Cape Cod, a picturesque destination on the eastern coast of Massachusetts, offers a plethora of exciting activities for families with kids, especially during the summer months. With its stunning beaches, charming towns, and a wealth of outdoor attractions, Cape Cod is an ideal summer vacation spot for creating lasting memories with your children. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or educational experiences, Cape Cod has something for everyone.
First and foremost, the pristine beaches of Cape Cod are a major draw for families during the summer season. From the popular and bustling beaches to the more secluded and serene ones, there are plenty of options to choose from. Kids can frolic in the waves, build sandcastles, collect seashells, and enjoy a refreshing swim in the clear Atlantic waters. Some beaches also offer amenities like lifeguards, picnic areas, and restrooms, ensuring a safe and convenient experience for families. Whether you’re looking for a day of fun and relaxation or a place to witness breathtaking sunsets, the beaches of Cape Cod have it all.
In addition to the beaches, Cape Cod boasts an array of family-friendly outdoor activities. You can take your kids on a whale watching excursion, where they’ll have the chance to witness these magnificent creatures up close in their natural habitat. The Cape Cod National Seashore offers opportunities for hiking, biking, and exploring nature trails with informative visitor centers along the way. Families can also embark on a fishing adventure, go kayaking or paddleboarding in the calm waters of the Cape’s many bays and ponds, or take a thrilling boat tour to explore the local marine life and ecosystems.
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1. Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail
Spend a morning or afternoon biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, where you can wheel along a paved surface and stop at parks and beaches along the way. The trail extends 22 miles through Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet. If you don’t have bikes, take advantage of bike rentals. Free parking for trail users is available at the following places:
- The trailhead at Route 134 in South Dennis
- Headwaters Drive in Harwich
- Route 137 in BrewsterNickerson State Park in Brewster
- Orleans Center
- Cape Cod National Seashore at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham
- National Seashore at Marconi Area
- The trailhead at LeCount Hollow Road in South Wellfleet
Download a trail map from capecodbikeguide.com.
2. Tee Off at Mini Golf
Mini golf is a summer tradition on Cape Cod. Gather the kids and head to one of the many mini golf courses between Sandwich and Eastham. Two of the best-known are Pirate’s Cove in South Yarmouth and Cape Escape Adventure Golf in Orleans.
3. Take Them Out to the Ball Game
The Cape Cod Baseball League holds special status in baseball history. Now in its 133rd season, this amateur baseball league is where you and your family can see baseball stars in the making. In 2018, the CCBL reached a milestone with 306 active Cape League alumni playing in the major leagues. With 10 teams traveling between 10 fields, it’s easy to catch a game.
4. Meet Marine Life in Cape Cod Bay
Mass Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is a hidden jewel filled with panoramic views and secluded trails. Not just a destination for birdwatchers and walkers, the nature preserve offers an array of action-packed programs—including a marine life cruise where kids can join a team of naturalists to look for marine creatures in Cape Cod Bay. This hands-on adventure brings crabs, fish, and shellfish to the surface for passengers to see and touch. Cruises leave from Sesuit Harbor in Dennis Wednesdays through August 21. Registration is required.
5. Go on a Seal Cruise
Get on board a 43-foot boat and see where the seals live on a Monomoy Island Seal Cruise. Monomoy is a barrier island and wildlife refuge jutting south from the elbow of the Cape. Surrounded by ocean, it’s populated by thousands of seals and hundreds of different bird species. Family-owned and -operated, Monomoy Island Excursions generally runs seal cruises several times a day.
6. Applaud Live Outdoor Theater
Two outdoor children’s shows are in production through August 28 at the Cape Rep Theater in Brewster. If it’s raining, the show is moved indoors. Just $12 a ticket will provide a live performance of “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed: The Rock Experience,” based on the popular children’s book, or “Pitter Patter Puppets.”
7. Feast on Lobster Rolls
A hot day, a cold drink, and a cool lobster roll. That’s all you need for a summer lunch or supper with the kids on Cape Cod. If you don’t already have a favorite spot, try one of the places featured by the Cape Cod Times or Yankee magazine.
8. Scream for Ice Cream
Taking the kids out for ice cream is a no-brainer. On the Cape, however, you can elevate the experience with homemade offerings and extraordinary flavors. The Cape Cod Times picked the top 10 best places for ice cream based on 3,000 voters. See the winners here.
9. Build a National Sandcastle
Cape Cod National Seashore covers 40 miles of shoreline along the Atlantic side of the Cape in the towns of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. That gives you plenty of places to build a sandcastle and wade in the waves. Plan your visit at the National Park Service website.
10. Tour a Lighthouse
Or you can tour two lighthouses. And they’re not just lighthouses. They’re iconic Cape Cod landmarks with their own histories and personalities. Chatham Light in Chatham is open for tours every Wednesday in July and August (and every other Wednesday in May, June, September, and October). Highland Light in North Truro is open for lighthouse climbs through September 2 daily.
