Weekend in Hyannis

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The other weekend, I headed up to Cape Cod with two of my college roomies for a mini getaway.  We ended up staying in Hyannis because it wasn’t too far from my daughter’s sleep away camp and since I had to pick her up that Saturday, it ended up being an ideal location. When I lived in Boston a million years ago, I frequented the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard quite a bit but once we moved back to New York, we started heading south for vacations instead.  So, it was definitely refreshing to return after all these years a little older and hopefully a lot wiser!

Here’s a breakdown of where we stayed, ate and visited.  I’m also going to throw in some suggestions of things I wanted to do but didn’t have the time:

Where to Stay:

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites which just opened so everything was brand new and impeccable.  The staff was very helpful in recommending things to do and places to eat.  There was complimentary breakfast every morning which was a bonus and a beautiful indoor salt water pool.  My only complaint would be the location.  We had to drive everywhere which wasn’t ideal.

I would recommend the Anchor In as an alternative because of its’ central location.  It’s much closer to the harbor area where all the action is plus it’s closer to the beaches as well.  And you can’t beat the gorgeous waterfront views!

Where to Eat: 

The first night, we went to a forgettable seafood place on the water where the service and the atmosphere were sorely lacking but thankfully we ended up going to the Black Cat Tavern for drinks afterwards.  They had the cutest outdoor bar area with lights, outdoor space heaters, inviting deck chairs and live entertainment.  It was such a charming and cozy spot!  I definitely would recommend it for pre or post dinner cocktails.  We enjoyed it so much we returned the following night for dinner.  It was a short wait for an outdoor table which faces the harbor (plus we got to have a drink at the bar again).  I got the crab cakes which were soooo good!!  And our waitress was fantastic.

If we had stayed an extra night, I would have wanted to go to Pain D’Avignon, a French bistro on the other side of town.  The menu looks beyond delicious and it’s connected to a bakery so you can only imagine how good the food must be!!

We picked up lunch for the beach at the Green Lotus Cafe on Main Street.  Everything looked so healthy and delicious!  I had the kale salad with cranberries, feta and a meyer lemon vinaigrette and I keep meaning to recreate this salad at home.  It’s also a great breakfast spot too…lots of wholesome options and plenty of seating.

And of course, I had to treat myself to some Ben and Jerry’s ice cream which is conveniently located right by the harbor where all the boats dock.  I opted for the chocolate chip cookie dough and it did not disappoint!

Where to Go: 

We went to Kalmus Beach which was about a ten minute drive from our hotel.  The road leading up to the beach is dotted with traditional Cape Cod style homes complete with white picket fences, hydrangeas and blackeyed susans gracing the yards.  It’s certainly how I pictured the Cape even after all these years. Kalmus Beach is located on the Nantucket Sound so you can watch the ferries to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard sail by while you’re sitting on the beach. Since the ocean is protected by these two barrier islands, the waves (if any) are very gentle so it’s the perfect spot for swimming.  On the way back, we passed by the JFK Memorial Park which is a beautiful and serene spot overlooking the harbor.  I’m so glad we parked and walked around a bit.  I think this was the highlight of our trip…that gorgeous view at the end of a very relaxing beach day.

Another highlight was walking around near the harbor and checking out some pop up shops by local vendors.  They displayed their products in these lovely,colorful sheds  (see the photo below) overlooking the water.  My favorite shop was one with homemade soaps and fragrances.  I regret not treating myself to something.  It smelled heavenly!   I did scoop up a business card so if you want to check it out, you can find it on Instagram (@capecodsoaps).

All in all, Hyannis was the perfect spot for a quick girls’ weekend.  If we had more time, I would have loved to go to Nantucket since I’ve never been there!  It’s definitely on my “places I’d like to visit” list!

* My outfit deets: this red dress from Old Navy was such a steal and is the best cover-up!  (It comes in two other colors by the way.)  My hat is Target and my bathing suit is LaBlanca (it’s so comfortable and I love the detachable strap).

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