Cape Cod, you might argue, is a state of mind. Whether your first experience is in a cottage by the sea, a resort filled with amenities, or a warm and inviting bed and breakfast inn, you will always treasure the simple pleasure of being so close to sand dunes and salty air. Spend enough time on this mesmerizing peninsula, and it becomes a part of you, willing you to come back over the bridge time and again.

The cover story in this month’s edition of Cape Cod Life magazine features Days Cottages, the iconic seaside cottages nestled cheek by jowl on historic route 6A in Truro, MA. Built in the 2020s, these 23 identical cottages have been featured on national TV commercials and numerous magazine covers, and have weathered even the most horrific of New England storms, including the Blizzard of ‘78. With Cape Cod Bay as their front yard, Days Cottages are a mere 18 feet apart and simply furnished: no televisions, no resort-type amenities. But with a fiercely loyal clientele their simple allure spans generations.

Each tiny two-bedroom cottage is named for a flower as ordained by the original owner’s wife, Amelia Days. For many returning guests, the simplicity of a no frills vacation by the sea is the idyllic choice for a family. Days are spent on the beach and nights are filled with the sounds of multiple generations playing games and sharing laughter.

I spent several summers on Cape Cod with my own family growing up. Though not at Days Cottages, our summer destination was Brewster and a cottage colony called Hopkins Cottages. Now long gone and replaced by condominiums, the memory of returning year after year to the same seaside shack and the thrill of meeting up with friends from the previous summer still warms my heart.

We have guests that come to our Inn every year, sometimes two and three times, sampling each season’s special delights. We welcome them like family and enjoy catching up with them like old friends. Though we may not have the longevity of Days Cottages, we are grateful for our growing list of loyal fans of the High Pointe Inn and hope to welcome new friends this year.

This weekend the Dolphin Fleet begins its annual whale watching adventure cruises out of Provincetown. Humpback, finbacks, and right whales can be seen frolicking in the waters of Cape Cod Bay near Stellwagen Bank having migrated from their winter homes elsewhere in the Atlantic. Noted recently on Shermans Travel website, the World Wildlife Fund named Cape Cod one of the top ten whale watching destinations in the world. Boasting a 99% whale spotting success rate, some whale watch cruise companies offer sailings guaranteed by rain check, including the Hyannis Watcher out of Barnstable Harbor, just 15 minutes from our Inn.

Whale watching is such a popular activity for our guests that we have put together a Whale of an Adventure package that includes two nights accommodation, two adult whale watch tickets, plus dinner for two one night at one of Cape Cod’s finest restaurants. Offered from mid-May through mid-October, it’s a wonderful way to add value to your visit to Cape Cod.

Spring has finally arrived on Cape Cod and with it the promise of colorful blossoms, flowering trees, and the return of green lawns and leafy trees. Though not yet quite warm enough to dig seriously in the dirt, the changing light and lengthening days gives us hope that soon we will be witness to mother nature’s glorious rebirth. Having just returned from our annual trek to see the grandkids in the Pacific Northwest, where daffodils were bobbing bright yellow heads and the cherry trees were in full bloom, I for one am longing for spring’s first delicate flowers to bloom in my garden. Of course, following my mother’s annual spring tradition, I did clip a few branches of our forsythia and forced them into bloom right after the vernal equinox. But we are still a few weeks away from any real color in the garden. However, there is hope on the horizon, and time for me to check the calendar for some of my favorite garden events held annually on Cape Cod. If you’re a gardener, or in need of some earthly delights, check out the upcoming schedule of events planned over the next few months. And don’t forget the “Spring Fling” package at the High Pointe Inn for an excellent opportunity to bring the season home with you.

4/29-5/1 37th Annual Daffodil Festival Weekend: Enjoy the Daffodil Show, Daffy dog Parade, Antique Car Parade and more on the island of Nantucket.

4/29-5/1 Brewster in Bloom, sponsored by the Brewster Chamber of Commerce focuses on craft shows, culinary events, and open houses.

4/30 and 5/7 Daffodil Days: A celebration of blooming daffodils with guided tours. Spohr Gardens, 45 Fells Road, Falmouth, MA.

5/21-30 Rhododendron Festival: 10 days of horticultural tours, talks, cooking demonstrations, plein air painting and photography workshops. Heritage Museum & Gardens, Pine & Grove Street, Sandwich, MA

6/30 Enchanted Gardens Tour of Hyannisport: A walking tour of Cape Cod gardens. Contact Arlene Hoxie at 508-888-3300 for more information and tickets.

5/2 Paintings with Flowers: Demonstration of pen and ink combined with pressed flowers, which takes place at the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, MA.

5/13-15 Annual Herb Festival: Learn various uses for herbs through lecture and demonstration. Green Briar Nature Center, Sandwich, MA.

6/3-5 Wildflower Garden Festival: Art classes in the garden, guided walks, lectures, and afternoon tea are the highlights of this annual three-day event. Green Briar Nature Center, Sandwich, MA.

6/10 14th Annual Secret Garden Tour, sponsored by the Provincetown Art Association & Museum: Guided walking tour of beautiful gardens and an exhibition of floral arrangements in the galleries.

6/11 Bass River Garden Stroll: A benefit event for the Cultural Center of Cape cod in south Yarmouth. Tour 8-10 gorgeous gardens and witness artist at work.

7/14 Garden Party by the Sea: The Osterville Garden Clubs hosts this event that allows a glimpse into seven gracious homes and gardens.