The Cape
‘Ol Cape Cod…Let me tell you about my Cape Cod times!! Oh my goodness!! I am IN LOVE with this place! For probably ten years, I had dreamed of someday visiting Cape Cod. This dream started while I was in a stream of dysfunctional relationships, still raising my kids, and no extra cash to even consider it could happen for a long time.
Well, it just so happens that my cousin, Denise, and I are in very similar stages of life. Also, our lives have paralleled each other for pretty much our entire lives. That being said, it was no surprise when, a couple of years ago, we were both free of the restraints that kept us from traveling like we wanted to, and we decided it was time to start seeing some places!
We planned a trip to New England for September of 2021, and the first leg of that trip was to Cape Cod. It was the first visit for both of us and we were equally excited about it. Because we went in September, it was off season. For me, that’s even better! Not only does cooler weather not bother me, I prefer it.
We stayed near Hyannis on this first visit and spent a good bit of our three days there around that area. We did take the ferry over to Martha’s Vineyard for one of the days as well-it was nice. But it wasn’t Cape Cod! I say, give me Cape Cod over Martha’s Vineyard anytime!
The Cape, as locals call it, is a small and charming community. During that first visit there, the sidewalks of the main drag in downtown Hyannis were lined with the specialty shops (and touristy shops, too) that I enjoy so much. And the sidewalks were also notably void of people. But that made it all the more appealing to me. We ate at a couple of neat restaurants, and I experienced my first ever lobster roll while we were there. It was quiet, quaint, and cozy. With the beautiful, inviting salt box (as they call them) homes with the quintessential cedar shingle siding scattered over the island and along the coast, and the calm, quietness of the whole place (it really did feel almost like we had the entire island to ourselves!), I think we both left there with reluctance. We also both left there knowing for certain we would be back again. And again.
Ten months after we first set foot on Cape Cod, we were indeed back again! Denise had a week long workshop for continuing education hours she needed for her licensure, and I went along for the pure joy of it. I worked during the day in the hotel room while she was away at class. In the afternoons and evenings, we were hot to trot, all over the place! This time, we stayed right in Hyannis, so we were within walking distance of all of the good stuff. Being there during the “on” season was a lot different. The sidewalks of downtown Hyannis were bustling with people day and night. Restaurants were busy and we actually had to wait in lines to get on the ferry and the whale tour boat!! Such gall these tourists have, taking over our town like that!
In all seriousness, it was even better than the first trip there! We saw a lot more of the island because Cape Cod was our only destination that time. One of the days we visited Nantucket (there will be a post coming about that-it was fabulous), but other than that-it was the Cape all the way!
Provincetown, aka P Town, was certainly worth a visit on this trip. I wonder if most of you are like me in that you always thought the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock (?). Well, they didn’t. They originally landed in P Town, and then moved on to Plymouth Rock. While we were in P Town, we saw the Pilgrim’s Monument, which was really neat. We didn’t go inside because we had something more fun to do! We boarded the boat for our whale watching tour from there and let me tell you! It did NOT disappoint!! WOW! What a spectacular show the whales put on for us that day. And when that part was over, the sky did some showing off too. God truly blessed us that day by allowing us to see some of His most spectacular creations.
When we got off of the boat, we had a nice dinner at a restaurant on the water, and then walked around downtown Provincetown for a while. It was among my favorite of all places I’ve visited in the U.S. When we go back to Cape Cod (and we WILL go back to Cape Cod-hopefully at least once a year), we plan to spend more time in P Town. And let me not end without telling you this: Denise and I both love The Cape so much, we got matching tattoos of it while we were there!! If you go there and want to do the same, we got them at Spilt Milk Tattoo on Main Street in Hyannis. You’re welcome 😊
To me, you just can’t beat an endless coastline to walk on, seeing whales and seals and such swimming in the water around you, stretches of downtown made for nightlife and pleasure, and choices in entertainment to suit the likes of all. If I was forced to choose one thing about Cape Cod that I consider less than desirable, it’s the fact that Jaws lives in those waters!! So, there will be NO swimming in the ocean off of the Cape’s coast for this girl! Cape Cod times are among the best of times!
Love it💜