I am looking for information on where to stay for example which town, hotels or condo's, things to see, do & avoid on Cape Cod. We have never been to the Cape & know nothing about it. We will be going in late August for a week with 2 boys ages 6 & 5. Any help would be appreciated.

The Cape Cod potato chip factory in Hyannis will be a hit with the kids on a non-beach day. The aquarium in Woods Hole is good place for kids, too. Both are free.

Not sure exactly what type of vacation you want. The ocean water is much warmer on the south and west beaches. The north (or Massachusetts Bay) and east facing beaches can be cold. However, my parents live in Orleans, and my kids love going to Skaket Beach, which is on the Mass Bay side, because at low tide you can walk out forever. Yarmouth, Hyannis, Dennis, along Rt 28 is more commercial, rt 6A is more old inns, antique stores, etc. With kids, you may opt for the more commercial side and just put up with the traffic.

Karen--your suggestions are great. The Woods Hole facility often has seals in the outdoor tank, which means you can even see them if you happen to go by there when the place is closed.

The Potato Chip Factory reminded me of a similar idea: there is a candy company somewhere on the Cape that is one of the last places that makes candy canes by hand. You can see the workers put the concoction on a hook on the wall, pull it off and roll the candy canes by hand. I've only seen it on TV, buy someone out there has got to remember the name of the place and the town. The kids should get a kick out of that.

Also, the entire cape is dotted with great little fried clam and ice cream stands. Seek out the older-looking ones. Order some whole-belly clams for yourself and the kids, and then let them pick out their flavor of ice cream. These simple things are what kids will remember and cherish later on. Enjoy your stay.

We go to the Cape every summer and love it. A must for children and adults is Skaket Beach! Small, fun pools of water when tide is low and you can walk around looking at hermit crabs. Bring a bucket and sun screen. Keep in mind that getting to the Cape can mean lots of traffic. We travel early early a.m.and have lunch, go to the beach until we can check in. You may want to consider an efficiency room/apt with kitchen amenities so you can make sandwiches and have cereal in the morning - may be more convenient with children that age. Cape Cod Realty was a great help in renting a small place for the week with all the comforts of home.