A reader question:
May I ask, I’m trying to persuade my husband to do a trip to Maine, Cape Cod, next summer. Has to be summer because of school holidays… thinking if staying in inns/air b n bs etc. would you mind sharing areas that would be worth visiting? With x3 teens? Thanks Muffy x
Don't miss the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport , ME !
ReplyDeleteJust got back from Hyannis - Scudder house next to Kennedy compound
ReplyDeleteOn the Cape, we’ve stayed in Yarmouth, Brewster, Chatham and wellfleet. Enjoyed each place. Also stayed in south Dartmouth on the water, which isn’t on cape cod but is nearby. We used to live in Portsmouth New Hampshire, and liked the beaches in Rye and York Harbor, which are close enough to Portsmouth to easily drive there.. Rockport is a nice town. If you favor lakes and hiking, you could try the Rangeley area in Maine or some of the towns on lake winnipesaukee in New Hampshire. (Last summer, we were in Meredith, lakefront plus a tolerable drive to hike Mount Washington in the white mountains) There are a lot of great places to stay. We usually rent rather than stay in hotels.
ReplyDeleteAll for the good. Mt Washington is not a casual hike. Bring your woolies.
DeleteWe had great weather, except the summit was in the clouds. About 6 1/2 hours round trip up Tuckermans Ravine and down Lion’s Head. Tired legs the next day, but it’s a spectacular hike.
DeleteI would love to get a bumper sticker that says, "Forget your car, my dog climbed Mt. Washington." :-)
DeleteFind an AirBnB somewhere like Sandwich or Bourne, and take little road trips to the bigger towns further out on the cape each day you’re there.
ReplyDeleteYes. You could do that. But be wary of traffic on Rt 28. It’s a two lane road. Every time a child wants an ice cream cone, and the car they’re in has to stop to cross to the other side of the road, traffic backs up for a half a mile.
DeleteThe Cape, the real Cape, is Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and P-town. Find a place to stay in any of these towns.
ReplyDeleteThe Harraseeket Inn in Freeport is a must!
ReplyDeleteI have two teens, and we've stayed in Hyannis/Yarmouth/Barnstable area a few times, as well as stayed in Kennebunkport, Maine, and up near Acadia National Park. You can't go wrong with any of these areas. We prefer renting a house to staying at an inn, and we try to stay somewhere where we can kayak or hike nearby.
ReplyDeleteAlthough crowded in summer, Acadia National Park maybe the most beautiful place in New England. And there's plenty to do: exploring the hiking trails, the Carriage Roads (by horse drawn cart or bicycle) the nature preserve and Native American Museum at Sieur de Mont Springs, Sand Cove beach, boat excursions to Cranberry Isles, fresh lobster feasts on the dock (there are many), I would opt for an AirBNB or VRBO,. The two glamorous Inns Claremont in Southwest Harbor and Asticou (closed for renovations until 2025) in Northeast Harbor are beautiful but pricey. Bar Harbor is bustling but possibly too touristy. I would say if you like scenery and hiking go to Maine, if you like sand and beaches go to Cape Cod. Good luck and have a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteFor a 'beach extravaganza' on The Cape go to The Beachcomber at Cahoon Hollow Beach. Great fun, good food. Rinse off afterwards at Great Pond on the way to the Wellfleet Drive-in movie at dusk. Can't do any better than that: https://thebeachcomber.com/ Regarding Acadia Nat'l Park in Maine take a daytrip from Stonington to the Park's Isle Au Haut's Duck Harbor for the wonderful hiking trails along the coast of the Park's spectacular outer island. https://isleauhautferryservice.com/acadia.html Monhegan Island is another great day-long island trip: https://monheganboat.com/monhegan/
DeleteI grew up in Centerville in Barnstable. I think your best bet on the Cape is to find an Airbnb or inn close to the beach and either a walk or short drive to a nice town center. As far as beaches go, the quieter beaches are on the south side (on Nantucket Sound), the beaches with big waves (but more sharks) are on the eastern arm. The best town centers are Falmouth, Woods Hole, Chatham, P-town, and Hyannis. Hyannis is big with plenty to do but it is very busy and the crowds can get a little unsavory at night. P-Town is nice but very remote and the activities are not always family-friendly. I would look for rental cottages or inns that are walking distance to the beach (some have their own section of beach) and with a nearby town that has some activities that your kids would be interested in. Hope you have a great time!
ReplyDeleteWe recently stayed at Green Harbor Resort in West Yarmouth and really had a pleasant time - right on the beach, pool, and pretty quiet!
ReplyDeleteThe Inn at Weathersfielsd in Perkins, Vermont!
ReplyDeleteOut of all of New England Maine is my favorite state. And in Maine out of all of the places I have been Christmas Cove and Pemaquid Point are closest to my heart. Most likely because my father.
ReplyDeleteThe Cape, the "real Cape", is divided into three parts - upper Cape (Falmouth, Sandwich, Bourne, etc.) mid Cape (Hyannis on the south, Barnstable village, Yarmouthport, etc. on the north) lower Cape (Harwich, Brewster, up to Ptown). Stay away from resorts on Rt 28, unless you want to spend the better part of your vacation in the car. Falmouth might be a good choice for you - great downtown, great beaches, Shining Sea bikeway and the people only ferry to Martha's Vineyard. You can explore the rest of the Cape from there, if you get off 28 early enough.
ReplyDeleteThere are no beaches on the east coast, and that includes the islands, like those found on the Cape’s National Seashore. Those beaches are what we think of when we think of the Cape, no matter where we stay on our visits. And we’ve been visiting the Cape since 1970. We love the big, high, dunes, the kettle ponds, and the fact you can get away from the crowd and walk for miles alongside the breathtaking waves breaking on the shore.
ReplyDelete