Last spring, when the weather was warming and excitement for summer was brewing, I read an article by Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times, (and one of my favorite Cape media personality) arguing that June is the best month on Cape Cod. Yes, June is one of the best, but I put it in second place. For me, it’s all about September.
Don’t get me wrong, our reasons are nearly identical. The months of June and September:
Avoid the enormous crowds of July and August,
The weather is still warm for outdoor living,
Daylight still lasts until after 7:00 pm and
You don’t have to pay to park at town beaches.
But after “pond-ering” (a nod to Eric Williams kettle pond adventures) a little deeper, I am convinced that September reigns supreme. Whether not you agree, I hope you’ll join me on my quest to K.S.A…keep summer alive!
(1) Seasonal Festivals. Sure, the classic summer outdoor experiences (town band stand concerts, Cape League baseball games and parades) are done for the season, but that just means space is open for fall festivals. Festival events occur every weekend, some run for multiple days and happily continue into the winter. Like, this past weekend was the 13th Annual Doxie Day! How can you beat that?!?
The 13th Annual Cape Cod Doxie Day was held in Barnstable on September 25, 2021. My lovely wife won the Octoberfest raffle prize. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Enough Daylight. No question, June daylight pushes the 9:00 pm envelope and that is fantastic. But September daylight still lasts beyond 7:00 pm, just enough time for 9 holes of after-work golf.
“Lobster-Doxie,” during the costume parade at Cape Cod Doxie Day. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
No Crowds. Visiting families with school-aged children, college students and tourists have all returned home. Unless you are going to Mac’s Seafood on a Friday night, you won’t have to worry about crowds or parking this time of year. While staffing shortages certainly pose(d) challenges- and showed the ugly side of inpatient visitors, sadly – businesses (say, restaurants) are well in rhythm by the end of the season.
Who said you can’t swim in September (26) at Cockle Cove Beach, Chatham? Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Water Still Warm. The ocean, bay and ponds are still warm, though cooler air will greet you upon your water exit. Need proof? My home base – Ridgevale Beach – and the iconic Snack Bar operates food and sailboat rentals through mid-October.
The Ridgevale Beach, Chatham, salt marsh with Buck’s Creek Bridge in the distance. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Stickerless Beaches – with dogs! Now is the time to visit any beach you ever heard about. All town beaches stop checking for parking passes on Labor Day, and most allow dogs back on the beach in September.
The visitor center on Route 6. Photo credit: Affordable Cape Cod Vacations.
Author’s Note: I recently started listening to podcasts. (Thanks Matt.) The topics run the gamut from restaurants, to movies, to local happenings, to politics, to sports. I was quickly reminded (again, thanks Matt) that everyone who starts listening to podcasts thinks they are witty and sharp enough can do their own. Enter my light blub moment – and queue your eye roll…Fortunately, my podcast idea is not about Cape Cod; a very entertaining one already exists (more on that below), which according to host Eric Williams, www.HappyCapeCod.com compliments quite well. Nice!
My podcast idea is rooted in my winter season passion; skiing. While the format is a work in progress, three episodes have been written, two episodes recorded (find episodes at @PowderHoundSkis, jsshaw9.podbean.com or subscribe to PowderHounds Podcast on iTunes). Launching any project, learning new technology, navigating nuance of the medium, scheduling guests and attracting listeners is already a heavy lift. I remain optimistic thanks to ideas constantly – and randomly – popping up in my head. It’s already been a lot of fun just scripting and researching content for the episodes, especially pleasing when coming across unexpected articles and topics. Of course, just clipping in my bindings provides a sense of excitement as the next trail, apre cocktail or conversation may provide a nugget of an idea for a topic or segment. A couple friends have offered advice and support, which I appreciate. Hopefully this whole thing will come together. At least the Cape Cod Ski Club may appreciate it!
The podcast artwork. Photo credit Cape Cod Times.
I consume a lot of information about Cape Cod. Whether daily e-newsletters, printed weekly newspapers, monthly travel guides, books about or authored by Cape Cod residents, podcasts, word of mouth, and through social media mentions, there are a lot of ways to learn about happenings on Cape Cod. While there is no wrong door to learning about Cape Cod, local intel is always best. Below are my picks of people and resources to stay up-to-date with everything Cape Cod!
Photo credit: CapeCod.com.
The Cape Cod Fun Show Podcast. The description says it all, “join Eric Williams and his zany cohorts as they give you the inside scoop on beaches, restaurants, upcoming events and peculiar adventures. Get stoked for fun on Cape Cod!” While the podcast is professionally produced, via CapeCodOnline, Eric, Mung, Greg and the other guest hosts keep to a fast-paced script that includes food finds, outdoor activities, upcoming events, and of course, the tide charts. The Fun show covers the entire Cape, from Bourne to P-Town. Speaking of both Cape towns, I’ve added a dessert stop in Bourne and pizza stop in P-Town to my “to try” list. Episodes are produced weekly.
Photo credit: Ocean 104.7.
There is Even More Fun This Week on Cape Cod & Cape Cod Bucket List, courtesy of CapeCod.com! Ann Luongo, who writes both sections, is the Marketing Writer and Lifestyle Reporter for CapeCod.com, having spent a decade plus covering similar ground on the South Shore. If you subscribe for CapeCod.com e-daily, “The Cape’s Top Stories,” chances are one of those editions will have Ann’s list of featured upcoming events as well as a list of other community events occurring that week. New within the last year or so, Ann also writes a weekly ‘Cape Cod Bucket List’ section, of must-do’s, such as camping on the outer Cape, watching a double-feature at the Wellfleet Drive-In, having a bonfire on the beach, catching a Cape Cod League Baseball game, enjoying a summer band concert, and much more.
Photo credit: Cape Cod Chronicle.
Radio Ocean 104.7. As written before, Ocean 104.7, “custom crafted for the Cape,” provides hourly news updates on the hour. Queue the ship bells! Dave Read greets listeners in the morning, with regular updates from Justin Saunders, Brian Merchant, Luke Leitner, and the gang. Favorite radio personality Cat Wilson anchors the afternoon into evening schedule, with a special segment “the cheap seats” featuring local bands every Sunday from 8-10 pm. You do not have to be in your car to listen to Ocean 104.7. The station can be played via Alexa at “WOCN” or through the Ocean 104.7 app. The radio broadcast usually cuts out around Raynham along I-495, but it once lasted in my car all the way up to Hopkinton. I actually posted on Twitter just to capture that occurrence. And of course, Ocean 104.7 rocks those delightful and charming old fashion radio jingles for local businesses.
Photo credit. Cape Cod Times.
Newspapers – Cape Cod Chronicle. The Chronicle is a weekly newspaper focusing on the Lower Cape towns of Chatham, Harwich and Orleans. The two-section, weekly newspaper, with e-edition options, features detailed reporting of local news, especially Board of Selectman activities, with plenty of commentary from residents in sections dedicated to local businesses, history, nature, real estate and of course, letters-to-the editor. You can sign-up for free weekend as well as breaking news e-editions.
Newspaper – Cape Cod Times. The Times is a daily, Cape-wide newspaper with a robust website. I mean robust, tons of photo galleries, links to national news, videos, entertainment, etc. Because of this Cape Cod Times offer three different subscription plans; unlimited digital access, 7-day home delivery with unlimited digital, and Sunday only home delivery with unlimited digital access. While their paywall is quite generous, local newspapers especially need our support so subscribe in one way or another today!
Photo credit: Cape Cod Guidebook.
Cape Cod Best Read Guide. The free booklets/mini magazines are printed by a national company, and can be found at many restaurants, tourist attractions and visitor’s centers around the world. Locally, there are June, July and August editions just to keep pace with upcoming calendar of events, with “shoulder season” editions for fall, winter and spring when not as many tourists are pouring over pages and clipping $1 off coupons for mini golf, ice cream and whale watches. There are multiple forms of these booklets/mini magazine, similar styled guidebooks created by the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, and even guidebooks for each town in collaboration with local Chambers of Commerce. While the content is mostly paid advertisements by the local companies included, these booklets can still be quite informative, if nothing else as a mini telephone book and map of attractions. As the company states, “Think of the Best Read Guide as the shortest path from discovery to experience.” The visitor center after Exit 6 on the mid-Cape highway (Route 6) has every free guidebook available, so that’s the place to stock-up.
Happy learning, listening, talking and reading about Cape Cod!
