Ahh, vacation. We spend weeks and weeks anxiously awaiting your arrival, and then — in a flash — you come and go.
We hardly got a chance to know you.
Seriously, though, we had a fantastic week on Cape Cod. Sure, there were arguments and teasing and whining, but there was also laughter and lounging and conversations and cuddles.
And ice cream. Lots of ice cream.
Here are some of things I learned on my summer vacation:
1. Turns I’m pretty good at mini golf! A hole-in-one AND finishing under par. Hello, PGA Tour! Yes, I am bragging that I beat two children.
But it looks like someone may be taking her golf game seriously.
2. There is no sleeping in, especially when your kids are sharing a room. They were up every single morning at 6:15am on the dot. Except the last morning, of course, when we needed to get up early to hit the road.
3. It is impossible for my son to go to the beach without getting buried in the sand.
4. There is no such thing as too much ice cream. (Our Cape favorite? Sundae School).
5. I’m kind of grossed out by fishing, even though someone was proud of the bass he caught.
If you’re headed to the Cape, I highly recommend Cap’N Kids Fishing out of Harwich Port.
It’s a two-hour fishing trip geared especially for kids (or the “first mates,” as they call them) where they get to pull a lobster trap, bait a crab trap, fish with a rod and reel and — my favorite part — mop the deck after the crew dumps the lobster trap (full of dozens and dozens of spider crabs) all over the deck.
And it’s an excuse to take a boat ride with built-in entertainment for the kids. Now if only they served cocktails…
6. It’s okay to have a lazy day. I’m so Type-A that I have a hard time relaxing on vacation. I feel like I have to squeeze in all possible vacation activities to ensure we don’t miss out. But this time I vowed to “go with the flow” (not an easy concept for me), and as a result, we spent one overcast afternoon napping, reading books, playing Monopoly and… relaxing. It was heavenly.
7. Okay, enough’s enough … I need to buy a bicycle. Even though I pulled Mimi in the cart for 22 miles – the last 11 of which were accompanied by a squeaky uneven wheel, thanks to a missing bolt on our rented bike – I enjoyed the freedom of biking, the exertion, the way it made me feel like a kid again.
And, holy cow, was I sore the next day!
8. Just the sight of blue and purple hydrangeas flanking a white clapboard house instantly puts me at ease. Seriously, nothing else screams BEACH to me as this combo.
9. We stayed in Brewster, a cute little town along Cape Cod Bay (or the inner curve of the Cape), where the water is calm (hardly any waves) and tidal flats extend for what seems like miles.
It definitely makes for a fun day adventuring and looking for crabs and other creatures, but we missed the ocean and the waves and the boogy boarding, and I realized we are definitely an ocean family. Thankfully, we were only 10 minutes from beautiful Nauset Beach in neighboring Orleans, where we got this gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean.
10. I am one lucky lady to have this amazing family.
AmyC says
Looks like a great place to stay! We are planning for an extended stay there soon 😉
Caroline Murphy says
What a summer you’ve had.
I too LOVE hydrangeas! They were the main flower in my wedding bouquet!
Keep having fun and buy a bike! I need to too!
Heather G says
I love heading down Cape with my family but usually go to PTown. Looks like you had so much fun!
Charlene DeLoach says
Still haven’t been able to enjoy summer yet with the big projects, but hoping August will lead to a lot of fun day trips!
nancy b. says
Planning to head down to the Cape to visit family next week – hydrangeas mean Cape Cod and summer to me, too.
Lauryn says
SO awesome! We are new to MA so this is a great post for me and perfect timing right now! Can not wait to try the kids fishing!
Jessica says
Definitely do it! So much fun. And you can even keep what you catch if its over a certain size.
Mel {MamaBuzz} says
Looks like an awesome vacation, so relaxing! We’re ready to head to Colorado to a little cabin in the middle of nowhere; boy, am I ready! Like you, I’m vowing to go with the flow this year.
Jessica says
That sounds heavenly. Enjoy 🙂
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
I have to admit that I’m pretty impressed by your mini-golf achievement. I’m horrible! Sounds like you had an amazing vacation. My kids always end up buried in the sand too. Sign of a great vacation!
Jessica says
Lol – thanks! I was probably more excited than I should have been 🙂 It’s the competitor in me. I love that my son enjoys being buried but, yikes, what a sandy mess later. That’s why I always bring baby powder with me – takes the sand right off!
Drew Bennett says
I saw your Instagram images first. Very nice stuff. I love the Cape and have been going since I was 7 years old. I’m glad your family had such a nice time.
Emily @Random Recycling says
Biking is the best! Riding a good road bike is so fun and exhilarating.
Jessica says
I think I know what I’m asking for at Christmas …
Annie {Stowed Stuff} says
The Brewster Flats are amazing, aren’t they? I have never been to Nauset Beach – do you need a sticker to go there? But Sundae School is so awesome. I love the smell of that place when you walk in. Brings me right back to being 8 or 9.
Jessica says
Nope! It was $15 to park, though. But well worth it 🙂