Cape Cod with Pre-Teens
 

We're taking a mini-vacation at Ocean Edge next week (parents with 2 kids, ages 15 and 11). It's our first time in the Cape. Looking for area things they may be interested in and good places to eat. We're planning to do a lot of biking and swimming. Both love ocean-swimming and boogie-boarding; will the bay side be interesting enough for them?

Thanks as always for your suggestions.

Coast Guard beach - big waves, lifeguards. A word of warning - boogie boards must have strap/cord that attaches to wrist of user or they will not let you use them.

I think the Bay side beaches may be calm for them especially at low-tide.

Just up route 6A from Ocean Edge is Orleans where you will find Nauset Beach and plenty of good places to eat including Captain Elmer's, Land Ho, Lobster Trap, Jailhouse Tavern as well as many others.

Another beach with good waves and easy access from parking space (just step over the wall and you are there) is West Dennis Beach.

There are lots of places to play mini golf along Route 28 in Dennis/Yarmouth area. Pirates Cove and Holiday Hill come to mind. Also, Sundae School for ice cream in Dennis and Captain Frosty's along 6A in Yarmouth and Kream 'N Kone on 28 in Dennis for fried seafood and, of course, ice cream!

I think they'll like the backshore, ir ocean side the best, at that age. Nauset Beach in Orleans will be the closest- or Marconi in Wellfleet. Thay may interest them as it was the site of the first wireless transmission across the ocean- and there is also an interesting short hiking trail there, thru the Cedar Swamp. They might enjoy the Seashore Center, in Eastham, which has a variety of programs, some in the evening- and a museum, which is fun. The bike trail from there to Coast Guard Beach is also interesting.
If you click on my name, at the topof thie post, you will come across several suggestions of things to do in Brewster, posted recently. There is a Sundae School in Orleans, on the way to Nauset Beach, and on Tuesday's a free concert/rock/band group there. Rock Harbor, and Captain Cass's restaurant there is something they'd enjoy. Moby Dick's, on Rt. 6 in Wellfleet is also a good restaurant with kids. I love the Brewster Fish house, very close to where you are staying-but they don't take reservations, and it is mobbed in the summer!
Enjoy your stay.

If they like to skim board, Mayflower Beach in Dennis (on Cape Cod Bay) is absolutely perfect for this.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a great place to bike! There are also some bike trails through Nickerson SP, but I like the Rail Trail better.