Hello! We are three couples with small babies and plan to spend 4 nights either in Chatham or Martha's Vineyard in early June. Which do you think would be better?

Either one would be lovely if the weather co-operates. Obviously Chatham is easier b/c of there being no need to negotiate a ferry w/babies. However, the weather at that time of year is notoriously fickle. I have seen low 70s and sunshine as well as mid 50s and driving rain...There is a reason that the Cape season traditionally begins around the 4th of July, when the weather is (slightly) more reliable.

Will you be renting a house or staying in a hotel?

I agree, the whether is VERY iffy, we were in Nantucket the last week of June last year and it was cold, rainy and foggy, but we had a house so couldn't postpone the trip.

I would go where you had the most flexibility with accomodations.

Also, we've been that very same week and had sunny 80 degree days. You just never know.

We're planning on that week no matter what, so we don't plan to change accomodations. Which location do you recommend given that info? We plan on renting a house.

The Cape has more shopping, sightseeing, and entertainment options in case of bad weather. And like socialworker says, why negotiate (and pay the extra expense) of the ferry with babies for a 4 night getaway?

Chatham is very lovely. Try these sites for house rentals:

www.cyberrentals.com
www.weneedavacation.com
www.vrbo.com

Have fun!

Owl, If you've never been to either spot, I'd vote for Chatham. It's a very charming town, and the beach has the most beautiful colored water on the Cape.

If you have 4 babies then it would be very difficult to schlep everything over on the ferry without your car, so you'd have to take 1 or 2 or 3 cars. At over $300 round trip for EACH car on the ferry, that's a LOT of money for 4 days.

Chatham will be much more convenient, and just as nice.

Just came back from Nantucket, It was Daffodil weekend, It was awsome. We took the slow ferry over 2.4h and met some nice people on the way. Stayed in town at a B&B Avg price at this time $150 per night. Rented a 4x4 Jeep-put the top down -put the windbreakers on and had a great time. Flew back to Hyannis on Nantucket Shuttle 15 min. for $29pp. Was fast efficient and would do again! Havn't been to Chattham But went to Marthas vinyard same weekend last year and had a good time also!

HI--I could not help but think of owl and friends today--hoping that these are not the days in "early June" they were coming to MA. We have been in Chicago for several days where the weather was beyond lovely. We returned to MA today to the equivalent of a rain blizzard w/temps in the 50s, (complete w/a four hour delay for flts b/c of the horrific weather!!) This is a great example of the fickle weather at this time of year.

Socialworker,
Hasn't the weather been awful? I was just thinking that I haven't seen the sun for a week, and the weatherman today said we've had over 15 inches of rain this year! It's really getting depressing, I hope the weather turns, I might as well move to Seattle or London at this rate....

Yes, nina, apparently it has been, but luckliy for us we had longstanding plans to be in Chicago starting last Friday and only returning yesterday. I am from Chicago originally, and I have to say that the unbelievably gorgeous weather we had there during our whole visit--beautiful sun, *no* humidity, warm, but not hot, temps and great breezes--rivalled the best SoCal weather I have ever seen!! Boy were we lucky!!

my vote is for chatham. i loved that place when i drove through last year. and hopefully the weather will be fabulous but, if not, more choices of things to do. you can always do a day trip over to martha's vineyard if you desire.

socialworker, I envy you your getaway to nice weather and pity owl if she is here now. It's about 50 and we had 8" of rain yesterday. My sister in MI sent me a pix of her sunny yard to make me feel better! Or worse...