| ARTICLES | Globetrotting Planning Articles
Globetrotting Traveling Articles
Globetrotting Lodging Articles
Globetrotting Touring Articles
Globetrotting Dining Articles
Globetrotting Making Magic Articles
Globetrotting General Travel Articles
12 Tips to Hotel Bliss
Assateague Island National Seashore
Back To Barcelona
Bellagio of Las Vegas
Bonaire, Antilles
Cairo, Egypt
Cape Cod
Carcassonne, France
Carlsbad Caverns
Chateau de Chenonceau
Chicago
Chincoteague, Virginia
Costa Blanca
Discovery Cove
Disney on Broadway
Disney's Magical Express
Disneyland Paris
Dominica
Eurotunnel
Exploring Chicago's Museums
Flying Premium Economy
Geneva, Switzerland
Gloucester, Massachusetts
Grotte de Pech-Merle, France
Harvard University
Hastings, England
Hersheypark
Hersheypark, Pennsylvania
Hever Castle
Hiroshima, Japan
Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates
Japan
Kauai, Hawaii
Kennedy Space Center
Key West
Lake Constance, Switzerland
Lake Powell
Lake Thunersee, Switzerland
Learning the Language
London, England
Longwood Gardens, Pennsylvania
Making Your Way by Ferry to the Magic in Disneyland Paris
Managing Memories
Miami, Florida
Montezuma Castle National Monument
Montserrat, Spain
More of Hilton Head Island
Mount Fuji & Hakone, Japan
My Quest for the West
New Orleans Revisited
Nikko, Japan
One Place is Never Enough!
Palacio Real
Palm Beach, Florida
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portsmouth, England
Rocamadour, France
Sardinia
Seattle, Washington
Serendipity 3 in New York City
St. Paul's Cathedral, London
Star Wars in Concert
Taking to the Road
The 'Other' Jersey
The Billie Swamp Safari Park
The Egyptian Museum
The Gardens of Versailles
The Green Heart of the Big Apple
The Manatee Tour
The Palace of Versailles
The Pyramids of Giza
The Walt Disney Family Museum
Tired, Tried And True
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea
Tokyo, Japan
Traveling the Northern Oregon Coast
Valencia, Spain
Valley of Fire
Viewing Cities From Above
Visiting the French Alps
Willcox, Arizona
Wimbledon Tennis Museum
You Don't Have to Cruise to See Alaska
Zurich, Switzerland
View all PassPorter articles |
| | PassPorter's
Article Tools |
| |
Cape Cod: Falling in Loveby Sue Kulick, PassPorter Featured Columnist
Last modified 12/24/2009
| | |
Cool Tip: Click here to get a FREE PDF version of this article, fully formatted to print and put into your PassPorter Deluxe Binder!
Filed in Articles > U.S. Travel > General Travel 
"If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air ... Quaint little villages here and there ... then you're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod ..."
Patti Page made that song a Billboard hit in 1957, but the lyrics still describe Cape Cod today!
Cape Cod is more than just a vacation destination. It's a way of life, a step back in time, and a place that will take you away from the day to day grind. Although time marches on and the Cape evolves with time, you still can feel the history and a sense of timelessness all over.
You'll travel a congested highway towards the Cape, maybe Route 3 from Boston or Route 195 from Rhode Island. Then, as you approach the Cape Cod Canal, you begin to smell the salt air and see the sand on the side of the road. You are already starting to relax. You cross the Bourne or Sagamore Bridge, and you are there!
Picture an arm bent at the elbow, and you'll have an idea of the geography of the Cape. It is divided into basically three sections: Upper Cape, Mid Cape and Lower Cape. The Upper Cape is the southernmost area, closest to the mainland, and extends to around the Sandwich area. Mid Cape is the middle of the Cape, including Hyannis, Barnstable and Yarmouth, and the Lower Cape is the rest of the Cape, from the elbow north to Provincetown. In addition, two lovely islands, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, make up more of the area's geography.
There's a lot to see and do, and before you go, you need to decide what you'd like from your vacation. Beaches? Shopping? Whale watching? Lighthouses? It's all here! Summer months get very crowded as the Cape is the perfect getaway for Northeast locals. The weather and the beaches are great, and there are wonderful things to do. Off season brings its own special beauty, but you will see many local business shut down for the season. There's still plenty to do, you just need to plan accordingly.
As a vacationer to the Cape, you will notice that there is no shortage of places to stay. From little mom and pop hotels to deluxe condos, you have your pick of lodging. Book early; summer is very popular on the Cape and many places fill up. If you decide to travel off season, keep in mind that the Cape is mostly a summer resort and many places shut down for the long winter months.
Once you have reserved your lodging, it's time to plan your itinerary. If you are traveling in the summer, be sure to factor traffic into your travel time, especially on weekends. What looks like a 30 minute ride could actually take more than an hour, so leave early for your destinations. If you are traveling in the spring or fall, call ahead to make sure your destination is open for the season.
So let's begin…how about some beach time? The Cape Cod National Seashore offers pristine beaches and beautiful vistas, stretching nearly the length of the eastern edge of the cape as well as part of the bay side. There are also bike and hiking trails, as well as marshland excursions and ranger guided activities for the young and the young at heart. The bay side (between the cape and the mainland) offers beautiful beaches. Our personal favorite is located in Sandwich. Expect the beaches on the bay side to be a bit rockier and also a bit calmer than those on the Atlantic.
If you are a lighthouse aficionado, you will find many sites to enjoy! Did you know that the Cape has 21 lighthouses, and a history that includes three that no longer exist? Many of these lights are now privately owned, but there are eight that you can visit. For instance, The Nauset Light is open to the public, as is The Cape Cod Light. Both of these lights underwent a massive transformation in the last 10 years, being moved from their original locations near the cliff edge, where they were in danger of collapsing due to erosion. They are now safely tucked away from the edge and can be toured.
If you think you'd like to spend some time on the ocean, there are plenty of tours and fishing trips. Whale watching is a particular favorite. It is an unbelievable feeling to be up close and personal with some of the largest mammals on earth. Provincetown is home to many tour boats and trips. You can also walk down the main pier and get a glimpse of a working harbor.
And if you have decided that shopping is your thing, you have come to the right location. From the Wellsfleet Flea Market to the Cape Cod Mall, there's something for everyone. There are plenty of little fun shops, including Annie's Book Stop, a used book emporium on Route 28, The Crystal Pineapple, a jewelry and gift boutique located in West Barnstable and South Dennis and the famous Black Dog on Martha's Vineyard. From the artsy to the eclectic, you may find your heart's desire in a Cape Cod shop!
So I've saved the best for last….the food! Cape Cod, of course, is all about the seafood. From award winning clam chowder to fresh fish of every variety, there is no shortage of delicious choices. If you're not a seafood lover, you can get some wonderful prime rib at Captain Parker's Pub, or The Yarmouth House. Of course, the Hearth and Kettle is a perennial favorite any time of day. And if you are in Sandwich, stop into Beth's Special Teas for a delicious treat!
The Cape is an ever changing, ever evolving destination that still maintains its old world flavor. Go for a day, a weekend, a week! You will never forget your time spent on old Cape Cod.
About the Author: Sue Kulick is a resident of the Pocono Mountains and an avid Disney fan. She and her husband, Steve, live in a log home with their Golden Retrievers, Cody and Belle and their cat Tigger.
Related Links:
Serendipity 3 in New York City - A Dining Review last updated 12/29/2008
Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates - A New Year In A New Disney Park last updated 12/18/2008
Valencia, Spain - Travel Tips last updated 11/27/2008
Bellagio of Las Vegas - Simply Bellissimo! last updated 1/08/2009
Hever Castle - Kent, England last updated 1/15/2009
Reader Comments:
As a Cape Cod native I enjoyed this article tremendously! Thanks for the memories Sue!  View all 1 comments in forum thread
So what do you think? Click here to share your comments, feedback, and experiences on this article and topic!
(Note: You must be a member of our PassPorter Message Board Community to leave comments. Join today for free!)
Updated 12/24/2009 - Article #400
Read additional articles from PassPorter.com
|
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter, PassPorter News, published for more than 55,000 opt-in subscribers worldwide.
As an added bonus for subscribing, you will receive a 20% discount coupon for the PassPorter Store -- no catch!
We respect your privacy and never sell or rent our subscriber list. Subscribing will not result
in more spam! We guarantee it.
|
Copyright 1999-2012
by PassPorter Travel Press, an imprint of MediaMarx, Inc.
| | | LEARN MORE |
Learn More With Our Award-Winning Guidebooks
|
RSS General
PassPorter Community - Boards & Forums on Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disn...
Planning a trip around the globe, or just away for the weekend? Ask questions and share experiences!
Forum Sponsored by CruisingCo.com
Traveling to DC or Baltimore?
by emtpej
20 May 2013 at 1:18pm
Maryland is adding MARC train runs on the weekends! Service between DC, BWI/Marshall Airport and Baltimore. I don't know the schedule, or when it...
(click title above to view replies)
overnight stay or leave super early
by Lemap760
20 May 2013 at 11:42am
Without thinking clearly I booked airfare for our summer trip with the flight leaving on a Monday morning at 10am. This means driving in rush hour...
(click title above to view replies)
Memphis/nashville
by kalsmomma
19 May 2013 at 10:11am
We are headed to Nashville/Memphis in September. My must see in Memphis is Graceland. In Nashville I want to see the new Johnny cash museum. My...
(click title above to view replies)
Kansas?
by Carousel96
17 May 2013 at 9:01am
My DD and I are going to Kansas City for a conference this summer.
Well, sort of -- the meeting is hosted by the Kansas branch of the organization,...
(click title above to view replies)
Savannah Historic District Hotels
by kellensmom
13 May 2013 at 1:33pm
We are thinking about doing an overnight in Savannah on our drive to Disney in Jan. Savannah is only 5 hours from us so we could be there early...
(click title above to view replies)
Boston restaurant good with accomodations
by Huntermom
12 May 2013 at 6:16pm
My sister is coming up for my next doctor's appointment and we would like to go to dinner after. I have not really gone out to eat since being on my...
(click title above to view replies)
Turkey
by sakana
11 May 2013 at 5:28am
We're thinking about Turkey as a possible Christmas destination. We'd be meeting my mom there. I have been to Ephesus before and loved it. Our main...
(click title above to view replies)
colonial williamsburg tips?
by phoebec
10 May 2013 at 11:30am
We are stopping in colonial williamsburg for one night on our way to the outer banks. We plan on touring the historical part for the afternoon and...
(click title above to view replies)
Washington DC: getting around downtown attractions
by MollyB
8 May 2013 at 6:01pm
We will be visiting the DC area over Memorial Weekend and I am confused as to what the best way is to travel around the downtown attractions. We...
(click title above to view replies)
Great Outer Banks Restaurants?
by phoebec
8 May 2013 at 8:41am
Anyone have any suggestions for not to miss restaurants on the Outer Banks? Heading there June 8th!!!! Or, on the other hand, any restaurants to...
(click title above to view replies)
Total Visits: 2449
|
|
