Cape Cod Off-Season

A blue lobster at the Woods Hole Aquarium

If you want to visit the Cape but want to save some cash, think about going off-season.  Most people think of lounging at the beach, eating ice cream, and playing mini-golf and while those are some of my favorite activities as well, there are some fun things to do year-round.  Whether you want to take a day trip to the Cape or enjoy a long, relaxing weekend, there's always something to do.

You can get fantastic deals on accommodations during the off-season.  Different places have different definitions of "off-season."  We've gotten off-season rates as late as mid-June, because some places don't consider it peak season until school gets out, but if you have small kids or just want to get away for the weekend, that could be a good option.  You can find house rental deals, but we actually like to stay at a hotel when we visit the Cape off-season because a lot of the hotels have indoor pools.  This makes it way more fun for my son when he can swim no matter the weather! 

You might be wondering what there is to do on the Cape in the off-season.  Yes, there are a lot of things that close for the winter, but there are also some great things open year round.

Here are some of my favorites Cape attractions that are open year-round:

• Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory.   This quick, free, self-guided tour is a fun treat for the entire family.  Plus, free chips at the end!
• While you're in Hyannis, check out Cape Cod Beer.   Beer samples for the grown-ups and a train table for the kiddos!
• Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.  It's closed from December 30-February 14, but is otherwise open year-round.  The museum is small but has tons of fun, interesting artifacts from the Cape, including a small aquarium area.   If the weather is nice, they have some truly awesome trails.  Even if it's chilly, bundle up and explore.
• If hiking and nature walks are your thing, hit up one of the Mass Audubon locations on the Cape.  The Wellfleet  location is a particularly good choice because they have a robust visitor's center so even if the weather isn't great your kids can enjoy the visitor's center.
• Visit some lighthouses.  Lighthouses are picturesque no matter the season.  Some offer tours year round.
• Enjoy bowling in Orleans, or at a Ryan's Family Amusements location.
• Visit the Woods Hole Aquarium.  This free (donation requested) aquarium is fun for adults and kids of all ages!
• After visiting the aquarium, head a few blocks down to Pie in the Sky.   Warm up with some hot drinks and enjoy lunch or one of their well-known bear claws!
• No visit to the Cape is complete without some fresh fish!  One seafood restaurant open off-season (closed January-mid February) is Wellfleet Oyster.  Their menu includes a raw bar, fried platters, and a kids menu featuring fare such as spaghetti, fried fish, and chicken fingers.
• Pick up a pie at Marion's in Chatham.   Really amazing pie!  My husband recommends the bumbleberry.
• Snowshoeing or cross-country skiing.  Here are a bunch of locations for a scenic day spent in the snow!

Lots of places on the Cape are open from April until October, but peak season is usually June through September, so you could get good deals on hotels or house rentals in the spring or fall, but still have access to all the fun Cape stuff - and maybe some warm weather!

This was originally posted on January 16, 2014. 

Five Things to do this Week!

Happy Monday, everybody!  Here are 5 ideas of free and/or inexpensive things to do this week:

1.  Go snowshoeing at Gore Place!   Enjoy the scenery of Gore Place, rent some snowshoes, and have a good time.  It's also accessible via the 70/70a bus coming from Central Square, so if you're a car-free urban-dweller, this is a great place to enjoy a bit of New England nature in the winter.

2.  Play indoor mini-golf!  Right now there are Groupons for Monster Mini Golf in Norwood and Danvers.  If monsters aren't your thing, head over to Marlborough for indoor mini golf and homemade ice cream at Trombetta's Farm.

3.  Visit Jam Time in Maynard or Natick on Monday (today!) afternoon.  On Mondays from 3-close, admission is only $5 per kid.  What a steal!

4.  Take your child to make a Valentine for another parent, grandparent, aunt, or uncle at Plaster Fun Time. This much less expensive alternative to pottery painting is a blast!  There are 9 locations throughout Greater Boston and your child's work of art is ready to bring home that day!

5.  Go sledding!  Here's a list of some favorite Boston-area sledding spots.

5 Fun Things to do this Week!

image from mycutegraphics.com

I hear it's going to be a snowy/icy/slushy/yucky week - but wasn't the weekend such a treat?

I'm going to start post weekly ideas of free or inexpensive things to do.  It's a toughie in the winter sometime and some of these indoor activities are a little costly.  (The Armory indoor playspace in Somerville is $15 - what?!)  Here are some reasonably priced ideas.

1.  Go to the Watertown Library on Monday afternoon for Kindergarten Yoga!  Kids aged 4-6 can enjoy a brief introduction to yoga.  Free.

2.  Head over to Henry Bear's Park in Brookline on Friday afternoon for a musical show with children's performer Marcie Joy!  This also includes stories, crafts, and a coupon for Clover Food Lab.  Event starts at 5 PM.  Free.

3.  Go ice skating!  The Charles Hotel in Harvard Square offers ice skating with inexpensive rates and of course there's the Frog Pond.  Get in the spirit of the Winter Olympics!

4.  Check out open gym on Tuesday or Thursday at Exxcel Gymnastics in Newton.  For $8, you child can enjoy trampolines, balance beams, and more.

5.  Pottery Barn Kids has some activities going on this week.  Aside from their weekly Tuesday morning storytime, they also have a Valentine station this week and cookie decorating on Saturday!  Free.

TEN Inexpensive Indoor Ideas to do this Week!

Jump Around is a great place to get some energy out!

Updated on 1/27/14!

It's another cold week ahead of us, so here are ten (inside!) things for you to do this week.  I tried to find some good deals or otherwise inexpensive things to do.  Some of the indoor activities are so expensive - one thing I found was an indoor play area for $15!  That's more expensive than the Children's Museum!

So, here are some cheaper options to keep you warm while getting out of the house.

1.  Grab a Groupon for Jump Around in Framingham.  Seriously.  Do it.  I bought one and we went on Friday when the temperature was only about 12 degrees.   Isaac really needed to get some energy out and this helped!

2.  Or buy a Groupon for Kids Fun Stop in West Roxbury.   The deal is $30 for five drop-in play visits, so it's half off.   Best for kids 6 and under.

3.  Visit the Harvard Museum of Natural History.   Their regular rates are quite affordable, but they also offer times to go for free for Massachusetts residents.  If you get there Sunday morning from 9:00 am to noon or on Wednesday from 3:00 to 5:00 pm, you will get in free.  (Side note:  Free Sunday mornings happen year-round, but free Wednesday mornings are only from September until May)

4.  Spend Friday evening at the Boston Children's Museum.  Courtesy of Target, it's only $1 from 5-9 pm.

5.  Visit the Boston Fire Museum on Saturday morning.  It's only open on Saturdays, but there's no admission - just bring a donation.  It's not a big museum, but it's fun, especially if you have a kid who likes fire trucks!

6.  Stop at Kelly's Roast Beef for Kids' Night. It's every Monday in Saugus from 5-8 pm, every Tuesday in Danvers and Medford from 5-8 pm, and every Wednesday in Natick from 5-8 pm! There's storytelling, face painting, balloons, arts and crafts projects, and ice cream!  It's free to enjoy the activities, but the food is not free of charge.

7.  Skip cooking one night and go to one of the Boston-area kids eat free nights.

8.  Go to a Tuesday morning story time at Pottery Barn Kids.  It's going to be in the teens tomorrow (ugh) so head to an indoor mall with a PB Kids and maybe grab lunch and hit up the play area to kill some time.

9.  Meet Dora the Explorer tomorrow at the Patriot's Place story time inside Showcase Cinema De Lux.    (Showcase Cinema De Lux has these story times every Tuesday with a different character appearance!)

10.  Paint something at Plaster Fun Time.   You can keep this low cost by picking out lower-priced items.  They have magnets for under $4 and regular pieces start at about $9.  If you join their email list, you'll get coupons sent to you.   They have 9 locations.