You have a good discussion here and I wanted to ask a question from Fodorites as well about this subject. My family is going to Boston for a week in July and staying an addl weekend on the Cape. We have reservations in Hyannis and hope to drive to Provincetown on Saturday and back, all day,and see some of the towns along the way and of course, hike in the Natl Seashore. I have heard it is a two hr drive. Is that correct in your opinion?? Doable?? We have a rental car. Sat night will be in the same hotel in Hyannis. Sunday, we plan to catch the ferry to Martha's Vineyard in the morning and come back early afternoon if possible. Will this plan work for us?

How long it takes is very dependent on traffic. In the summer on a Saturday it could take 2 hours unless you leave before 8 in the am. It really should take about a half an hour or so without stopping if there is no traffic. Saturday is change day for a lot of the rental cottages so traffic may be bad both ways near the middle of the day. The National Seashore is very nice and there is a visitor's center at Marconi station near Eastham as well as out near Provincetown.

Hyannis to P'town is 90 minutes in light traffic, which is not what you'll encounter on a summer weekend. IMHO, you'd be better-off switching the days; traffic is heavier on the Cape on Saturdays than on Sundays because it's changeover day for the weekly rentals. Not sure why you'd spend all that time and money going to Martha's Vineyard for just a couple of hours.

I was thinking, Marthas Vineyard would be fun for the ferry ride there as well as what we see when we get there. Should I reconsider?? Is Nantucket anything to see for a family with 2 adults and two boys, ages 11 and 15?? We could switch days, or perhaps leave off the Vineyard trip if there is no reason to really go there. I welcome your knowledgeable feedback. I just know I have two nights booked in Hyannis. We arrive in Providence on Friday and will stay on the Cape for two nights and then have an apt leased for 7 nights in Boston, South End.

Kids that age would have more fun going to P'town, taking one of the whale watches, visiting Marine surplus, visiting the pirate museum, then going to the beach. There are plenty of cute shops and good resturaunts (and grab a bite places) Sometimes you can see whales and seals from the NP visitor's center at this end. Sometimes wrecks get uncovered, depending on what the water is doing. Do be aware of rip tides out at the point though. Both MV and Nantucket have quaint shops, pretty villages, good resturaunts and nice beaches. The ride can be pretty but no nicer that what you would get on a whale watch.

Malloy, you are correct! After thinking about why I wanted to see MV, I decided it was mainly the ferry ride over and to see the scenery. Probably not what my boys would be interested in doing. So will save that trip til later. Thanks to you and Anonymous for helping me see the light. We had already planned to see the Natl Seashore, but will now have more time to enjoy it. Will take a whale watching tour from Boston, unless you tell me it is better to leave from P'town. Leaving Hyannis after we check out enroute to Boston, we plan on touring Plimouth Plantation. Is there anything else we shouldnt miss while exiting the Cape?? Have thought about the canal tour as well, but no decision made as of yet.

We have always been lucky on the whale watches from P'town but have always gone early in the season and have seen lots of whales, dolphins, and one time gannetts joined them and dove from great heights straight down into the water to get the food the whales were there for. I haven't ever been from Boston, check and see what fits best into your schedule.

Thanks so much for your reply! I have heard all the whale watch boats pretty much go to the same area where the whales feed. We have a Go Boston card and want to use that and it leaves from Boston. I hope we see a "show" like you did! That must have been great fun to watch. Our trip will be much more relaxing thanks to your help.

OK, sounds like you will head for Provincetown from Hyannis on a Saturday. If you get a fairly early start, about 9 AM, most of the traffic will be heading off cape so you should not hit a major jam unless there is an accident. I suggest you take Rt 6 A for a bit from Barnstable to Yarmouthport on the bay side and stop at the Strawberry Lane green where the Captain Bangs Hallet House and Edward Gorey House are located....not to see the houses (your kids would be bored) but to see the MOST AMAZING tree. Trust me....and bring your camera. Just walk behind the Captain Bangs Hallet House and under this huge, weeping Beach tree. It is like something out of Walt Disney's Fantasia and you/your kids will love it!

It is quite easy to get back onto Rt 6, which is a faster but less scenic road. Any of the numbered roads will do the trick. When you get to the National Seashore in Eastham, stop into the Visitor's Center and see what the free activities are. There may be scary stories on the beach with a fire, or shellfish lessens. In any event, there is a small museum there and a couple of short films that will give you a feeling for the history, geology and culture of the area. If you want to see a wonderful ocean beach stop at either Coast Guard or Nauset Lighthouse beach, both in Eastham. You will have plenty of opportunity to visit a bay beach in Provincetown so I wouldn't make a special stop on your way unless you want to compare the Bay at low tide and at high tide.

Once you are in Provincetown, consider taking dune tour with Art's Dune Tours as well as a Whale Watch with the Dolphin Fleet. There is just so much to do that you will have to pick your favorite things and plan to go back another time.

Thanks Yellowbyrd! You have given me such good advice! I have printed out your response and plan to follow the plans you laid out. Looks like there is plenty to do in Provincetown. I wanted to be sure it was a kid friendly place. Thanks for taking the time to respond.

FYI, There is no parking at Coast Guard Beach unless you have a handicapped sticker. You can take a right at the Nat'l Seashore Visitor Center (do stop in) and go to the end of the road. You will see the lighthouse and you can go up the road bearing left and Nauset Beach wil be about a mile on the left.