Flying with Two Toddlers: A Success Story

By

-

March 13, 2024

I can’t believe I’m saying this. We survived flying with two toddlers on a cross-country flight. Dare I say, we even thrived. I snuggled my one-year-old daughter for a contact nap, sipped a Dunkin’ coffee (thanks, JetBlue!), and read my Kindle. For over two hours. I looked over at my husband across the aisle, who had his eyes gently closed while our three-year-old was watching Frozen. Oh, and our 15-pound dog was an angel snoozing in his carrier under the seat.

I had been anxiously anticipating the chaos of flying with two toddlers on a six-hour flight for months. I worried about the crying, I prepared for multiple blowouts, and I considered buying ear plugs and treats for our nearby passengers.

How did we do it? What was the secret? Honestly, pure luck. This won’t work for everyone and it certainly won’t work for us every time. But in a world where we read horror stories of toddlers having big feelings in public places and what feels like inconveniencing the world, I wanted to share a glimmer of hope. That they are cute little humans and sometimes it does work out okay. Here is what worked for us.

Schedule Your Flight With Your Kids In Mind

We booked a flight that left Logan at 6 a.m., which was pretty intentional. We kept our kids up late and then woke them up at around 3 a.m. to get to the airport. It threw off their routine so much that once the novelty of being on a plane started to fade, they were content to keep things very low-energy and napped for long stretches during the flight.

Stay Near The Airport

Since our flight was scheduled so early, we drove up the night before and stayed at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport. The hotel is close to the airport and has a 24/7 shuttle. This kept our stress level in check so we weren’t rushing through the weekend bridge traffic on the day of our flight. We were able to settle in our room, eat at the hotel restaurant, and even check out the hotel pool (always a favorite).

Have A Plan For Your Gear

Besides luggage, we decided to bring both of the kids’ car seats and pack-n-plays on the plane. We bought large duffle bags for the pack-n-plays and checked them along with our luggage. Our younger daughter is a champ at napping in the car so we brought her car seat with us onto the plane and installed it. Our older daughter has a very hard time sleeping in her car seat so we checked hers and let her sit in a regular seat.

Have Tech Options Ready

We have the Disney+ app, which allowed us to download multiple movies and Bluey episodes on our tablet. We also downloaded a few on our phones in case there was a problem with one device. Thankfully, JetBlue has charging stations under each seat, but we had an Anker Power Bank in case we ran into trouble. We also bought cute toddler headphones that said they were “tablet compatible” but came with the wrong cord for our Apple products. So our three-year-old used our wireless earbuds instead.

Pack All The Snacks

This applies to adults and kids alike. We splurged on individual snack packs of Veggie Straws, Goldfish, Cheerios, and M&Ms to keep the kids occupied. We also felt comfortable giving them appropriately-shaped lollipops, which last a long time, help quiet any fussing, and can help with ear pressure discomfort from flying.

Low-Tech Options

We brought along a few low-tech options to constantly cycle in and out which kept the kids pretty busy. They had a couple of Quiet Books, which are cloth books with tactile activities on each page like zippers, buckles, and knobs. We also used this drawing tablet and these water markers that kept them busy for awhile too.

Flying with two toddlers is definitely a challenge even when they’re on their best behavior. If the judgment of other people feels stressful, remember that your tiny humans are allowed to take up space in the world too. And you’re doing great. And you’ve got great kids.

Easy Crafts and Treats for St. Patrick’s Day

By

Ally Piper

-

March 11, 2024

My kids were eager to start decorating the house for St. Patrick’s Day the day after Valentine’s Day this year. In our family, St. Patrick’s Day is not just a holiday; it’s also my husband’s birthday. For many years, I focused more on his birthday. Still, as you know, children change everything, so now, leprechauns, rainbows, and golden coins have found their way into our celebration on March 17th.

I enjoyed reading Lesley Moreau’s article about her family’s low-key St. Pat’s celebration on our sister site, Boston Moms. It’s an important reminder to make these holidays work for your family. Here are a few easy ways we’ll be making our St. Patrick’s Day celebration fun and festive this year.

Simple Decorations

I appreciate how our St. Patrick’s Day decorations add color and fun to our home without taking up too much storage space. One of my absolute favorite holiday decorations is recycled art projects our children make during their time at daycare and school. Unpacking these decorations is always a special moment for me, bringing back happy memories. As a bonus, the kids love seeing all their old creations and reminiscing about the fun times they had making them.

Taste-Safe Rainbow Craft

We made these fun, taste-safe rainbows one afternoon after school using store-brand rainbow cereal, large marshmallows, and pipe cleaners. Sugary cereal like this is a treat in our house so the kids enjoyed noshing while making their creations. While we designed our rainbows, we listened to Irish music and used the time to talk about the science behind rainbows.

Green Pancakes to Mark the Day

I grew up in a family where we ate green pancakes for breakfast every St. Patrick’s Day. My kids will never say no to pancakes, so it’s time to share this tradition with the next generation. For added fun, I might even dye their apple juice green!

Rainbow Fruit Platter

Speaking of rainbows, we will round out our green pancake feast with this rainbow fruit platter. We made a test batch together one afternoon, and it was equally visually pleasing and delicious.

I bought pre-cut fruit from the grocery store and we had a blast assembling it. It helped us to talk a lot about colors and got my kids tasting some fruit that is not generally in the rotation. I’ve seen photos where folks use only one fruit for each color, but we had fun mixing it up. We created our fruit rainbow with the following:

Red: strawberries and raspberries
Orange: cantaloupe and oranges
Yellow: pineapple (you could also use mango or banana)
Green: green grapes and melon
Blue: blueberries and blackberries (we had them, so we figured why not!)
Purple: red grapes

I’ve also seen versions of the fruit rainbow with marshmallows on one end and golden candies on the other. I fully intended to do just that, but we ran out of space on the tray we were using, and surprisingly, my kids didn’t seem interested, so we ended up skipping that part.

Sensory Bin Fun

For moms of younger kids, fellow contributor Courtney Sullivan shared this sensory bin she made for her kids last year. She used split peas, fun green straws in varying lengths, black cauldrons, and gold coins she purchased from Amazon and Dollar Tree.

Leprechaun Traps

According to my 6-year-old son, we must build a leprechaun trap in order to find gold. He has been working on designing the perfect trap, which has prompted lots of fun discussions about what we’d do if we found that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We enjoyed searching Pinterest for inspiration together. These traps made from a cereal box by Crafts by Amanda look simple and fun, as does this one that uses Legos in shades of green.

I’m grateful for holidays like St. Patrick’s Day that allow us to mark the passage of time during these cold and blustery months. My goal is to keep our craft projects and recipes simple. Add Irish music to the background, and you have a low-stress holiday celebration that can be fun for all ages.

5 Things Cape Cod Moms Want You to Know

By

Katie Roberts

-

March 8, 2024

Cape Cod moms are a special type of mom. Whether we’re true locals or washashores, we are very proud to call this beautiful piece of heaven our home. Cape Cod moms are down-to-earth, genuine, and perhaps a little bit salty! There’s a lot more to us than meets the eye. Here are five things Cape Cod moms want you to know.

1. We don’t hate tourists or summer residents.

There is a common misconception that we year-round residents dislike the summer population. And while there may be some eye rolls about the increased traffic and filled parking lots, many of us have businesses that rely heavily on the summer crowds. All we ask is for the same respect that you would expect if we were visiting your hometown. Please don’t leave trash on the playgrounds and beaches, and drive like your kids live here, too.

2. The off-season is our favorite.

There’s a reason the term “local’s summer” came into play. Local’s summer is made up of the blissful weeks of warm weather after Labor Day. The crowds and traffic have dissipated, we have the beaches to ourselves, and we can actually go to the grocery store on a Friday afternoon. We get a chance to enjoy our local seasonal restaurants and shops without the lines. And while many people believe the Cape in the winter is a desolate and lonely place, it’s truly no different than winter anywhere else when you have children, and there are many fun things to do. And even better, we rarely get enough snow to shovel.

3. Not all of us are true “locals.”

Many of us Cape Cod moms are “washashores” who chose to dig our roots in the sand because city life just wasn’t for us. Raising children on Cape Cod isn’t what many people perceive. Before I moved here permanently, I was certain that only retirees lived here. But the truth is, there are such vast resources for children with all different needs here. Cape Cod is truly a perfect place to raise a family.

4. We’re not all fishermen or restaurant owners.

Of course these are two very successful and appreciated industries here on Cape Cod. But we Cape Codders are quite diverse. Some of us work from home for major corporations. Some of us are healthcare workers. There are those who run their own businesses, from retail to trades and beyond. Some of us are teachers and artists. Whatever it is we do for a living, we are certainly proud to be doing it here on Cape Cod.

5. We can’t blame you for vacationing here.

This is our paradise, too. Whether we grew up here or moved here, Cape Cod is where we have chosen to build our lives. From the National Seashore to the forests of our state parks, Cape Cod is full of endless natural beauty. Not a day goes by that we take for granted being able to see the ocean every day.

Whether you’re visiting Cape Cod to enjoy our beautiful home during the summer months or you’re a new year-round resident, Cape Cod moms will welcome you with open arms. We hope you enjoy and respect our community as much as we do.

Antisemitism on Cape Cod

By

Caitlin Corrieri Augusta

-

March 6, 2024

When I heard about antisemitic graffiti in Falmouth this winter, I reflected on the Holocaust workshops, seminars, and graduate classes that I’ve taken over the past decade as an 8th-grade teacher in the suburbs of Boston. I’ve taught hundreds of students about the dangers of antisemitism, the horrors of concentration camps, and the difficulties survivors faced after World War II. I was grateful for survivors who visited my school and spoke to students about their experiences. How can antisemitism be an issue on Cape Cod in 2024? And what can I do now, as a mom, to ensure my child grows up in a place that is accepting of all people?

As I was researching for this article, I was alarmed to see that similar incidents occurred here in recent years, with an editorial in the Falmouth Enterprise written on the subject in 2023. I was also glad to find a local community organization, No Place for Hate Falmouth. Their mission is to combat bias through hosting events to bring awareness and education to the community.

One could look at the schools, at the businesses, at the residents, and ask, who is to blame for acts of hate? Why is this happening? But rather than blame, let’s work to ensure it doesn’t continue to happen in the future. We know that children learn the most at home. Parents are the first teachers. Parents are the consistent adults whose moral compass guides their child’s developing sense of right and wrong. So it is us, the parents, who can be the best teachers of acceptance, tolerance, and love.

What are some steps you can take to combat antisemitism on Cape Cod?

1. Talk about it. Using age-appropriate language, explain to your child when a hateful experience occurs. Hearing about it from you first ensures that they will hear the truth and understand the context if they happen to hear about it somewhere else.

2. Be vocal about acceptance and tolerance. Show your child how you accept people who are different from you, and how we can be kind to everyone. Children learn so much from our modeling.

3. Read books and watch movies with your child. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne is recommended for children ages 9+ and is easily accessible to younger readers. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is beautifully written and more appropriate for teenagers, always a favorite of my 8th grade students. Both of these books have movies that would be impactful to be watched together as a family.

4. Stand up against hate. When incidents of hate occur in your community, take an active stance against them through your words and actions. Two Falmouth High School students, sister and brother Sadie and Max Inman, created this public service announcement for their classmates. Show your support for those who stand up against hate.

Let’s work together to create environments where all children and people are safe and accepted. In doing so, we can make antisemitism an issue of the past on Cape Cod.

Ultimate Cape Cod Moms St. Patrick’s Day Guide

By

Ashley Flanagan

-

March 4, 2024

St. Patrick’s Day 2024 is almost here! There’s a lot to do in the state with one of the biggest Irish-American populations in the country. Whether you’re Irish by heritage or not, check out the roundup below in our Ultimate Cape Cod Moms St. Patrick’s Day Guide!

Staycation Packages
March 8-10: Cape Cod Irish Festival at the Irish Village
March 8-11: Bayside Resort St. Patrick’s Irish Festival Package
March 15-17: Crowne Pointe Provincetown Shamrock Sashay Overnight Package

St. Patrick’s Day Gear and Goodies in Local Shops
Celebrations Falmouth Shop: accessories
Titcombs Book Shop: wearable gear, books by Irish authors
Cape Shark: apparel
Gilded Oyster: jewelry
Ashley Irene Boutique: earrings
Caline for Kids: hair accessories for kids
Rustic Marlin: home goods
Hot Diggity Dog: toys and Tail Chasin’ Ale Dog Beer (it’s bone broth!)
Love, April: cookies and treats
Cupcake Charlies: cupcakes
Stage Stop Candy: chocolate shamrock pops
Captain Baker’s Donuts: donuts
Cape Cod Family Resource Center: *FREE* St. Patrick’s Day Kit

Irish Pubs and Restaurants
Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub (Falmouth)
Clancy’s (Dennis)
O’Shea’s Olde Inne (Dennis)
Scally’s Irish Ale House (Yarmouth)
Keltic Kitchen (Yarmouth)
The Auld Triangle (Hyannis)

For the Grown-Ups
March 8: St. Patrick’s Parade Pre-Party w/The Pourmen at Cape Cod Beer
March 9: Bourne Library Irish Immigration to Boston Discussion
March 13: Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce Good Evening Networking at The Emerald Resort: Irish Village
March 15: Dunbar Tea Room Chef’s Celtic Dinner
March 15: Color Me Mine Mashpee Shenanigans Ladies Night
March 15: Bad Martha Falmouth Let’s Get Lucked Up 2024 Trivia Night
March 16: Pelham House Shamrock Stroll
March 16: Chatham Bars Inn St. Patrick’s Day Floral Design
March 17: Babes and Bois Served: St. Patty’s Day
March 17: Hog Island Beer Co. with Sarah Swain and the “O’Boys”
March 17: St. Patrick’s Day Heated Yoga Flow with Cara Scinto at Studio EX

Have a fun and happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Tips for Attending the Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By

Ashley Flanagan

-

March 1, 2024

On Saturday March 9th at 11 a.m., one of the greatest Irish-American traditions on the Cape will kick off, this year with the theme of “Myths & Music.” Here are a few tips for attending the 19th annual Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day parade. These can be used by first-timers, experienced parade-goers, and even seasoned Cape Codders!

The parade begins at the intersection of Route 28 and Long Pond Road. It goes about two miles through downtown Yarmouth towards Hyannis and ends at Higgins Crowell Road. There really isn’t a bad place to be along the route—you’ll be able to see no matter where you are.

TIP #1

Wear comfy *green* layers. It’s March on Cape Cod, which means the weather is about as unpredictable as it gets. Last year it was misty enough that we all went home soaked. But the year before it was in the 50s and sunny. You’ll also likely have to walk a bit from where you park so don’t forget to wear comfortable shoes.

TIP #2

Bring snacks. It takes about two hours for the entire parade to pass by, which means you’ll want to have some snacks and water bottles ready to go. A reminder that it’s two hours from when you see the first float, not two hours from 11 a.m.

TIP #3

Catch those goodies! Bring a bag for you and your kids to keep the goodies they get from the floats that pass by. Organizers have gone back and forth on whether floats could have goodies (like candy or trinkets) over the years. Last year they landed on handing things out to the crowd instead of throwing them from the floats.

TIP #4

Bring chairs. I would especially stress this if you have young kids that are too old for a stroller, but young enough to be able to stand for that long.

TIP #5

Parking. I’m sure everyone has their own opinion about how and where to park, but I would recommend parking in the parking lot of Scally’s Irish Ale House. Then walk down Rt. 28 to find a good spot to stand or sit. Scally’s is also an easy place to bring the kiddos for lunch following the parade. Just a reminder that road closures may affect where you can get to and when.

TIP #6

HAVE FUN! The Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day parade is truly one of the highlights of the season. It’s something that my family looks forward to every year. There will be music, creative floats, and lots of smiles and happy faces.

You can check out the parade’s website for more information. If you happen to be around Boston for St. Patrick’s Day, you can check out Bostonmoms.com’s recently updated guide to family-friendly Irish pubs!

ERIN GO BRAGH!

Comfort Food Favorites

By

Samantha Fenlon

-

February 28, 2024

basket of soft pretzels, comfort foods

Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a beach girl at heart, constantly counting down the days and months until the warmer weather arrives. So it should come as no surprise that the longest few months of the year for me are during the winter. I love some good comfort foods to help make the days more tolerable until summer’s arrival.

There is nothing quite like warming up by the fire with some amazing mac and cheese and a warm chocolate chip cookie. Spoiler alert: recipes for both of these are part of this comfort food favorites piece. The following recipes are easy, delicious, and as a bonus, your littlest chef(s) can definitely help out!

Mac and Cheese

First up on our comfort food favorites is baked mac and cheese. I’ve spent years perfecting this recipe with many tweaks along the way. The completed recipe is creamy and cheesy with a perfect crunch on top that hits the right spot on those cold days. The secret ingredient is minced garlic, which adds just the right twist and flavor to make the perfect mac and cheese.

The Ingredients

1 Stick Unsalted Butter
3 Tablespoons flour
2 Cups Whole Milk (you can also use heavy cream if you want a richer taste)
2 Tablespoons Minced Garlic
1 Teaspoon Paprika
½ Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
¼ Teaspoon Garlic Salt
2 Cups Shredded Cheeses (using different varieties of cheeses is critical)
1 Box Pasta (I prefer medium shells but have experimented with elbows, penne, and rigatoni)
Ritz Crackers
Olive Oil

The Recipe

Start boiling a large pot of water for the pasta, and once the water is boiling, cook pasta according to box instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
In a different saucepan (use a medium saucepan), melt the 1 stick of butter
Mix the 3 tablespoons of flour into the butter to make a paste-like substance
Add the 2 cups of Whole Milk
Stir up the mixture under medium heat and allow it to thicken. You can add more flour by the tablespoon at a time if you need to thicken the mixture even more
Mix in the minced garlic and seasonings. Note that these seasonings can all be tweaked to your personal taste preference, either adding others or substituting for my suggestions.
Add the cheese. As I referenced above, it is important to use multiple shredded cheeses so you have good flavor. We typically use a mix of cheddar, mozzarella, Mexican, an Italian blend, and a mac and cheese blend.
Remove the cheese sauce from heat once cheese is fully melted and combined
Add a quarter cup of pasta water to the cheese sauce
Strain pasta and pour pasta into saucepan with cheese mix
Pour mac and cheese mixture into greased baking pan
Crush up Ritz Crackers in a separate bowl and moisten with olive oil or butter (you can also use other buttery crackers or breadcrumbs)
Top pasta with the cracker mixture
Bake for 45 minutes at 350 Fahrenheit
Enjoy it hot!

Homemade Soft Pretzels

Next up on our comfort food favorites is a huge favorite of my kids: homemade soft pretzels. While these pretzels may look complicated, they are very easy to make. The recipes we use are not my own, but we swear by them.

The first is from one of my most favorite chefs, Tieghan Gerard. Her recipe for Pumpkin Beer Pretzels is linked here. We have tried it with all different types of beer, not just pumpkin, and it is equally delicious each time. I most recently made these pretzels for the Super Bowl, and this was one of everyone’s favorite appetizers. And my kids love to help with this recipe. They have so much fun folding the pretzels into the right shapes.

The second recipe is from Sally McKenney, another chef who I regularly use for inspiration. This recipe is easy, and most importantly if you are baking with kids, it has a lot less wait time in between steps than the previous option.

For both of these pretzels, I always make a cheese dip to pair as a side. For that I combine butter, flour, milk or extra beer (if making the first recipe), shredded cheese, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt and pepper into a medium saucepan. Stir the mixture until it gets to a thick, creamy consistency and serve it hot along with the pretzels.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

cookies, comfort food Who doesn’t love a good chocolate chip cookie recipe? There are so many out there that it can be overwhelming. We’re always trying different recipes because chocolate chip cookies are one of my husband’s most favorite desserts.

During a recent snow day, we made Tieghan Gerard’s giant chocolate chip cookies, and I can’t recommend these highly enough.

We added one tweak per the suggestion of my 5-year-old. She really wanted rainbow sprinkle chocolate chip cookies, so before baking I rolled some of the cookie dough balls in rainbow sprinkles. They were quite the hit with my kids and our neighbors!

Do you have a favorite comfort food recipe? If so we’d love for you to share it with us! Please tag me @snfenlon or @CapeCodMoms with your own ideas.

Children’s Bookstores on Cape Cod

By

Ally Piper

-

February 26, 2024

Online shopping for children’s books is convenient, but physical bookstores have a unique magic. Wandering through shelves and discovering new authors, genres, and titles is a truly special experience. When you step into a local independent bookstore, you’re not just purchasing a book but embarking on an adventure.

Luckily, Cape Cod is home to a vibrant and thriving independent brick-and-mortar bookstore scene, with a variety of shops to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a cozy nook to read in, a knowledgeable staff to guide you in your search, or just a welcoming community of book lovers to connect with, these bookstores have it all.

Take some time to explore the local literary scene and see what treasures you can uncover. Here is a roundup of some favorite children’s bookstores on Cape Cod.

Brewster Book Store :: Brewster

This charming shop is an absolute delight to visit. They often host kid-friendly events featuring children’s authors, making it an ideal destination for families with young ones. The shop has several rooms, each with a unique collection of books and items, perfect for exploring at a leisurely pace.

Eight Cousins Books :: Falmouth

The children’s section at Eight Cousins is a beautiful space that makes young readers feel comfortable and at home. The area is cozy and inviting, with comfortable chairs perfect for settling down with a good book. Adding a playful touch is the colorful rug that helps create a warm and welcoming atmosphere. And perhaps most importantly, the shelves are stocked with a wide selection of books that cater to children of all ages and interests.

Below the Brine Bookshop :: Harwich Port

The children’s book display here is a visual delight—its vibrant colors and playful designs will draw you in. Whether you’re looking for a picture book or a young adult book, the neatly organized shelves have it all. You may lose track of time while exploring this magical corner of the store.

Titcomb’s Bookshop :: Sandwich

Titcomb’s is a true haven for book lovers, boasting an extensive collection of children’s books. The children’s section is a must-visit for parents and kids alike, offering many locally sourced options in tune with the seasons. It’s easy to get lost here as you browse and discover new titles and authors.

Where the Sidewalk Ends Bookstore :: Chatham

Visiting the Children’s Annex at Where the Sidewalk Ends is a treat. It’s a separate building from the main store that’s dedicated to children’s books and activities. The Annex has a vast collection of toys, books, and activity kits suitable for children of all ages.

Sea Howl Bookshop :: Orleans

If you’re a book lover, you’ll be delighted to explore the storybook section at Sea Howl. Whether you’re seeking a classic tale or a newly published book, be sure to add a visit to Sea Howl to your next day spent exploring the Lower Cape.

In today’s digital age, when online shopping has become the norm, we often overlook the unique charm and joy of visiting brick-and-mortar bookstores. When you shop at local children’s bookstores on Cape Cod, you support the local economy and get an experience that cannot be replicated online.

Cape Cod Winery: The Off-Season

By

Samantha Fenlon

-

February 23, 2024

Calm and cozy are two words that describe the off-season atmosphere at Falmouth’s beloved Cape Cod Winery. While the family-run business slows down quite a bit over the winter compared to the summer months, Cape Cod Winery remains open and is a perfect weekend spot for weather-permitting pop-up openings.

“The winter is a little bit more serene, kind of like how the Cape is generally,” says Cape Cod Winery owner Erika Orlandella. “It’s cozy, it’s got a different vibe, and it’s more of an intimate atmosphere.”

Winter Operations

The winery is owned and operated by Orlandella and her husband Pete. It’s primarily an outdoor venue offering two covered areas and an array of fire pits. Orlandella says she has a special appreciation for the winter. It allows her to slow down and appreciate everything her winery has to offer.

“In the winter it’s like you’re taking a deep breath, but still enjoying it, if that makes sense. You’re just able to enjoy it a little bit more because you are kind of in the moment where in the summer you’re so busy running around that you’re kind of missing it.”

During the winter, Cape Cod Winery operates with a core staff of five to six people, including Orlandella and her husband. To give you a sense of how much operations scale up for the peak season because of demand, they employ some 40 to 50 people at the winery in the summer months. Orlandella says there’s a lot of internal planning and administration work that goes on during the winter to ensure that everything and everyone is prepared for the summer.

Summer Plans

Speaking of planning, there are some new initiatives on the horizon for the coming season. These include a lot more events, like wine and cheese pairings and comedy shows. This summer, the winery will present ticketed events for the first time. It will continue to offer yummy cuisine from its food truck, aptly named the Mermaid Cafe Food Truck.

As you can imagine, Cape Cod Winery has become a hot-spot destination in the summer. It is regularly packed with tourists and locals alike, many of whom you can often find down at the vineyard’s vines.

Some Winery History

What you likely do not know is that the Orlandellas transplanted those vines after purchasing the vineyard in 2013. Because they still have a few years until they can harvest their own vines, the vineyard sources its grapes from California and New York. From those grapes, Cape Cod Winery offers up twelve different varieties of wine, including sparkling wines, white, red, rose, and sweet fruit wines.

In terms of protecting and caring for the vines through the winter months, Orlandella explains maintenance is relatively low as the vines are dormant every winter.

“We put hay around the root stalks and that just kind of helps prevent the roots from freezing throughout the winter,” says Orlandella. “Usually, we wait until late spring and then we will start to prune them. They are very low maintenance during the winter months because they are kind of just asleep.”

Expert Recommendations

As a wine lover myself, I had to ask for some expert recommendations directly from the source. Orlandella says she is currently enjoying the Pinot Noir. She tends to veer towards the dry Rose, Sauvignon Blanc, or the sparkling Blanc de Blanc in the warmer months.

Whether you are a regular at Cape Cod Winery or plan to visit for the first time, make sure to tag us with your pictures and feedback: @snfenlon @capecodwinery.

Indoor Fun on Cape Cod

By

Danielle Kempe

-

February 21, 2024

What do you do on days when the weather is fickle and outdoor play is not an option? Here are some ideas for indoor fun on Cape Cod for kids.

Indoor Play for Younger Kids

Cape Cod Toy Library

I’ve written before about my love of libraries on the Cape. Did you know that the Cape also has a Toy Library?

Cape Cod Toy Library is located in West Barnstable and is open on Saturdays from 10:00-1:00. It has toys for infants to age 8, with 1,500 toys available! It also has a resource library of 350 books for caregivers. There is a small fee to borrow from the toy library, but they offer financial assistance if needed.

Visitors can come explore and play free of charge. The Playroom features a puppet theater, dress-up wardrobe, dollhouse, rocket and car garage, building construction toys, puzzles and games, and children’s picture books to enjoy during your visit.

On “Family Play Days,” the Library provides expanded space for family engagement play and learning experiences. They set up the 1,300 square-foot Fellowship Hall in the First Lutheran Church where the Toy Library is located with additional play materials as well as creative arts in the Annex classroom. Watch the Cape Cod Toy Library events page for scheduling.

Cape Cod Children’s Museum

Looking for a fun indoor play space? Visit the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee.

Exhibits include a large pirate ship that has two levels, camping tents, Cape Cod oceans with a fishing area and bait shop, a castle on a wall, a submarine, a music section, a train, a pet hospital, a play restaurant, a tree house with building materials, and an epic green screen. The last time I visited with my 5-year-old daughter, we spent three hours there. In my opinion, the Cape Cod Children’s Museum is best for toddlers to age 6, but they offer both infant only and over 6 play areas as well.

Indoor Play for Older Kids

Whydah Pirate Museum

You can easily spend an hour plus in the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth. There are free scavenger hunt pages at the front desk to help keep kids engaged.

Whydah Pirate Ship display, indoor fun on cape cod — Photo courtesy of Whydah Pirate Museum

The visit starts with a five-minute video about the Whydah ship, with the bell recovered from the ship on display. Then there’s an exhibit explaining the ship’s history with the slave trade. Next, you learn about the pirate legacy of the ship as you walk through a replica ship. At the end are treasures discovered from the Whydah wreck, which is located off the coast of Wellfleet. The Whydah Pirate Museum has the the largest collection of pirate artifacts ever recovered from a single shipwreck, and they are on display throughout the Museum.

Sandwich Glass Museum

The Sandwich Glass Museum gives you a good feel of what it’s like to be a glassblower, with a demonstration every hour. There are science lessons in glassblowing that can be good for kids to learn about.

Glass blower melting glass, indoor fun on cape cod — Photo courtesy of Sandwich Glass Museum

The glass works on permanent display at the museum are beautiful. They are made up of both vintage and modern-blown glass. There’s a rotating special exhibit that is usually well worth visiting. Kids will enjoy learning the history of glassblowing on the Cape and admiring the beautiful art on display. The Museum has winter hours and summer hours and is closed for the month of January. You can check their website for details.

These are my favorite indoor places to visit on the Cape. What are yours? Leave a comment with your suggestions and perhaps you’ll see them featured in a future post.