We just returned from a pitch-perfect beach-weekend in Cape Cod. If your friends ever invite you to stay at their family’s cottage, I highly recommend that you jump at the opportunity.
Aron and I agreed that a trip to Cape Cod seems so quintessentially summer–although I’m not sure either of us could have told you why. After this weekend I think we have a better idea.
My friend’s mother has a cottage in Chatham–which sits on the elbow of the Cape, between the Nantucket Sound and Pleasant Bay. Aron and I left from work on Thursday evening, using a Zip Car to drive up and join her and her husband. New York had been mired in a sticky heat wave all week, and we drove past open fire hydrants, and the children playing in their rushing water. Another quintessentially-summer scene. The beach was going to feel nice.
We slipped in late at night, and said our first hellos the next morning. Teryn and Matt had set aside a favorite: the French muffin from a bakery in town, Chatham Cookware. We picked more up the next day. And the next. One day they were still hot from the oven: delicious!
Chatham has a charming main street (where one can find said muffins, on top of loads of other good stuff), but other than a later detour to pick up fudge from Candy Manor and a drive out to the fish pier, we spent our time at the beach or at the cottage.
The water in the Sound, at Hardings Beach, was amazingly warm. I had no idea how warm it would be, and Aron and I kept remarking in disbelief that we didn’t think this was possible this far north. Highlights from our time at the beach? Practicing our paddle-ball skills, playing with our friends’ twin boys, and catching up on our (unfortunately growing) pile of New Yorker back issues.
We shared some very tasty, very fresh seafood, mostly from Chatham Fish & Lobster. The oysters and whole lobsters were amazing–and we went back twice for their shrimp po’ boy sandwich, it was so good. Desserts came in the form of mini pies from Marion’s pie shop.
On the drive back to New York, we stopped at an old favorite, Abbott’s Lobster in the Rough (just outside of Mystic) for one more New England meal. The oysters dwarfed everything else on the plate–they may have been a bit too much oyster in one bite for me, but Aron loved them. To eat this well in such a stunning setting is quite a treat.
My only complaint: it went by too fast.
{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Lobster, oysters and anything fried… yes please! with some Pie on the side
Wonderful travelogue! Wondering if you will be providing a travelogue on your recent trip to India?
I've always wanted to visit Cape Cod and your photos make me want to visit even more now!
once again, your pictures have taken me with you! Have a great weekend!
Thank you! I'm with you, Lea. I promise I will soon, Betty! I don't know why, but I guess I let the size of it intimidate me. But I want to get the details down before I forget. Thanks, Mango gal–definitely do!
You, too! Thanks!
Even though I don't eat seafood, it looks like a perfectly lovely weekend. I would never have believed the water to be warm up there.
Oh my goodness! I'd do anything to be around a large body of water right now! Alas I'm stuck in the Los Angeles Hills with nothing but cheesy hotel pools and over crowded beaches…. Living through you might be my only sanity!
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I love these photos!! And love this post!! I want to venture to Cape Cod with my hubby!!
I love these photos!! And love this post!! I want to venture to Cape Cod with my hubby!!
I spent almost every summer in Cape Cod so these pictures are bringing back fond memories. I miss eating at the fish shacks where you could sit on the deck and look out over the bay.
We're still deciding on a summer vacation spot and Cape Cod is a place I've always wanted to go. Thanks for these great pics!
i love chatham! looks like a great time. xo!
oh my what a delicious getaway!! that whale's tale pale ale sounds great, love the clever name. all the pics are making me jealous and hungry!
Your photos are perfect… you've really caught it well.
You have captured my childhood home so perfectly…next time you visit Chatham, you must attend a free friday evening concert at the bandstand! My family has a cottage in Brewster and I grew up in Sandwich…it will always be at the center of my heart. The cape is such a magical place, isn't it?
love lobsters, oysters too! we just did a very quick road trip up to maine and had some lobster rolls! yummy! love your blog and i'm so glad to have stumbled upon it. happy to meet you!
Looks fantastic! The funny thing is we just got invited yesterday to go to Nantucket and I am jumping high of excitement. Your pictures makes me smell the fish boats coming in with it´s catch… and I am getting hungry:)
omigosh, that looks delicious! i'm aching for some beach time myself…and crossing my fingers it'll be this weekend.
ahh, so jealous! here in Australia, lobster is kind of a speciality, we're paying 50 bucks onwards for one of those babies! very lucky
wow wow wow! This looks amazing.
wow. wishing my weekend would look like that. what a great time!
Now that is what all summer weekends should look like. Your photos capture it perfectly!
Wow, can I hide in your luggage next time?
These shot are all fab.
I love all of the food ones, esp
Thanks for sharing, guys!
What a perfect place! My heart fell in love with Nantucket after reading about Ahab. These pictures make me actually feel like I was there.
Never been to the Cape!!! My friend who lives in MA goes every year … I need to tag along apparently!
Great shots … how fun! (especially the food! Can't help it!)
Um apparently you two have conspired to kill me with jealousy. I adore Cape Cod and adore seafood even more.
Simply marvelous. Makes me miss my Massachusetts!
I love chatham ma! Your photos are beautiful as always!!!!
loved cap code. especially the whale watching was amazing! the landscape is magical…
viele grüsse, kristina
Oh my. I feel like I was there. I can almost taste the oysters! Thanks for sharing.
I JUST got back from Nantucket this morning…Your photos are taking me back
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WoW!! That looks absolutely delicious and fantastic! I always love a good lobster pound and the east coast…
We LOVE Chatham. That's our favorite Cape stop! I am going to P-town for the first time in Sept. I'm excited
Hi! I saw your blog from Jane's today, and I'm digging all of the specs appeal happening in your pictures. Nice job.
Y'all are so cute! Thanks,Aron, for your comment on my little blog pretty-dirt! I loved Julia Child. Best wishes!
Jade
My grandfather grew up on the cape and it is such a special place, we are flying for our yearly trip there in 2 weeks and I am now DYING with anticipation after looking at your pictures! Seriously one of my favorite places in the world and you said it perfectly: quintessentially summer. and SO much amazing food.
This place looks pretty nice to walk on the beach, get tanned and enjoy the lobsters and other sea food they got.
officially obsessed with your travelouges! I grew up on Cape Cod (Yarmouth!) and Chatham is for definitely one of my favorites. I enjoy the Candy Manor, The Cookware Store and South Beach for sure! You are fabulous photographers!!
Thank you so much, Daisy! (And for the nice comment on our VT trip–I'd love to see more of that state.)
Chatham, MA is my hometown. It's nice to see it from a new perspective and so glad you guys had such a memorable visit
Growing up we always spent our summers on the Cape (Dennisport to be exact.) You captured it so well, and make me homesick for it! Amazing photos. What a treasure Cape Cod is.
I grew up in Chatham and it really is the best place to be in the world. Especially in the summer!
The all photos are so amazing and some very interesting places shows in them I'm so glad to see them.
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Very informative article. I really liked it. love lobsters, oysters too and We're still deciding on a summer vacation, hope the their, hahaha…Good job.http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2044493843501689117&postID=6016984356995176554
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Wonderful travelogue! Even though I don't eat seafood, it looks like a perfectly lovely weekend..debt collection agencies
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