By the Beach in Falmouth

Our timeshare was about 200 - 300 yards from the ocean as you look out the window, and even with the Surf Drive Road in front of us, we were set back far enough so we had a pretty good view. Our memories this time, of course, were being with our infant daughters, who were about five and a half months old by this time, and the day trips we took consisted of visiting the beach, naturally, as well as visiting the local towns on the Cape.

Some of the best things to do really didn't cost that much, unless you were looking to spend a lot of money in the specialty shops or go to fancy restaurants, and there are plenty of those in Falmouth, as well as Hyannis and some of the other communities.

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Our unit had this marvelous heating option called a fireplace, and it's one of these works of technology that all you have to do is turn on the switch--almost like a light switch--and the heat comes on and you see the flames flickering. It's gas operated, and it made our nights really nice and comfortable. There's also cable, and I can remember watching the election results on November 5th while the rain was falling and the ocean was roaring, and inside, I was snug as a bug in a rug, taking some video shots of the awesome sea.

We had a really nice time, and we bought another week down there because we liked it so much.

• Unit Type: Studio
• Activities: Not Available
• Amenities: Not Available
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

One of neatest things to observe at Surf Drive Beach are the multitudes of seagulls which hover around and look for scraps, and during this off-season time, they're looking for just about anything to keep them going. Our twin daughters loved watching the birds actually "hover" in place waiting for some bread to be thrown to them. And then there's the surf, of course, and on this day we visited the beach, it was a refreshing breeze that sort of chilled us. But you need to dress the part during the early part of November.

There were boats, to be sure, and when they passed by, there was a delayed ripple effect as the waves came crashing into the shore, bringing the seaweed with it. The dried seaweed looked so gothic just bunched up in a variety of ways against the jetties and along the shore. If you picked it up, your hands felt the salt from the sea, and even if you didn't go into the water, you had the salt in your hair and on your skin.

It was a fabulous experience, and our girls thought the experience was very different by the looks on their faces as the wind and surf made their presence known.

The mall has so much to offer, from their food court to the coffee shops, to include Dunkin' Donuts, to Barnes and Noble, to the jewelry designers, glassmakers, textile weavers, furniture stores, quilters, potters, photographers, high tech stores, video stores, CDs, audio, and automotive suppliers, not to mention a number of other specialty shops. And once you're finished walking what seems like miles in the mall, you can grab something to eat, and then go across the road to the other side of the Cape Cod Mall and check out their other Barnes and Noble and other stores. It's truly an unbelievable experience, and I'm told that around Christmas time, it is a magical place to be, as long as you get there early enough to find a parking space.

Most of the service is commendable, and the people who patronized the mall were also very pleasant.

These were quaint little towns with a feel of history to them, and there were the "classic Cape-style" homes, many of which were weather-worn and evoking a "natural" look. Then there were the very "expensive" homes situated on private roads along the beach. We could only imagine what the cost for some of those were. But it was history for us.

We continued our trek and traveled into North Falmouth, West Falmouth, and its well-known beach, Silver Beach, another popular spot for the summer folks, and kind of an out of the way spot, a beach you really have to go looking for. But we found it, and we hope to visit it again soon, and possibly maybe even sit at the beach and do a little swimming. There was so much to see, and after a few hours, we found ourselves retracing our route and ended back at the resort.

This kind of event might not be for everyone, but we figured since we were at a major vacationing area, there were places most people never see because they're so taken with the surf, sun, and sea. But there's more to the Cape than the ocean, believe me!!

The ZooQuarium is touted as the "Cape Cod Education Center," and it's usually opened from Late June through Labor Day. Their off-season times are February to late June, as well as September through Thanksgiving. This was our second trip this time of year.

This zoo has a popular tidal pool, and it offers an opportunity to examine and hold some of the Cape's shoreline neighbors. There's also the birds, mammals, and fish that are in the area of woods and waters in the region. Some are non-releasable wildlife-injured animals that have found a safe home at the ZooQuarium, and we actually held a couple of these animals. Guests are allowed to touch, feed, and experience the domestic farm life that lives at this location.

If you're into ecology, you can view the "habitats" which have been made for the animals that live here. You can also take a close up look at the fish, turtles, and other critters which are in the lakes and ponds of Cape Cod. Then there is the "Zoorific Theater," which allows you to explore the Discovery Center, and the naturalists demonstrate the creatures which are in the locale.

For a fascinating few hours of fun and education, this is a wonderful stop along the highway. The staff are really helpful and friendly, and most will go the extra mile to make your stay a memorable one. Plus they have a cute little souvenir shop so you can take a little something away to remember them by (or for the kids!).

This was the second time we visited this little bookstore, and if you like this particular genre, you're in for a treat. Not only do they have all the "favorite" Christian authors and performing artists from which to choose, but there's a wide variety of other items, from bookmarks and tracts to CDs, cassettes, bumper stickers, T-shirts, and jewelry, among other items.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this bookstore is the fact that it has a "used book" section, whereupon you can buy top selling and sometimes "dated" books for rock bottom prices. I have found titles I'd been searching for there, and they'll take your used books and give you credit for purchases at the store, which I find to be a progressive idea, and not one which I've found anywhere on the East Coast, although there might be a few, and I'd be interested in hearing from any folks who know of any of these haunts.

The woman who owns this store has a wonderful personality. She's always smiling, and is very helpful. Last year she let my pregnant wife use her restroom because we had a "situation" that couldn't wait, if you know what I mean, and when we returned this year, we introduced her to our twin "situation" daughters which she so graciously helped us with.

I can't say enough kind things about The Word Bookstore, and if you're looking for the "right off the press" items or the used and out of print items, this is the place for you. Adult, children, and all ages in between can find something to read, listen to, or even wear at this marvelous Christian bookstore.