For a small part of the state, Cape Cod has a wide variety of towns for travelers to choose from. Families visiting Cape Cod have many options, depending on what activities they want to do, what property they want to stay at, and how far they want to travel. Yarmouth, MA is our second home, and it's one of my favorite places to be.
It's one of the best family-friendly Cape Cod towns because it offers so many great things for kids and is centrally located on the Cape. Here are the best things to do in Yarmouth MA with kids for your next Cape Cod vacation including outdoor activities, budget-friendly activities, and more.
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The Best Things To Do in Yarmouth MA With Kids
Where is Yarmouth?
Yarmouth is a town in Massachusetts, located in the mid-Cape section of Cape Cod. It's located right off Route 6 and is convenient to get to. It's one of the area's more popular destinations, with lots of fun things to do.
Yarmouth includes three villages - West Yarmouth, South Yarmouth, and Yarmouth Port. Because of its mid-Cape location, it's an ideal vacation spot, especially if you plan to take various road trips to the different sections of the Cape. Yarmouth offers vacation homes, motels, and beachside resorts.
Wicked Waves
Wicked Waves, which was previously known only as the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, is located in West Yarmouth, MA. It's the largest water park in Massachusetts, and is incredibly popular in the summer months. Wicked Waves is one of the best Yarmouth, MA attractions for kids in the summer.
Guests staying at the adjacent Cape Cod Family Resort will receive 4 complimentary combo day passes if they book directly with the resort. Individual tickets can also be purchased for day guests, and season passes are also offered. There are several different ticket options, so be sure to purchase the right one for your plans.
Food is sold inside the park, and outside food isn't allowed in. Visit the Wicked Waves website for more information.
Skull Island Adventure Golf & Sports World
Located right in the center of Yarmouth is Skull Island Adventure Golf and Sports World. This adventure center offers so many activities for families, including batting cages, a miniature golf course, go-karting, a golf driving range, an indoor arcade, kickball, and whiffle ball.
It's open seasonally and also hosts special events, such as the Cape Cod Pirate Fest, held at the end of August. Reservations aren't accepted at Skull Island Sports World, so I'd recommend arriving early in the day - especially on holidays and weekends. Some of the activities are only open weather permitting, so it's a good idea to call if you aren't sure.
Bowling
If the weather isn't going to be great during your Yarmouth, MA vacation, or you want to get out of the sun, there are some indoor activities. Ryan's Family Amusements is located in South Yarmouth and offers some fun family activities.
At this newly renovated facility, you'll find activities like candlepin bowling, cornhole, a game room, ax-throwing, and ten-pin bowling. They also have food.
Yarmouth Beaches
If you are visiting Cape Cod in the summer, you have to at least dedicate one day for a beach day. Yarmouth offers many beautiful beaches, though some are available only to residents of Yarmouth. Most are along Nantucket Sound, but there are others on Cape Cod Bay. There are both small and larger beaches.
Daily and weekly passes are available at the public beaches for non-residents. Dogs aren't permitted on the beaches from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Seagull Beach - Located in West Yarmouth, this large beach is a favorite among locals and visitors. It has a large parking lot, plenty of sand to set up your beach belongings, seasonal lifeguards, a snack bar, and restrooms.
Bass River Beach / Smugglers Beach - Smuggler's Beach was previously known as Bass River Beach. It's my favorite beach in Yarmouth, and it also has a boat dock and fishing pier.
In season, there are lifeguards, restrooms, and a concession stand. It's a popular beach and the parking lot does sometimes fill up.
Gray's Beach - Located in Yarmouthport, this beach is also known as Bass Hole. It's a small beach with just a small swimming area. However, this water is calmer, so it's great for little ones.
The best part of Gray's Beach is the long boardwalk. It's a beautiful place to take a walk. In the summer, you do have to pay for parking, however. This is a recent change.
Whydah Pirate Museum
Looking for a place to spend a rainy day? The Whydah Pirate Museum is located right off Route 28 and is one of the top tourist attractions in the area.
Admission to the museum is sold online, with timed admission. If you know it's going to be a rainy day, you'll want to book early, since it can get busy, especially in the summer.
The Whydah Pirate Museum offers interactive exhibits featuring real artifacts recovered from a shipwrecked pirate vessel. It's a nice way to learn about history in a way that kids will love to see.
Miniature Golf
There are several fantastic miniature golf courses located in Yarmouth and the surrounding area. We always try to play mini-golf at least once each Cape Cod vacation, because it's such a quintessential summer vacation activity.
The biggest of the Yarmouth mini-golf courses is Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, which offers two separate courses. It's very busy, even in the spring and fall. We like to go early to avoid much of the line.
Other miniature golf courses in Yarmouth include Skull Island, the Wild Animal Lagoon, and Putter's Paradise. Wild Animal Lagoon and Putter's Paradise are great courses for families with younger kids because they are smaller and more manageable.
Fishing Charters
Want to try your hand at fishing? The easiest way is to book a charter fishing expedition. You'll be able to go out with an experienced fisherman, who provides all of the equipment and knows the best areas to go.
You'll have several options when you choose your fishing trip. Some companies will offer kids' fishing trips, which are shorter and better for younger kids. There are also half-day trips to catch bass, or longer journeys to catch tuna.
On our August trip, we booked a charter through Shark Shark Tuna. While they do offer shorter trips for kids, we decided to go with the four-hour sea bass fishing charter for our teens.
We loved going out on the water (it was a beautiful day) and were thrilled to catch several fish. Our fish was filleted for us and we were able to grill it for dinner.
It was a really fun experience and I'd recommend it for families who'd like to try fishing. Everything was provided for us, except for snacks, water, and sunscreen. Don't forget to pack those!
Day Trips
Yarmouth is centrally located on the Cape, so it's an ideal location if you'd like to do day trips to other Cape Cod towns.
Some nearby cities and towns include Sandwich, Chatham, Hyannis, Falmouth, Provincetown (which includes the Cape Cod National Seashore), and Mashpee. You could even drive to nearby Hyannis (or a bit further to Woods Hole) and take the ferry to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
The Cape Cod Rail Trail is a paved bike path that runs from South Yarmouth to Wellfleet. On nice days, you'll see cyclists, walkers, rollerbladers, and more enjoying the 25.5-mile path. It passes through six Cape Cod towns, with various entrances along the trail.
If you aren't bringing your bicycles on vacation, there are several rental companies throughout Cape Cod.
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League takes place in the summer months throughout Cape Cod. These free games are played by college players, and because they are free, they can be a great, affordable family activity. In Yarmouth, home games are played by the home team, Yarmouth–Dennis Red Sox, at Yarmouth-Dennis High School.
Fall Festival
While you may want to visit in the summer months, there are fun activities in the fall, too. The Yarmouth Seaside Festival takes place at the beginning of October and offers kids' activities, food vendors, a sand sculpture contest, and more.
Where to Eat in Yarmouth
I always eat so well when I'm in Yarmouth. There are so many delicious restaurants. We have a full post with restaurants in Yarmouth, but here are a few of our favorites.
- Skipper Chowder House (don't miss their famous fried clam chowder)
- Captain Parker's Pub (the best clam chowder around)
- Tugboats (overlooking Hyannis Harbor)
Where to Stay in Yarmouth
There are lots of motels, resorts, and vacation homes in Yarmouth. Here are some of the top-rated hotels:
- Red Jacket Beach Resort
- Ocean Club on Smuggler’s Beach
- Red Jacket Riviera Beach Resort
- The Escape Inn
You can also see more lodging options on this map (affiliate links).
The Best Time to Visit Yarmouth, MA
Like the other areas of Cape Cod, the summer is the best time to visit Yarmouth. That's when all the activities are open and the weather is best.
However, that's also when it will also be the most crowded. Early June, before school lets out, can be a great time to visit because it's a little less crowded. Late summer, is also a great option. However, some attractions do close after Labor Day Weekend.
Looking for more Cape Cod travel tips? Click to see our guide with town recommendations, things to do, restaurants, and more in Cape Cod.
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