-commercialized town with nice places to walk/bike, nice beaches (we realize we probably won't be swimming in June), good ice cream, and maybe some history. Also, don't know much about the difference between beaches on the Cape Cod bay side verses Nantucket Sound.

Chatham is lovely, it is on the ocean side so the water is colder. It is the Atlantic Ocean, not Nantucket Sound. Brewster is on the Bay side so it is not only warmer but calmer. I think any of the towns you mentioned are lovely and will suit your needs. As to swimming in June, I personally wouldn't do it. Too cold. But I have stayed in both towns with my kids and as long as you have a car there are plenty of kid "stuff" to do within a short drive.

Wellfleet and the town just south of it (forget the name) are further around the Cape, and therefore more quaint and less crowded. Truro is practically remote. But Provincetown is waaaay crowded.

IMHO, the beaches of Chatham, Hyannis, etc, cannot compare to the wild beauty of the national seashore beaches....

The ocean side is cold, big beaches with sand cliffs, and surf. Nantucket side is cold, small beaches, not much surf. The Bay side is warm, no surf, very mild and good for kids. If you stay in Wellfleet, you can get a parking pass to the freshwather pothole ponds, which are lovely. (But you can do this inother towns, too I think)

Even if you stay in Chatham, take a trip to the national seashore ...

capxxx: The town next to Wellfleet is Eastham. And I second your comments about the Nat'l Seashore. adk, in Eastham you have both the bay beaches and the two Atlantic ocean beaches of the Nat'l Seashore. If you want quaint, Wellfleet is a classic. Lots of galleries and a few nice shops. Old houses. June weather can be anywhere from hot to chilly.

As a Cape Codder now living in Virginia I fancy myself as one who has a little bit of knowledge. Chatham is absolutely where you want to go. Still quaint downtown, old time Band Concert every Friday evening,shopping&good restaurants. It has kind of turned into the place to go to so don't wait much longer to make reservations. Your best bet would be to rent a cottage/house. That will give you the flexibility of hanging out at night and putting the kids down. Also there are hotels and motels depending on your price range with ammenities such as pools, babysitting services,location to being in the "old village" which can be key to early morning walks or yoga at lighthouse beach. Real estate(Chatham Village Realty) deal with houses. Motel/Hotels call the Chamber of Commmerce.Recommendations.. Chatham Bars$$$$$ The Dolphin of Chatham$$$(my pick check out the windmill suites)or Wayside Inn$$$. Don't wait to book.

What more can I add, except to say that Chatham is not in everyone's budget and you can stay in any of the other 14 towns on the Cape and still visit Chatham for a day trip.

Actually from Falmouth to Provincetown (Furthest points from each other on Cape}is less than 2 hours drive.

June on the Cape is a gamble but it just might be warm enough for swimming.

In essence, you truly can't go wrong in choosing a town to stay at on Cape Cod, they are all family oriented.

Hyannis, Falmouth, Orleans, and Provincetown are the only towns on the Cape that might be labeled commercialized by some standards.

www.lighthouseinn.com

I can't imagine going to the Cape and not exploring a wide area - there is so much neat stuff! We stay in Dennis, b/c we use my husband's boss' lovely shore home. I like that it is so centrally located. Near Dennis is the wonderful Mayflower Beach on Cape Cod Bay. The waters here are warmer than the Atlantic. The tide changes drastically here - at high tide you can walk way far out into the water and still have the water be at your knees. It's a great place for skim-boarding and for young kids b/c the water is calm. As the tide goes out, shallow puddle-like areas form - perfect to plop a very young child in. Mayflower is on Cape Cod Bay. We've been to the beaches on Nantucket Sound and find them unremarkable.

Every time we go to the Cape we visit Mayflower Beach, a beach on the National Seashore, Chatham (great large children's playground), and Hyannis (only b/c they have a great used bookstore).

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a great place to bike - flat and scenic. It starts in Dennis and ends at the National Seashore. Definitely do this!

You can't go wrong with any of the suggestions that have been made but will put in a strong vote for Brewster (where we own a home). I would encourage to check out www.weneedavacation.com to find a house to rent. You'll do well in June--it's still off season.

If you pick the right spot in Brewster, you can walk to the beach, ride your bike to the Brewster Store (old fashioned general store, ice cream, penny candy), visit the great children's room in the Brewster Ladies Library, and go mini-golfing. Brewster's bay beach water may be warm enough to swim in in June. Our town is quaint, not commercialized and a good location for visiting Chatham, Ptown and the National Seashore. You must go to Nauset or Coast Guard beaches while on the Cape--they are beautiful even if the water isn't swimmable (almost ever, IMHO). Chatham is lovely, preppy and great for window shopping. Orleans and Eastham are other good choices although Eastham does not have a town center.

Whatever you decided, you will be glad you chose the Cape. It's special.

Consider the Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster. It is on Cape Cod Bay (nice beach walks) and they rent bikes. Brewster is a nice family-friendly town and will not be too crowded in June.

FYI...the Cape has no cities, only towns! Enjoy your stay.

Milo -

I've read some bad reviews (and some great reviews) for Ocean Edge on tripadvisor.com. Have you been there recently? We're thinking of going there for a couple of days during April vacation (no beach swimming obviously, just exploring the seashore, etc).

Also, how far is the national seashore from Brewster?

Thansk!