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Cape Cod
Explore New England's Salty Charm
By Maria T. Olia
The sunset at Rock Harbor in Orleans is screensaver photo worthy. The marina is also home to a small commercial fishing fleet that will hold the kids' interest while you wait for nature's show.
The Cape Cod Rail Trail is actually a paved bike trail on the former railroad bed of the Old Colony Railroad. The 25-mile trail meanders through scenic pine woods, salt marshes, freshwater ponds and cranberry bogs. A good access point is Nickerson Park in Brewster. Barbara's Bikes has mountain bikes and cruisers, kids' bikes and even tandems and tag-a-longs for rent.
Since 1885 the Cape Cod Baseball League has showcased amateur baseball at its very best. One in seven current Major League Baseball stars has played summer league ball here including Todd Helton, Jason Varitek and Frank Thomas. There are 10 teams in the league, and the rosters are comprised of many of today's top college athletes. Games are held nightly throughout the summer at town baseball fields throughout the Cape and admission is free.
The rainy day ace-in-the-hole Cape Cod activity for families is to take a free tour of the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory in Hyannis. Best of all, there are sample bags of their distinctive kettle-cooked chips at tour's end!
An up-close encounter with a humpback or fin whale will likely be your kid's most talked about Cape Cod vacation experience. Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises leave from Barnstable Harbor for the whale's feeding grounds at the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
The Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth has an amazing oceanfront location with its own private beach – a rare find on Cape Cod. For pool-loving kids there is both an indoor pool and a huge zero-entry outdoor pool with spouting dolphin fountains. Rooms run from good-value basic units with either a porch or balcony to luxury three-bedroom/multi-bath homes that are ideal for large or extended families. The resort has complimentary supervised children's programs for the little ones and lots of outdoor activities like tennis, volleyball, basketball and lawn games for independent tweens and teens. A poolside grill means that the kids can eat in their bathing suits as they hop between the beach and the pools. Throughout the summer season there are fun, themed barbecues and New England clambakes.
