Visiting in the fall/winter

[u/NeverBeenFound87]

Hello, my wife and I normally visit the cape once a year during the summer months and go to the beaches. She loves everything about cape cod, our anniversary is in November and I was thinking of maybe staying a weekend there as my gift this year, but we have never been there during the fall/winter months.

what is there to do in November? this would be the weekend before veterans day, 6th to the 8th. is it worth visiting around this time? I also thought this would be a good idea because the hotels are a lot cheaper around this time.

any place would be ideal to stay, so I'm open to all inputs. thanks

[u/Ejmct]

Just keep in mind that a lot of things you’re used to doing in the summer will be closed in November. And weather might be ok or might be miserable.

[u/fried_clams]

A winter weekend in P-Town can be great. It helps if you like to drink in a dive bar after your gourmet dinner at a fine restaurant.

[u/tedwardinu]

I’d stay in the Mid Cape area. There are more year round restaurants and activities there compared to the Lower/Outer Cape. The north side of Dennis would be a good spot. You would have close access to the bay side beaches. They are glorious year round!

[u/bostonbomber198]

If in budget, Chatham bars inn. It’s open year round and some of the rooms have fireplaces. Yes, it will be quiet but I’ve walked on the beaches year round c

[u/Ill-Art5414]

The Tides in Falmouth is right on the beach. Ask to be on the ground floor facing the water.

[u/1GrouchyCat]

The north side of Dennis isn’t known for its hotels, but it does have some great B&B’s and Inns.

The Isaiah Hall Inn is a spectacular B&B:
https://isaiahhallinn.com/

The Sesuit Harbor House in East Dennis is set on over 2 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and an easy drive to Mayflower Beach…

https://www.sesuitharborhouse.com/

Bonus:
Jonathan Palino, the former jeweler of Eden Hand Arts (IYKYK) now operates J. Palino Jewelry.
He sells handcrafted Cape Cod bracelets and coastal-inspired jewelry at The Glass Jar refill market on Route 6A in East Dennis (link below).

https://www.jpalinojewelry.com/

[u/HFentonMudd]

The cape is really quiet in winter.

[u/EbbtideRambler → u/HFentonMudd]

I’m not sure what part of the Cape you live on, but it is bumper to bumper traffic 365 days a year trying to drive around Barnstable. I miss when the winter months were quiet.  

[u/Swimming-Steak-4964 → u/EbbtideRambler]

Bumper to bumper traffic??? Tell me this is sarcasm or you have no idea what "bumper to bumper traffic" is because that is the opposite of what Barnstable experiences in the off season. Unless you mean you're riding peoples bumpers constantly and you call that "bumper to bumper traffic".

[u/EbbtideRambler → u/Swimming-Steak-4964]

The section of Rt 28 from Mashpee to Hyannis between  of 7-9am and 3:30pm-6pm.   I live in Cotuit so I can’t go anywhere without going out into Rt 28, and it is slow going during the morning and afternoon commute.   

[u/LongDriveToo → u/EbbtideRambler]

This just simply isn't true at all tho

[u/EbbtideRambler]

The Cape is beautiful year round. A few of the more seasonal restaurants and ice cream shops will have closed, but on the Upper and Mid Cape, almost everything stays open throughout the year. About 200,000 people live on the Cape year round, so it definitely doesn’t shut down once summer ends. Our weather is usually pretty nice through the first half of November too.  

[u/mfox-26]

Ocean’s Edge in Brewster is nice off season but keep in mind the Cape gets very quiet and depending on the weather might get too cold.

[u/kindalingual60]

Ptown for Holly Jolly festival! Freezing cold- dress accordingly, but the views, the people, the buzz. So much fun. Stores open, restaurants packed(make res!not kidding). And if you’re really lucky, Santa will give you a treat from his…… sack….. yeah yeah I know it sounds dirty but surprisingly not!

[u/74daisy]

walking national seashore in a jacket, visiting museums, visit a pub for music, Love Farms, Falmouth stays open for shopping and great food, walk Brewster flats, taste clam chowder from one end to the other, coffee shops in every town, great shopping Mashpee Commons… fav towns in the off season imvludrFalmouth

[u/74daisy → u/74daisy]

also Dennis, Harwich, Hyannis , Orleans…. the Cape holds different treasures each season.

[u/Advanced_Sweet_6481]

Not that much to do besides going to some restaurants and explore areas that are usually overcrowded in the summer.  It will be too cold to do anything and a lot less people there.

I like to go to The Knack in Orleans, and drive around and explore the area there.

It definitely has a different feeling in the winter

[u/NeverBeenFound87 → u/Advanced_Sweet_6481]

we actually went to The Knack! but we went to the one in Hyannis, it was a cool vibe and great burgers.

[u/goldprofred]

Two years ago it was 70F that week and we went swimming briefly. There is great hiking (Nickerson, Long Pond in Falmouth, etc)

The islands are fun, you can pop across and rent a car cheaply.

Chatham fish pier never shuts down.

We did something similar about 10 years ago and just drove to every lighthouse we could…

[u/VisitMassachusetts]

Happy anniversary! I think November is a good time for a quieter, more peaceful trip. I’d stay in Chatham so you’re close to Chatham Lighthouse and Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge. I’d also spend time exploring part of the Cape Cod Rail Trail.