Idiot’s Guides: RV Vacations

With the National Seashore on one side and a pristine bay on the other, Cape Cod is truly a classic summer destination. A variety of campground options plus beaches, seafood, shopping, and outdoor recreation make this the perfect vacation destination.

Learn about the fascinating maritime history of the cape on the free Nauset Lighthouse tour.

Go in mid-June, before schools are out, or in late August, when the crowds have died down.

176 Thomas B. Landers Road, East Falmouth, MA 02536. capecampresort.com; camp@capecampresort.com; 508-548-1458. $39 to $95. Heated pool, spa, boating, game room, playground.

If you want a resort camping experience while visiting Cape Cod, this is the campground for you. Situated on the western end of the cape, the location is perfect if you want to take a day trip to Boston or Plymouth Rock. It’s also near the ferries for Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Island.

The campground boasts multiple pools and a spa, as well as an adult clubhouse if you want to relax.

Nickerson State Park Campgrounds

3488 Main Street, Brewster, MA 02631. mass.gov/dcr; nickerson.park@state.ma.us; 508-896-3491. $15 to $17. Bicycle paths, boat rentals, camp store, bathhouses, interpretative programs.

Nickerson State Park has 418 campsites on 1,900 acres (770ha) of deeply wooded pine and oak forest. If you want to experience the natural beauty of the cape without traffic and crowds, you’ll love this campground.

The park offers dry camping on spacious and private sites, many of which overlook one of the park’s eight freshwater kettle ponds. Bring your own kayak, or rent a canoe on-site.

The park has its own 8-mile (13km) bike path that connects to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. It also has miles of hiking paths, plenty of bird-watching, and lots of spots for catch-and-release fishing.

Atlantic Oaks Campground

3700 State Highway, Eastham, MA 02642. atlanticoaks.com; atlanticoaks3700@capecamping.com; 508-255-1437. $47 to $66. Recreation room, game room, playground, outdoor games.

Located in Eastham, Atlantic Oaks boasts a near-perfect location with direct access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The campground has spacious pull-through sites with full hookups.

The grounds and bathhouses are impeccably clean, and the management and staff are friendly and well informed. A stocked camp store, comfortable recreation room, and game room make this campground feel like a home away from home.

You can walk or bike to bay beaches or use the bike path to reach the National Seashore. You’ll find several great seafood shacks, ice-cream shops, mini-golf, and a drive-in movie theater, all within walking distance.

4295 US 6, Eastham, MA 02642. theholecapecod.com; 508-255-9446. 5 A.M. to 4 P.M. $2 to $10. Baked goods.

The Hole in One Donut Shop in Eastham has been a local tradition for more than 20 years. It serves fresh, hand-cut doughnuts, cupcakes, biscotti, and other pastries, but avoid the distraction and load up on a baker’s dozen of donuts. Get in line early for treats that are sinfully delicious and worth the splurge.

For the perfect morning pairing, head to the nearby Beanstock Coffee Roasters for free coffee samples and a bag of freshly roasted beans.

This cash-only lobster shack might be the most famous restaurant on the cape, and for good reason. Try to visit on a weekday or during off hours to avoid the lines that can stretch out the door.

Do you like your lobster roll hot or cold? Try one of each at Arnold’s, and order a cold beer as the perfect complement. The fried clam strips and coleslaw are excellent as well. If you have any room left for dessert, Arnold’s serves more than 30 flavors of gourmet ice cream from Richardson’s Dairy.

Feeling ambitious after your classic Cape Cod seafood feast? Play a round of mini-golf at Arnold’s own 18-hole course.

3429 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. mews.com; 508-487-1500. 6 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. $21 to $38. American.

If you’re looking for a fabulous dinner with great views, make reservations at this restaurant, popular among locals and visiting celebrities. (Ringo Starr and George Harrison were once spotted here.)

Stick with the seafood theme, and order the lobster risotto or lobster vindaloo. Mews also boasts a varied wine menu, a cocktail list, and a delicious Sunday brunch.

ATTRACTIONS

Cape Cod National Seashore

99 Marconi Station Road, Wellfleet, MA 02667. nps.gov/caco; 508-771-2144. 6 A.M. to 12 A.M. Daily vehicle pass $20; pedestrians and bicyclists $3.

Start your day at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, where you’ll find orientation videos, a museum, and a bookstore and gift shop.

The rangers here can help you plan the best itinerary for your trip. The seashore has enough wind-swept beaches, lighthouses, bike trails, hikes, and educational programs to keep you busy for weeks on end.

291 State Highway Route 6, South Wellfleet, MA 02663. massaudubon.org; wellfleet@massaudubon.org; 508-349-2615. 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M. Adults $5; seniors $3; children $3.

Do not skip visiting this tucked-away treasure located on Wellfleet Bay. The extensive system of trails and an award-winning nature center enable you to experience the stunning variety of Cape Cod landscape and wildlife.

Time your visit with low tide so you can hike the boardwalk trail all the way out to the bay. You’ll be able to watch fiddler crabs, turtles, and fish scurry and swim around in the tide pools.

The nature center offers a glimpse of a rare blue lobster, and it offers a great scavenger hunt booklet to keep kids engaged and entertained on your salt marsh exploration.

Provincetown

Chamber of Commerce, 307 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657. ptownchamber.com; info@ptownchamber.com; 508-487-3424. 9 A.M. to 6 P.M.

Provincetown has inspired writers and artists for more than 100 years with its unique urban culture in a coastal setting. A wide variety of galleries, bookstores, and boutiques are here, but be sure you also visit the historic public library. This popular tourist destination boasts a half-scale model of a schooner, and the children’s library, complete with puppets and dress-up clothes, is a local treasure.

Take a walk out on MacMillan Pier to see all the local fishing boats in action. Many whale-watching tours leave from this location.

Commercial Street runs the length of the city and offers the best people-watching in this fun and funky place. Grab a signed copy of Michael Cunningham’s Land’s End: A Walk in Provincetown for more inspiration.

ITINERARIES

If you have 1 week …

Visit the Cape Cod National Seashore, and take a lighthouse tour. Swim at a beautiful bay beach, hike at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, spend the day in Provincetown, and head to the ballpark catch a baseball game.

If you have 2 weeks …

All the above, plus bike the entire 22-mile (35km) Cape Cod Rail Trail, kayak at Nickerson State Park, swim at Race Point Beach, and sign up for one of the many ranger-guided nature programs at the National Seashore. Book a whale-watching trip, too. These leave from various locations along the cape.

If you have 3 weeks …

All the above, plus plan some excursions off the cape. Take a trip into Boston, and walk the historic Freedom Trail. Visit Plymouth Rock, and tour the colony. Take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, and rent bikes to explore the island. Escape to the quiet island of Nantucket.