Vacation Ideas… Cape Cod (Take 2!)

A few years ago, I planned a summer family vacation to beautiful Cape Cod, Massachusetts. We enjoyed our week long stay so much, that we decided to return back to the small town of New Seabury (Mashpee, MA) this summer for a second go round…with new and exciting places to explore throughout Cape Cod! You can view our last Cape Cod adventure in my blog post, click here Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Explore Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard With Your Family

Cape Cod is a perfect location for a fall, spring or summer getaway! Continue reading for more fun and exciting tips in planning your next weekend getaway or vacation to Cape Cod. Here in New England, we have been experiencing summer weather even in mid-September!

Cape Cod … Take 2!

• Explore the quaint town of Provincetown. Take a drive up the National Seashore to Provincetown. Take your time strolling through the town and visit local shops, the public library, art galleries, and The Pilgrim Monument (Did you know that the pilgrims first landed in Provincetown before settling in Plymouth?). Enjoy excellent crab cakes, lobster rolls and harbor views at Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant. Visit The Donut Experiment for a unique way to order a donut…fill out your order form and watch your donuts being made right in front of you! Provincetown is very pet friendly – dogs are welcomed in many of the shops, restaurants, and beaches. Make sure to visit the Pilgrim Bark Park before you head home !
• Enjoy a wine tasting at Truro Vineyards… kids and dogs are welcome! On our way to Provincetown, we took a pit stop at Truro Vineyards and made time for a wine tasting and tour of the facility. They allowed both our dog and children to hang out with us while we sampled their unique local vineyard. (Please drink responsibly.)
• Try something new… Paddleboarding Lessons in Mashpee. The last time we vacationed on the Cape, my son and I kayaked in Ockway Bay, while my daughter and husband paddle boarded. This vacation, we all signed up for paddle boarding lessons and took a guided 1 -hour tour of Ockway Bay in Mashpee! Rentals and lessons available at Mocean Cape Cod located in Mashpee Commons.
• Take on the beautiful views while playing 9 holes of golf in East Falmouth. Cape Cod offers many  beautiful public golf courses. Cape Cod Country Club offers free golf for children after 3 pm and discounted rates for adults after 2pm.
• Tennis anyone? Pack your tennis rackets for a family-friendly tennis match. Check out the local high school courts in Falmouth or any local town for availability.
• Family Bike rides (with dog in tow) to Popponessett Marketplace. We chose to stay in New Seabury again, which was a perfect location for our family. It was near shopping, restaurants, beaches, bike paths, tennis, golfing, and entertainment. It was located near a small town of Popponessett. Riding bikes through the town and on the bike paths would lead us to cafes, shops, entertainment and mini golf. To learn more about vacation rentals in New Seabury, visit http://www.newseaburyrentals.com.
• Visit lighthouses on the National Seashore. Check out the lighthouse photo below, look familiar? It is the Nauset Lighthouse, which is pictured on all bags of Cape Cod Chips! Cape Cod has many historical lighthouses, we visited a few while driving up to Provincetown. (Tip: We took a tour of Cape Cod Chips Factory on our last visit, visit http://www.capecodchips.com for hours and directions for this free tour in Hyannis.)
• You’ll never run out of Ice Cream and Food options. Using the Yelp App, we discovered many ice cream shops and restaurants while visiting Cape Cod. We were never disappointed on this vacation and on our last trip to Cape Cod. Here are a few suggestions from our most recent trip. For breakfast or coffee: Cape Cod Coffee (Mashpee), Moonakis Cafe (East Falmouth), Coffee Table (Popponesset). For lunch or dinner:  Siena (Mashpee), Pepe’s Wharf Restaurant (Provincetown), Wicked Restaurant and Wine Bar (Mashpee), Sesuit Harbour Cafe (Dennis), The Black Cat (Hyannis), Burger Shack at Corporation Beach (Dennis), Bobby Byrnes (Mashpee), Trevi Cafe and Wine Bar (Mashpee).  For ice cream: Polar Cave (Mashpee), Emack & Bolio (Popponesset), Ice Cream Smuggler (Dennis) , Cape Cod Creamery (East Yarmouth).
• Beach hopping, and seal searching!  Cape Cod has many great kid-friendly beaches to offer. Each one was unique in what it offered, from finding starfish and sand dollars, to seeing seals swim so close to shore, lighthouses to tour, to great waves for boogie boarding… Here are a few beaches that we visited and enjoyed: Corporation Beach (Dennis), Mayflower Beach (Dennis), South Cape Beach (Mashpee), Nauset Lighthouse Beach (Eastham).

 

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Fun and Sun in Newport and Narragansett, Rhode Island

Living in Rhode Island all of my life… I tend to, at times, take for granted the beautiful miles of coastline just a short drive from my house! Last year, my family and I were very fortunate to be able to stay at our friends’ beach house in Narragansett, RI. It was a wonderful location and allowed us to become tourists in what is truly “The Ocean State”. Check out some of our suggested activities if you find yourself vacationing in Narragansett or Newport, RI this summer!

Thank you to our friends for offering their beautiful home to us! 

Click here for fun and sun activities in Narragansett, RI Summer Vacation Ideas: Relax on the Beach in Narragansett, RI

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Summer Vacation Ideas : Newport, RI …fun and historical!

 

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Explore Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard With Your Family

One of the best summer destinations in New England is Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. It is a vacation destination for many, and we are very fortunate to live only a short drive away! We have visited both destinations with our children and enjoyed every day we were able to visit! Check out our suggestions for a visit to Cape Code and Martha’s Vineyard in the coastal state of Massachusetts! Click links below.

Cape Cod Summer Vacation Ideas : Explore Cape Cod

Martha’s Vineyard What a Day on Martha’s Vineyard!

Start Planning Your Summer Vacation : Road Trip to Hilton Head, SC

Hilton Head, South Carolina was a family road trip idea we had one summer! We all enjoyed it so much, we went back again two summers later! Check out our road trip to the sun and sand of Hilton Head Island!

Visit  Summer Vacation Ideas : Sun and Sand on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Day Trips with Kids in Massachusetts

Fun and adventure is a must on our day to day summer adventures with my kids. I keep everyday a “secret” until the day of the event. This year we were able to take a few local day trips to nearby Massachusetts. Here is a list I put together for the other adventurous parents out there (or families visiting the New England area this summer or fall!) Have fun!

10 Family Fun Day Trips in Massachusetts

1. Purgatory Chasm Sutton, MA – Take a hike on rocks, boulders and trails in this natural challenge! Pack a picnic lunch, visit the playground and stop for an ice cream treat at West End Creamery (before getting back on the highway).
2. Plimouth Plantations, Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock Plymouth, MA – Visit a replica of where the first colonists and Native Americans lived. A great educational experience! Tips : 1. Make sure to stop by the bakery to pick up a loaf of fresh baked bread! 2. Visit Plantations first, then drive over to the Grist Mill (free parking) and walk along the river to experience the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. Ice cream and cupcake treats available along a serene town. (And yes, Plimouth Plantations is spelled differently than Plymouth, MA – even Moms learn something new everyday!) Visit http://www.plimoth.org
3. Fenway Park (Stadium Tour and Red Sox Game) Boston, MA – A fun experience to watch the Boston Red Sox play ball and a memorable tour of this historical landmark. Visit http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/tour.jsp
4. Boston Museum of Science Boston, MA – A great science museum for all ages. Be sure to check out the lightening show, planetarium and a cool roller coaster simulation ride (additional fees required).
5. Great Wolf Lodge Fitchburg, MA  -Ok, so this is not a day trip… But…  A perfect “vacation” any time of the year. Unfortunately, GWL requires an overnight stay in order to use their water park, but the kids (and parents) won’t be disappointed. There are many activities in addition to the water play, my kids enjoyed the ropes course the most! If you are looking for a day trip option, consider CoCoKey Indoor Water Park in Danvers, MA. Visit https://www.greatwolf.com/new-england or http://www.cocokeyboston.com
6. An Unlikely Story Plainville, MA  Visit this quaint book store located inside a refurbished general store in a quaint little town. Owned and operated by my son’s favorite author, Jeff Kinney from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series. Autographed books available for sale. There is also a cafe located inside the book store for a quick lunch or treat! If you are lucky, maybe you will bump into Mr. Kinney himself! Located down the street from Wrentham Village Outlets. Visit http://www.anunlikelystory.com
7. Boston Duck Tours Boston, MA – A fun and unique way to tour this harbor city. The tour guides are hilarious and guide you through many parts of Boston, both on land and in water!  Tours can be picked up at the Boston Museum of Science. Visit http://www.bostonducktours.com/mobile-home/
8. Gilette Stadium (New England Patriots Training Camp and Fan Zone) Foxboro, MA – Come and cheer on the New England Patriots in an exclusive opportunity to watch them practice before the football season starts! Arrive early for front row seats to experience all of the action! A Fan Zone is also set up for more excitement, meet the cheerleaders and mascot, inflatables, food, treats, games and many prize opportunities. Take a walk over to Patriots Place for more food, shopping and events. Visit http://www.patriots.com/trainingcamp
9. Corporation Beach Dennis, Cape Cod, MA – This is my family’s family beach in Cape Cod. It is family-friendly with a food shack and facilities, a great place to swim and explore in the sand bars during low tide for hermit crabs. Visit http://www.town.dennis.ma.us/Pages/index
10. Southwick Zoo Mendon, MA – A great day out with the family to visit a wide variety of animal species. Our favorite is the rhino! Visit http://southwickszoo.com

Summer Vacation Ideas : Newport, RI …fun and historical!

Continuing to live in our state as a tourist this summer, our next destination is Newport, RI! What a wonderful mix of beaches, history, education and fun! Whether you are visiting Rhode Island for the day, weekend or week, add Newport to your “must see” list! Newport is a 20-minute drive from Narragansett, RI.

10 Must See Family Stops in Newport, RI:

1. Educational Fun at the Newport Mansions – Newport, RI offers many historical mansion tours. See how the rich and famous lived back in the day. Keep in mind, these were their summer homes! The Breakers is a top pick for families with children, as it gears their tour information with facts and memories from some of the children that vacationed in these homes. Most mansion tours offer a self-guided iPad tour with headphones.  Group mansion packages are also an option of you are looking to see mansions from other families or eras. Visit http://www.newportmansions.org for tour information. (Recommended for school-aged children).
2. Take a scenic stroll on the Cliff Walk. Walk along the edge of this beautiful shoreline.
3. Explore the Rhode Island ocean life! Visit the Save the Bay Exploration Center and have the opportunity to touch sea life from the RI coast. After your visit with the fish, take a ride on the Carousel and cool off with a refreshing Del’s Lemonade (frozen lemonade at it’s finest, only in RI!) Visit http://www.savebay.org/aquarium or http://www.cityofnewport.com/departments/easton-s-beach for more information.
4. Relax on various Newport Beaches! My children’s favorite Newport Beach is Gooseberry Beach, where the hermit and sand crabs capture their attention every time!
5. Go fly a kite! Take a scenic ride on Ocean Drive toward Brenton Point State Park. Watch in awe as various people fly their kites at this beautiful location on Newport. Bring your own kite to fly or, at times, we have spotted kite vendors on the grass. Enjoy a picnic lunch and watch the waves crash into the rocks.
6. Take a boat ride! An economical way to take a boat ride in Newport is to take a Harbor Shuttle, it will take you around the Newport Harbor, and your driver will also point out various famous yachts, ships, and landmarks in the Harbour. The boat also stops at Fort Adams (we have never been on the official tour here yet, but plan to soon!) Visit http://www.newportharborshuttle.com for stops, prices and sights!
7. Tailgate at a Polo match! This is on our Summer’s to-do list. Have fun with family and friends while tailgating with a picnic and lawn games at a Newport Polo match. Visit http://www.nptpolo.com for match schedule and prices.
8. Take a short drive over the bridge to Jamestown, RI! Visit Beavertail Park for scenic ocean views, nature strolls, a “mini” aquarium of RI sea life, a lighthouse and a Musuem on the history of the lighthouse. Visit http://www.riparks.com/Locations/LocationBeavertail.html for more information. Treat yourself to ice cream at Spinnakers or Island Scoop. Climb aboard a unique playground made with tires… The Jamestown Community Playground will sure be a hit with kids, no matter what age! Visit http://www.jamestownri.gov/town-departments/parks-recreation/parks-and-facilities-/head-s-beach/community-playground for location.
9. Visit the oldest lending library in America ! My daughter loves to read and learn about history. We visited the Redwood Library  and Athenaeum for an informative tour on this library’s amazing history (Tour recommended for school-aged children). Visit http://www.redwoodlibrary.org for tours and information on a children’s story time that they offer.

10. Indulge in designer cupcakes! Visit Cupcake Charlies near the historic cobble and brick Thames Street for an incredible treat! My favorite is the Hostess Cupcake (just like the original!). Check out http://www.cupcakecharlies.com/ for hours and directions.

Summer Vacation Ideas: Relax on the Beach in Narragansett, RI

Rhode Island is known for its beautiful beaches throughout the state. We recently had an opportunity to stay in a beach house in Narragansett, RI . What a unique opportunity to experience your own state as a tourist! Although, we have enjoyed day trips to Narragansett many times before, I thought I would share a list of great destinations and activities for families (and blog followers!) visiting Narragansett, RI for the first time or if you are deciding to become a tourist in your own state!

Fun Family Destinations in Narragansett, RI

1. Catch a wave at the beach! Narragansett has so many beaches, both state and town beaches, to offer visitors. Many allow surfing or boogie boards…a great day out in the ocean. In comparison to many beaches we have vacationed to, mostly every RI beach offers bathing and toilet facilities, parking and food shack options. Suggested beaches for families include Narragansett Town Beach, Roger Wheeler State Beach, Salty Brine State Beach, and East Matunuck State Beach. Visit http://riparks.com/ and http://www.narragansettri.gov/323/Narragansett-Town-Beach . 
2. Learn a little bit of history. Visit the South County Museum to see artifacts and learn about a former RI Governor, William Sprague, during the Civil War Era. For more information about hours and admission, visit http://www.southcountymuseum.org/ .
3. Take a hike, kayak, or bike! Pack a picnic lunch, bug spray and water bottle and take a hike on the Canochet Trail, which leads to the South County Museum. The hike takes about 25 minutes from the start of the trail, which starts at the Narragansett Elementary School/Community Center. A cool playground (Sprague Park) is also located by the school. Kayak Narrow River and check out the South County Bike Path for miles of paved bike routes.  
4. Rainy Days…no problem! Don’t fret if it rains, Narragansett and its surrounding towns, offer many indoor activities for families. Check out a new movie at Entertainment Cinemas in the South County Commons or challenge yourself to climbing a rock wall at Rock Spot in Peace Dale. Visit http://rockspotclimbing.com/ and http://entertainmentcinemas.com/locations/south-kingstown/ .
5. Visit Narragansett Beach at “off hours” for fun local events! Movies on the Beach, Food Trucks and Beach Yoga to name a few are a perfect way to end or start your day!
6. Food, food and more food! Some local favorites include Monahan’s (best hot lobster roll and crab cake, also offers counter food service, ice cream shack, cornhole games, firepits and Adirondack chairs, life-sized Jenga game, and beautiful ocean views!), T’s Restaurant (best breakfast hands down!), Trio (offers eclectic dining options, great children’s menu with a free ice cream dessert, and outdoor patio dining), Iggy’s Doughboys and Aunt Carrie’s (best doughboys, clamcakes and clam chowder), Brewed Awakenings (best coffee!)and Nana’s Ice Cream and Gelato and Brickley’s  (a treat for every evening!)
7. Need a Ride? Hop Aboard the Narragansett Trolley! A great way to explore all areas of Narragansett, $1.00 per ride. Visit http://nstsri.com/ for schedule, stops and routes.
8. Explore Watch Hill, RI or Newport, RI for the day. A short drive from Narragansett visit beautiful Watch Hill, RI with beaches, small shops, ice cream, watch the boats come in and a possible sighting of Taylor Swift (who owns a beach house there). There are many things to see and do in Newport, too many to list here! Check back on this blog this summer for a blog post on Summer Vacation Ideas: Newport, RI.
9. Enjoy a unique and fun afternoon in Charlestown, RI. Visit the Umbrella Factory which offers artisan shops, chickens, llamas, a café, tour a bamboo forest, henna tattoos…quite an assortment of activities and you will be sure to find a unique treasure or souvenir. Charlestown Beach offers an alternative to a crowded Narragansett Beach day.
10. Search for crabs! One of my kids’ favorite activities in Narragansett is searching for shells and crabs on Narragansett Beach. Check out the crabs under rocks during low tide by the sea wall. Collect and save shells as a perfect souvenir.