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Just Back From
Indagare's Diana Li recounts her off-season trip to Cape Cod, and why she's already planning her return.
Desperately FaceTimed out, I invited my mom to join me for a weekend getaway earlier this fall. Our destination: Cape Cod. Even though I was born and raised in southeastern Massachusetts, I confess I had only been there outside of summer on very rare occasions. And while Chatham Bars Inn, on the Cape's elbow, had long been on our wish list, further-flung destinations always seemed to get in the way of exploring in our own backyard. So we drove down Route 6 to Chatham, just as the leaves showed their first signs of yellow, detouring for an obligatory lobster roll at Sesuit Harbor Café before checking in to the hotel's Mooncusser Cottage. We didn’t realize at the time but our car would remain parked at the cottage all the way until check out. After three days in Chatham, here are my top five reasons why I’m hooked on Cape Cod in the off season.
A perfect reprieve to the takeaway, delivery and home cooking I have grown tired of in 2020, Chatham offers so much to eat and drink year-round. A visit to Chatham is incomplete without a meal at the Impudent Oyster, right off Main Street. This charming restaurant, converted from a former church, still houses colorful stained-glass windows and pews for seating. It goes without saying to try the raw oysters, but don’t miss the moules na cataplana (and make a reservation in advance). Every Saturday from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the historic Chatham Candy Manor holds candy cane-making demonstrations, and is the perfect spot to load up on homemade fudge and stocking stuffer treats. Another must-do activity is exploring the eight-acre Chatham Bars Inn Farm. It's great for locals and guests alike to stop by the farm stand for fresh fruits, veggies, pastries and more.If you prefer private options to keep social distance, Chatham Bars Inn’s beautiful Veuve Clicquot Library just opened for five-course dinners perfectly paired with Veuve Clicquot champagnes. Or join a class by master mixologist Adam Cuoto to learn how to make festive hot cocktails.
We only feature hotels that we can vouch for first-hand. At many of them, Indagare members receive special amenities.
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