What do we do in April on and around the Cape?

What do we do in April on and around the Cape?

by Theo
(Mn.)

We are two couples traveling From Mn. to the Cape for a Early Spring getaway. Knowing that it is the Off Season, we are curious as what to expect as far as Dining and/or any nite life ??

We are quite adventurous, average age mid-40s and pretty outgoing!!

We're looking for some recommendations for either local hangouts, good seafood, possibly a few drinks?

Or are we going to be hunkered down and all alone with the entire area still boarded up for the winter?

Thanks for any help or words or encouragement you can offer.

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What do we do in April on and around the Cape?

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Plenty to do in April
by: Cape Cod Couple

Well, you certainly won't be "hunkered down and all alone", since there are about 200,000 people who live on the Cape year-round. Two factors will determine just how "boarded up" everything is: Where on the Cape you're staying, and when in April you are visiting.

In general, you'll find more things to do the closer you stay to the bridges. The Mid Cape and Upper Cape regions (Sandwich, Mashpee, Hyannis) are more populated and offer much more in the way of year-round attractions, while Truro, Wellfleet and PTown probably will be barely waking from their winter slumber.

As far as timing goes, we have a statewide holiday here in Massachusetts on Patriots Day. It's the third Monday in April and usually marks the unofficial start of spring. If you come after that date, even the outer Cape is at least starting to open up for the season.

Things you might want to do include a Whale Watch - 2011 schedules aren't posted yet but trips started on April 10 last year; Bike Rides - both the Cape Cod Rail Trail and the Shining Sea Bikeway will be pretty (and blissfully quiet) at that time of year; Hiking - Walks on the beach are lovely (if bracing) at that time of year; Shopping - Mashpee Commons won't be the hopping place it is in the summer but its shops and restaurants will certainly open for business, as will a lot of the antique shops along Route 6A.

For good seafood we recommend Aqua Grille in Sandwich. Off-season hours include Thursday-Sunday for dinner and Saturday and Sunday for lunch and dinner. You won't find many of those ubiquitous Cape Cod clam shacks open at that time of year, but most of those really only do fried seafood where it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish a clam strip from and onion ring. Macs Seafood in Wellfleet is the only one we'd heartily recommend, but they will not be open in April.

For a few drinks try the British Beer Company. They have a number of locations that are open year-round, notably in Sandwich, Falmouth and Hyannis. These are British-style pubs with decent food, live music some nights and a fairly lively pub atmosphere.

Weather probably won't be great, but you never know, you might get lucky. Hey, if you're from Minnesota you'll be fine. Just be ready to wrap up warm.

Have a wonderful trip and drop us a note when you get back and let us know how it was.

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