Ideas sightseeing Cape Cod/Boston in a very short time.
 

What to see and do in CapeCod area/Boston in less than three days. DD and SIL have a gig at the Grand Cru Hyannis Friday 9th Nov, we will be staying with them in NYC then. We are going with them to the gig Friday, need to be back in NYC Mon night 12th Nov as they have a gig at Paris Blues Harlem 8,30pm. Not much time to do a lot of sightseeing, I really wanted to see Boston, Any suggestions.

You're going to love Cape Cod. I'd spend most of my time there since you are going on to NYC. November will be chilly but it will be gorgeous. Do you have any interest in getting out on the water? On my next trip, I'd really like a boat ride along the coast of Hyannis (and to get a look at the Kennedy compound from the water). I've not done this yet but here's a link - http://bayspirittours.com/

Are the "kids" interested in sightseeing too? If not, maybe you could borrow their van to get out and about to see things. I love Provincetown and would recommend spending the night there. Maybe Saturday the 10th there? That would give you Saturday to see things on the way to Ptown and then on the drive back off the cape on Sunday. I wish it were summer so you could go to the Wellfleet drive-in, but they open just in summer. I've been to Ptown many times and it's fun just walking down the two main streets, checking out galleries, stores, grabbing a bite to eat. I love the Lobster Pot. One thing I highly recommend is Art's Dune Tours. I can't believe it took me years to go on his tour. I also like biking the trail through the dunes. The fall dune foliage is low to the ground but colorful. If you can spend most of Saturday sight-seeing, you could head to Boston on Sunday and spend the evening there and do a bit of sightseeing before you head to NYC. Personally, I'd rather spend the time on the cape rather than going to Boston - sand and sea and one city, rather than two cities. Just my personal preference.

Given that short of a period of time, I would stay in Boston.

There's a heck of a lot to see there, and not wasting a bunch of time driving back and forth would be your best bet.

Save the Cape for a future trip, when you can do it justice.

Rasta we live in New Zealand, this will probably be the only chance we get, unless the kids get a green card and stay there permanently.

Thanks Starrs, DD and SIL played the jazz festival in Provincetown last year and they loved the place too. I think we may go there Saturday, and head to Boston Sat night.

How are you getting to the Cape?
How are you getting to Boston?
How are you getting from Boston to NYC?

Starrs mentions a van, but I don't see it in your post.

5 hours from NYC to Hyannis.
1.5 hours, Hyannis to Provincetown by the scenic route, Highways 6A and 6
2.5 hours Provincetown to Boston
4.5 hours Boston to New York

Pretty much everything in Provincetown is likely to be closed at that time, and it is the life of PTown that is interesting, not the buildings.

I would skip it and spend my Saturday exploring the more picturesque parts of the Cape between Sandwich and Orleans along Route 6A (King's Highway), then along the Naational Seashore and down to Chatham, then back to US 6 to go towards Boston. It will be dark sometime around 5 PM at this time of year, maybe a bit earlier.

I am going to assume you will stay somewhere in the Waterfront or Back Bay area. Use Priceline to get a reasonable deal, though this time of year is as close as Boston every comes to a low season. A car is a huge liability in Boston. You can park yours in the Boston Common garage, which is likely to be a lot cheaper than any hotel parking, but I would not leave valuables in the vehicle overnight anywhere.

In Boston on Sunday, if the weather is good, explore Beacon Hill, walk the Freedom Trail from the Common, and have lunch at one of the Italian restaurants in the North End. In the afternoon, take the Red Line T subway to Harvard Square in Cambridge and explore the Harvard Campus and surrounding area. Walk along Memorial Drive to see the Charles River, then back to the T to return to Boston. If you want to eat dinner in Cambridge, Dolphin Seafood on Mass Ave is reliable, but there are many other places.

Monday morning, I would walk through the Public Garden to Newbury Street aand explor it as far as Mass Ave to see the trendy shops. Return on Commonwealth Avenue. At Clarendon Street, turn right for Copley Square. Visit Trinity Church and/or the Boston Public Library's historic sections. Get takeaway sandwiches at Parish Cafe on Boylston, return to your hotel, check out and leave for NYC.

My niece went to NZ for her honeymoon and her photos showed some of the most magnificent scenery I have ever seen! That would be my reason for suggesting that you concentrate on Boston. As much as I love the Cape, as you say you may not get another chance to visit Boston and it is a singular city in the US. Weather in November is iffy anywhere in MA but crummy weather in the city would be much less of an issue than it would be on the Cape.

As much as I love the Cape and area at any time of year, it's very true that November is at best cold and blustery (albeit bright with sunshine and sharp contrasts between land and sky), and at worst dreary with chilly downpours...

Agreed that it would be good to know how you are transiting from NYC to the Cape/Boston. Also what your timeframe on Friday will be.

If you have the flexibility, I would suggest driving up early on Friday, stopping for lunch in Connecticut and then have the afternoon to see a bit of what the Cape is about. Or take a little detour en route to perhaps Newport, RI.

Staying mid-Cape (where Hyannis is), you can still venture along scenic Route 6A or out to one of the beaches on Nantucket Sound on Friday, without committing to going all the way to P-town. Then come Saturday, depending on weather and inclination, spend some more time on the Cape or head right into Boston.

What are your specific interests in Boston?

I think some of the posters are missing the fact that the OP WILL be in Hyannis on Friday, 11/9 with their DD and SIL. Telling them to skip the Cape won't work.

And nelsonian, I would love to meet you at the Grand Cru!

It is my understanding that they will all be together - traveling in a van. The son and DIL are performing in Hyannis on Friday night and performing in Harlem (NYC) on Monday night. They are trying to decide how to spend their time in between.

"We are going with them to the gig Friday, need to be back in NYC Mon night 12th Nov as they have a gig at Paris Blues Harlem 8,30pm."


gomiki, that will be wonderful if you get to go to Grand Cru. nelsonian, she's delightful - as I'm sure you are. :-)

I got that, I just meant to leave the Cape early am and spend the rest of the time in Boston as opposed to sightseeing on the Cape......

I'm sorry. I got that backwards. Daughter and SIL

The OP and family HAVE to be in Hyannis on Fri for the gig. It's not a matter of will they see the Cape - it's a matter of can they fit in Boston too - since they have to be back in NYC for Sun evening.

To play it safe you wuold have to leave Boston - or the Cape by about noon on Monday - perhaps earlier if ther is bad weather. Assume you will all be together and have hte van for tansport.

At that time of year I would head to Boston Sat am and get a hotel there for Sat nd Sun nights and park the van. Boston is best seen on foot - driving and parking are a real bear. there is plenty to see and do in the city - don;t miss the Freedom trail and visit Lexington and Concord on the way into Boston (to see where the Minutemen faced down the British regulars - and started the revolution). If you've never been you might want to consider a whale watch - but you may get a lot of that at home.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions everyone. I think we will spend most of Saturday doing some of the Cape depending on the weather, and then head to Boston Sat night, spend Sunday and Monday morning there. However A & J want to be back in NYC by 4pm so thought as an option we could take the Bolt Bus back later in the afternoon and still get there in time for the gig.
I did see that it is Veterans Day on the Monday so it's a long weekend. Will that make a difference traffic wise. Probably a silly question really.

Gomiki love to see you at Grand Cru also.

Monday traffic, and bus availability, will be something to contend with. Plan accordingly.

btw: I love the Cape during most months of the year but November is Not gorgeous on the Cape. You might luck out and have crisp, clear days but you're just as likely to have dismal, dark, cold, rainy days. Daylight savings time adds to the gloom.

If the surf isn't wild, and you find someone to take you out on the water, layer up with hats, gloves, scarves, and thermals. It'll be frigid on the water in November.

The Cape starts to shut down after Labor Day but is really very sleepy in November. Boston, on the other hand, will be fabulous in November!

Enjoy your stay in Hyannis, there are a few wonderful restaurants on Main Street. Inaho, nearby, is great for sushi and is open year round. I always enjoy Hyannis. If you do get a warm day, set out early and drive up to the National Seashore in Eastham. Nobody will be there and with any luck, the roaring surf will put on a show.

I used to go the third week of October for several years and we had glorious weather. Perhaps we just lucked out, but the heaviest jacket I wore was a leather bomber jacket - and it remained unzipped most of the time. Maybe two weeks later (Nov 9th) would make a big difference or maybe we just lucked out. The first time I went to the cape was in March after a conference in Boston. It was cold but not as bitter as Boston has been during December and January meetings. A lot of the places in Ptown are closed, but it was the weekend and we had plenty galleries and restaurants to choose from. Ptown in March was like entering a frozen winterland - but I loved seeing a seaside town that way. The weather in Ptown in late October was delightful. Maybe that was just a birthday present from the weather gods. ;)

You just lucked out.

Lexington and Concord are a long way out of the way coming from the Cape, esp since it getting dark early that time of year since Daylight Savings Time ends Nov 4.

A whale watch in November would not be my idea of a good time, and they have plenty of whales in NZ, or did before the Nantucketers went there in the 19th century and killed as many of them as they could.

Yes, it will be a holiday on the Monday, but that will have no effect on commerce: schools, banks, and government offices will be closed, and there may be the odd parade.

I don't think the whale watches continue into November but I could be wrong. I meant to have written the 'end' of daylight savings time adds to the gloom.

All the parades on the Cape are odd..

Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown stops touring on October 28th, 2012.

Provincetown is fairly well closed up by November. No whale watches - the whales leave for the Caribbean during October. No harbor cruises that late in Hyannis. Sightsee between the Canal and Chatham if the weather is good enough. Boston is fab.

I lucked out several years then. Hopefully nelsonian will be as lucky.

nelsonian has said that they plan to spend part of Saturday on the cape before driving to Boston that night. Perhaps it would be helpful to share suggestions that will help her enjoy a partial day on the cape - rather than predicting a gloomy visit. ;)

nelsonian, this is a book I discovered in my 20s and I really enjoyed reading it. I like reading books before visiting a place and you may enjoy the book as well - http://www.amazon.com/The-Outermost-.../dp/080507368X

starrs, the difference in even just a month between Oct and Nov is dramatic in both weather and what is open or not on the Cape. You have definitely picked a great time of year with the crisp sunny days of Oct. :)

I was going to say what Ackislander did: Lexington and Concord are *not* on the way from the Cape to Boston! You can get a flavor of Revolutionary War fervor in Boston itself: walk part of the Freedom Trail if the weather cooperates, or at least poke your head into some of the sites like Fanueil Hall...

If you want to see our "ancient" history, you could make a stop at Plimoth Plantation in present-day Plymouth, MA, a short ways up Route 3, which is the highway from the Cape to Boston. The Plantation is a recreation of a Colonial settlement. (IMO, going into Plymouth proper to see "Plymouth Rock" is really not worth it. It's just a rock(!), and all covered over by a fence anyway...)

Veterans Day is one of those bank holidays where most other workers don't get time off, so you shouldn't have to contend with many schedule changes that day.

If you'll have the rental vehicle but not gobs of luggage, you might look into parking on the edge of the city and taking public transit in. Boston is notorious for its "old cow paths" of twisting, one-way streets, never-mind the colorful nomenclature given to local drivers! Options are:
- The end of the Red Line MBTA in Braintree or Quincy
- The "Route 128" Amtrak/commuter rail station in Westwood

The Quincy station will be the most direct on your route from the Cape, but both Westwood and Braintree are a few short miles from where the highway splits towards Boston. These two are easy on/off from Route 128, which will place you in good stead to get on the road to NYC. If you opt for the Quincy station, the road is always more congested getting there, but you're still good to go when you get on the road!

As for the Bolt Bus, just keep in mind that you'll have to get from the dropoff in midtown up to Harlem.

nelsonian, what are you interested in seeing on the Cape? Are you looking for history? nature? cute shops and good eats? all of the above? ;)

I seems that ONCE AGIAN again someone needs to be reminded that that the pretty autumnal low ground foliage in Cape Cod is POISON IVY. And it is poison 12 months out of the year. Poison ivy shrubs in the dunes, poison ivy climbing up trees, poison ivy vines. Poison ivy everywhere on the cape. It is one of the few plants that thrive in the salty conditions and helps protect the dunes and wildlife from humans - unless of course the humans are told how pretty the low lying foliage is, and decide to take a few PRETTY leaves to put in a book. Now that could make for a nasty flight home.

Some of the Cape shuts down after Labor Day, more shuts down after Columbus Day and for many Veterans day is the last hurrah, although there are quite a few places that stay open thru the December Holidays and then shut down for 3 months.

There are plenty of places to check out Saturday and head to Boston for the evening. A stroll thru the Northend at an Italian joint would really be nice, offering some brownstone architecture and old world boston charm.

Whatever you decide, I would be very cautious of where you park with equipment in the van ( not clear on how much equipment they travel with) I think if you have Saturday Evening and a full Sunday, you can get a good nice quick take of Boston and leave together. Not sure how much would be accomplished with the extra few hours, unless you find something that is a must on your agenda.

Driving to the Cape, I'd take the Merritt Pkwy to the New Haven area and then pick up 95. It is a beautiful winding pkway and the foliage should still have something to offer, depending on how our summer weather goes. When you pass by Weston keep your eye out for Keith Richards, who often resides there.

On the way back to Manhattan, if you travel together after checkout, you could always make a pit stop at Mystic CT for a stretch and take in their sites or head a mile or two up the road for a quick lunch in Stonington http://www.dogwatchcafe.com/

Or a stop for pizza in New Haven. And still be back in Manhattan by late afternoon. I would expect the traffic should be pretty good on Monday as many commuters have the day off, and it is not necessarily a big travel weekend.

Another option would be to leave earlier, and take the MassPike and stop at Sturbridge Village for a couple of hours - a living history of American History http://www.osv.org/
and then head thru Hartford and pick up the Merrit from there.

Play as much by ear and let the weather be your guide.

But please do not go near the pretty colorful ground foliage on the cape.

They are not leaving enough time to get back to NYC from Boston. If the gig is at 8:30 = and they need time to set up - so arrive by 7:30 - then I would leave Boston no later than 2 pm, If they hit construction or traffic - the trip can easily take 5 hours by road.

Where did you get the 2PM departure from Boston from?

Thanks again. There is plenty of time to sort out what we are going to do, and a lot of it will depend on the weather.
If you can suggest a good place to leave the van in Boston that would be great. It is not a rental, and it will probably have music gear in it so that could be a problem.

ggreen, yes interested in the history mostly. Have always been fascinated by US history not sure why seeing we live in New Zealand. I loved reading about the Oregon trail when I was about 13, nothing really to do with Boston but Boston is one of the first cities that was settled. (Correct me if I am wrong), and I have always wanted to see it.

Veterans Day is one of those bank holidays where most other workers don't get time off, so you shouldn't have to contend with many schedule changes that day.
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Schools are closed on Veteran's Day in CT; all of CT's teachers and students will be making their way onto and off of the Cape that Monday. ;)

or a few dozen

Cape weather changes quickly. And it may be sunny and warm in Provincetown during the same afternoon that is foggy and damp in Chatham.

that's true. I once left on ferry in Oak Bluffs in sunshine, went into total pea soup fog and then landed in Woods Hole in total sunshine.

If they hit construction or traffic - the trip can easily take 5 hours by road.
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nytraveler is right. Allow plenty of time for you Cape > NYC trip. It took us 4.5 hours to get from Chatham to Hartford on Mother's Day because of traffic delays secondary to construction.

Where will you be staying, nelsonian? It is important to have a safe spot for parking a van with musical equipment. I have read a number of stories over the years of thefts.

We live in a very safe suburb only 20-30 minutes from Copley Square and you would be welcome to park in our driveway if you need a place that will be secure.

For those of us who have suffered from severe repercussions from having contact, whether it be first hand, second hand, or airborne, Poison Ivy is not a joke. Many people on these forums are not horticulturists, so deserve the respect to be warned about the dangers of pretty ground leaves during autumnal months. Especially travelers from other continents that may not immediately recognize the beautiful leaves of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.

To take offense, rather then to acknowledge the hidden danger is sadly disturbing.

For those visiting the cape, please take due caution. To me, posting about the pretty autumnal ground foliage is like posting about the cute deer ticks. Dangerous and should not be taken lightly or dismissed.

I don't think traffic will be a problem when you are here. That's too late in the year for construction.

Mystic, CT is not on the way from Boston to NYC. It is, however, on the way from NYC to the Cape. It's a cute enough town with some good fried clam shacks (which may or may not still be open in Nov), but not something to go out of your way for on this trip... I do, however, recommend getting some classic New Haven pizza if your timing calls for lunch as you go through CT! Modern Pizza in New Haven is famous, and the almost-equally famous Frank Pepe's now has locations throughout CT. (pepespizzeria.com)

As you approach the Cape from the southwest, you'll pass through the industrial era cities of Providence, Fall River and New Bedford. Even from the highway you'll notice the large red brick former textile factory buildings; they're especially close to the road in Fall River. (Wamsutta bedding originated in New Bedford; its factories there have been converted to condos.)

Though sadly a rather seedy place, the city of New Bedford has a national historic designation for its whaling history. Indeed, this is where the story of <i>Moby Dick</i> commences. If you decide to sightsee at all here, check out the attractive Whaling Museum (the Keltic Kafe across the street is good for a light bite) and the Seaman's Bethel. Thanks largely to the seagoing industries, there is a large Portuguese and Cape Verdean commmunity here, with lots of influence on the food.

Just before reaching the Cape, you'll pass by cranberry bogs right along the Route 25 highway in Wareham. If they haven't been flooded yet, they should be a brilliant crimson at that time of year.

// nelsonian, if looking for US history, you can't go wrong with the Cape and Boston! But I'm sure you already know that. :) Indeed, this is where a good chunk of our national identity was formed! The story is that Mayflower landed in the area - ostensibly on Plymouth Rock - and after making it through their first very tough year, the Pilgrims gave thanks to the native people without whom they wouldn't have survived. This is the basis for our modern-day Thanksgiving, which is just a few weeks after your trip to MA.

A century or so later, the first incidents of what was to be the Revolutionary War occurred in Boston and environs. In Boston, the Freedom Trail will take you to many of the sites.

(Sidebar here, but being a good Massachusetts kid, I never learned much about the role of NYC in the war. Thus, a temporary exhibit on the subject a few years ago at the New York Historical Society was fascinating! The museum, adjacent to the natural history museum, has been newly renovated - could be worth a visit when you're here since their exhibitions are always interesting. Oh and likewise, a walking tour by Big Onion of the financial district was eye-opening for the layers of history from colonial times to present. Their guides are so knowledgeable!)

On the Cape, you may want to visit the Dexter Grist Mill in Sandwich. The town itself is one of the oldest in the country (though a lot of MA can say that), and the mill is just as vintage. There's also a glass museum, since the town is famous for its glassworks. (There used to be a doll museum that was kind of creepy and cool, but it's closed.)

For old-school Cape dining, try the famous - and rich! - lobster chowder at the historic Daniel Webster Inn, near the canal in Sandwich: www.danlwebsterinn.com/cape_cod_dining/

In nearby Mashpee, the Old Indian Meeting House is the oldest church on Cape Cod, still in use by the local tribe.

If you drive along Route 6A, you will see a lot of beautiful old homes. Look for the saltbox style with roof sloping in the back down to the ground. the "Cape house" - traditionally a modest home with three windows in front separated by a door after the second one - is also original to this area.

If you make it to Yarmouthport, stop in Hallet's general store for an ice cream from the old soda fountain. They've been in business for over a hundred years. (The store was wrecked a year or so ago in a traffic accident, but I understand it's back in business now!) http:/hallets.com

(Another sidebar. New Englanders *love* ice cream, and every district has a favorite place - or three. ;) Unfortunately, not many stay open past early October...)

Also in Yarmouthport are two nice places to walk: the Bass Hole boardwalk stretching into the bay, and the botanic trails at the Historical Society. The macabre illustrator Edward Gorey lived in Yarmouthport until his death; his house is now a museum.

// As you drive around the Cape, you may notice the Christmas Tree Shops stores. These places sell Christmas stuff all year round! I mention it because, as tacky as they are, they originated on the Cape. Unfortunately, the original Yarmouthport location - and IMO the most interesting one - closed a few years ago.

L_G is right: poison ivy at that time of year can be terrible, since it blends right in with other foliage! Always has 3 points to each leaf, almost like a trident. Do a search online for images - it's green in season, and fiery red when leaves change color. Actually, the costumes for Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy aren't far off!