Cape Cod, Massachusetts is one of America’s favorite vacation destinations – during the summer, that is. Come the frigid New England winters and everyone seems to retreat back to their warm homes, but today I’m here to share that Cape Cod is alive and well all through the winter, with some fun and interactive experiences that you can check out during this quiet time.
Here are some reasons to visit the Cape during the “off-season”:
- Hotels and inns have special discount rates during this time, making it a budget friendly destination. Those same hotels charging $700/night in August are selling their rooms for as low as $79/night in February!
- Restaurants offer delicious prix-fixe menus – plus during the winter, the chefs have more time and energy to be creative and you’ll notice that on the menus.
- Since it’s not “tourist season”, everything is much less congested. From the drive down to the sidewalks, you’ll have space to slow down and take your time walking around Main Street.
- Sure, most businesses close for the winter but those that are open will be thankful for your patronage and try to exceed your expectations. Customer service at its finest can be found on the Cape!
- Taste dozens of chili recipes at the Martha’s Vineyard Chili Festival: More than 30 contestants and their chilis compete for the best chili of the Cape and Islands! This is one of the most anticipated events of the season – with an amazing turnout. It’s always incredibly fun to taste the variety of chili presented by the competitors. Buy tickets here and read about last year’s festival – I had a blast!
- Explore the Cape Cod Beer brewery: for the beer lovers, taking a tour of the Cape Cod Beer brewery is the ideal way to spend a snowy day. Their variety of beers is quite impressive and as production brewery, you’ll be able to experience the full brewing process and see how beer is made from start to finish.
- Enjoy a quiet retreat on Nantucket: Nantucket is really quiet during the winter but that’s just what makes it the perfect spot to getaway and relax. Book a room at the Harborview Nantucket and spend your days sipping coffee at Handlebar Cafe while diving into any of your hobbies. This is the best winter idea for writers and artists, as Nantucket has a bustling community of creatives that support each other.
- Visit the Sandwich Glass Museum: the art of glass blowing is well and alive on Cape Cod, so make sure to visit this museum (opens back up in February after a month long winter break). Learn why and how the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company led the world in the manufacture of glass during the early 19th century – interesting stories are awaiting.
- Take a tour of the Cape Cod Chips factory: I have yet to personally visit but it’s on my bucket list – we’re total chip lovers in our house an Cape Cod Chips are our brand of choice! As one of the area’s top tourist destinations with over 250,000 visitors annually, this factory tour is a great idea to do with the kids. Families and friends alike love checking out how their favorite chips are made.
This post was written by Marnely Murray, guest writer living on Martha’s Vineyard and writing the food blog, Cooking with Books.