Romantic Getaways on Cape Cod: Sun, Sea & Aphrodisiac Foods
Every relationship can use a vacation and all the romantic New England destinations, Cape Cod is my favorite. And I know a lot about experiencing Cape Cod. I’ve been spending summers at this Eastern Massachusetts vacation destination all my life. Here are my recommendations for romantic getaways on Cape Cod.
What time of year should you visit Cape Cod for a romantic vacation?
Every season has something to offer but my pick for the best month for romance is September. Remember, Cape Cod is in the North Atlantic and the water is cold. By September, it reaches its warmest temperatures and is usually lovely on the south shore and almost bearable on the north shore, the Cape Cod Bay.
Summer is, of course, beautiful with the flowers in bloom. But it’s also the most crowded season. In the historic towns running along Route 6A, the Old King’s Highway, you’ll find fewer crowds than on the south side. For a serene and romantic trip, I recommend sticking to the historic Cape and avoiding the months of July and August if possible.
Spring is also beautiful on Cape Cod, and much less crowded than summer. Just don’t plan on swimming in the ocean in spring unless you’re part polar bear.
If leafing is on your list of favorite activities, then the Cape in October will deliver. Just remember that the winds off the ocean can be cutting so pack a scarf and prepare to cuddle.
Romantic things to do on Cape Cod
The choices of activities on Cape Cod are endless and really depend on what you’re into. It’s a great place for simple relaxation. Sitting on a worn, wooden deck and watching the sea life is one of my favorite Cape pastimes.
It’s also a great place to beach comb, particularly in the off-season when you may find bleached fish bones or washed-up horseshoe crabs along with the typical seashells and beach glass.
Here are a few of the best romantic activities you’ll find on Cape Cod:
Stroll a garden
Heritage Museum and Gardens is one of my favorite places on Cape Cod to celebrate romance. Get lost in the hedge maze or sneak a kiss by the flume fountain. I particularly like to spend time in the garden of the senses. It was designed to offer multiple sensory experiences. It really pulls you into the moment and allows you to be completely present with your lover.
While you’re at Heritage, be sure to check out the rotating museum exhibits. And don’t forget to take a ride on the antique, wooden carousel.
Bike the Cape Cod Canal
The Cape Cod Canal bikeway will give you a great understanding of Cape Cod and its relationship to mainland Massachusettes. (An important shipping waterway, the Canal effectively cuts the Cape off from the rest of the state.)
A wide, paved path runs the length of the canal on both sides, about seven miles. It makes for easy and scenic biking. I prefer riding the Cape side, although you can get great views of the Cape from the mainland side. Here’s a map.
I’ve always started at the Sandwich Marina. There are a couple of Sandwich recreation area parking lots where you can leave your car.
If you need to rent bikes, there are several options nearby. Buzzards Bay Bikes is a popular choice. Rideaway Adventures in Sandwich is very convenient to the north entrance of the path.
Whale watch
Whale-watching season on Cape Cod is approximately from April through October. If you’re visiting during these months, don’t miss the opportunity to get up close with the giant mammals at the Stellwagen Bank, a world-famous feeding ground just off Cape Cod.
Most whale-watching tours last about half a day and you’re likely to get up close and personal with humpback whales. You may also see minke and fin whales as well as seals.
There are many whale watch tour operators on the Cape. Your choice should depend on where you’re staying. Two I can recommend are Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch, which leaves out of Provincetown. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises leaves out of Barnstable Harbor.
Catch a movie at the drive-in
Cape Cod is home to a good, old-fashioned drive-in. The Wellfleet Drive-In has been going strong since 1957 and offers an ideal location to smooch your way through a romantic comedy, (or whatever’s playing!). Check the cinema website for show times and to find out what’s playing.
Go bird watching
Cape Cod has abundant wildlife and some of the most interesting residents are the ones that take flight. Nearly 400 species live on or pass through the Cape throughout the year and what you’ll see depends on the time of year you visit.
Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable is one of my favorite shore bird-spotting locations. A six-mile stretch of sand with high dunes, it’s a lovely beach for walking with your one and only. I’ve heard that over 200 different birds have been seen on this shore. I can only vouch for a couple dozen but I am an amateur. Note that during high season, there is a charge to park at Sandy Neck before 5pm.
Mass Audubon keeps an online log of interesting bird sightings across the Cape. If you’re serious about your birding, check it out before you plan your romantic birding date.
Visit the National Seashore
Established by John F. Kennedy in 1961, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers some of the most splendidly preserved beaches in the Northeast. Part of the National Park Service, the National Seashore encompasses six beaches. You don’t have to visit them all. Just pick one or two with features you enjoy.
Possibly the most breathtaking is Race Point, where you can hike the dunes and you may spot whales or sharks off the shore. If accessibility is a concern, your best bets are Coast Guard and Herring Cove beaches. Herring Cove is the most gentle of the beaches and is known for beautiful sunsets.
There are seasonal beach fees at all National Seashore beaches but national park passes are accepted.
Climb to the top of a lighthouse
Nauset Light in Eastham is considered one of the most picturesque lighthouses in America. Tours are free to the public, however, you may have to pay the National Seashore parking fee to visit. But you’ll be able to climb the lighthouse and kiss at the top.
Be sure to check the schedule on the lighthouse website because hours are limited in the shoulder season and it’s closed to tours in winter. The lighthouse is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore and you may have to pay the National Seashore parking fee.
Lick ice cream cones
The love for ice cream on Cape Cod is intense. And you really shouldn’t come to the Cape without licking at least one cone. There are more great ice cream shops than there are towns on the Cape. The hands-down most popular ice cream shop is Four Seas in Centerville. (Note that like many Cape Cod ice cream shops, it closes in the off-season.)
Other great ice cream shops include Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, Whistle Stop in Pocasset and Cape Cod Creamery in Hyannis, Dennis and South Yarmouth. And for the best hot fudge you’ll ever try, head to Sundae School in Dennisport.
Aphrodisiac foods on Cape Cod
Part of the reason I chose to feature Cape Cod as an ideal location for a romantic getaway is the fact that this 60-mile peninsula is loaded with aphrodisiacs. From Wellfleet oysters to Cape Cod cranberries, you can’t avoid them.
Some of the finest local aphrodisiac ingredients include the aforementioned oysters and cranberries as well as lobster, wild blueberries, rosehips, seaweed, fish, clams, scallops and other shellfish and almost every flavor of fudge at the Provincetown Fudge Factory. You should also be sure to try some beach plum jelly. I’m not sure if it’s an aphrodisiac but it’s definitely one of the tastiest local specialties.
Where to eat
So where are you going to go to enjoy all of the local aphrodisiacs? The Cape Cod dining scene is better known for seafood shacks and ice cream parlors than it is for romance. But there are plenty of candle-lit restaurants to choose from as well as many dining rooms with sensational water views.
Here are some inspiring choices for a romantic dinner across the Cape:
Chart Room, Cataumet – Come for the Mudslides at the outdoor bar and stay for the lobster sandwiches in the restaurant. The scene is more family-friendly than sexy but the restaurant has one of the best outdoor bars on the Cape, not to mention a fantastic lobster sandwich.
Fisherman’s View, Sandwich – Reserve an outdoor table for views of Sandwich Harbor and the Cape Cod Canal. Early in the day, the restaurant is filled with families but later in the evening, it attracts an adult crowd.
The Belfry Bistro, Sandwich – Set in a church built in 1901, The Belfry offers one of the Cape’s most unique dining settings along with some of the region’s best food. The quiet, serene setting is just right for whispering sweet nothings to your lover.
Bleu, Mashpee – Prepare to be transported to France without leaving Cape Cod. The atmosphere is more bistro than intimate but offers a fun, foreign vibe and very good French food.
The Ocean House, Dennis Port – Upscale dining in a beachside setting gives this restaurant notoriety as one of the Cape’s top choices for a romantic dinner.
Twenty-Eight Atlantic, Harwich – This is the Cape’s premiere restaurant for fine dining in a sophisticated atmosphere with water views.
The Mews Restaurant & Café, Provincetown – This is everyone’s pick for where to get romantic in Provincetown. But it is one of the area’s more popular restaurants so be sure to make a reservation. Request the beach-level dining room for a quieter experience and views of Cape Cod Bay.
Romantic places to stay
There are great choices for romantic hotels, inns and home rentals across Cape Cod. Your choice depends not only on how much you want to spend but how far out the Cape you want to stay.
Upper Cape
The Coonamessett, Falmouth – A classic, New England inn in a convenient location, The Coonamessett offers easy elegance.
The Belfry Inn & Bistro, Sandwich – A boutique hotel in the center of Cape Cod’s oldest town, the Belfry offers unique guest rooms to suit different styles. Tour the rooms online before making your reservation.
Mid Cape
Lamb & Lion Inn, Barnstable – Although it isn’t as fancy as some of the other options on the list, the Lamb & Lion Inn offers nice amenities like fireplace suites and aphrodisiac chocolate-dipped strawberries delivered to your room.
Wequassett Inn, Harwich- This is the ultimate in Cape Cod luxury accommodations. A gorgeous inn with five-star amenities, this waterfront hotel offers everything you could want.
Lower Cape
Nauset Light Keeper’s House – You can stay in the original lightkeeper’s house at one of the most photographed lighthouses in America if you plan ahead early enough to book the house at Nauset Light.
Crowne Pointe Inn, Provincetown – If you’re looking for a romantic escape with a bit of nightlife, you’ll want to stay in Provincetown. And Crowne Pointe is known as the best choice for casual luxury in town.
If your goal is to stay on the water, there are beachfront rentals available in just about every Cape village and town. But you should know that most rentals are weekly from Saturday to Saturday. You can find options on Airbnb and VRBO. Or you can go through a local rental agency. I know that Sand Dollar Realty on the Upper Cape offers very good customer service.
Getting there
Although the Cape is separated from the rest of the country by canal, you can arrive in this romantic destination by car, train, plane or boat.
The most obvious way to get to Cape Cod is via car over one of two bridges, the Bourne or Sagamore. (The Bourne Bridge is pictured below.) Keep in mind that most of the other travelers coming to the Cape will be arriving by one of these two bridges and that traffic can back up for hours in peak season. If possible, arrive on a weekday or late at night during the summer.
You can also fly into either the Hyannis or Provincetown airport. Jet Blue, American Airlines and Cape Air all fly into both airports but flight schedules change depending on the season.
Weekend trains come to the Cape from Boston in high season. During the rest of the year, car travel is your best bet.
Lastly, if your dream of arriving at your seaside destination includes boat travel, you can keep you dream alive by planning a trip from Boston to Provincetown. The Provincetown Fast Ferry runs seven days per week in high season with a more limited schedule in the shoulder season. You will probably want to rent a car when you arrive but travel by ferry can make for a unique and relaxing travel experience.
However you get there, you won’t regret choosing Cape Cod for your romantic getaway.
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