A few weeks ago, my best friend and I took off for a girl’s weekend down the Cape. Cape Cod for all you non-locals. Specifically, we stayed in Truro. Truro is just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod. It has a population of roughly 2,000 people. In the summer, the population is between 15-20,000 people. Truro is approximately 26 square miles. It is important to note that half of the land area of the town is the National Seashore. More on the seashore later. With it being the last weekend in September, it was reasonably quiet, but we managed to find plenty to do.
Accommodations
The Crow’s Nest Resort consists of spacious suites with full kitchens, air conditioning, fireplaces, jacuzzi tub/shower unit, washer/dryer, hardwood and ceramic tile floors, and much, much more. There are 24-hour maintenance and housekeeping. Though with COVID, there were no housekeeping services.
Each suite is steps from the ocean. It is a perfect place to see a sunset over Cape Cod Bay. All the second-floor suites have a private balcony over-looking Pilgrim Lake and the Atlantic dunes, perfect for experiencing a spectacular early sunrise.
Full Bath #1 
Bedroom2 
Kitchen 
Living room 
Bedroom 1 
Full Bath #2
As you can see, there was plenty of space for the both of us.
On our first full day, we headed down the road to the town of Provincetown, MA. Provincetown is located on the tip of Cape Cod. It is known for its beaches, harbor, charming shops, art galleries, restaurants, and more. It is a big vacation spot for the LGBTQ community, as Provincetown celebrates individuality and freedom of expression. It also has a rich creative history as the oldest continuous art colony in the United States.
Commercial Street is the main road through town. It is lined with restaurants and shops. We had lunch overlooking Provincetown Harbor, browsed the many stores, and listened to street entertainers. It is not uncommon to see drag queens out and about advertising their nightly shows. This weekend we saw next to none, as many of the shows have been canceled due to the virus. However, we did spend some time listening to a gentleman sing along with this phone for about 30 mins. He was quite entertaining.
After a day of dining and shopping, we took a ride out to Race Point Beach. It is part of the National Seashore. It is known for having some of the best sunsets on Cape Cod. Would you agree?
While waiting for the sunset, at least 50 seals swam by, not too far off from the shore. They are so cute, but this being Cape Cod, we know our shark friends are not too far behind.
The next day we slept in and spent the entire day hanging at the resort, eating, drinking, and crafting. I worked on my 2019 scrapbooks, and she worked on her own projects. It has been a long since we had nothing to do but craft. It was so much fun!
On our last day, we decided to take our time going home—our goal, to hit up some of the other beaches on the National Seashore.
The National Seashore was created in 1961 by President Kennedy. It has 43,607 acres of ponds, woods, and beachfront. It has 40 miles of seashore along the Atlantic-facing eastern shore of Cape Cod that includes Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. There is so much to do and see at the National Seashore; the beaches are just a small piece.
From the Head of the Meadow Beach, we stopped off in Wellfleet Harbor. We were looking for a coffee shop and came upon the harbor. It was a beautiful spot.
Nauset Light Beach was our last stop of the day. This beach has special meaning for my family. My aunt’s ashes were scattered here almost 10 years ago. It is also the home to the Three Sister’s Lighthouses. Being one of three sisters, we like to think these were built for us. LOL!
Sister 3 
Sister 2 
Sister 1
The Cape Cod coast is known for dangerous waters primarily due to shifting sandbars. Between the years 1850 and 1980, it is believed that approximately 3500 shipwrecks occurred along the Cape and Islands coastlines. In 1836, Eastham’s people petitioned for lighthouses to be built to assist their loved ones coming back to the Cape. The lighthouses were built and named the Three Sisters because they looked like three ladies in white dresses and black hats from out at sea. These ladies have had quite the journey. You can read about it here.
Nauset Light Beach, like much the National Seashore, has seen significant erosion over the years. I was taken aback at just how much of the dunes have eroded. The average erosion along the seashore is just under 4 feet a year. Nauset Light Beach averages almost 6 feet a year. To put things in perspective, take a look at the photo below.
Incredible, right? It makes me so sad to think this will not be here forever.
We spent about 45 minutes hanging out on the beach. Every so often, a seal would swim by. My friend and I always joked that we never see anything exciting, like a shark. Well, never say never.
Why yes, that little fin is a shark fin. People were yelling for others to get out of water. Crowds were forming to watching the predator. It was quite a sight. I am happy to report that no one got hurt. However, it is important to point out that National Seashore is known for its seals and sharks. There are signs posted everywhere, along with first aid kits.
Don’t let the sharks scare you. Just follow the rules, heed the warnings and you will be fine. The Cape Cod and the National Seashore are worth the risk! 🙂
I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse as to what makes the Cape a perfect girl’s getaway. No matter the season, there is always something to do and see.
Chatham is a seaside town located on Cape Cod, MA. Once you cross over the Cape Cod Canal, it is about a 45-minute drive.
Chatham is one of the more upscale towns on the Cape. It has historically been known as a fishing community. In the summertime, the population soars to 30,000, but in the winter, most homes are empty. Are you looking to buy a second home in Chatham? The average price of a home is 1.3 million dollars.
As I mentioned, Chatham is located on the elbow part of the Cape. The town includes two narrow strips of land, which serve as a barrier between the Atlantic and the mainland. There are several islands, including Monomoy, a 7.25-mile-long island south of the corner of the town, home to the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.
With six major saltwater beaches, Chatham is a great place to come for the day or take a week-long vacation. There are many cottages or houses to rent in the summer. If you want to pamper yourself, the Chatham Bars Inn is a beautiful place to stay. It is known as the Cape’s Premier Resort and Spa. Rooms start at over $1,000 a night in the summer, so be prepared to pay for such luxury. You have your choice of staying in the main inn, a cottage, or a spa suite. There is a beach, pool, cabanas, and plenty of dining. It offers activities such as boating and tennis. Oh, and don’t forget the spa. For more information, click over to their website.
We did not stay at the inn or even in Chatham. My family and I rented a couple of houses in nearby Dennis Port. However, we took a few day trips to explore.
Seal Watching
Our vacation started with a boat ride to see Chatham’s most famous residents, seals! I recommend Monomoy Island Excursions out of Harwich Port, MA. The tour lasts about 1.5 hours, and it takes you through Wychmere Harbor in Harwich Port, down to Stage Harbor in Chatham and through narrow channels. The final destination is Monomoy Island, a barrier island off the coast of Chatham. Here we found the seals swimming and sunning themselves. A naturalist narrates each tour. This was our second time going on a seal watch, and we were not disappointed.
As we approached Chatham, we learned the history of the area.
Stage Harbor Lighthouse was built in 1880 and one of the youngest lighthouses on the Cape. It was built at the entrance of Stage Harbor to assist the Chatham Lighthouse light the way for sailors as this area is known for being one of the foggiest on the east coast. Fifty-three years later, the lighthouse was decommissioned and is now a private home. Though I don’t think I would want to stay in it any time soon. To this day, it has no running water or electricity. One must use an outhouse if nature calls.
As can see, if you are lucky enough to have a boat, you can head out to the sandbars and spend your beach day there. However, please do not swim with the seals. They may look cute and cuddly, but they are not. Plus, you never know what is lurking behind them. The Cape has seen an increase in shark activity in recent years due to our large seal population. If you happen to be swimming with the seals, the seals will use you as a human shield and push you toward the sharks!
Chatham’s Fishing Pier
Not in the mood for a boat ride? Head down to the fishing pier and see what the catch of the day was (literally) and check out all the seals there.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
My youngest son has taken up birdwatching. We have a couple of bird feeders in our yard that attract all sorts of birds. He was excited to see what we may find down the Cape.
The Monomoy Wildlife Refuge was established in 1944 to provide habitat for migratory birds. The Refuge Headquarters is located on a 40-acre unit on Morris Island and consists of a visitor center, beach, and trail system. It was sweltering and humid on the day we went, but we managed to walk one of the trails. The visitor’s center was closed due to the virus, but we downloaded a map from the website and set off. Next time we plan on staying longer and walking out to the Monomoy Lighthouse.
It is a beautiful and peaceful place to spend an afternoon.
Chatham Lighthouse
The Chatham Lighthouse is an American icon. Pre-COVID the lighthouse was open a few hours each week in the summer for visitors. Unfortunately, I was only able to grab a photo. It is one of 16 lighthouses remaining on the Cape. Cape Cod shore is rugged and has not made it easy for ships to come in. It is has been said that over 3500 vessels have been wrecked along the Cape’s coast. The lighthouse has a fascinating history, and I encourage you to read more here. Oh, and a fun fact, it is now home to the US Coast Guard.
In addition to what we did, there are plenty of restaurants and shops to visit in Chatham. Whether you are here for a day or a week, you will find something for everyone.
