Avoid the crowds of high season and discover Cape Cod in the wintertime! There are plenty of activities as well as restaurants to choose from.
Most visitors to Cape Cod come in the summer to indulge in ice cream, beaches, boat rides, and mini-golf. Although the Cape is beautiful and full of fun things to do in the summer, it is also a wonderful place to visit in the winter. There are even some benefits of visiting Cape Cod in the winter: no traffic on Route 28 or parking fees at the beach!
Indoor Activities
- Try Ice Skating at Patrick M. Butler Memorial Rink in Hyannis. Public skating is offered Monday-Friday 9:30am – 2:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 2:10-4:00pm. The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for kids. You can also rent skates for $4, or get your skates sharpened for $5. For more information, visit Hyannis Youth and Community Center.
- Warm-up with some wine tasting at Truro Vineyards. They are open seven days a week from 11:00-5:00 (Sunday 12:00-5:00), May- Thanksgiving. After Thanksgiving, Truro Vineyards stays open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday until mid-December. They offer wine tasting every half an hour. They also have a shop filled with great wine accessories, as well as other local gifts, perfect for those holiday gifts. For more information, visit their website.
- Visit some local museums. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum costs $5 to enter and showcases JFK’s time spent on his family compound in Hyannisport. The Cape Cod Art Museum, located in Dennis is open Thursday-Sunday throughout the winter.
- Take a day trip to Nantucket. The high-speed ferry out of Hyannis runs year-round. Once you get to Nantucket, you can visit the Nantucket Whaling Museum. It does close in January but reopens again on February 4, 2012.
Outdoor Activities
- Nickerson State Park has beaches and bike paths for summer enjoyment, but in the winter it’s still a great place for a hike. Once the snow comes, put on snowshoes in order to enjoy the park. You can also enjoy some sledding as well. Nickerson State Park is located in Brewster on Route 6a.
- Speaking of sledding, there are many other hills to choose from throughout the Cape. The many Cape Cod golf courses provide excellent sledding opportunities as well as “The Hill” at the Courthouse in Barnstable Village or Mount Perry in Sandwich.
- The Zooquarium in Yarmouth is a fun place for the whole family all winter long. The indoor aquarium has fish tanks to stare into, as well as a small “touch pond” with sea stars, crabs, and more. Outside is a petting zoo complete with food to feed the llamas and goats. The “Zoorific Theater” presents hourly shows that teach children about alligators, hedgehogs, skunks, etc, and allow them to pet these creatures after.
Restaurants
- Inaho is a popular Japanese restaurant in Yarmouthport on Route 6a. Make sure to call ahead for a reservation, this restaurant is busy even in the winter months!
- Roadhouse Cafe in Hyannis was rated “Best Fine Dining Restaurant in the Mid-Cape” by Cape Cod Life Magazine 2010.
- Osteria La Civetta is an Italian restaurant and wine bar located in downtown Falmouth.
- Anejo is a Mexican bistro and tequila bar, also located in Falmouth. The bar is often busy even in the winter, and the guacamole made right at your table is definitely worth trying out.
- Ocean House in Dennisport is a perfect place to enjoy the ocean view even in the cold winter weather. You can also enjoy small and large plates of seafood, meat, and vegetarian food with an Asian inspired influence.
It’s worth considering a trip to Cape Cod in the winter. You will enjoy the benefits of offseasons cheaper accommodations but you will still have plenty of options to choose from. Cape Cod often has a milder winter than the Boston area, so you may find that you are able to enjoy walks on the beach or even a round of golf if you are really lucky!