Cape Cod - I don't get it

[drjeff]

That's actually what New Englans..at least southern New England reminds me of..people who wear a button downed shirt on the weekends..here in PA it's all slobs in wifebeaters and cutoff jean shorts..

Can't miss them weekenders wearing buttondowns from about the second you cross into "New England" as you southerners are heading up I-95 :lol: The CT "gold coast" on a per capita basis can rival any were in the world in terms of weekend buttondown wearing! :lol: Also don't forget the sperry topsiders (not like most of them have ever seen the deck of a boat that ISN'T tied upto the dock ) and the manditory unisex knit sweat tied in a loose knot around the neck! :lol:

 

[Marc]

Can't miss them weekenders wearing buttondowns from about the second you cross into "New England" as you southerners are heading up I-95 :lol: The CT "gold coast" on a per capita basis can rival any were in the world in terms of weekend buttondown wearing! :lol: Also don't forget the sperry topsiders (not like most of them have ever seen the deck of a boat that ISN'T tied upto the dock ) and the manditory unisex knit sweat tied in a loose knot around the neck! :lol:

That's a fitting description for most of the people in Pomfret Center as well, though.

 

[legalskier]

I like Sandy Hook. Park in the Highlands and bike on in for free!

We’ve been avoiding SH due to the mess caused by the new bridge construction. Based on experience, it dwarfs the problems at the Bourne Bridge IMHO–which is saying a lot (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/construction_on_sandy_hook_bri.html ...the pic doesn’t reflect the mess). That’s why your suggestion is so intriguing. I have some questions: Where can you park in AH? How do you fit all that beach gear on your bike? Can you bike over the bridge easily & safely? (Last time I went by it was frightening.) Last but not least, do you ever hit Stewart’s on Rt 36 after a long day on a hot beach for a root beer float–that really hits the spot.

 

[legalskier]

I like riding the Henry Hudson trail and then biking on 36 into Sandy Hook, great bike ride.

Another good suggestion I'll try. Thanks andy.

 

[drjeff]

That's a fitting description for most of the people in Pomfret Center as well, though.

Except they're more likely wearing some glorified version of leather teva's instead of sperry's :lol:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Except they're more likely wearing some glorified version of leather teva's instead of sperry's :lol:

I don't even know what sperry's are but I need to find out if I want to find a Stepford wife and move to Fairfield county

 

[tarponhead]

Got back this morning from spending a Saturday/night on Cape Cod. Every time I go, I return home with the same thought. "Why do people come here in droves and rave about the place"

Background:

I went to the Cape several times as a kid. I lived on the Cape for two seasons working in restaurants. I like the Cape; it's quaint, has lots of history and the beaches are great.

What I don't get is why: People will sit in RIDICULOUS traffic to get out there. Then when you do get out there, everywhere is mobbed with people. Yes I'm aware there are pockets of solitude here and there, but it's still pretty crazy everywhere and you better know the back roads to get around Bars out there are alright, but I always feel a total southie masshole testosterone overload around me and the $10 crappy well drinks amaze me to boot.

I did have a great time. The water was wonderful, the company great, perfect summer weather. That said, I still just don't get why SO MANY people go there because when I want to take a vacation, I generally don't want to be where SO MANY people are. Even when I lived down there, I'd take off on the weekends and only really enjoyed the Cape during the month of September.


After 33 years of which over a year of my times has been spent on the Cape, I still don't get it.

/rant

Disclaimer, did not go through every thread.

Been going up to the cape for over 20 years now. We leave Friday night, cross the bourne bridge and grab the first motel off the circle around midnight. Wake up, walk over to IHOP and eat a leisurly breakfest while looking at the 3 hr traffic jam on the other side in the morning so travel is painless. Homeward bound we leave early AM. Never a problem crossing the bridges.

We stay bayside at Brewster. Classic flats for family fun as well as the fishing. Simply increadable. Where else can you play with your kids wearing them out for naps, then kayak out and do sight fishing on the flyrod? (Jersey shore sucks fishing in the summer for the boatless.) For a change in water type a quick 15 min ride puts us in Orleans if we feel like the waves. Also night fishing from the beach there gets pretty sick at times (mental note, don't kill a 30 lb striper 2 miles from car again.....)

Love the fact that you can have bonfires on the beach too (as long as free permit is obtained). Many nights with the kids cooking and laughing into the wee hours.

All that said, making a left turn there can downright suck at times.

We make occasional day trips to the jersey shore but for vacations its CC. In fact, we'll be up there next week!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

What town do people visit with kids? Anywhere with Amusement parks, waterparks, mini-golf, arcades???

 

[drjeff]

I don't even know what sperry's are but I need to find out if I want to find a Stepford wife and move to Fairfield county

Here 'ya go GSS

Of course you can find them in just about any color you can think also to match your outfit

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Here 'ya go GSS

Of course you can find them in just about any color you can think also to match your outfit

They look pretty steezy..if I want to find a blue-blooded New England WASP..I need those shoes!!!

 

[SKidds]

Time and place, people......time and place. We spent the weekend before last on the cape, and it was delightful. Drove out on Friday morning (4 hour + drive, arrived at the Bourne Bridge a little after 2:00 pm) and didn't spend more than 15 minutes in bridge/rotary traffic, and then had minor slow downs on the mid-Cape highway out to Chatham. Had we left earlier (as desired) it would have been less traffic. Came back on Monday morning, lost maybe 20 minutes due to bridge/rotary traffic. All in all, not bad traffic, and easy to put up with for the beauty the Cape offers. We stayed in Chatham, and had no, none, zip traffic issues around town. People complain about parking, but never had a problem finding a spot in town, and parking is free. Crowds in town weren't bad either. Sure, 6 was a little slow in spots Saturday on the way up to the Provincelands, but again, the beauty was worth the minor inconvenience. Bottom line is, the people who talk about the traffic and crowds are going to the wrong places and travelling at the wrong times. Anybody who cares to spent 5 minutes figuring it out knows you don't travel out to the Cape after about 2 pm to 9 pm on a Friday, or anytime between 9 am and 4 pm on Saturday, and you don't travel off the Cape between 2 pm and 9 pm on Sunday. That ain't that hard to figure out.

So, for what little traffic issues and crowds we had to put up with, what did we get? Spent Saturday biking and beaching. Hit the National Seashore Trail at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, took the bike trail out to Coast Guard Beach. Wonderful paved bike path through beach forest and over marshland, out to a gorgeous beach. Wonderful scenery, wonderful beach. From there is was up to Provincetown. As stated previously, some minor traffic headed up 6, but it didn't cost us more than 20 minutes. A quick visit to town for lunch found it to be crowded.....but that is what you go to Provincetown for....to people watch. After lunch it was over to the Province Lands Visitor center and the Provincelands bike trail system. Absolutely stunning. Where else can you navigate paved trails through the heart of an extensive dune landscape, through shady beach forest, and out to some of the most scenic beach areas on the east coast? Nowhere, that's your answer. Sunday we spent around the Chatham area beaches. No horrible crowds. Parking is steep for the public beaches that have it, but what the hey. Biggest inconvenience is the fact that there is no parking nearby if you want to visit Chatham Light beach, but boy is it gorgeous out there.

Great beaches, great biking, quaint towns full of NE charm, super cheap, super nice sweatshirts at Cuffy's, scenic inlets for exploring and crabbing....and likely so much more. That's why they come. The only thing I don't get is why they do it on Friday night, Saturday morning, or anytime on Sunday.

 

[SKidds]

What town do people visit with kids? Anywhere with Amusement parks, waterparks, mini-golf, arcades???

Beaching, biking, exploring coves and inlets to fish, crab, dig clams, finding a tidal pool full of life......best to enjoy the natural attractions, and there are plenty of those for kids. Yes, there is mini golf to be found.

 

[deadheadskier]

I 'get' your experience SKidds

what I don't 'get' are the hundreds of thousands of people that head down for the weekend on Friday and Saturdays to sit in ridiculous traffic and visit upper to mid-cape regions that are a mob scene.

 

[ccskier]

As many have said it is all about timing. The Cape is not just the traffic issue. When I lave the Cape in the winter to head up to Jay I pick certain windows of traffic issues surrounding Boston, etc... Have to leave here before noon or after 6 to not have to sit in traffic. Real people from the Cape aren't as pastel dressed as you think, it is the people who buy as much Vineyard Vines, etc... To dress to impress. I will say that I do have some of the clothing, lots of ties, etc... But I waer a polo shirt with a pair of regular shorts and flippy flops, not rockng nantucket red pants with a light blue v vines button down with the sleeves rolled up, patchwork belt to match, no socks and sperry topsiders. As I said before if you go to the right places, at the right times, it is pretty enjpoyable. You also do not have to go to a beach to get sun, can be done in land locked ct or a-town.

 

[tarponhead]

I 'get' your experience SKidds

what I don't 'get' are the hundreds of thousands of people that head down for the weekend on Friday and Saturdays to sit in ridiculous traffic and visit upper to mid-cape regions that are a mob scene.

Maybe they go there for the fishing

 

[SKidds]

I 'get' your experience SKidds

what I don't 'get' are the hundreds of thousands of people that head down for the weekend on Friday and Saturdays to sit in ridiculous traffic and visit upper to mid-cape regions that are a mob scene.

I don't get why they do it at the wrong times either. Although I have to say, it really is nice up there...... but I still don't think I'd wait in hours or traffic, willingly, to do it. But then again, it it were my only option...and someone were offering me free lodging? Maybe.

Of course I say all that knowing I'm gonna get blasted by the traffic on the way back from Cape May, NJ this weekend. I was just researching some alternative routes as a matter of fact.

 

[andyzee]

Time and place, people......time and place. We spent the weekend before last on the cape, and it was delightful. Drove out on Friday morning (4 hour + drive, arrived at the Bourne Bridge a little after 2:00 pm) and didn't spend more than 15 minutes in bridge/rotary traffic, and then had minor slow downs on the mid-Cape highway out to Chatham. Had we left earlier (as desired) it would have been less traffic. Came back on Monday morning, lost maybe 20 minutes due to bridge/rotary traffic. All in all, not bad traffic, and easy to put up with for the beauty the Cape offers. We stayed in Chatham, and had no, none, zip traffic issues around town. People complain about parking, but never had a problem finding a spot in town, and parking is free. Crowds in town weren't bad either. Sure, 6 was a little slow in spots Saturday on the way up to the Provincelands, but again, the beauty was worth the minor inconvenience. Bottom line is, the people who talk about the traffic and crowds are going to the wrong places and travelling at the wrong times. Anybody who cares to spent 5 minutes figuring it out knows you don't travel out to the Cape after 2 pm and 9 pm on a Friday, or anytime between 9 am and 4 pm on Saturday, and you don't travel off the Cape between 2 pm and 9 pm on Sunday. That ain't that hard to figure out.

So, for what little traffic issues and crowds we had to put up with, what did we get? Spent Saturday biking and beaching. Hit the National Seashore Trail at the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham, took the bike trail out to Coast Guard Beach. Wonderful paved bike path through beach forest and over marshland, out to a gorgeous beach. Wonderful scenery, wonderful beach. From there is was up to Provincetown. As stated previously, some minor traffic headed up 6, but it didn't cost us more than 20 minutes. A quick visit to town for lunch found it to be crowded.....but that is what you go to Provincetown for....to people watch. After lunch it was over to the Province Lands Visitor center and the Provincelands bike trail system. Absolutely stunning. Where else can you navigate paved trails through the heart of an extensive dune landscape, through shady beach forest, and out to some of the most scenic beach areas on the east coast? Nowhere, that's your answer. Sunday we spent around the Chatham area beaches. No horrible crowds. Parking is steep for the public beaches that have it, but what the hey. Biggest inconvenience is the fact that there is no parking nearby if you want to visit Chatham Light beach, but boy is it gorgeous out there.

Great beaches, great biking, quaint towns full of NE charm, super cheap, super nice sweatshirts at Cuffy's, scenic inlets for exploring and crabbing....and likely so much more. That's why they come. The only thing I don't get is why they do it on Friday night, Saturday morning, or anytime on Sunday.

You got it down pat. One think I always enjoyed is the Chatham Light Beach at night. Was always great sitting there as the light sweeps the water.

 

[Greg]

Just got back. My wife and I both grew up in families that vacationed on the Cape most summers so I think part of it is nostalgia. We really enjoy the Dennis-Harwich-Chatham area which is somewhat far enough East that the crowds/traffic is less. Certainly not Truro quietness, but not Hyannis/Falmouth craziness either. When we go out to dinner, we aim to be at the restaurants around 5 pm and can usually get seated right away. We also take advantage of take-out quite a bit which is easier with the kids anyway.

As far as getting on/off, my sis-in-law lives in Plymouth and we can drive right to her house with no traffic. Take a break there and then they know a route which puts us almost right on the Sagamore with no traffic and that was around 11:30 am on a Saturday morning. We usually return Friday evening and never hit any traffic getting off.

As far as the draw to sitting on the beach, I did a lot of hanging at the beach last week and it was a nice relaxing break from the normal craziness of life. Didn't do a ton of just sitting there - I would usually swim with my 6 year old who spent most of her time floating over, on and sometimes under (!) waves on her boogie board, building sand castles with my three year old, taking walks down the beach with the family, or tossing the football, softball or frisbee around with my brother-in-law. When I was just sitting there, I would just clear my mind of just about everything and listen to the waves. Get too hot? Just go jump in the water.

Great mountain biking on the Cape too.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

are you allowed to drink beer on the beach on the cape? Are beach passes required? About 8 years ago I went to Nantucket with an ex but it was during March and we drove to Hyannis..to catch the ferry. I remember there being a cool glass shop..I wonder if that is still there. Anyway from what I have read it seems like it;s a little more low key than the NJ shore...my grandparents always had a house at the end of the boardwalk in Ocean City NJ and I have good memorys of riding down the boardwalk and hitting Jillys arcade..I was always jealous of people who went to Wildwood because there were better rides and arcades. I spent a summer living in Saco Maine and spend alot of time at Old Orchard beach which is really nice..and really quiet compared to Jersey but everything is..

 

[ccskier]

Generally speaking, no you can't drink beer on the beach, but if you are discreet it shouldn't be an issue. I think the glass shop you were thinking of was the psychadelic emporium and they are all gone now. Just took the tunnel back to the Cape after a meeting, zero traffic.