Cape Cod Autumn Getaway
Cape Cod, known for its beaches and family friendly atmosphere turns from high energy summer to a more serene calm autumn after Labor Day. It’s true, after Labor Day many establishments close until next year, but there’s still plenty to do, see, and eat on the sandbar. Now’s the time to set the wheels in motion; take a trip across the Sagamore Bridge to Cape Cod autumn getaway.
The romance of the Cape is never more apparent than in the fall when children go back to school, family vacations have come and gone, and now the ocean whispers soft nuances of enchantment. Sit on a beach, sip wine, and be the only couple there with ocean breezes tousling your hair and encouraging you to snuggle with your mate. The beaches are open year round and after Labor Day they’re free. Many that may have had chains keeping everyone out after a certain time are open and available. Plan an autumn getaway to Cape Cod around a meteor shower. Getting up at 2am to wander down to the beach with blankets and hot cocoa to watch the dazzling spectacle of the sky to the music of the ocean is unforgettable. The meteors reflect in the ocean creating a site that you’ll relate to family and friends over and over. Autumn 2006 dates for meteor showers are: October 21st – Orionids and November 17th – Leonids. Finding places to stay will not be much of a problem if watching the night sky display of beauty lures you to Cape Cod.
Spend three hours dining and viewing the Cape Cod landscape on the Cape Cod Dinner Express. You’ll want to wear elegant attire for an evening of fine dining as your traverse from Hyannis, cross what was once the longest railroad lift, and find yourself in Buzzards Bay. The train will carry you back to Hyannis as you wine and dine in a unique atmosphere. This is an adults only dining experience and advance reservations are required so call early if you’re interested. Besides the sophisticated dinner the Cape Cod Central Railroad offers brunches, luncheons, and family suppers, as well as special events through autumn.
Great Island, once an actual island before nature built up sandbars connecting it to Great Beach Hill and the mainland, is one of those off the beaten path places that allows you to ponder the beauty that is Cape Cod. Rise early on a brisk autumn morning, put on your walking shoes, and hike around the peninsula that juts out into Cape Cod Bay. One of the few uninhabited locations on the Cape, Great Island affords you a moderate hike that explores an area once claimed a whale hunting hub. If you look carefully you may come across the ruins of an old Inn that served the whalers. If you’re lucky, from the outer most point you might see whales spouting. Take a backpack carrying your lunches and drinks, you’ll find secluded places with grand views that allows you to dream of days gone by and spend intimate moments. Great Island lies within Wellfleet.
If I were to choose one place I’d go to eat while staying on Cape Cod it would the Brewster Inn and Chowder House in, of course, Brewster. The food is wonderful, the ambiance old and welcoming. It’s not the most romantic restaurant, but the charm and food are both topnotch. Try the lobster pie for something a little different. Sandwich is home to the Dan’l Webster Inn. Choose from fine dining in the Webster room or conservatory or a more casual dining experience in the Old Tavern. Either choice is a good one. You’ll find the food delicious and the atmosphere gracious. The Dan’l Webster Inn offers “hot deals”âÂ?¦check them out. Alberto’s Risotrante sits on Main Street Hyannis looking elegant and inviting year round. Northern Italian fare offers up delectable delights in a romantic setting. After dinner take a walk down the streets of Hyannis, crossing through the garden that leads to the harbor, a lovely way to end an autumn evening.
Bed & Breakfasts, like the charming Carriage House Inn in Chatham, MA, still have vacancies for September and October. The posh and elegant Chatham’s Bar Inn offers year round availability with personal service and so many amenities you’ll feel pampered, rested, but never ready to leave. The Inn offers a private beach and miles of ocean view as well as an afternoon tea. Head towards outer Cape and find yourself in Provincetown. The Crown Point Inn is both historical and a spa that sits atop a hill overlooking Provincetown, one of the most colorful places on Cape Cod. Crown Pointe offers charming extras such as rose petals on your bed, fresh flowers in your room, and more. Wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise from one of the sandy beaches nearby. Walk the streets of P’town and amble into art galleries and shops.
An autumn getaway to Cape Cod offers so much more than you could imagine. With high season out of the way, prices are usually lower. Many inns and bed & breakfasts have created specials of all kinds to entice couples to experience Cape Cod after the chaos of summer has fallen away like the tinted leaves on the trees of New England. With some research and time, you could find yourself in a romantic tryst on Cape Cod in the fall.
