Getaway Guide: One Tank Trip To Lower Cape
It's summertime, and that means the cape is heating up. Among the beauty of a sun-bleached coastline and landscape perimeter of dunes and docks lies an aesthetically pleasing drive to Cape Cod. Whether it's a day trip or weekend getaway, Lower Cape Cod offers something for every traveler.
Getting There
From Boston, it's about an hour and a half to Cape Cod if you don't hit traffic on this 70-mile drive. Not too shabby for a 70-mile drive — if you don't hit traffic. Schedule travel outside of rush hour for the least time on the road.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club
2173 Route 28 Pleasant Bay
Harwich, MA 02645
(800) 225-7125
www.wequassett.com
Click here for rates
If you plan to spend a luxurious weekend enjoying Cape Cod, Wequassett Resort & Golf Club is the place to stay, with breathtaking views on 23 acres of land. Situated on the elbow of Cape Cod, you'll feel like you're somewhere in the Caribbean while staying at this lavish hideaway, and you'll likely pay for that feel as this is one of the pricier options in the area, with good reason. Whet your appetite with four restaurants and 18 holes of golf in one location. Also enjoy two beaches, two pools and a tennis court. Book here off season for the best deals, service and extras.
Cape Codder Resort & Spa
1225 Lyannough Rd.
Hyannis, MA 02601
(888) 297-2200
www.capecodderresort.com
Click here for availability, packages and prices
Stay at the Cape Codder Resort & Spa, which won't be as pricey and lavish as the Wequassett, but offers ample opportunities to indulge your inner child with a splash in the wave pool. Following a day in the sun — likely full of screaming children if you hit the water park at all — head to the resort's Beach Plum Spa for ample pampering to recover. Check out the special package prices for themed trips including girls' getaways and family vacations, or an all-inclusive Cape Cod package that's well worth looking in to. Just 100 yards from the Atlantic Ocean, there's space for everyone.
Craigville Beach
997 Craigville Beach Rd.
Centerville, Cape Cod, MA
(508) 790-6345
www.oncape.com/
Price: $15 parking
A stop at the warm waters of Craigville Beach is an absolute must for the full Cape Cod experience. This popular beach boasts great views, but come through the week or early in the day for the smallest crowds. Surfers here appreciate solid waves — at around five feet — and typically make up the bulk of the morning crowd. The Barnacle, which pretty much holds the monopoly on nearby food across the street, makes a solid fish and chips, but be prepared for surfer-speed service. Dog days and hours are limited on Cape Cod's beaches, so be sure to check in before packing up the pooch.
Related: Doggy Day Trip to P-Town
Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown
307 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA
(800) 826-9300
www.whalewatch.com
Price: $44 adults/$29 children ages 5 to 12/free children 4 and younger
Set your sights on whales and board the Dolphin VI, VII or VIII vessels that depart from Provincetown up to 12 times daily. Enjoy a little education with the majestic beauty of humpback whales, finbacks, minkes and dolphins on fun-filled tours. Guides stand ready to explain behavior, preservation and each species on whale-watching tours you'll be talking about for years to come. This is a tour worthy of the ticket price.
Baxter's Fish 'n' Chips & Boathouse Club
177 Pleasant St.
Hyannis, MA 02601
(508) 775-4490
www.baxterscapecod.com
After sun-soaked hours on the beach and sea beach time, give those taste buds some attention. To dine like a local, a stop at Baxter's Boathouse is in order. Since 1957, this restaurant is one of the oldest on Cape Cod and was built entirely over the water. Watch the ferry boats heading to the neighboring islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard while feasting on fried clams, fish n' chips, oysters, scallops, broiled scrod, native steamers and steamed lobster. This is also a great night spot to enjoy live entertainment on the piano or just relax on the deck, watching the boats and ferries pass by.
Chatham Candy Manor
484 Main St.
Chatham, MA 02633
(508) 945-0825
www.candymanor.com
Take that sweet tooth to Chatham Candy Manor, where Naomi Louise Turner took her family recipes and made sweets her business in 1955. Kids love this spot for its on-site candy making, but nobody leaves dissatisfied, or empty handed. Snag a bag of chocolates or fudges in flavors including fluffernutter and fantasy turtle. Do not miss out on the ever-popular peanut butter fudge and salted caramels.
Wellfleet Flea Market
51 State Hwy., Rte. 6
Wellfleet, MA 02667
(508) 349-0541
www.wellfleetcinemas.com/
Price: $1 to $3 parking
Stop by the Wellfleet Flea Market where you can enjoy breakfast and then shop around the 200 vendors who sell everything from antiques and Cape Cod memorabilia to jewelry and household goods. Not as lively as it was in the days of old, this flea market still boasts local flavor and plenty of playtime for visitors of any age. While you're there, play a round of mini golf, snag awesome snack options and grab a drink at the beer garden.
The A-House
4-6 Masonic Place
Provincetown, MA
(508) 487-3821
www.ahouse.com
Burn off calories and get your people watch on at The Atlantic House in Provincetown— better known as The A-House — a nightclub that allows visitors to choose from one of three bars every night. Be wary of surprisingly strong drinks, as they tend to lead to sweaty, topless men crowding the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. Gay-friendly since the early '50s, The A-House boasts a little bar, a macho room and a bar for leather men and their admirers, complete with a cage. Join in the fun, or just people-watch, but don't miss out on Provincetown's colorful side.
Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre
51 State Hwy., Rte. 6
Wellfleet, MA 02667
(508) 349-7176
www.wellfleetcinemas.com
Price: $8.50 adults/$5 seniors 62 and older/$5 children ages 4 to 11/free children 3 and younger
At dusk, make the nostalgic stop next door to the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, which shows a first-run double feature each and every evening, and offers the cheapest munchies you've seen at a theater since drive-ins were a go-to option. The box office opens at 7 p.m., and films are shown no matter the weather. No need to pack the purses with popcorn and candy, this is the place to chow down on the days of yesteryear with foil-wrapped burgers, super-cheap buckets of popcorn and greasy, salty fries. The theater even features old-fashioned mono speakers.
Related: Fun Summer Activities on Cape Cod
Charlene Peters lives in the Boston area and writes all about Boston as a freelance writer. Whether it's a new restaurant, spa, hotel, event or activity, for over 3 years, she's been ready and willing to experience and share her findings with readers. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
