Keane 2003 US Snipe Nationals - Activities For The Non-Sailor

So you're bringing the family... You've promised your spouse and kids that "it's Cape Cod, there's lots to do". Don't despair, there really are a bunch of fun things to do, from outdoor activities to indoor sights to see, all within about an hour's drive.

Very Close- Things to do for a few hours while your spouse works on the boat:

Town Beach. A no brainer; right where the boats are! It's ideal for for small kids who want to splash around in the water as it is very protected. It also has a raft that bigger kids can swim out to. There are no lifeguards on duty.

Silvershell Beach. A local Marion beach facing the outer harbor. Unfortunately parking in the Town of Marion is very restricted in the summer, so you must walk, but it is less than a mile from the BYC. From the beach you can see boats coming in from the race course.

Marion Art Center. Local Art, Dance and Theater activities open to the general public.

Elizabeth Taber Library. A nice small town library with a kid's section to entertain the kids on a rainy day.

A Short Drive- Things to do for an afternoon:

New Bedford Whaling Museum. Call me Ishmael. The Whaling Museum is very cool for kids who like whales (like all of them!) and has everything you always wanted to know about the whaling industry of the past, which made New Bedford the richest city in the world in the late 1800s. There is a 1/2 scale model of a complete ship INSIDE the building along with life sized displays of the workings of the old whalers. The Seamen's Bethel across the street ("Johnny Cake Hill") was immortalized as the "Whaleman's Chapel" by Herman Melville in his classic novel Moby-Dick. Built between 1831 and 1832, the Bethel continues to this day as a house of prayer and standing memorial to those New Bedford whalemen, and now fishermen, who have lost their lives at sea. While you are there you can walk the cobble stone streets of the historic district of New Bedford harking back to the days of Melville. Visit the Whaling Museum Web site for directions. About a 30 minute drive.

Buttonwood Park Zoo. A small zoo, but perfect for the 3-10 set as you can get through it in an hour or two. Visit the zoo site for directions. There are also lots of wide open grassy spaces in the park to run the kids around.

New Bedford Visitors Guide. There are lots of other attractions in Historic New Beford. Visit the visitors guide for more details. Pretty much everything will be within a 30 minute drive.

Day Trips:

Horseneck Beach. A real beach, like next stop Portugal. When the wind is out of the southwest (most of the time) there is generally nice body surfing conditions. Lots of sand dunes for kids to play on. About an hour drive.

Destinations on Cape Cod. The towns of Sandwich (Driving Directions), Falmouth (Driving Directions), and Wood Hole (Driving Directions) are quaint with beautiful beaches and are good eating and shopping opportunities on the western part of Cape Cod within an hour's drive. Woods Hole is home of the famous Wood Hole Oceanographic Institution and has an aquarium that would be great for kids. One word of caution: I would not venture here on the weekends, the beach traffic getting on/off the Cape over two small bridges is horrific, however, weekdays are no problem.

Martha's Vinyard. This is a nice day trip on the ferry from New Bedford and is pretty inexpensive (less than $20/person). You get to experience something out of a novel.

Cuttyhunk. A day trip also taking the ferry from New Bedford. Cuttyhunk is a lovely island about 14 miles off the coast of New Bedford, MA. It is the last in the chain of the Elizabeth Islands that stretch westward from the elbow of the Cape. Unlike other places along the New England coast which have become overcrowded, hectic and congested in the summer, Cuttyhunk is an oasis of relaxation and simple summer fun. And besides, Kim Couranz says it's "WICKED COOL". What else do you need?