The Cape in March

Best Things Nearby:
Mashpee Commons (the outdoor shopping mall area with both cute and high-end shops)

Best Things About the Resort:
Indoor tennis ($10/hour for resort guests) and the indoor pool

Resort Experience:
Although I would consider returning to the resort if I were to come to the Cape again, I had a few issues.

The first thing I noticed when I got in the unit was that the sitting/TV area smelled. When I got closer to the sofa, I realized that this is where the offending odor came from. It smelled like body odor. On top of that, the wicker sofa we had was extremely uncomfortable.

Also, on day 3, we started to get pincher bugs in the bedrooms. I would say we had one or two per day in the master bedroom and master bathroom and a couple in the hall bath as well.

And this was in March.

We didn't complain to the resort about either issue, so I am not complaining about their response to it, just the fact that it happened.

Otherwise, the resort staff was friendly and the indoor tennis courts were well lit and kept up nicely. I loved that they had water coolers available on both courts. For people staying in the resort, the price of the courts was $10 per hour (although I think it should be free).

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Good

We came upon this cute little place while strolling through the Mashpee Commons. The Tea Room is open for afternoon tea from noon to 5pm (I think). It is in the style of afternoon tea with tea sandwiches, scones, and tea, but they also have a menu of other things, like cheeses and salads. I would highly recommend this place for a Sunday brunch or afternoon tea.

This was the night we went out locally and treated ourselves. And BLEU didn't let us down. I loved the decor, which made it look just like a French bistro (I would know since I have been to France many times).

This dinner was pricy, but it was worth it! I got a rack of lamb with a goat cheese risotto... mmmmmmmmm. My friend got the duck entrée, which was very good as well. We also split the pate as an appetizer. They made wonderful martinis and had an extensive wine list. The chef was Monsieur Feufeu.

The Impudent Oyster was recommended over the other local restaurant to us by the person in the general store - and it was good.

My friend got the fried scallop entrée and I got Quahog clam chowder and a wasabi (sandwich) wrap with a glass of pinot grigio. Both were very good.

This was the place we dined on our first evening. Oysters Too was a nice place. They served local specialties (stuffed quahog, clam chowder, etc.) with plenty of other seafood dishes. The menu had enough variety for everyone, with burgers, salads, pasta, filet, etc. And they had a large dessert menu. I had the pistachio crème brule, and it was excellent.

We drove (yes, everyone, I drove in Boston against others’ advice) to Boston on Wednesday of the week we stayed on the Cape. And, given that it was March, I expected it to be cold. The temp on the Cape was about 38°F. But, MAN, was it colder in the city!!! Thank god we had our scarves and gloves. I parked near the aquarium, so I didn't have a lot of driving to do in the city.

We bought a ticket for one of those trolley-tour companies so we could see the city. Our original plan was to take the loop once around and then hop off someone to walk around. At about lunch time, we got off of the trolley at Boston Common and walked around a bit. We had lunch at an Irish pub called O'Connors. This was pretty good. We then took the T to Cambridge and walked around Harvard a little bit.

Maybe it is because we only spent a few hours in Boston, or maybe it is because I have been to Paris and I LOVE that city, but I wasn't overly impressed with Boston. I am sure that if you live there or have friends who can take you to all the cool areas, it is a lot of fun.

Driving out of Boston, I got a glimpse of what driving in Boston can be like. They are doing construction everywhere, so it is very confusing. I had to pull an illegal maneuver just to make sure I didn't go north when I wanted to go south on Route 93 (I think that was the numbered route).

I would visit again, but first and foremost, it would have to be spring, summer, or fall.

Over the course of the week we spent in Mashpee, we visited various towns and got a nice taste of the cape in March. We visited Chatham. I would definitely recommend this cute little town. In addition to the great views, there is a main street you can shop in. We had lunch at the Impudent Oyster (see my other journal entry on that).

We also visited Hyannis and had lunch at Albertos' (I also reviewed this restaurant in another journal entry). I have been to the cape in September before, so I know that this is a great street to shop and visit. But in March on a Sunday, there wasn't much to do except have lunch. On our drive around the Cape, we also found a couple cranbury bogs which we found facinating (see picture below).

Well, like much on the cape, P-town was very deserted. But we saw the sights. A couple stores were open where we got some 1/2-price jewlery. I can only imagine what this resort town is like in the summer.