Hello, I have one day for exploring in New England. I would like to tackle Cape Cod as well as Foxwoods Casino in a day.. My plan.. Leave Boston around 8am (Sunday morning) travel to the Cape. Spend several hours at the Cape. Drive from the Cape to Mashantucket, CT. Check in to the hotel and spend a couple hours at the Casino. Wake up the Monday morning and drive back to Boston. I have to be in Boston at 1pm on Monday.
-Is this plan to ambitious?
-Should I make the drive out to PTown or just visit Hyannis?
-What sites should I tackle on the cape?
I know there is a lot to see/do on the Cape. However, I will be traveling in Mid-April when most of the Cape is still sleep/closed.... Any advice is appreciated!

I loved Ptown, but I don't know if it's advisable to drive that far- I think a lot of it will depend on weather and what you want to see or do. However, I really didn't find Hyannis interesting so I'd definitely pick somewhere else.

The plan would be too ambitious for me and I'd probably cut the casino to spend the night in Ptown or on Nantucket, maybe. But I'm not a casino person, so again, I think it definitely depends on your interests. I can't really tell what draws you to the cape. I spent a week there and I don't think I saw nearly enough of it!

I wouldn't bother with Hyannis and unless the weather is unusually warm I don't think PTown would be worth the trip in April. Not much will be open.

Thanks 4 the quick replies! I usually make it to the NE area once every 2-3years. As such, I try to see something different each time (Previously explored Boston, Maine(my fav), N.H., Providence ) Since I haven't been to Cape Cod...thought I would take a drive this time (Fodors says it's good to visit during the shoulder months before the crowds arrive ). Based on the responses..a mid-April visit may not be worth it...

Cape Cod has beaches, relaxation and scenery to offer as it's high points. I do not see how a 1-day trip gets you any of these. Part of the problem is that the 2 main roads from on of the bridges to almost the end of the Cape (around Wellfleet/Truro) are short on scenery unless you get off the main road. You don't really have much time for that, nor even to explore some of the cute little towns.

What about doing a round-about trip to CT via a town on the South Shore - maybe Plymouth, Scituate area to see beaches/dunes and then head to the casino?

Have you been to Salem? The witchcraft thing tends to be cheesy, but I enjoyed the area. Also, if you have any interest in museums, you should check out the Peabody Essex- it's one of the best small museums I've been to and the yin yu tang house is a unique exhibit.

http://www.pem.org/visit/yin_yu_tang.php

Most of the travelers prefer to visit Cape Cod during the months of June through September, when bright sunny weather warms the ocean. Traveling to Cape Cod in the summer months also means paying a premium for lodgings and wrestling with crowds at the most popular tourist attractions. Travel to Cape Cod during the months of April and May or October and November, when the crowds have dispersed, but the weather is still pleasant.

This time of year, driving on the Cape should not be bad. We love the Spring there and often go out for Easter.

You there will probably be little traffic getting out of the city if you leave Boston by 8 am, you can be to the National Seashore by 10 or so. I would try to get to the VC in Eastham and spend a bit of time there. Then go to Provincetown for lunch and work your way back in the afternoon, maybe along 6A, stopping at some of the small towns along the way.

Head towards Foxwoods through Providence, RI and plan on supper there unless you really want to get to the casino for that. If you just drive down 6 from Ptown, to the hwy, it would be a little less than 3 hours to Foxwoods.

If the trip is planned for the summer, then the drive times will be longer, the drive out to Ptown and off the Cape could be MUCH longer with weekenders leaving.

I would do emalloy's plan, though it is a lot of driving. You could also just go as far as Wood's Hole and Falmouth if you wanted to shorten the Cape drive.

Have you been to Newport? That would be a logical stop on the way to the casino. Visit a mansion, drive Ocean Dr., and have a nice lunch in town. It might be a good alternative. If the weather isn't good, I would skip the Cape altogether.

If you have to do it, emalloy's plan is as good as any.

You will miss the historic Cape villages along MA Route 6A (you will be on horribly boring US 6 instead), but it checks the P-town End of the Road box and the Eastham National Seashore box. If you skipped the casino, you could enjoy 6A and Sandwich as well.

If your heart is set on Foxwoods, don't plan on stopping in Providence or even dream of Newport.

TWO TIMES TO FORGET THIS TRIP:

1. If your mid-April dates include Patriots' Day and the Boston Marathon, shelter in place. Don't even dream about this.
2. The weather on the Cape in April might be fine, but it can be truly horrible with howling gales and sheets of rain. If the weather is like that, then I agree you might go to Newport and the casino. It would be a waste of time to go to the Cape then.