Cape Cod Recommendations

[andyzee]

Nice! We like Chatham Light too. That is where I proposed to my wife. Looking forward to getting up there later this month. But for me, the best time is after Labor Day. You can actually relax instead of cursing the fact that you can't make a left or right on 6A because the traffic is so bad.

For the longest time I just head up to N. Truro and camp out about 1 mile from the beach. No problems with traffic, it's all back roads, drive the truck on the beach, find a nice spot and start a fire, and just hang out, love it!

 

[Grassi21]

For the longest time I just head up to N. Truro and camp out about 1 mile from the beach. No problems with traffic, it's all back roads, drive the truck on the beach, find a nice spot and start a fire, and just hang out, love it!

I want to give that a go one of these days. We do a lot of long weekends and one big 9 day trip every year. It be nice to spend a few nights sleeping that close to the beach.

 

[Greg]

Brax Landing? Right on the water, great views? If so, yes. Really good food. Brax and 400 Club are the only two placed in Harwich that I have eaten at. My stomach knows Chatham and Orleans more intimately.

Yup. Brax Landing. Food is good and pretty reasonable, and it's casual (two kids, that's important). We usually try to get there early by 5 or 5:15 to beat the crowds and get a good seat. Counting the days...

Would love to get some other recommendations for the Chatham area. Something like Brax is a good baseline for what we like (casual family atmosphere, but still good food).

Couple of things I always liked in Chatam, the band playing in the parks bandshell on Fridays and Chatam's Lighthouse beach at night, it's great hanging on that beach and just watching the light from the light house make it's swoops over the water. See the lobster in my avatar, former Cape Cod native

Have you ever seen the a cappella group, Hyannis Sound? They're pretty good. Funny thing about all this talk about engagements. We saw Hyannis Sound in Burlington shortly before I proposed to my wife on Lake Champlain...

 

[Grassi21]

Would love to get some other recommendations for the Chatham area. Something like Brax is a good baseline for what we like (casual family atmosphere, but still good food).

I'll start with the least casual and work my way up....

Kreme n Cone - Typical Cape Cod fry-shack, outdoor seating, not much in the way of views, family oriented and very affordable
The Chatham Squire - It is a bar with a dinning area, but if you go around 5 PM most people are there for dinner. The Squire is a classic Chatham hang-out.
Chatham Wayside Inn - Good food and located in the center of the shopping area
Blue Coral - I have never eaten there but they have a really cool outdoor garden seating area. It opened this summer. Its tucked behind the main shopping drag so its nice and quiet.
The Tavern at Chatham Bars Inn - Chatham Bars Inn is probably the nicest place to stay in Chatham. Worth a drive-by just to take a look at the facility and view. The Tavern is there casual dinning option. Great food, great atmosphere, and view. Its probably the most expensive on this list.

And if the kiddies want ice cream (I always do)...
Emack and Bolios - Located just behind the shops on the main drag. Good ice cream but the line is usually out the door.
The Old School House - If you drive from Harwich to Chatham (I think its RT 28 ) you will see this place on your left. Its not located near the shopping area but its a Cape Cod classic. As with Emack's, there will probably be a line out the door.

 

[Grassi21]

I love my wife. I asked her for some input and this is what she sent me...

Chatham Bars Inn ~ 508.945.0096 Shore Road, Chatham, MA 02633

Chatham Squire Restaurant ~ 508.945.0945 487 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Chatham Wayside Inn ~ 508.945.5550 (Tell them they can go to the bandstand concerts with the kids during the summer - I think they are on Friday nights). 512 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Blue Coral Seaside Cuisine & Spirits ~ 508.348.0485 (in the courtyard if they want an outside experience - I don't know if it's kid friendly though - since they have a limited menu, it may just be somewhere where he and the wife want to go) 483 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Cape Cod Burrito Co. ~ 508.348.0108
637 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Impudent Oyster ~ 508.945.3545
15 Chatham Bars Ave, Chatham, MA 02633

Kream 'n' Kone ~ 508.945.3308 (definitely recommend for kids!!!)
1653 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Larry's PX ~ 508.945.3964 (good for b'fast)
1591 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633

Pate's Restaurant ~ 508.945.9777
Route 28, Chatham, MA 02633

 

[Greg]

Nice! Thanks. We've eaten at many of those. We're gonna try Pate's this year. Oh yeah - Schoolhouse Ice Cream is great! There's also a big ice cream place right near the center of Harwichport. Also, in Harwichport is the Weatherdeck, a great fried seafood place.

 

[Grassi21]

Nice! Thanks. We've eaten at many of those. We're gonna try Pate's this year. Oh yeah - Schoolhouse Ice Cream is great! There's also a big ice cream place right near the center of Harwichport. Also, in Harwichport is the Weatherdeck, a great fried seafood place.

We spend so much time in Chatham, Brewster, and Orleans that we often neglect Harwich. We made a pact this summer to get over there more. Besides, Brax the only other place I have spent time is the Harwichport Golf Course (dumpy little place but its cheap and you don't need to reserve a tee time). Oh yeah, we tried that Mexican place. OK food, poor service, GREAT selection of tequila's.

 

[Greg]

We spend so much time in Chatham, Brewster, and Orleans that we often neglect Harwich. We made a pact this summer to get over there more. Besides, Brax the only other place I have spent time is the Harwichport Golf Course (dumpy little place but its cheap and you don't need to reserve a tee time). Oh yeah, we tried that Mexican place. OK food, poor service, GREAT selection of tequila's.

Check out Harwichport, I think on Wednesday nights. They have a bunch of local bands set up in various areas/parking lots that jam for an hour or two; everything from big jam bands to a guy with a guitar. It's pretty cool.

 

[BeanoNYC]

After what I learned on this thread, I think I'm leaning towards the eastern cape now. The cost of ferrying over my car and/or taking the chance of taking the ferry without the car and feeling stranded AND the cost of hotels is worrying me. So, If we go to Chatham can anyone recommend a romantic hotel in town so we can walk if I want to have a few drinks at dinner? .... or would Chatham not be a good spot for us. Sorry about my ignorance .... I can always help out on Shelter Island, North Fork/South Fork long island if you guys ever want...

 

[andyzee]

Can't recommend a good hotel, never actually stayed in Chatam. But I do think it's a good spot for someone that has never been to the Cape before. It's a nice little town and is pretty much central to the Cape, so you can always take day trips to other areas.

 

[Grassi21]

After what I learned on this thread, I think I'm leaning towards the eastern cape now. The cost of ferrying over my car and/or taking the chance of taking the ferry without the car and feeling stranded AND the cost of hotels is worrying me. So, If we go to Chatham can anyone recommend a romantic hotel in town so we can walk if I want to have a few drinks at dinner? .... or would Chatham not be a good spot for us. Sorry about my ignorance .... I can always help out on Shelter Island, North Fork/South Fork long island if you guys ever want...

I just love this thread.

The Chatham Bars Inn is amazing but pricey. If you are going for your anniversary you will score major points. They have a formal dinning area and The Tavern which is less formal. Both are great. Check with the staff, but I think it is within walking distance of the main area of town. We usually drive into the shopping area, park the car and then walk around. After we wrap up we hop in the car and swing around the block to gaze and drool at the Inn.

The Chatham Wayside Inn is located smack dab in the middle of everything. They have a nice restaurant and are in walking distance all the restaurants, shops, and the Squire. I noticed the NYC in your name so you might want to be careful if there is a Sox game on. ;-) The Squire is a good mix of locals and tourists.

From the towns I know, Chatham is the most conducive to getting around without a car.

 

[andyzee]

Up next, List of Things to do on the Cape! BeanoNYC, for you, I am will to go up this Sunday to do some reconnaissance!

 

[BeanoNYC]

I just love this thread.

I'm learning a lot from everyone, thanks. I do like the crotch rash thread better though

The Chatham Bars Inn is amazing but pricey. If you are going for your anniversary you will score major points. They have a formal dinning area and The Tavern which is less formal. Both are great. Check with the staff, but I think it is within walking distance of the main area of town. We usually drive into the shopping area, park the car and then walk around. After we wrap up we hop in the car and swing around the block to gaze and drool at the Inn.

The Chatham Wayside Inn is located smack dab in the middle of everything. They have a nice restaurant and are in walking distance all the restaurants, shops, and the Squire.

Sounds nice, I'm going to check these two out.

I noticed the NYC in your name so you might want to be careful if there is a Sox game on. ;-)

<<<This Yankee fan never met a Sox Fan that he couldn't get along with. Some gentle jabs back and forth, maybe, but we will always find the common ground of our love of baseball. I appreciate the warning though!


Great information...Thanks.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Up next, List of Things to do on the Cape! BeanoNYC, for you, I am will to go up this Sunday to do some reconnaissance!

When are you up there till, Andy? We're looking somewhere around the 6th or 7th.

 

[andyzee]

When are you up there till, Andy? We're looking somewhere around the 6th or 7th.

Just as in Killington, we'll miss each other. I'm going up this Sunday and returning next Friday

 

[Greg]

I just love this thread.

The Chatham Bars Inn is amazing but pricey. If you are going for your anniversary you will score major points. They have a formal dinning area and The Tavern which is less formal. Both are great. Check with the staff, but I think it is within walking distance of the main area of town. We usually drive into the shopping area, park the car and then walk around. After we wrap up we hop in the car and swing around the block to gaze and drool at the Inn.

The Chatham Wayside Inn is located smack dab in the middle of everything. They have a nice restaurant and are in walking distance all the restaurants, shops, and the Squire. I noticed the NYC in your name so you might want to be careful if there is a Sox game on. ;-) The Squire is a good mix of locals and tourists.

From the towns I know, Chatham is the most conducive to getting around without a car.

Sounds like The Chatham Wayside Inn is perfect for you. Right in the middle of the shopping area. And Andy is right on stating that Chatham is great for a first time visitor Cape Codder. We love it out there and we've been making it our annual big family trip for a week each summer. I think my wife and I are on our 7th year in a row; third with kids. Don't get me wrong; I really want to visit Nantucket someday, but I think the hassle of ferrying a car (probably more necessary on MV) is just a pain; not to mention the expense. Good luck!

Should I retitle this thread for you?

 

[Grassi21]

<<<This Yankee fan never met a Sox Fan that he couldn't get along with. Some gentle jabs back and forth, maybe, but we will always find the common ground of our love of baseball. I appreciate the warning though!

I'm the same way. I never understood the Sox/Yanks fans that truly hate someone for their affiliation. Go Bombers!!!!

 

[BeanoNYC]

Just as in Killington, we'll miss each other. I'm going up this Sunday and returning next Friday

Too bad...we're looking to do a midweek thing the week after. Until next time.

 

[Grassi21]

I got hooked on the Cape in college. I went up with my girlfriend to stay at her families place in Brewster. I liked it so much that I decided to marry into the family.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Should I retitle this thread for you?

If you could, Greg ... we may get some more traffic now that I'm looking into the Cape in general...thanks.