We are renting a house in Chatham in August. We have 3 young children (3 year old twins and a 6 year old). We are looking for suggestions for:

- family friendly restaurants in Chatham or nearby towns (we will be going to the Chatham Bars Inn clambake one night)
- playgrounds in the area
- favorite ice cream spots
- other places that might be fun for the kids
- ideas for rainy days (fingers crossed that we won't have any...but just in case!)

Thanks in advance!

I just came back from a retreat at The Chatham Bars Inn. Skip the clambake. It was terrible!! There's a wonderful fudge/candy shop right in town called Chatham Candy Manor, and right behind that is the town green. I don't remember seeing a playground, but I'm sure there's one nearby. Anyway, have a fantastic time!

rainy day hint: visit a local library and read a few books. If you're lucky, there might be a scheduled story/activity time.

If it's not pouring rain and it's low tide, beach combing and tide pools are always fun. DS and his family just came back from the Brewster area. Kids like digging in the sand even if it's an overcast day. 4.5 yo started a rock collection.

In the area, most elementary schools have a play area and with school out of session the kids should be able to use the facilities.

There's a large playground called Play-a-Round Park not far from the downtown business strip in Chatham. It's on Depot Street, across from the little Chatham Railroad Museum (which is an attraction the kids might also enjoy for a brief stop-in).

Find a lobster in the rough restaurant Orleans or Eastham..for your lobster rather than Chatham Bars. We had the worst lobster rolls there, hard to believe.

There are seal watches (and now whale watches) leaving from Chatham Fish Pier. You can also get a wonderful lobster roll from the Chatham Fish Market adjacent to the Pier. If you're there mid-afternoon, you'll see the fishermen unload their catch. It's actually quite unbelievable if you haven't seen it before.

The Squire Restaurant on Main Street, Carmine's Pizza House on Main, and Kreme and Kone further down on route 28 toward South Chatham are very child friendly.

There are a few ice cream places downtown and on route 28; try any or all of them; they're all good.

Don't forget to put your chairs or blanket down at the park mid-afternoon on a Friday. You'll enjoy the Chatham Band concert at Kate Gould park on Friday evening. It's great fun for everyone. You can get a pizza at Carmine's and bring it into the park and just relax.

Do you know about the Children's Beach at Oyster Pond? If you get little fishing nets at Ben Franklin's your kids will be busy all day at Oyster Pond. Have fun!