Cape Cod Insider

The Myth of July on Cape Cod

You may have heard the story about the famous baseball player, Yogi Berra.  A friend asked him what he knew about a certain restaurant.  Yogi responded, “Nobody goes there anymore.  It is too crowded.”  The same myth is out there about Cape Cod in July and especially around July 4^th. 

Since I am lucky enough to summer on the Cape, I can attest to the fact that August is busier and more crowded than July.  Most of the year ‘rounders know that it is more difficult to go out to eat or get theater tickets then. 

July on Cape Cod features a unique sporting venue, baseball. If you enjoy baseball family style and want to see the up and coming major leaguers,the Cape Cod Baseball League is in full swing during the entire month of July, not August .

If you decide to vacation in July, you also have more choice of rentals since the majority of people book August weeks first.  If you can plan your time to be on the Cape in July, you may be pleasantly surprised to find better access to restaurants, theaters, baseball and more choice of great rental properties.

Fourth of July is the Best Time to Visit Cape Cod

You might think Cape Cod is busy and inaccessible during the Fourth of July holiday.  Think again. For those people staying on the Bayside beaches it is a wonderful time for old fashioned Fourth of July family fun. It is a grass roots event. You will really feel that you have celebrated the birth of our country! Once you have rented a cottage on the beach during the July 4th week, you will never want to be anywhere else. Trust me.

We have a cottage on the beach in Brewster and after experiencing our first July 4th there, we decided not to ever rent our cottage that week.  It was just too much fun to be there. 

Here is our typical Fourth of July day:

With our two granddaughters in tow (ages 2 and 4), we head out to Chatham for the parade which begins at 10:00 AM.  Although this can be quite crowded, it is well worth it.  There are so many  marching groups and floats to see and patriotism abounds!  You can buy balloons and other small trinkets for the kids too.  If anyone needs suggestions on where to park, email me.  I know that Orleans also has a parade and if anyone knows something about this parade, please add your comments.

Because our cottage is directly on the beach, the afternoon is spent hanging out on the beach. Of course there are hotdogs and hamburgers on the grill.  There are also steamers with a nice cold beer and hopefully naps for the little ones, although we are not always very successful with that.   If you stay right on the beach, the added bonuses are incalculable.

By 5:00, we are off to a Cape Cod Baseball League game.  Many teams play at this time.  Check the schedule (CCBL 2006 schedule) and see what teams play early.  Many of the fields have great playscapes.  During the game, kids can retrieve foul balls and redeem them for a free ice cream coupon at a local stand (at least that is what happens in Brewster). And don't forget that after the game, there are autographs to get!!  You would be amazed at how many of these players will be in the Majors sooner than later.

Now it is time for the fireworks!  The great part of being on the beaches on the Bay is the incredible spontaneous fireworks that you can enjoy all around you.  The whole beach comes alive with people milling around, waiting for the spectacle to begin.  It is a family time on the beach, not a teenage hang-out place. Your head will be spinning as you try to see all the displays all around you.  There is nothing else like it!  It is the best! 

Every year I am always amazed at the quality and quantity of the show!  It probably lasts for over an hour and it is as good, if not better, than "professional" displays that I have been to.  And the great part is that you don't have to go anywhere.  You are aleady there.  There are no parking hassles and crowds.  It just doesn't get any better than this.

You can sit on your porch with a glass of wine or beer, throw a steak or swordfish steak on the grill, relax and enjoy the show!! 

Then, the show ends by 10:00, and the beach quiets down.  It is just a great day and wonderful experience.