CAPE COD VACATION HELP?

Question

Either for my parents for their anniversary in January/February or as a family trip in April.
Could you tell me possible activities, hotels, deals, packages, anything?
and Please tell me around how much everything will cost if you can, (as you can tell, we don't go on vacations very often and have never been to Cape Cod) and we live in NY
thanks!

Answer 1

It depends on what your parents' interests are I suppose but I honestly can't come up with any reason to vacation on the Cape specifically, in winter. There is nothing in any of the towns on the Cape that could not be experienced in any other small town not far from the ocean.



I grew up in Falmouth and am there every week year round. I can assure you that it is just another small town. This answer pertains to Falmouth but much of it will be true for any town on the Cape.



I do persue some of my own interests there but if I had grown up in a different small town I could probably be doing so there too. Wandering in the woods and geeking around with my field guide and binoculars, birding mostly.



If your parents enjoy that type of activity they could have a blast.



Now if you plan a family trip in April there might be a bit more to do. Still, you'll need to post more questions concerning the activities the family might enjoy as a group and as individuals. In April most water/beach activities will be out except for beach walking but you might be able to charter a boat to take you out fishing (it'll be cold on the water). Golf courses will be open. You could go horseback riding. If you don't mind coughing up the money for a family membership, and if you own guns, you could skeet shoot at the Rod and Gun Club.



Most of the tourist-oriented gift shops will be closed. All the stores on Main St will be those that people shop in all year like the bookstore and the hardware store. A bit boring I would think. You can look at hedge trimmers and cans of linseed oil anywhere.



There are a few good to very good places to eat if you enjoy eating out (well, you'll have to) in town.



Up near the Villiage Green there are several old buildings, homes once, maintained by the Historical Society. You can tour some of them. Interesting if you enjoy stuff from the Colonial period.



Woods Hole, a villiage of Falmouth, is home to the Woods Hole Oceanagraphic Institute, one of the world's major marine research centers. I believe they have some tours of the facilities.



Woods Hole Harbor is picturesque. Fishing boats etc.



I cannot tell you how much it would cost to stay in Falmouth or elsewhere on the Cape because since my mother still lives there I have never had reason to rent anything.



You might be able to get an off-season deal on a cottage. One of the big real estate agencies is Harriet Dugan. If hers can't find you a place, noone's will. Google it.



I wish you would post more questions about this. I would like to help but I feel I am being depressing instead.

Answer 2

Cape Cod would be rather cold in Jan/Feb (cheaper) going in April (more $) would be better. How many people will be going?



Less Than Two Miles From The Harbor, The Radisson Hyannis Is A Two-story Hotel On The Southern Coast Of Beautiful Cape Cod, Mass. Located Almost Adjacent To Barnstable Municipal Airport In Hyannis, This Cape Cod Hotel Offers Easy Access To The Airport, And Ferries That Transport Travelers To Nantucket And Martha's Vineyard Are One-quarter Mile Away.



Just to give you an idea



Radisson Hyannis King Bed w/ Daily Breakfast 2 Rooms w/ King Bed Each Room - $585.44 ($292.72) per room





Bayview Beach

ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard

Hyannis Harbor cruises to Hyannisport and the Kennedy compound

Cape Cod Train

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum

Cape Cod Whale Watching

Cape Cod National Seashore

Answer 3

First, Cape Cod is not a small place. You need to be a bit more specific about which area of Cape Cod you are interested in.



My wife and I have been going to the Cape for years. Most recently, we've stayed in time-share condos. We've been there at various times of the year. January/February is cold, and the weather can be bad (but that doesn't happen all that often). A greater concern is that many of the tourist attractions are closed in the winter. The good news is that the traffic and parking situations are much improved. :)



For the last couple of years we've gone in April. The tourist attractions start to open in mid-April, and the weather is generally much more predictable. Rain is a possibility, but snow not so much.



We generally target the Brewster area as our base - we own weeks at the Brewster Green resort (which has the highest occupancy rate of any time-share on the Cape). Brewster is on the 'quiet side' of the Cape - we spend most of our time in Brewster, Orleans, Chatham, P'Town, Sandwich, etc. That's our preference - others may like the honky-tonk atmosphere of Hyannis and Yarmouth, but we don't. We've stayed in the Falmouth area a couple of times (in February) - that area is much more residential, and therefore FAR quieter in the winter. And it's a serious drive to the areas we prefer.



I suggest that you first identify what kind of activities you are targeting for your parents - and let that guide your search. And don't overlook the time-share places - some are very nice.