There are no shortages of sweet treats on Cape Cod. In fact, there is arguably TOO much temptation in the sugary delight space on Cape. But if that’s your jam — too much temptation and dessert choice — look no further than the Ice Cream Cafe in Orleans.
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The Ice Cream Cafe sits just outside the bustling downtown Center, sandwiched between the Orleans/Eastham rotary – the gateway to the Outer Cape – and the Orleans/Town Cove. The Ice Cream Cafe also happens to be next door neighbors to both the Cottage Street Bakery and Cooke’s Seafood Restaurant, and just across the street from the Lost Dog Pub. Point being, you don’t have to go far to eat all three square meals – and have a drink. This is one of those fun cases where it is faster to walk than to drive to nearby locations [though, pre meals, maybe].
The temptation and choice boils down to the menu. It is extensive, expansive, and incredibly edible [incredible edible egg word play here and in title]. Case in point, how many ice cream parlors offers blizzards, and smoothies, and soda fountains, and frozen drinks, and summer coolers, and sundaes, and soft serve, and non-dairy treats? They even collaborate with a next door neighbor (Cottage Street Bakery) to make a homemade chocolate cookie ice cream sandwich. [I’m not sure I’d be interested in any dessert collaboration with fellow next door neighbor Cooke’s Seafood.]
The vibe is also pretty great. Collaboration with nearby businesses is obvious; less pronounced is some of the humor [Good Humor pun not intended] found on interior signage. Of course, the exterior artwork hanging about is kind of irresistible.
Even Dean’s Beans (source of coffee) rhymes! Just little delights at every turn. The umbrellas and most chairs on the patio happen to be colors of the rainbow, too.
Staples Rock is hard to miss at Orleans Marketplace. Folks at the nearby Orleans Farmers’ Market were walking back and forth to take photos. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
by Jeff Shaw
A large boulder was discovered in Spring 2025 during sewer work in Orleans Marketplace on Route 6A. The discovery was so exciting that the boulder was not only kept, not only named, but is proudly [fenced off and] on display!
The word “popular” or “viral” doesn’t do the Rock’s following justice. Below are some fun quotes from the feature story on page 5 (into page 23!) in the June 19, 2025 edition of the Cape Cod Chronicle weekly newspaper.
The boulder is affectionately known as “Staples Rock,” is having a moment online. “It’s become a story,” and “social media has turned a slab into a summertime sensation,” and “what they did is create the best marketing no one can pay for [drawing people to the shops without spending a dime].”
A portion of the drink menu at the Yardarm Restaurant in Orleans. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
Further, the Yardarm Restaurant has named a drink after it – The Orleans Rock. Combination of cranberry Deep Eddy vodka, ginger beer and lime. Apparently, “the rock has its own designation on Google Maps search of the property,” though I didn’t find it after a quick search. And just recently, Staples began selling t-shirts and other merchandise to capitalize on this phenomena.
Now you may be wondering what the future has in store for the Staples Rock. Word is if interest in the rock continues into the summer, there could be a proper naming and ribbon cutting event. There is even talk of a “rock” concert on the property.
Chatham has risen up the leaderboard of the number of Level 3 (fast) chargers on Cape Cod (6).
Two (2) can be found at Cape Associates, located at 782 Main Street, and four (4) can be found at the Eldredge Garage, located at 365 Main Street. With the charging stations at the Eldredge Garage, Chatham now has the most Level 3 electric vehicle chargers east of Hyannis. Unlike some public Level 2 chargers, none are free.
Don’t let the historic garage (recently restored) fool you; it’s home to EV chargers! Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Whether intentional or a coincidence, both sets of chargers are located on the exact opposite ends of Downtown Chatham. Meaning, you don’t have to walk far to find food, retail, or entertainment to pass the 20-30 minutes while your vehicle (quickly) charges.
The Eldredge charging stations, which are manufactured and operated by FLO, charge 52 cents per kilowatt hour for Level 2 and 62 cents per kilowatt hour for Level 3 charging. The charging stations at Cape Associates, operated by ChargePoint, charge 50 cents per kilowatt hour.
The Level 3 chargers will get your vehicle back to 80% battery life quickly. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
Level 2 chargers are located at Chatham Bars Inn but are for inn guests only. Other nearby Level 2 chargers, open to the public, can be found at Stop and Shop in Harwich.
According to ChargeHub, the Town of the Barnstable is the leader of EV charging stations on Cape Cod, with 35 total Level 2 stations and 6 total Level 3 stations. There are 25 free stations (likely only Level 2) in Barnstable.
Level 3 chargers at Cape Associates. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
So, no need to worry about where to charge on your way to the Outer Cape. Just make sure you have enjoy juice to get back to Chatham!
Rocks don’t get a lot of love. Well, unless it’s Bob Seger performing; or how alive one feels after catching his now iconic Ford commercial [Ohhhh, like a rock!] Even playing rocks, paper, scissors; more often rock seems to get covered by paper even though rock should crush paper or scissors in a face-to-face battle. And Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; he seems to be doing way too much to maintain his Rock-like image. How about Rocky Balboa? I mean…
…okay, okay, I could go on, and on, but I’ll pause here and pivot to rocks of the geological kind. Because Cape Cod is home to some really big – and really old rocks.
Let’s start with the oldest, Hokum Rock, located off Hokum Rock Road in Dennis. It is estimated to be 300 million years old! It was moved by glacial activity from north of Boston about 50,000 years ago.
Measuring 14.5 feet high and 98 feet in circumference, Hokum Rock is also the second largest erratic boulder on Cape Cod. (The largest erratic boulder on Cape can be found on the Outer Cape and will be covered another time.)
Wondering about the name? Well, legend has it that an aged Nobscusset Indian descendant once lived there and would ask “Who Come?” when someone was near. Another legend is that an Indian named Hokum lived nearby.
The trail map of Nickerson State Park in Brewster. Photo credit: NEMBA Cape Cod.
by Jeff Shaw
Yours truly is at a bit of a crossroads [intersection pun intended] with the subject of this post. I only own mountain bikes, and of the old, heavy, clunky variety. When biking on Cape Cod, I tend to stick to the paved Cape Cod Rail Trail and spur trails, mostly to avoid traffic and take advantage of a direct way to travel through multiple towns. But also because the surface is silky smooth for these middle aged body.
While I have messed around on plenty of multi-use trails that dot Cape Cod, I wouldn’t say any of them are necessarily mountain bike [designated multi-use] trails. The nuance may not matter, but when talking to mountain bikers, most usually have a level of expectation if a trail is recommended. Is it single track, hilly, congested, etc.?
Despite plenty of mountain biking trails options at my fingertips, I tend to stick to nearby haunts like the single tracks of Town Well Field Conservation Area in Brewster, wider paths of the woods between Red River and Mill Pond in Harwich and of course, the flagship Nickerson State Park in Brewster, with plenty of trail options scattered among 1,900 acres.
I’ve also heard good things about the many fire roads of the Outer Cape, though have only popped into a few areas during hikes or runs. Point being, there is tons to explore.
Below are NEMBA’s recommended trails with a brief description of the trail (you’ll have to go there to learn about the scenery!):
Barnstable
Old Jail Lane/Hathaway’s
“Primarily double-track over rolling hills. There are a few fast downhills and a few challenging climbs. They seem remote as you wind your way through deep woods.”
West Barnstable Conservation Area
“One of Cape Cod’s prime riding areas. About 21 miles of singletrack that wind throughout the trail. The majority of singletrack is short and steep with some very twisted sections. Though the trails are not very technical, they’re full of short steep climbs, which make for a great aerobic roller coaster ride.”
The entrance gate to Nickerson State Park. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Willow Street
“One of the best riding locations on the Cape and also one of the least known comprises two separate riding areas. On the first, explore over 20 miles of enjoyable sometimes hilly singletracks located in the Hyannis Ponds Wildlife Management Area (Camp Greenbough). For your second adventure, you’ll be in Yarmouth (Higgins Crowell) where you can discover over fifteen miles of trails.
Bourne
Four Ponds
“One of the most enjoyable trails is Four Pond’s Pine Trail, a smooth never straight singletrack snaking through the woods. A relaxed ride where you’ll get a chance to explore some wonderful trails immersed in nature.”
Brewster
Nickerson State Park
“The singletracks are the trail’s big draw. It’s the almost total lack of stones and rocks. The trails here define the word “buffed.”
An access trail to Town Well Field Conservation Area. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Falmouth
Beebe Woods
“The trails are fun, mostly non-technical and circle around quite a bit. It will take you at least a couple of hours to explore them all. Just a short ride from downtown as well as being only a few hundred yards from the Shining Sea Bikeway.”
Crane/Otis
“The riding at “Otis” mostly consists of fast singletrack that runs up, down and around a long series of drumlins that head north paralleling route 28 heading north. There are some very technical trails and some very long hills. Expect to spend a lot of time exploring.”
Mashpee
Mashpee River Woodlands
Most of the trails are singletracks. The most scenic wind through the woods on ground that’s high above the Mashpee River. The views are spectacular. The trails twist through the trees climbing and descending short hills. These scenic trails look entirely different in the opposite direction.”
Sandwich
Maple Swamp
“Reaching from 40 feet above sea level to 250 feet above sea level, Maple Swamp has spectacular views.”
Yarmouth
The Badlands
“The riding at the Badlands ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. Many of the singletracks are smooth and flowy, completely lacking in rocks or roots as they glide up, down and around some very gentile hills. On the other extreme is the Badland Trail itself is a deviously constructed singletrack that winds itself over and around every defilement, rock, crevice and drop that could be found at a long-abandoned sandpit. You’ll know when you’re on it because it will be unlike anything else you’ve ever ridden.”
Camp Greenough
“The trails in the Scout camp are really fun, fast-flowing singletracks, moderately hilly with a few technical climbs and descents. To the north of the railroad tracks there’s a route to Grays Beach. This is a fun ride, which goes right through the parking lot for the Yarmouthport Village Store, where you can stop for refreshments.”
Higgins Crowell
“Lots of flat singletracks flowing through the woods interspersed with an occasional jeep road. Some of the trails circumnavigate cranberry bogs while others delve so deeply into the woods that all traffic noise disappears and all you’ll hear are birdcalls or the occasional passing airplane. There are few sandy areas, few technical obstacles and almost no hills. This makes Higgins Crowell the perfect place for a relaxing ride, a ride with newer riders or a ride with kids on small wheel bikes.”
You just never know where a trail will end. Photo credit: Ellen Shaw.
What trails would you recommend mountain bikers check out on their next ride?
