Summer on the Cape

My 16 yr old daughter suggested Cape Cod for our mother/daughter trip. She had been to the Hamptons the summer prior and loved it so she wanted to stay on the east coast. Immediately my brain envisioned sandy beaches, seafood dinners and chill vibes. Ok let's do it!

We booked an Airbnb in the town of Dennis Port. It fit the budget and was central enough to drive to everything on the cape. We didn't over plan anything which was nice. If we were hungry, we ate. If we were hot, we swam. If we wanted to explore, we went.

Here are our most memorable (and recommended) experiences:

EAT

Dinner with Best View - The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort

Best Lobster Tacos and Fun Vibe with Live Outdoor Music - The Ocean House

SEE

Provincetown is worth the drive. Cute shops and beautiful houses that have the most amazing flowers everywhere. Wear comfortable shoes as you may have to park pretty far from the downtown area. Be aware the vibe changes as the evening approaches so do your research if you're looking for nightlife.

And don't leave P-Town without a visit to North Truro High Head Beach. Beautiful sand dunes and trails leading up to the park. We lucked out as there were very little people and felt like we had the beach to ourselves. Looking out into the ocean feels like you're standing at the edge of the earth.

DO

A day before we left Chicago I Googled "events this weekend in Cape Cod". This little concert venue popped up and Tyler Hubbard was performing! I checked out tickets and was shocked how reasonable the prices were. We paid $100 for third row seats! In Chicago that would have been double or triple the cost! Melody Tent has seating all around a round, rotating stage. Yes, rotating! So there is not a bad seat in the house! And free parking, geez I felt like it was the old days again. I've seriously contemplated flying back just to see a concert here again.

Day trip to Martha's Vineyard via the ferry in Hyannis. When you get off the ferry, skip the touristy shops and jump on bus to explore the island. We stopped in Edgartown and enjoyed the coffee shop and did a little shopping then jumped back on the bus to the Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook. You will find breathtaking views here! There are a few tiny shops and food vendors, but keep a good grip on your food as the birds will steal food right out of your hands! The view is amazing but my daughter wanted to venture down to the beach which was a bit of a trek. We wanted to get past all the beach-goers so she could get better photos so we walked until we reached around the corner... and were met by quite a discovery! Nobody had warned us that this section of beach is clothing-optional. Seriously I would have never in my life guessed that but apparently my impression of the Vinyard being just polo shirts and sailing was wrong. Anyway if you can look past that, you will enjoy a gorgeous cliffside beach but double check the people in the background of your photos before you post them.

DISCOVER

On our way back to Boston airport we had a couple hours open. My intention was to show my daughter part of the city but I took a wrong turn. Somehow we ended up at Revere Beach and ironically, it was the best shells finding we had all weekend. There was a sand castle building contest and lots of people enjoying the water. I never think of a beach when I think of Boston, which is similar to what I hear a lot about Chicago. We have such awesome beaches in Chicago but it's not the first thing that comes to mind if you're not from here I guess.

If you are from the Chicago area, I would describe Cape Cod as the Lake Geneva of the East Coast. The towns are cute, the people are nice. The overall atmosphere is vacation-mode vibe. There are enough things to do if you want to stay busy, but there's also a quiet and relaxing energy if you're looking to escape the hustle and bustle.