Massachusetts: Cape Cod Town Named A Best Family Vacation Spot
With schools being out and summer underway, it’s time for the waterside road trips to begin. Family Destinations Guide published a report that details the best family vacation areas in New England, and a Cape Cod town was featured.
In the northeast, we are fortunate to have several natural attractions including the mountains, lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean. Furthermore, they are in close proximity to each other, making road trips a viable option.
There’s something very exciting about packing up the car and heading out of town during the summer months. In Massachusetts specifically, there are a few quaint spots that get a lot seasonal love between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If you head over the Bourne Bridge, however, you will be on your way to Family Destinations Guide’s best family spot on Cape Cod.
Falmouth
A place they call “A Cape Escape,” Falmouth is filled with summer adventure options. The town borders both the bay and the ocean. For a great kid-friendly option, Family Destinations Guide suggests the Falmouth Heights Motor Lodge. ” It is in a quiet neighborhood, and just a short walk away from the Falmouth Heights beach, vineyard ferries, and the Falmouth Village. The place has a lovely pool and lawn space for refreshing mornings and sun-kissed evenings,” they explain.
Family Food Options
If you venture out for your meals, Moonakis Cafe serves monster-sized pancakes. Next, for lunch, the Pickle Jar Kitchen has a reasonably priced sandwich option for everyone. Lastly, no day is complete without a few scoops of summer ice cream. Smitty’s Homeade offers the perfect Cape summer night vibe.
Other Notable New England Destinations
Family Destinations Guide also notes Martha’s Vineyard and the White Elephant Hotel on Nantucket as great family vacation spots near Cape Cod. In fact, both of them are accessible from Falmouth.
Massachusetts Lighthouse Named One Of The Most Beautiful In The World
What do Porto, Portugal, Crete, Greece, and Scituate, Massachusetts have in common? They all have historic lighthouses. In fact, in Trips To Discover’s recent guide, they named Old Scituate Light, along Massachusetts’ south shore one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world.
The 1800’s
This landmark dates back to the year 1810. “Congress voted to build a lighthouse at the harbor, and the light made of split granite blocks with a house attached and was activated the following year (1811),” Trips To Discover explains. It was the 11th lighthouse in the United States upon completion. It cost $4,000. Shortly after, Captain Simeon Bates, his wife and nine children lived at the house. Bates was the first keep of this lighthouse.
“Because mariners complained that the light could not be seen from far enough away to make proper heading adjustments, the U.S. Government added fifteen feet in height to the tower in 1827, mortaring red brick on top of the granite blocks,” Scituate’s Historical Society explains.
The 1900’s
The town of Scituate acquired the lighthouse from the government in 1916 for $1,000. Fourteen years later, a new lantern room was built at the top. 1994 marked one of the most memorable events in Old Scituate Light’s history as it was relit, making it visible from the sea for the first time in 134 years. Three years prior, it had been relit to be seen on land only.
Present Day
Old Scituate Light is a very popular south shore attraction. Every day people can be seen taking pictures of this lighthouse. Select dates are released each year that detail when it will be open to the public. Walkways along the water’s edge surround it for guests to explore the area. One of this destination’s most notable elements is the attached cottage. That remains a private residence that is the lightkeeper’s cottage.
While many tourists travel to the south shore of Massachusetts for the beaches and boating, stopping by one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the world is also a site worth seeing.
Jeff Gorra is a Boston-based writer who has been with Beasley Media Group since the beginning of 2023. He writes about restaurants and food, as well as sports and rock music. His experience also includes show hosting and in-depth creative writing in rock and reggae dub music. Jeff’s an avid surfer, New York Giants, and Pearl Jam fan, however, if you make unforgettable pizza, he is sure to find you.
