Monthly Archives: October 2022

Massachusetts – Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard in October!

October 2 – 6, 2022.    This was a Big Bucket list Adventure for me!    I’ve lived in New England all of my life.  I’ve been to the Cape a few times, but never to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.  How could that be ???? So close and yet so far away!
Sunday  …. Travel Day … Hurricane Ian tried to put a damper on our first couple of days at the Cape,  but a little damper didn’t keep us down or in.  On our first day one of the locals told me … “We’re not afraid of water here!”  Well, neither are me and my brother.  It was windy,  it was overcast and at times we got a little wet, but It was the beginning of a great adventure.
First stop Falmouth, MA
We stayed at the Falmouth Inn  824 Main St.  It gets Five Stars for location, location, location and honorable mention for its indoor pool.   It’s two blocks to the Island Queen Ferry dock (75 Falmouth Heights Rd) to take a day cruise over to Martha’s Vineyard.  It’s in the midst of the  Main Street shops and restaurants.  It’s approximately a mile to a Shining Sea Bikeway Trailhead.

Monday … The Shining Sea Bikeway is one reason we chose to start in Falmouth.  This one way,  10.7 mile, paved pathway runs from Woods Hole on Vineyard Sound to North Falmouth along the shores of Buzzards Bay.  Five stars all the way!

Shining Sea Bikeway

Tuesday ….. The Island Queen isn’t running, because of high winds, so we’re going to do a little hiking.   Two Pond Conservation Area, 2.1 mile trail is one of the 300 Committee Land Trust properties open to the public.

 

Falmouth Historical Society was hosting a Tour of The First Burying Ground,  aka cemetery.   It’s  almost Halloween”,  it’s only fitting to spend a little quality time among the “Spirits”.  We met our Tour Guide, Tom,   at the Sailors Memorial.  Free Parking is available across the way on Depot Road, which is also a Shining Sea Bikeway access point.

Tom, our Tour Host was Five Stars all the way!  His knowledge, enthusiasm and storytelling  were informative and very interesting.    This Burying Ground has more than 750 gravestones, the oldest dating back to 1705.  It memorialize’s soldiers, sea captains and early settlers, including 56 soldiers from the American Revolution, 3 from the Civil War and 24 from the War of 1812.  It would have been very hard to find the very obscure entrance (8 Cemetery Lane) without Tom.

 


A short drive from the Burying Ground is the Nobska  Lighthouse.  I would not suggest trying to walk or bike the narrow winding road up to the lighthouse.  The lighthouse is a view in itself, but the views of Martha’s Vineyard from the grounds are a must see, even on a very overcast day.   On our visit the Lighthouse was closed inside for renovations, but it stood its stance in full glory outside.  Did you know ????  The Nobska Lighthouse is the featured photo on Cape Cod Potato Chip Bags!

 

A Five Star way to finish our day …   Falmouth Art Center … This is a small, but quaint center.  On our visit it was featuring a 2022 Juried Abstract Art Exhibition,  a local camera clubs photography exhibit and My New Life on Cape Cod works by Diane S. Scott.  Admission is Free, donations are appreciated.

Wednesday…..This is a “moving day”.  We are leaving Falmouth and going to the Comfort Inn  259 Main Street  Hyannis, Ma.  Again,  FIVE Stars for location, location, location and honorable mention for an indoor swimming pool.  It’s approx .2 miles from the Steamship Authority Ferry Dock and amidst the Main St Shops and restaurants, reasonable distance from the Cape Cod Rail Trail  (CCRT).
We brought our bicycles and our plan is to do a lot of riding.  This is a GREAT area and time of year to do it.   The CCRT runs approx 27 miles from South Yarmouth (parking  at 460 Station Ave) to Wellfleet.  With the time we had,  we knew we could only do a small portion.   We chose to start our ride at MM 4.5 in Harwich (parking lot on Headwaters Drive) and ride to MM 14 in Nickerson State Park (Public Rest Rooms).   This is notably a very scenic portion in the area. We were not disappointed.

 

Thursday…..Nantucket … We walk our bikes two blocks over to the Steamship Authority Ferry Dock at 7:45 a.m.  We opted for the High Speed Passenger Ferry,  Iyanough (approx 1 1/2 hour travel time)  Note: Round Trip, same day, Mon-Thursday only,  $55 plus $14 for a bicycle.  When purchasing your ticket a return time is required.

WOW!  Not what I had expected!  CROWDED … cobblestone roads, brick sidewalks, very narrow streets!!!   Quaint! Picturesque! But ouch!  Not easily maneuverable with a bicycle.
Fortunately, we had done our homework and had mapped out our route.   We were riding a loop using the Polpis and Sconset Bike Paths out to the Sankaty Lighthouse and Siasconset and back (approx 20 miles).  We did walk our bikes more than we had anticipated, because of the road conditions and heavy traffic (approximately 1 1/2 miles).

We missed a dirt bike path shortcut at the Duck Pond, but were able to pick it up on the way back.

We stopped for lunch in Siasconset at Claudette’s Sandwich Shop  10 Main St.

We shared a veggie sandwich and a bottle of water ($22).
Note:   I haven’t mentioned food or restaurants yet.  I will list them at the end.  We are doing only take out and restaurants that offer vegan/ vegetarian options.  We brought peanut butter and jelly fixings’ and breakfast is included at both of the hotels.
Back to Nantucket!

Friday ….  Martha’s Vineyard …  Our original plan had been to go to Martha’s Vineyard from Falmouth.  Unfortunately, the residual winds  from Hurricane Ian had wrecked havoc for a couple of days with the ferries and we had to rearrange our plans.   No problem.  We could have taken a Steamship Authority Ferry from Hyannis.   But,  We had found a “hidden gem” in Falmouth, The Island Queen.  Everything about The Island Queen was Five Stars!   Polite, professional,  courteous staff,  spotless ship. …. Thirty five minutes from pulling anchor to stepping off the ship in Oak Bluffs.    And a great value price wise,  $25 adult $8 a bicycle, round trip.  We’ll worth the trip back to Falmouth.  We did have to pay $20 for parking for the day, but it was well worth it.

AND our first SUN SHINY DAY!  We  took the 7 mile Beach Roads multi use path from Oak Bluffs to the Edgartown.

 

Saturday … Homeward Bound

 

 

It was a FIVE STAR Adventure!

Honorable mention Restaurants … all within walking distance to Inns

Pickle Jar Kitchen  170 Main Street Falmouth, MA   Yummy crunchy pickled veggies

Dilly’s Taqueria 281 Main St  Falmouth, MA   Build a Bowl

KKaties Burger Bar  334 Main St  Hyannis, MA    Black Bean or Impossible Burgers

FIVE STARS EACH
Sharkeys Cantina   31 Circuit Ave Oak Bluffs, MA    Build a Bowl with grilled veggies

Mad Martha’s Homemade Ice Cream  12 Circuit Ave Oak Bluffs, MA  Best Dairy Free Coconut Ice Cream EVER!