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Creating Memories on 'the Cape'

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Destination: Cape Cod, Mass.

Who Went: The Scott Family, Caldwell, joined by extended family from New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia.

What There Was To Do: Cape Cod, or as it is affectionately called “the Cape”, offers a wide range of beach and non-beach, active and leisure activities. Located in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, Cape Cod was formed as the end moraine of a glacier, resulting in a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean.

From scenic biking and jogging trails, to kayaking and fishing in fresh water ponds or in Cape Cod Bay, to golf and tennis, even the most active of visitors can find something to do. Looking for a more relaxing respite? Cape Code also offers beautiful sandy ocean beaches, and the peaceful tranquility of Cape Cod Bay. 

But, what really makes Cape Cod the summer spot to visit is the delicious, ridiculously fresh lobsters, clams, oysters, mussels, and other seafood. Add some local grown corn-on-the-cob and you have the perfect meal.

Tired of the beach? Enjoy a whale-watching expedition, head to Martha’s Vineyard, stop by the local art galleries, experience the culture-rich and uniqueness that is Provincetown, or souvenir shop in any of the many quaint towns that make up Cape Cod.

Why Here? Dad Andrew Scott first visited the Cape as a young boy with his family. Since then, with the exception of a few years that he lived in Houston, Texas, Scott has vacationed on the Cape for nearly 45 years.  

“For me, it has never gotten tired, stale, or boring,” said Scott. “Our family celebrates the strange traditions we have established over the years, and maintain many of them for inexplicable reasons.”  

The family stays in the town of North Eastham, on the bay side of the Cape. The bay side provides the tranquility of the bay, with vast sandbars at low tide that are perfect for a game of wiffle ball, skim boarding, or flying a kite; and the more lively beauty and power of the Atlantic Ocean and the inviting Cape Cod National Seashore beaches just three miles away.

Highlight of the Trip: “A highlight of this year's trip included a round of golf at Highlands Golf Links in Truro with three generations of Scotts,” said Scott. “But what was really unbelievable was losing my wedding ring in Cape Cod Bay only to have my brother find it the next day at low tide!”

In addition, the Scott clan enjoyed body surfing in the waves at Marconi Beach; fresh cranberry-orange muffins for breakfast, fresh clams on the half shell for lunch, lobster for dinner, and Ben & Jerry's ice cream for dessert!

And, Scott can’t forget his early morning runs. “Going for an early morning run from Cape Cod Bay across the Cape to the Atlantic Ocean, and back to the bay again, while breathing in fresh, salty air and taking in beautiful scenery every step of the way,” was truly a highlight said Scott.

The Travel Brochures Say: Visit Cape Code and explore its distinctive towns, arts and culture, quaint shops, wooded bicycle paths, events and festivals, and an endless array of land and sea activities. With countless historic sites and landmarks, each telling the proud role that Cape Cod has played in American history, Cape Cod also offers fine dining experiences, New England's best golf and a variety of lodging and hotels to suit every budget.

From historic Sandwich to the Provincetown artists’ colony, Cape Cod’s towns and villages offer art galleries, artisans’ shops and museums to explore. There are dramas and musicals at a number of performing arts venues, including the Cape Playhouse, America’s oldest professional summer theater.

Prefer music? The Cape offers something for every taste, including the Cape Symphony to a jumpin’ jazz scene, from cozy coffeehouses to the glorious harmonies of the Chatham Chorale, there is music in the air across Cape Cod.

Golfers can try their swing at one of Cape Cod’s 27 public golf courses and 15 private venues. Catch a game of the Cape Cod Baseball League, the premier amateur baseball league in the nation since 1885, or visit the new Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame and Museum at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum at 397 Main St. in Hyannis. Tour one of Cape Cod's historic lighthouses, enjoy a scenic bike ride along 100+ miles of bike trails, or explore one of the more than one hundred walking trails.

Interested in some water activities? Boating on the waters that surround Cape Cod is why many visit, and why many stay. Area charter and tour boat companies transport visitors out onto the Cape’s waters for fishing, sightseeing, swimming and relaxation. Whether you are looking for a sailboat to charter for the day or a 50-foot fishing boat to purchase, Cape Cod will float your boat.

With nearly 560 miles of coastline, Cape Code offers a place for swimming, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling. Enjoy whale watching along Stellwagen Bank, one of the world’s finest whale feeding grounds located off Cape Cod Bay, or just relax by the beach with a good book.

Want to learn more? View the official website of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.

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