Cape Cod: Can I Get A Cup Of Coffee?
Written: Jul 31 '01 (Updated Aug 04 '01)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Fun in the sun! (protected by SPF 30 of course)
Cons: Always a bad hair day on the breezy Cape! ;)
The Bottom Line: Prepare yourself for outlet shopping, beach going, dining, and plenty of traffic.
|
|
|
| rpllingrock's Full Review: Cape Cod |
I’ve vacationed on Cape Cod on and off for the past 35 years, but this year there were a few things that caught my attention. Some for the good, and some not so good.
Where It’s At!
There are three main roadways which just about cover 90% of the Cape, Routes 28, 6, and 6A. This year, we traveled mainly in the upper and mid Cape areas.
I break down the routes like this, R 28 takes you on an endless stop and go, with traffic entering and exiting motels, restaurants, souvenir shops and so on.
Route 6 is the main divided highway that is intended to get you as far along R28 while bypassing traffic in the process.
Route 6A is more of a relaxed travel, mainly because there are historic sites which lay along this direction and less of the hassle of R28.
Bottom line: For the amount of traffic, the people are, for the most part, very courteous and allow you to either enter or exit without too much of a wait. Leave the road rage at home!
The Bridges
The Bourne and Sagamore bridges are your gateway to the Cape. Both span the Cape Cod Canal, and can be a headache to get across. Times range from a few minutes to ½ hour, depending on your day and time of travel.
Bottom line: Avoid the bridges entering the Cape on Friday between 4- 7 p.m. and Saturday between about noon-to 5 p.m. Exiting the Cape on Sunday, between 2 and 7 p.m. This is why we plan our vacations to end on Fridays. Not many people leave on this day, only entering.
The Beach
Every time I visit the Cape, I find something new. This year it was the Craigville Beach in Centerville. This has got to be one of the biggest, cleanest, warmest, and most enjoyable beach on the Cape. Parking is $10 for the day. The day we went there the lot was about ¾ full and the beach wasn’t nearly as crowded as I though it would be. I estimate that the beach ran about 200-250 feet from the lot to the edge of the water, and seemed like a mile wide!
Bottom line:Bring plenty of SPF 30. For the guys, wear dark sunglasses so the wife doesn’t see what you’re looking at! ;)
Waterfront Dining
We decided to try a little waterfront dining while we were here. So I scanned through the local guides given out at every establishment. In the guide, “Along Route 28”, we saw an ad for the “Lobster Boat” Restaurant. “Waterfront Dining” the ad screamed. Sounds good!
As we pull into the driveway, the restaurant itself appears to be part lobster boat (hence the name) and part wood structure. After being seated indoors, we asked to be seated outside where the temperature was at least 30 degrees cooler. “Sorry, we don’t serve outdoors”. What!!!! But the ad said…ah…never mind!
So we sat there sweltering, eating our curds and whey.
On our next family dining excursion, we opted for a place called ”Skippy’s Pier”, which also boasts waterfront dining. We made a pact that we would not settle for anything less than sitting no more than 5 feet from the water. (Spoiled Connecticut brats! ;)
We got our wish and enjoyed our delicious meal by the water!
Bottom line: If you enjoy seafood, there isn’t a spot on this planet where you’ll find fresher lobster or fish, than the Cape. As far as the Lobster Boat is concerned, avoid at all costs. Rude staff and mediocre food.
Fast Fresh Fried Food
Several years ago, we discovered a little shack on R28 called “Jerry’s Seafood, quite possibly the best deep-fried seafood on the Cape in my opinion. I think we’ve eaten at every fried seafood place along 28 and this place is tops.
Bottom line: Anticipate spending about $10 per person and bring the Zantac or Rolaids.
Miniature Golf
Every year it seems one new mini-golf establishment opens for business along R28. We’ve tried them all and I think that the “The Pirate’s Cove is among the very best value for the money.
Bottom line: Go during the day or expect long wait times, and always let the kids win. ;)
The Duck Mobile
My wife decided that this was the year we go for a tour on the Duck Mobile. The Duck Mobile is an old military amphibious vehicle converted to tour Hyannis and the Hyannis Port.
You leave the Cape Bowl in Hyannis and travel down Main Street. Personally, I felt like an idiot riding around in this bright blue vehicle with the yellow top, yelling out “Quack, Quack, Quack” to passerby’s on the street. This on cue from the tour guide.
After about a 10-minute drive through the streets, we wait our turn to take a plunge into the harbor. Then we float around for another 30 minutes or so looking at points of interest like old pieces of metal sitting in the water. Then it’s back on land for our return trip to the Cape Bowl. Thank God!
Bottom line: Don’t sit in the rumble seat unless you enjoy the constant roar and heat from the engine. Cost $50 for a family of 4. Ouch!!
Some Of My Mindless Observations
· Can I find a Dunkin Donuts open later than 9 p.m.? Thousands of cars passing by and they find it necessary to close at such an early hour? What’s up with that? Not to mention, the real estate they’re located on is way too small to accommodate both a parking lot and a Drive Thru. Get there between 8-9 a.m. and you’re out. In the road that is, waiting to either park or get in line for the Drive Thru.
Bottom line: Get there early. Set the alarm clock to 6 a.m. to beat the crowds and get your caffeine fix.
· The tour of the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory had to be one of the worse non-guided tours I’ve ever been on! The tour consists of a walk down a 100-foot hallway where I saw workers cutting potatoes (Dan Quale?), looking back at us and hanging around. No flash photography or video cameras allowed. They evidently don’t want their chip making secrets out! ;)
The only reason we even went on this tour was because it was raining. After the 1 minute and 30 second trip down the hallway, you’re in the factory outlet store, where you can purchase every variety of chip, pretzel and popcorn they make. My new favorite is the Yukon Gold 5 grams of fat in a 1 oz serving, or about ½ that of regular chips.
Bottom line: Good chips, bad tour! When it rains on the Cape, everyone is in his or her car looking for something to do. I suggest staying in the Motel room and watching Court TV.
· What day in the rain would be complete without a trip to Cuffy’s, a tee shirt and sweatshirt supplier to the Cape! Here we are supposed to find apparel at up to 50% savings. Well, you are basically stuck with two words on any shirt, “Cape Cod”. No Hyannis, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, just Cape Cod! They silkscreen the shirts there, you just can’t buy anything branded with any city or town there. At least the day we were there.
Bottom line: Go here only if you run out of gas and need to use the payphone or bathroom. Wait! What's that? They don't have public restrooms?
Leave The American Express At Home!
Of the countless thousands of dollars (seemed that way anyway), about ½ of the establishments did not accept American Express. Most of the restaurants did, but the smaller mom and pop operations did not, including the much-hated Duck Mobile.
Bottom line: Why I asked? -Because their charges are too high, and small purchases did not make it worth their while. Well excuse me!!!
Their Beloved Red Sox
I was amazed to see the amount of Red Sox paraphernalia on the Cape. I know it’s only a stones throw from Boston, but when you see the 100th person wearing a “Yankees Suck” tee shirt, one begins to wonder, or as a Yankee fan, fear for ones life! ;)
Bottom line: I pray that they win a World Series so they can take those shirts off.
Overall
We enjoyed our vacation at the Cape this year and plan to return next year and most likely the year after that. Every time we visit, we try to do different things to keep our children amused. Since they’re getting older, it gets more and more difficult as the years go by.
NOTE
8-4-01
I've edited this review to correct some mistakes and add a few lines that I had ommitted by mistake.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Jun - Aug
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.