Thanksgiving in Cape Cod!
Being on the East Coast we were able to self drive to Cape Cod and we stayed overnight in the historic seaport of Mystic in Connecticut.
The Hilton Mystic was just 2 minutes off the interstate so perfect for a quick stopover. The spacious room had 2 double beds and good sized bathroom plus all the usual amenities. There was a good sized indoor heated pool for tiring out 2 young children who had been sitting in a car for 4 hours…..thanks to holiday weekend traffic through Connecticut! Although we were only there for one night, the hotel is ideally placed for longer stays bring located opposite the Mystic Aquarium and the Olde Mystic Village and only a 5 minute drive to Mystic Seaport (a living history museum consisting of a village, ships and 17 acres of exhibits depicting coastal life in New England in the 19th century) and of course to the town of Mystic itself.
Our visit to Mystic would not be complete without a visit to ‘Mystic Pizza’ a restaurant made famous by the Julia Roberts film of the same name – the pizzas were indeed ‘A slice of heaven’.
Onwards to Cape Cod the following day and for a 2 night stay at ‘The Inn on the Square’ hotel in Falmouth – a quaint seaside village.
Located just a 10 minute walk from the Village Green and charming downtown area with a variety of restaurants to choose from, the hotel blends in with its surroundings, situated among historic houses and opposite a nice little row of galleries, cafes and gift shops. The room and en-suite bathroom were both a good size and well equipped and the complimentary breakfast was a welcome addition each morning. The children made use of the large skylight indoor pool – a good size with plenty of seating for parents who would rather read a book!
The famous Bike Path is just a block from the Inn and only three blocks away is the free bus shuttle service to the Martha’s Vineyard Ferry terminal. We were planning to catch the ferry and use the local buses to explore the island but sadly due to the weather we didn’t make it on this occasion. However, a short and pleasant drive took us to ‘Woods Hole’ from where the ferries depart.
The following day we drove to Plimouth, a town steeped in maritime history and home to the famous ‘Mayflower II’ and the ‘Plimouth Plantation’. Braving the weather we visited the Plantation first. A re-creation of a 1600's English village where we all enjoyed listening to tales of bravery and hardship suffered by the English colonists and also from the perspective of the native Wampanoag people who have lived in South Eastern New England for over 12,000 years.
After a brief (and chilly) but interesting walk around the Mayflower II and quick look at the ‘Rock’, we had lunch in a little coffee shop on the main street in Plimouth – Clam Chowder served in a bowl made out of bread…delicious!
Despite the weather, the drive back to Falmouth was scenic via the town of Mashpee, littered with ponds and inlets and surrounded by pine and oak trees, the town is known for its Native American culture and was one of the largest reservations of the Wampanoag people before the settlers arrived. Our journey home from Falmouth took us over the waterways and bridges of America’s smallest State of Rhode Island. After a quick lunch down at the bustling wharf in the town of Newport….a hub of art, music and Yachting…we were on our way home.
So much to see and explore and not enough time – we hope to return to New England….perhaps in June to catch the Whale migration or more likely in the Fall combined with a visit to Boston.