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Cape Cod In Early November

by Carolyn
(PA)

Question: I was just wondering if all the shopping, activities and restaurants are going to be open Nov 7 - 10?

Dee's Reply: Hi Carolyn - Early November is kind of an "in between" time on Cape Cod. The summer frenzy and fall leaf-peeping season are behind us, but there's still another week or so to go until all the Holiday festivities begin.

Will everything be open? No. Most of the purely seasonal stuff like whale watching, harbor cruises, souvenir shops, roadside clam shacks, ice cream shops, etc., close in mid-October.

But never fear ... we don't roll up the streets around here when tourism season comes to an end. "Year-rounders" (and visitors who know the joys of Cape Cod in the off season) need things to do and places to eat during the off-season months, too! ;-)

In early November, our larger towns and villages like Falmouth, Hyannis, Orleans, and Provincetown, will still have a good selection of shops and restaurants open for business.

In the smaller towns, you'll also be able to find places to shop and have a meal. Your choices will just be a bit more limited.

As far as shopping goes, Mashpee Commons in the town of Mashpee has nearly everything you can imagine from name-brand stores to small, uniquely Cape Cod-dy boutiques ... and restaurants, too. For shop-a-holics, the Commons is a don't miss. In fact, I know several groups of ladies who make a 2+ hour trip to the Cape a few times each year, just to spend the day at Mashpee Commons. It's a real "shop 'til you drop" adventure!

Are you into antiques shops and art galleries? If so, you'll want to take a drive along Rt. 6A on the Cape's northern coastline. In addition to seeing some of the prettiest scenery on Cape Cod, you'll find all sorts of interesting shops and galleries where you can pick up a treasure or two.

FYI: If you happen to find yourself on Rt. 6A in the town of Dennis, be sure to stop by Scargo Pottery (address: 30 Dr. Lord's Rd. S.). Their handmade pottery is to die for - and the gallery is a real treat to tour!

From Scargo Pottery, it's just a quick drive to Scargo Tower (on Scargo Hill Road, off Rt. 6A). Scargo Tower is an historic old stone tower with about 30 interior steps that'll take you up to a wonderful view out over Cape Cod Bay. On a clear day, it's a fun place to visit!

When it comes to activities and attractions, quite a few of our best museums will still be open, although some will have weekend hours only. Just a few that come to mind are: Sandwich Glass Museum in Sandwich, the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis, Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, and the Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum in Provincetown.

Another big attraction on Cape Cod is our lighthouses. Although the lighthouses aren't open for interior tours in November, you can still visit the grounds and view the towers up close. They're awesome to see and make for a great photo op!

Early November is also a great time for nature walks and bike rides. There are bike trails all over the Cape, and a number of bike rental shops will still be open.

For nature walks, there's no place like the Cape Cod National Seashore area. And bird watching at a local wildlife sanctuary is a great way to spend a few hours, too.

Not to forget ... the beach. Our beaches are at their best, IMHO, on a sunny day in the off-season when it's just you, the seagulls, and the sound of the surf!

Enjoy your time on Cape Cod, and feel free to get back to me if you have more questions.

Best Regards,

Dee

P.S. In case you haven't already seen it, here's a link to my Free Cape Cod Activities page. It includes lots of year-round things to see and do. Hope this helps!

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