Cape Cod in July

Bring lots of bug spray to protect against mosquitoes. Eat fried clams and lobster.

Is this just for you and your husband? Or are there kids involved? And what town are you going to - Cape Cod is pretty long! Message me and I'll give you better answers.

I agree about getting coupons from the freebie magazines at the tourist stands. Also, AAA often has deals.

There is big surf on the outer Cape along the ocean. The southern beaches are called "ocean" but they are really on Nantucket sound so there's no real surf - small waves good for kids. The Bay side is all calm water. Water temperature is colder as you move toward the ocean. (Bay is warmer than Sound, which is warmer than Ocean.) You get a beach sticker for the week depending on the town where you are staying. Most towns have beaches on more than one body of water. Check the town websites for which beaches have real bathrooms and which have port-a-potties, as well as how large their parking areas are. Parking areas can fill up at the smaller beaches, but families with little kids leave after lunch so you can often get in at 1 or 2 PM at places that were full at 10 AM. You can also pay by the day if you want to move around to different beaches. You can rent beach tends and umbrellas - definitely get an umbrella anchor (like a giant corkscrew) to battle the winds. If you are renting a house, check with the owner - often they have chairs, umbrellas and all kinds of things included.

Route 28 runs along the southern shore - it has lots of mini-golf places, go karts (in Harwich - Bud's Go Karts), t-shirt and souvenir shops and restaurants. Route 6A runs along the northern shore and has quaint shops, antique places, historic sea captain's houses, and less development. Whale watches are good - they run out of different places including Barnstable and Provincetown. Chatham has many smaller boats that take you out near the many harbor seals - get a tour with a naturalist on board as they are more informative and do not harass the animals. You can rent kayaks as well. There's a harbor cruise in Hyannis that gives info on President Kennedy as well as a nice day on the water. If you like fishing, there are many deep-sea boats as well as pier fishing in various towns.

Most restaurants are more casual than you would think even if they are in old historic buildings or have fancy menus - sundresses, polo shirts and Bermuda shorts are more than appropriate at all but a couple of places. Things cool off sometimes at night so if you want to walk the beaches, have a sweater.

Chatham and Provincetown have tons of little shops. P-town is an artists' haven as well as a haven where the LGBT community has been welcomed and celebrated in safety, so be prepared for alternative stores and couples.

There are a number of small museums that are interesting, especially on rainy days. Ferries run to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, but they are expensive. If you don't want your car, pay for bike rentals. There is also a Cape Cod Rail Trail - the old railroad tracks now paved over for quiet bike riding through marshes and light woods. Bike rental places exist at a couple of points along the way.

Don't go to chain restaurants - go to real Cape Cod independently owned places. There are lots of places with water views and/or outdoor dining. Definitely think seafood!!

If you want more info, let me know some specifics.

My husband, who is from Boston, says - it's a great time to go!

it will be crowded!!

sun screen!!! lots of water!

have fun!

We go to Cape Cod every summer! Love it. Go see the seals off the pier in Chatham. The beach is awesome, of course- I recommend getting a beach "tent" with very young kiddos. Have plans for rainy days. I recommend the bouncy park. It's a huge lot that is filled with DOZENS of bounce houses. Maybe the only thing that will tire kids out as much as the beach! Zooquarium is pretty entertaining for little ones, but look for coupons in the family guides at every fried seafood stand because they are overpriced.
Cape Cod Creamery is a must, but Ice Cream Smugglers is a good back-up. Grumpy's is a great breakfast place on mid-Cape, has been on Food Network. For fried yumminess, I recommend Kream n Kone or SEafood Sam's.
Provincetown is one of our favorites, they have tons of whale watches (Dolphin Fleet is good). If you do head to P-town, be prepared for lots of colorful characters. Think West Hollywood on summer vacation. I think it adds to the charm, interest, and definitely the art scene, but if you are uncomfortable explaining to your kids why two men or two women are super snuggly in public, you may want to pass or have a chat beforehand.
There is an AMAZING playground called Castle in the Clouds. It is connected to a public school and the kids helped design it.
If you want more details on anything, feel free to PM me!