Inexpensive Cape Cod Family Vacation
(Days 1 & 2)
Are you wondering how far your Cape Cod family vacation budget will stretch?
You might be suprised to see how inexpensive your family vacation on Cape Cod can be!
Imagine a week filled with ...
- Sunny days at the beach
- Whale watching on Cape Cod Bay
- Kid-friendly outings to mini-golf and sporting events
- Delicious New England lobster dinners
- A comfortable Cape Cod cottage to come home to at the end of each day
And all that on a budget of $1500 or under.
To give you an idea of how far a moderate vacation budget can go on the Cape, I've taken on the challenge of planning a fun-filled, week-long Cape Cod family vacation on a budget of $1,500.
On this page and those that follow, you'll see the results of my challenge ...
A family vacation diary and a day-by-day summary of estimated costs..
I hope it'll inspire you to begin planning your family's getaway to the Cape soon. Enjoy!
Cape Cod Family Vacation
Day 1 - Saturday
Traveling to the Cape
We got an early start this morning.
With about 3 hours drive time to the Cape ahead of us, we wanted to get on the road bright and early so we wouldn't get stuck in Saturday morning traffic.
When we were about a half-hour away from the Cape, I picked up the phone and called for a traffic report.
No tie-ups were reported at the bridges, and by a little after 8:30 we on the Cape.
Sightseeing and a Bite to Eat
With a few hours to go before check-in time at our rental cottage, we had plenty of time for some sightseeing along the way.
I grabbed the map and saw that historic Sandwich MA, the oldest town on Cape Cod, was just a few miles away.
An early morning walk along the Sandwich Boardwalk to Cape Cod Bay seemed like the perfect way to stretch our legs after hours in the car.
Walking from the small parking lot to the boardwalk, the smell of fresh salt air washed away every last trace of road weariness.
At the end of the boardwalk, all of Cape Cod Bay stretched out before us.
We couldn't have picked a better way to start our Cape Cod vacation!
After dipping our toes in the water for a few minutes, we were ready for a bite to eat. That bowl of cereal at 5 a.m. seemed like years ago.
A couple miles farther down Route 6A, we came to a cute little place called Marshand.
One bite into my "Poppy Bagel McNagel" - a grilled bagel loaded with egg, spinach, tomato, mushrooms and cheese - I was hooked.
Chatting with a gentleman at the next table, he mentioned that we might want to take the "scenic route" to our cottage, continuing along Route 6A to Yarmouthport, then taking a cross road over to South Yarmouth.
I'm so glad we took his advice. What a gorgeous drive we had along Old Kings Highway!
Getting Settled in Our Rental Home
We arrived at the cottage just at check-in time.
I knew right away that we'd made a perfect choice of vacation rentals for our "home away from home".
It's everything we need, only a short walk to the beach, and the kids have their own room.
So much better than a cramped hotel room - and much cheaper, too. Only $750 for the whole week!
While everyone got settled in, I hopped back in the car for a quick trip to the grocery story. A few easy meals at home, hundreds of dollars saved.
Getting to Know the Neighborhood
Of course, no one was at the cottage when I got back.
I put on my sun hat, strolled down to the water, and sure enough. There they were.
After an hour or so of getting to know "our beach", we all headed back to the cottage and hopped on our bikes for a ride around the neighborhood.
When we came to a cute little pizza shop, the vote was unanimous ... Let's stop for an early dinner.
I couldn't imagine a better beginning to our first Cape Cod family vacation!
Cape Cod Family Vacation
Day 2 - Sunday
It's our first full day on Cape Cod ...
We gobbled down breakfast, put on our swimsuits, and we were out the door in a flash.
Making New Friends at "Our" Beach
On our walk to the beach, we met a family from England who're renting a cottage just down the street from us. This is their first Cape Cod family vacation, too.
No sooner had we plunked our beach chairs down on the sand, and the youngsters went off to play together.
Our kids had their floats. Their new "best pals" had skimboards and kites.
In no time the kids were happily sharing their toys while the adults had some much needed quiet time.
Ice Cream at the Beach and Dinner on the Grill
This afternoon, just as I was nodding off in the cooling breeze, I heard a sound that flashed me back to the summer days of my childhood ...
An ice cream vendor truck! Or, as some New Englanders call them - the "Ding Dong Cart".
The catchy little tune coming from the truck is still bouncing around in my head.
"All around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the weasel ..."
I can't recall the rest of the lyrics anymore, but the melody sure is sticking with me.
Even so, I have to say - those orange popsickles taste just as good today as they did when I was 10!
Burgers on the grill tonight and early to bed. We have a busy day planned for tomorrow.
Related Pages:
Budget Summary for this Affordable Family Vacation
Cape Cod Vacation Diary - Days 3 & 4
Cape Cod Vacation Diary - Day 5
Cape Cod Vacation Diary - Days 6 & 7
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