When I visited Nantucket last May, one of the locals told me that September is the best month to visit the Cape and the Islands, because the crowds have left, hotel rates are lower, and the weather is beautiful. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical, but when I was invited to visit Cape Cod this summer, the only weekend we were able to make work was this past weekend. So, we decided to pack up our swimsuits and head out in the hopes that we’d have good enough weather for a bit of outdoor fun.
Turns out, the local was right – September is the perfect month for a Cape Cod family vacation. We checked in on Saturday, and it was unfortunately raining. The beach and outdoor pool were both completely empty, and we were assuming we’d spend the afternoon in the indoor pool. After shopping to pick up a few essentials we left at home, and eating lunch, we returned to a gorgeous beach day. Hotel employees were busy setting up beach chairs and umbrellas, and we settled in for a beautiful afternoon at the beach.
We were forecast to have a beautiful, clear day on Sunday, so we planned on a full beach day, which is exactly what we got. The kids had so much fun going in the water and playing in the sand, and while the sun was hot, it wasn’t scorching. There were plenty of people on the beach, but it wasn’t crowded at all. We were able to stay on the beach from 10am until almost 5pm, with just a quick break for lunch outside at our hotel restaurant.
I think we’ll want to make a Cape Cod late summer vacation a tradition, for exactly the reasons the Nantucket local explained to me – lower crowds, better rates, and great weather!
Disclosure: We stayed at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel at no cost for purposes of review.
