A Look Back at Our First Trip to Cape Cod
Sunset at Buzzards Bay.
After the last few days of cold rain and snow (!) in New England, I thought we could all use a reminder that summer is indeed still on its way. As it snowed on Friday, I scrolled through photos from last summer and my heart warmed from memories of our first trip to Cape Cod.
We booked our trip for the end of last summer. As we planned, I realized Cape Cod is much larger than I had imagined. Once you are on the Cape, going from the one end to the other takes about 90 minutes, and I can imagine with traffic, it can end up as a much longer drive. Since we were there for just a few days and didn’t want to spend our entire weekend in the car, we decided to focus on the southern part, known as the “Upper Cape,” and I’m glad we did.
We stayed at a lovely Cape Cod-style cottage (through Airbnb) near the ocean with stunning views of the Great Sippewisset Marsh. We spent the weekend biking, exploring the nearby towns, drinking local wine, and of course enjoying the beach! I cannot wait for the weather to warm again and to plan our next visit!
My Top Picks for the Upper Cape
The Shining Sea Bikeway
Our cottage was just off the Shining Sea Bikeway, a 10.7-mile paved path running from North Falmouth to Woods Hole. We were big fans. We ended up using the bikeway every day of our trip for exercise and to get into Woods Hole, which was just a short ride from where we were staying. The entire path has gorgeous views of the Little and Great Sippewisset Marshes. Once you get closer to Woods Hole, the bikeway kisses the shoreline, boasting outstanding ocean views. I highly recommend packing your bikes if you plan a trip to Falmouth!
Woods Hole
Woods Hole is a quaint town near Falmouth that is home to the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. We enjoyed a delightful meal one evening at Water Street Kitchen and in the mornings had delicious pastries and coffee from Pie in the Sky Bakery & Café. Both spots are worth a stop! Be warned that this town balloons in popularity around ferry times, making it difficult to find parking – or even grab a coffee.
3. Sea Creatures and Seaside Sunsets
A few hours before the sun starts to go down, be sure to find yourself on a beach on the west side of Falmouth or Woods Hole! We had chilly weather on our trip, but despite that, we still spent our afternoons and evening on the beach. In the late afternoon during low tide, I felt like a little kid again on a mission to find sea creatures. Our favorite find of the weekend was a grumpy crab that we accidentally disturbed. And I cannot say enough about the sunsets. We were absolutely spoiled with amazing sunsets on each night of our trip.
4. The Knob
Located at the end of Quissett Harbor Road in Woods Hole, The Knob is a narrow peninsula that sits in between Quissett Harbor and Buzzards Bay. There are several trails to explore the 12-acre property and each side is lined with beaches. It wasn’t beach weather during our visit, so we opted for a short hike instead. The views were stunning and offered such a unique perspective looking back at Quissett Harbor and Buzzards Bay. Be warned – this can be an extremely windy spot!
On the Wish List for My Next Visit
Martha’s Vineyard
We almost decided to take the ferry, which departs from Woods Hole, for a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard, but decided our time was too limited. After talking with other New Englanders, I am glad that we decided to hold off on this trip. It sounds like Martha's Vineyard warrants a full long weekend or week-long trip. I'm looking forward to planning that in the future!
Explore More of Cape Cod
As I mentioned above, there is so much left to explore of Cape Cod. I would love to plan a trip to see the other sections of the Cape at some point, but I really don’t think you can go wrong no matter where you go! There’s always more to see.