I will be going to The Cape next week with my Mother-in-law. We are staying in Mashpee and planning to visit some of the small towns in the area. So far, it looks like we will arrive(by car from Pittsburgh) early-to mid evening on Monday. Tuesday will will head out early to Ptown. We plan on seeing the Pilgrim Monument. Race Point Beach, lunch at The Lobster Pot, walk around Commercial Street, drive back to Mashpee. I think we will want a good bit of time here, so dedicating the day to it. Wed: Hyannis Whale Watching, lunch at The Dolphin Restaurant, afternoon in Chatham. Thurs: Orleans, Welfleet and Truro (Atlantic Spice Co. and Truro Vineyard. Fri: My Mother-in-law ants me to see the Plymouth Plantation--I have mixed feelings about this as it seems a little field tripish--not sure it is my cup of tea--I am thinking instead of heading to Martha's Vineyard. I enjoy reading many of Linda Fairstein's novels in which she mentions a restaurant in Menemsha called The Bite. What would be the best way to tour the island and have lunch here? I would love to rent bikes, but am not sure she's up to that... Any suggestions?

Menemsha is a lovely harbor though quite a distance from the ferry dock. Probably want to use a car if you are going to Menemsha, unless you are really cyclists.

While you are out on the Cape, check out the art, history and nature walks that the Cape Cod National Seashore sponsors. They have them in Eastham, Truro and Provincetown, and are really top notch. Also occasional evening lectures of local interest.
http://www.nps.gov/caco/planyourvisit/events.htm

You need to rent a car or find out if there is a bus. It is a long, hilly way to Menemsha (30+ minutes from Vineyard Haven and 40+ minutes from Oak Bluff by car), and the Bite is a shack with picnic tables that serves only fried food, albeit excellent fried food. Menemsha is one of the most beautiful places in the world but not a bike ride except for experienced riders in good shape, in my opinion.

Thanks. I just called Vineyard Transit Authority I think the gentleman said that we can take the 9:30 ferry to Oak Bluffs and take the#7 bus at 22 minutes past the hour, transfer to Ocean Park bus #6 and transfer to the #4 bus... I also may have totally misunderstood! I did find out that my Mother-in-law can get a day pass for $3.50 and I can get a pass for $7.00. That will be good news in case we get totally lost! I just read another post that also mentioned that the beaches off Ptown are all closed--How will this affect the rest of the area? Any hope of the beaches reopening before the 13th?

Does anyone know if he above is correct information regarding the bus? Thanks in advance!

Provincetown had a huge break in their town sewers on Fourth of July. It was finally fixed this morning, but sewage backed up into houses, restaurants, lodgings, etc, and naturally got into the storm sewers and wound up offshore. My _guess_ is that all will be well by the time you get there, but maybe not. Ask when you get to the Cape.

Here are the schedules for the VTA.

http://www.vineyardtransit.com/Pages...pt09/routelist

One overcast day we toured the island using the VTA. It generally went well, although if I remember correctly there was a rather long wait for the #4 to Menemsha. The harbor there is very pretty, and The Bite has, as noted above, very good fried seafood.

Thanks for the help and info