One of the most well-known outdoor adventure areas in the United States, Moab has more than extreme mountain biking routes and steeps hiking trails – Moab is a great place for outdoor family fun, too.  Nestled in a green valley surrounded by red sandstone cliffs, Moab is a small tourist-centered community with a little bit of history, a few music festivals, fun water sports, and tons of things for families to do!

1. Movie Museum

Moab has been a popular location for western films since the 1930s, with many John Wayne films including Stagecoach and Rio Grande being filmed here.  More recent films shot in the area include City Slickers, Thelma and Louise, Geronimo, and hundreds of commercials. The Movie Museum at the Red Cliffs Lodge is a fun way to spend an hour, looking at old movie posters, props and costumes from the past 80+ years of Moab area film making. You’ll be surprise at how many movies, TV show and commercials were actually filmed in the area.

2. Music Festivals

Moab also puts on two well-known music festivals – the Desert Rocks Music Festival in May, and the Moab Music Festival in late summer. Desert Rocks Music Festival is a three-day music festival that features a wide range of genres, from rock to hip-hop to country.  Popular acts in 2012 include The Wailers, Beats Antique, and Brother Ali. The Moab Music Festival is a 12-day music event inspired the amazing Moab landscape. Mostly showcasing classical chamber music, the festival in the past has had performances from word class musicians, vocalists, and pianists.

3. Four-wheeling

In the end, enjoying the outdoors is why families go to Moab.  Four-wheeling is a popular activity, and families can take guided trips or rent a 4X4 and hit the trails on their own.  The Mill Canyon Dinosaur Trail is one of the most popular trails to take in a 4X4, because you can actually get close up views of dinosaur bones and fossil remains.  Easy-to-find bones include sauropod leg bones, vertebrae, ribs, and toe bones, and the fossilized remains of a large tree trunk and some smaller plants, plus several types of dinosaur tracks. Past the dinosaur bones you can also see an abandoned copper mill and the remains of the Halfway Stage Station, a lunch stop in the 1800s for stagecoaches traveling between Moab and Thompson, Utah.

4. Hiking and Biking

Hiking and biking are the reason that most people head to the Moab area, and families don’t need to feel left out.  In addition to difficult, expert-level trails there are many short, flat trails that lend themselves to families quite well.  Not only are they easier to navigate, but the payoff can be awesome.  The Corona Arch Trail is a moderately easy trail, as it is mostly flat and only a 3 mile round-trip.  On this short trail you see three very impressive arches, the most memorable of which is Corona Arch.  Sometimes called Little Rainbow Bridge, Corona Arch’s opening is an awe-inspiring 140-feet by 105-feet, and absolutely beautiful. If you’re going to take your family on any hike in Moab, do this one.

5. Water sports

If you want to get off the rocks and out of the heat, you can always go in the water.  Moab is the only town in Utah that sits on the Colorado River, and there are many water sport options for visitors.  You can take the river all the way to the Canyonlands National Park in a canoe, kayak, raft, or jet boat, and all those options are available for rental in Moab.  You can pilot yourself, take guided tours, or even take sunset or dinner cruises for a little more luxury (and a lot less paddling). If nothing else, kids love doing some swimming at the parks located along the Colorado River in Moab.

Image credit: mestdagh

While it’s usually the human stars of a film that get the most recognition, there’s the occasional film whose setting that plays just as big of a role in the movie’s success as the actors themselves.  Think the craggy mountains of New Zealand in Lord of the Rings or the mossy forests of Washington in Twilight.  And could you imagine how different the Sex and the City films would have been had they taken place in say, New Mexico instead of New York?

The following is a travel guide to five popular vacation destinations and the iconic films that launched them into the spotlight..

1. Salzburg, Austria:  The Sound of Music

Though 300,000 people visit Salzburg every year to participate in the city’s The Sound of Music-themed tours, dinner shows and sing-alongs, a 1965 Broadway musical-turned-film isn’t the only reason why “the hills are alive with the sound of music” nor is it even the most notable one.  Long before Julie Andrews ever twirled on the green hillside or splashed in the Mirabel fountain, Salzburg was a mecca for music-lovers the world over.  Not only was it once home to Mozart, it was (and still is) home to a prestigious music conservatory and an annual classical music festival.

But nevertheless, for Americans at least, it was the show-tunes and not the classical compositions that first put Salzburg on the map.  Thus, for those who count Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals as a few of their “favorite things”, a visit to the Schloss Frohnburg and Mirabell Gardens Palace is worth adding to the list.

The Schloss Frohnberg (a palace that has since been transformed into a university dormitory) was used in all of the exterior shots for the Von Trapp house.  The gardens and fountain of the Mirabell Palace were used as a backdrop for the famous “Do Re Mi” number, during which Maria and the Von Trap children marched around the fountain and hopped up and down the palace steps.

Perhaps what makes the best photo opportunity, however, is the gazebo where Liesl and Rolf sang “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”.  The gazebo is located on the grounds of the Hellbrunn Palace, which with its trick fountains and seashell-covered grottos, is an interesting place to visit in and of itself.

2. Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts: Jaws

Steven Spielberg’s first breakthrough film was set on a fictional island he called “Amity Island”, which was, in actuality, Martha’s Vineyard; a 20-mile island located six miles off the coast of Massachusetts.

The film’s success brought a relatively unknown Martha’s Vineyard to the world’s attention, turning the wooden beach houses and white picket fences of Edgartown into a popular summer vacation destination.  In honor of the film, Martha’s Vineyard will host its second Jaws Fest in August 2012; a weekend of outdoor movie screenings, cast and crew interviews and a treasure hunt centered on locations where the movie was filmed.

3. Seaside, Florida: The Truman Show

When the beach cottage community, Seaside, made its first big-screen appearance in the 1998 Jim Carrey film, The Truman Show, it looked so idyllic, quaint and old-fashioned that it was easy to assume the entire town had been built on a Hollywood soundstage.

But with a charter school, a Saturday-morning farmers market and a population of 2,000, Seaside is very much a real town (albeit it a relatively new one).

The community, located along the Florida Panhandle, is what’s known as a ‘master-plan community’.  Inspired by the fond memories of his childhood family beach vacations, architect Robert S. Davis transformed the 80-acre beach retreat he’d inherited from his grandfather into a vintage beach town, complete with climate-adapted wood-framed cottages and wide, walkable streets.  Visitors to Seaside can rent a catamaran (like Jim Carey’s character did in the film’s climactic final scene), go for a nature walk or go swimming at the beach or at one of the town’s three swimming pools.

4. London, England:  Harry Potter

Of all the film locations on this list, London is the only one that needs little introduction.  London became a popular travel destination thousands of years before author JK Rowling ever sat in a coffee shop in Edinburgh and first dreamed up what would eventually become a billion-dollar seven-book and eight film franchise.  That said, there are three locations in particular that took on a magical identity during filming: the London Millennium Bridge, the London Zoo and King’s Cross Station.

The London Millennium Bridge became victim to a Death Eater attack in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Though the collapse of the bridge was the work of computerized special effects, the bridge itself is real and serves as a choice destination for an afternoon stroll.

The reptile house at the London Zoo is where Harry Potter first discovered he could communicate with snakes in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Look for the plaque next to one of the glass python cages; it marks the actual spot where the scene was shot.

Finally, if you’re passing through King’s Cross Station, be sure to visit Platform 9 ¾ (the magical doorway into the wizarding world) and have your photo taken underneath the platform’s sign.

5. Kauai, Hawaii:  Jurassic Park

Kipu Ranch on the Hawaiian island of Kauai has been the setting for a number of adventure films, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Outbreak and Mighty Joe Young.  But it was in the 1996 film Jurassic Park:  The Lost World where the ranch played its most prominent role to date.  The opening sequences of the film were shot in the ranch’s 3,000 acres of meadows and tropical rainforests.

Visit Kipu Ranch today and you’re not likely to spot any dinosaurs, but you may spot some peacocks, wild boars or if you’re really lucky, the endangered state bird of Hawaii: the Nene goose.  You can explore the ranch on foot, on tour or on a rented ATV.  In addition to the wildlife and tropical plants, the ranch has two waterfalls and a swimming hole.

Just a short ferry ride from Wood’s Hole, on Cape Cod, is the summer paradise of Martha’s Vineyard. If you’re staying on the Cape for a while, why not take your bicycles and backpacks, board the ferry for the Vineyard and get away from it all for a weekend? While summertime is perfect the shoulder seasons of spring and fall provide a solitude that is often lacking on Cape.

Cycle vs. Drive

You can take your car on the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, but a bicycle might be better. You’ll save a bundle on the ferry as the fare for a regular car, round trip, is $85.00 but a bike is only $8.00. Parking can be a serious challenge on the island, especially in the busy summer months, and the backroads beyond the villages are perfect by bicycle. There are some designated bike paths, but the secondary roads are paved and comfortable for cyclists. Drivers on the Vineyard are used to bicycles in traffic and you’ll find them courteous and willing to share the road. Bicycles are easy to rent on the island, just look near the ferry docks in either village. You can pick up a bike map at the Chamber of Commerce in Vineyard Haven, on Beach Road.

**Note: If you take your own bike on the ferry, DO NOT trust the bike stands on the boat, if the boat pitches and your bike falls over you can bend that front wheel beyond repair. Trust us, we know. If that DOES happen, there are bike mechanics just off the ferry who seem all too familiar with this repair.

Where to Stay

Weekend rentals are easy to find, with over 1600 available through Flipkey alone. Summer is the peak season for vacationers on the Vineyard, so you can expect to pay more June-September and should plan to make reservations as far in advance as possible. The village of Oak Bluff is especially quaint, and will have easy access to plenty of shops and fun restaurants to suit any taste. But if you prefer quiet, look for a beach house, perhaps on Chappaquiddick, a secluded island that was recently separated from Martha’s Vineyard during a storm in 2007. Don’t miss the Cape Poge Wildlife Refuge if you want quiet communion with nature.

Don’t Miss Out!

No weekend on the Vineyard would be complete without a ride on the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluff, one of the oldest carousels in the country; dating back to 1870. At just $2.00 a ticket it’s a cheap trip back in time for the young or the young at heart.

If you’re a movie buff then you will want to pay your respects at John Belushi’s grave site. His body was moved in 1983 to keep fans from desecrating the site. The memorial stone is still there.

The Gingerbread Cottages in Oak Bluff are darling and an interesting architectural attraction on the island. If you’re on a bike, you’ll get the best view as traffic won’t push you on past too quickly! There are more than 300 cottages painted in rainbow hues.

The Martha’s Vineyard Museum, in Edgartown, is worth an afternoon if you have it. Chock-full of history and cultural information about the island, it will help you develop an appreciation for the hardy souls who’ve called the island home for centuries.

Hungry? It might be cliche, but have lunch at the Black Dog Tavern, in Vineyard Haven, anyway. Just don’t buy a sweatshirt, or you’re marked as a tourist for sure! (Oh go ahead, buy the shirt!) Their food is legendary and you’ll find locals and off-islanders alike in the dining room. Be sure to ask to sit by a window, the view of the harbor is lovely.

Of course there are beaches, lighthouses and the clay cliffs to see too, the more time you have to explore, the more places you’ll discover that you love!

A dynamic mother-daughter duo of travel writers, Jenn & Hannah are in their fourth year of an open ended world tour. Their partners in crime are Dad & 3 brothers and together they are http://www.edventureproject.com

Perhaps it’s the swimsuit issues of fashion magazines that have already started to grace newspaper stands, or maybe it’s that glimmer of warmth in the air, the suggestion that maybe the days of scarves and sweaters are on their way out, but with Memorial Day quickly approaching, my thoughts tend to turn to the beach. I’ll be spending all of August, like so many, tanning and swimming in the ocean, but it’s a little too early for that now; nevertheless, the beach is what I’m thinking of, and there’s at least one I can be sure is perhaps even more beautiful at this time of year: while there are dozens of gorgeous beaches all over the United States, for some reason, Memorial Day immediately reminds me of New England.

There’s something about the beaches that dot the shoreline of Massachusetts that capture the essence of what it is to be just on the edge of spring and summer. For just a moment, after the bone-chilling winters so cold that you can’t imagine standing outside for more than ten minutes, much less taking a leisurely walk along the shore, and just before the scorching, humid days of summer, there’s a perfect moment when the beaches are still cool enough to need a light sweater, and the waves lapping the shore feel like they’re just for you.

The island of Martha’s Vineyard, immortalized in too many films to count for its allure of a mysterious lost paradise, is just one of those places. The town of Aquinnah, formerly Gay Head, is the perfect place to visit now, before it’s flooded with summer beach-goers in just a few short weeks, and a solitary walk along the Vineyard’s coastline wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the town of Aquinnah.

Aquinnah’s cliffs are made of clay and are nearly orange in color; they stand out even more against the waves. I love to take a walk alongside them when they’re tranquil and empty; it’s the perfect way to quietly allow spring to end and summer to begin.

That being said, it’s still chilly enough in Massachusetts that a bowl of this local specialty — creamy New England chowder with local seafood — is more than welcome upon returning home. Classic recipes put clams center stage, and while purists may disagree, I firmly support the idea that you don’t need to feel limited by the traditional name of the soup. The Vineyard has dozens of local fishmongers selling local, fresh fish and seafood; I like Menemsha Fish Market (formerly Poole’s) in Chilmark, which has low prices and some of the freshest products in a friendly, family-run store. Ask the knowledgeable salespeople behind the counter what’s fresh, and throw whatever you like into this chowder: mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, even denser white fish will stand up well. Traditional versions use more cream; feel free to add more if you like, but I find that just a touch of it allows the fish to speak for itself, and when it’s this fresh, there’s no reason to make it any other way.

New England Seafood Chowder

 3.5 ounces bacon, diced
1 onion, minced
2 tsp. salt, plus more to taste
1 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. flour
1 cup milk, warmed
3 cups clam juice or fish stock, warmed
2-3 potatoes, diced
10 ounces fresh seafood (mussels, clams, shrimp, fish) Note: 10 ounces is the yield weight; if using shellfish in the shell, you will need more. Let the vendor know the yield weight, and they’ll be happy to help you.
1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped
1 tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
4-5 Tbsp. heavy cream

Heat about a half-inch of water over high heat in a heavy-bottomed stock pot with a lid. Add the bacon and allow it to start to render its fat. Add the onion and salt and sauté, stirring occasionally, until both the bacon and onion are browned. The bottom of the pan will be covered in brown bits.

Remove the pan from the flame and add the butter and flour. Stir vigorously to combine and lift some of the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Place the pan back over the flame and reduce to medium-low. When the flour has cooked for about a minute or two, slowly begin to add the milk, stirring all the while. It should thicken up nearly immediately, but if it doesn’t continue stirring until it does. Add the clam juice and potatoes, and stir to combine. Cover the pot and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are cooked but still firm.

You have two choices with regards to how to prepare the seafood. Firstly, you can cook it directly in the soup, leaving it in the shells, which turns the soup into more of a seafood stew. You can also cook the seafood separately and shell it, adding the individual pieces of seafood to the stew once they’ve already been cooked. Either way, pick over the shelled seafood like mussels and clams, discarding any that are already opened or have broken shells. Rinse them well and debeard the mussels and devein the shrimp if necessary. Clams and white fish take the longest to cook through at about 10 minutes, while mussels take about 5, and shrimp and squid no more than 2. Add the seafood accordingly, so that the stew will have cooked in total 30 minutes from the time you added the potatoes, or cook the seafood separately and add to the stew, removing it from the heat immediately.

Once the seafood has been cooked and added to the stew, remove the pot from the heat and add the thyme, pepper and cream, as well as more salt to taste. Serve with Boston brown bread.

Emily Monaco is native New Yorker, living and writing in Paris since 2007. She loves discovering new places and, of course, their local cuisines! Read about her adventures in food and travel at tomatokumato.com or follow her on Twitter at @emiglia

This photo is taken of Gay Head lighthouse in Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard, looking back from the overlook by the Aquinnah Shop. Happy Friday!

by Emily Monaco

Several hundreds of years ago, in 1620, English pilgrims looking for the freedom to practice their religion without persecution landed at Plymouth Rock. Now, nearly four hundred years later, Plymouth still attracts visitors looking for a taste of what our forefathers first saw when they first arrived in America. The town of Plymouth, located just over the bridge from Cape Cod, is home to several historical exhibits and sites to visit, including a replica of the Mayflower in Plymouth harbor. It’s a great jumping-off point for your vacation in this historic region.

One of the most memorable school trips of my childhood was a (very long) bus ride up through Massachusetts, where we — 30-some-odd New York City kids — got to know about farming: one of the backbones of our nation and a concept entirely unfamiliar to us. We tried our hands at milking a cow, distinguished weeds from carrots in a garden and made our very own lunch… but before we could eat the local, hand-picked produce we had prepared, we tasted some local foods, including something that looked like a plastic red berry and tasted like the white pith of a lemon.

I had tasted a raw cranberry which, believe it or not, is historic as well; it’s one of only three fruits native to North America, along with the blueberry and the Concord grape. A free Cranberry World Museum can be found in Plymouth, and it makes for a great place to visit and find out more about cranberries. As for seeing (and tasting!) some cranberries themselves, the best thing to do is to drive through Cape Cod itself. The bogs are easy to access from the main roads, and they’re a beautiful sight.

Cranberries are harvested in fall, but even in the spring, the bogs are impressive. Some bogs, like Cape Farm and Cranberry Company in Harwich, even offer tours to visitors and school groups. Don’t taste the cranberries raw — unless you like things sour — but do bring some home for homemade cranberry sauce. Cranberries or homemade cranberry sauce can be frozen, or you can use the sauce in sweet dishes like this.

Cape Cod Cranberry Quickbread

3 cups all-purpose flour
4 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 1/4 cup white sugar
4 eggs
2/3 cup yogurt
1 1/3 cup cranberry sauce

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift the dry ingredients together in a small bowl.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with yogurt, starting and ending with the dry ingredients and mixing just enough to combine. Fold in cranberry sauce.

Line two cake pans with greased parchment paper. Divide the batter evenly between them. Bake for about 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean with a few crumbs attached. Turn the loaves out onto a cooling rack. This loaf is delicious with butter or cream cheese, or just eaten plain!

Emily Monaco is native New Yorker, living and writing in Paris since 2007. She loves discovering new places and, of course, their local cuisines! Read about her adventures in food and travel at tomatokumato.com or follow her on Twitter at @emiglia

Please don’t wait to submit your applications for the competition – the deadline is coming up, and Vacation Home Review is eager to see your submissions!

We expect to have 50 winners in five categories of houses and condos. Visit our website at www.vacationhousereview.com to see more information.

Biking season is finally upon us in New England. Bike enthusiasts and newbie cyclists alike can take advantage of one of the best-quality bike trails in the country right on Cape Cod. Dust the cobwebs off your bicycle, or head to one of the many local rental shops, and set out on a ride while breathing in the sea breezes.

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is 22 miles from end to end, starting near the center of the Cape in South Dennis and following a former railroad route all the way to Wellfleet. But of course, you can hop on anywhere along the way. Granite markers tick off every mile so you know how far you’ve gone and how far you are from your home base. If you want to start in Dennis, there are plenty of FlipKey rentals to serve as your launch-off point, including this two-bedroom cottage with a bicycle shed.

The first few miles are the most heavily used part of the route, with plenty of local businesses (read: ice cream and bike rental shops) to stop at. After mile-marker 3, you’ll reach a bike rotary, with the option to branch off into Harwich and Chatham on the Old Colony Rail Trail. Those who make it all the way to the center of Chatham—located near the tip of the “elbow” of Cape Cod—will want to stop and stroll along its quaint and walkable Main Street, dotted with candy, gift, and book shops.

Continuing north on the original Rail Trail brings you into the town of Brewster and past a series of glacial ponds. Seymour Pond is one that is ideal for swimming, and can be accessed with a pass that comes with some vacation rentals in the area, like this four-bedroom house that’s only 0.4 miles from the bike route. Keep going through Brewster, and you’ll reach Nickerson State Park, at the halfway point of the Rail Trail. The park offers picnicking spots, hiking paths, several ponds, and an eight-mile bike trail for a little side excursion. You can also walk or bike to the Cape Cod Bay on the other side of the park.

At mile 13, you’ll hit the center of the town of Orleans, another charming place to stop for lunch or some window shopping. This is where Cape Cod starts to turn into a narrower strip of land, which means easy access to both the bay and the ocean side beaches. Get extended access by staying somewhere like this four-bedroom rental in Orleans, only 100 yards from the bike path.

If you’re still going strong, stay on the trail for the best glimpses of nature yet, on the Cape Cod National Seashore. From the Salt Pond Visitor Center near mile 16, there’s a bike path—the Nauset Trail—that leads you over the area’s characteristic marshlands and right to the ocean. Along this section of the route that goes through Eastham, you’ll find plenty more places to stay, like this remodeled three-bedroom on a pond, a quarter of a mile off of the Rail Trail.

You’re almost there: pedal your way into Wellfleet, one of the narrowest sections of the Cape, to continue to enjoy the wonders of the National Seashore, as well as the Audubon’s wildlife sanctuary on the bay side, around mile-marker 20. At the very end of the trail, mile 22, there’s a restroom and a parking lot, and you may even get a glimpse of a section of the old railroad tracks. Reward yourself with a dip in the Atlantic Ocean—you’ve made it!

Joanna Eng is a New York-based writer and editor who covers travel, green living, food, careers, entrepreneurship, and more. Her travel experiences have ranged from hostel hopping in Mexico to staying with distant relatives in China to renting a beach apartment in New Jersey.

Here is a short list of the top ten foodie destinations in New England, all within a few hours drive of each other. Some suggestions are foodie towns, some suggestions are actual food producers foodies have a special fondness for.

Beautiful Portland, Maine is a thriving foodie destination with at least three chefs who have been anointed as the best young chefs working in America. Try getting a table at the following restaurants: Duckfat, Hugo’s, Fore Street, and 555 if you can get in. This bustling seafront city has a thriving waterfront with lobster pounds and fish markets, many of which will ship fresh lobsters, clams, and chowder on ice to your home. Visit the Allagash Brewery for a beer tour and walk around the Old Port to find a seat with a view of the bay for an outdoor fresh seafood lunch. There are also some nice little chocolate shops in this section of the city to sample.

Portsmouth, New Hampshire is New Hampshire’s answer to Portland, Maine. Also along the seafront, also quaint, also filled with galleries and fabulous restaurants. Try getting a seat at: The Black Trumpet, Jumpin’ Jay’s Fish Cafe, Popovers, Pesce Blue, or Dunaway. Take a walk around town during the day, stopping at either Anabelle’s Ice Cream or Izzy’s Frozen Yogurt, both extremely popular with foodies. Chocolate? Visit the Lindt Factory Outlet! Actually Lindt & Sprungli candy are headquartered nearby in Stratham. Another chocolate stop to make is at Byrne & Carlson on State Street. Also nearby is the famous Stonewall Kitchen, a foodie heaven with a huge online presence and stores throughout New England. They are located in York, a few miles away.

Boston has so many wonderful food related places to visit. A favorite is to take the tour at the Taza Chocolate Factory. Not only is the chocolate organic and fair trade, but it is absolutely delicious. Take a stroll through Boston’s Little Italy called the North End and stop for a coffee and canolli at Modern Pastry. Stop for fresh oysters at the Union Oyster House. And for the best baked beans in Boston, don’t miss a meal at historic Durgin Park. Just next door is Faneuil Hall with its indoor gourmet food hall for snacking and sampling a great deal of what Boston has on offer.

Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Factory is located near Stowe, Vermont in Waterbury. You can take a guided tour of the factory and visit the Flavoroom to try ice cream samples. There’s a fun gift shop and the factory is nestled in the mountains so plan on bringing a picnic to enjoy the scenery.

And finally, King Arthur Flour is a mecca for those who love to bake and love artisanal bread. Visit their factory store to shop for all your baking needs. Enjoy their little restaurant where you can dine on their freshly baked pizzas and breads. And if you have time, check the web site for classes you can take there. Wouldn’t it be fun to learn how to bake the perfect French baguette at home?

Alex is a travel writer and blogger. He loves touring the world’s best cities, expanding his belly on all the great foods. He also contributes regularly to a Kefalonia information guide.

Cape Cod (or, “The Cape”) is one of America’s classic summer getaways. This coastal area located at the easternmost point of Massachusetts boasts an impressive collection of beaches, outdoor activities and kids’ attractions, which makes it an ideal family vacation spot.

When to Go

Summer is undoubtedly the high season for Cape Cod. From June to early September this small coastal getaway nearly doubles its population as snowbirds return North and tourists flock to the area. For those looking for peace and quiet (not to mention lower costs), late spring and early fall are ideal times to visit.

Getting There

By Car: From the south, drive Route I-95 to Route 195 to Route 25 and over the Bourne Bridge. From Boston, head directly south on I-93 to Route 3, which crosses the Sagamore Bridge. The drive is roughly 1.5 to 2 hours from Boston. Both bridges get insanely crowded on Friday afternoons and Sundays (when weekenders arrive and leave the Cape). Saturday mornings can be bad, too. If possible, drive up on Thursday and leave the following Monday to avoid traffic. Alternatively, many people fly or take a ferry to Cape Cod and rent a vehicle once they’ve arrived.

By Air: If you want to skip the drive, Cape Air provides flights from Boston’s Logan Airport to Hyannis Port and Provincetown (30 minutes). Flights from New York (LaGuardia Airport) take roughly 75 minutes. Flying helps avoid Cape Cod’s notorious traffic. However, you’ll probably still want a rental car to get around the area.

By Ferry: Boston Harbor Cruises run two or three daily ferries from Boston (long Wharf) to Provincetown during peak season. Tickets cost $49/$77 (one-way/round-trip), with an extra $5 charge for bicycles.

Day #1 Hit the Beach

Cape Cod has beaches everywhere, and many visitors prefer to visit the beach closest to where they’re staying in order to avoid driving. If a family-friendly beach is important, consider a vacation rental near the following watering holes:

By far the most family friendly beach in Cape Cod is Corporation Beach in Dennis.  The crescent shaped beach formed by Cape Cod Bay offers shallow water and small waves (watched over by lifeguards), and makes a perfect play spot for young children and adults alike. There’s even a rock break wall where the kids can observe various marine life. Restrooms, a small playground and a concession stand are available near the parking area at the end of Corporation Road off of route 6A. Parking is $15 per day. Another family friendly beach is Paine’s Creek Beach in Brewster.  While it’s not as large as other beaches, you can inner tube down Paine’s Creek, which slowly flows past Quivett Creek Marsh.  Inner tubes can be purchased at a local CVS or Walgreen’s and inflated at a gas station. Be sure to arrive just before high tide to get pulled up the river with the high-tide and back out to the ocean with the low-tide.  If you don’t want to rely on the tides, you can try an inflatable boat with paddles. There’s a parking area at the end of Paine’s Creed Road off of route 6A.  Parking can be limited so plan accordingly.

For a beach alternative, head to Grew’s Pond in Good Will Park, Falmouth. This freshwater pond offers safe swimming for kids (with lifeguards) and comfortable shaded areas for parents.

Day #2. Bike Path & Cartwheels

The Cape Cod Canal Bike Path (printable or google map) is actually the canal access road and the perfect place to bike with the family as public vehicles aren’t allowed.  The 7.5 mile trail is a flat and easy path that links the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Parking, restrooms and trail access are available directly under the Bourne Bridge. Picnic benches are available throughout the route and offer spectacular views of the water and passing boats. These picnic spots are great places for the kids (and you) to take a break. Another path is the Shining Sea Bikeway, a 3.3 paved path that follows the coast from Falmouth to Woods Hole. You can see a listing of popular bike paths here. Boat trips through the canal are available as well (see the official schedule). After your biking adventure, spend the afternoon at Cartwheels 2 in Bourne.  Bumper boats, go carts, whiffle ball, bounce house, and mini golf will keep the kids busy for hours.

Day #3. Museums & Exploration

Start your day walking and/or swimming at Nobska Beach. A short fifteen minute walk from Woods Hole, Nobska offers relative peace and quiet, plus excellent views of both the Nobska Lighthouse and ferries crossing the Vineyard Sound. The beach is located on Church Street off Woods Hole Road. For lunch, head over to Jimmy’s Sandwich Shop on 22 Luscombe Avenue in Woods Hole.  From ”Jimmy Burgers” to gourmet pizza there’s something here for the entire family.  And be sure to wash it down with organic smoothies. After lunch, take a two-hour discovery cruise with OceanQuest and let your kids play scientist. During this trip they’ll learn to determine temperature, density, salinity and dissolved CO2.  OceanQuest is located at 100 Water Street in Woods Hole. During the summer, cruises depart Monday to Friday at 10:30am, 12:30pm, and 2:30pm.  Tickets $25.

Day #4. Sandwich

Sandwich ain’t just a delicious name. Cape Cod’s oldest town is home to three truly excellent family activities:

1. The Heritage Museums is loaded with gardens, baseball exhibits and antique cars.  Located at 67 Grove Street in Sandwich, they’re open 10am to 5pm, 7-days a week. Admission $7-15.
2. The Dexter Grist Mill was built in 1654 and resorted in 1961.  Show your kids a little glimpse into history. Located on Water Street in Sandwich, they’re open 10am to 5pm, 7-days a week.
3. The Green Briar Nature Center offers a number of hiking trails, nature gardens and picnic areas. Located at 6 Discovery Hill in East Sandwich, they’re open 10am to 4pm, Monday through Saturday.  The jam museum at Green Briar is well worth visiting.

Day #5. Cape Cod National Seashore

Arguably Cade Cod’s main attraction – family or otherwise – is the National Seashore. Over 40 miles of beaches, marshlands and ponds, the Seashore is a favorite.  While lifeguards can be found patrolling along the most popular stretches, currents are strong, so swim with caution. The Seashore is huge… and we don’t recommend trying to see it all. An excellent day trip would be to hike one of many trails connecting Eastham to Provincetown. The most popular is the Pilgrim Spring Trail in Truro, which makes an excellent afternoon walk. The trail loops for under a mile (there and back) and winds over a kettle swamp.  You’ll be able to see and hear the ocean in the distance.  The coastal terrain doesn’t offer sun protection, so be sure to wear sun screen and a hat.  From Route 6 take the Pilgrim Heights area exit in North Truro.

This five-day itinerary provides fun for the kids (and parents!) without taking a huge bite out of your budget.