On this first day of winter, as we approach the magic of Christmas Day and the New Year here at our Inn on Cape Cod, I am compelled to look both forward and back. Forward to all the treasures that the slower months on Cape Cod bring to those of us who live here year round. And to the hopes and dreams I have for 2020: the promise of new beginnings, fresh starts, making new friends and meeting new guests.

The coming months are when Rich and I reflect on the year just passed, the improvements we have made to the Inn and those that remain on our “to do” lists. We hope to find new adventures, quirky little eateries, and more of the off-the-beaten-path galleries and boutiques that we know our guests will enjoy. It’s the “quiet” time to be sure, but also one of renewal, discovery, and the rekindling of our love affair with Cape Cod.

Although summer is just a distant memory and autumn’s glow has faded, we have much to look forward to as the rhythm of our life slows to the gentler pace of winter. We have time to catch up with friends, walk the beaches in relative solitude, and enjoy the local color found at village shops and galleries. We also have time to fine-tune our marketing and embrace the annual deep cleaning and touch up painting that running an Inn on Cape Cod requires. As the days grow longer and the season settles in with its wintry blasts of frigid air followed by unpredictable but welcomed bouts of more temperate weather, we find ourselves reawakening.

So for those of you who enjoy Cape Cod in the quiet season we offer a few of our favorite winter activities:

1. Lunch at Dana’s Kitchen, followed by a walk out to the Knob at Quisett Harbor.
2. Strolling along the Cape Cod Canal.
3. A trip to the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center at the National Seashore.
4. Driving scenic Route 6A and stopping at the Brewster General Store.
5. Climbing Scargo Tower for a view from the Sagamore Bridge to the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown.
6. Looking for sea glass on any beach on Cape Cod, but in particular Sandy Neck Beach.
7. Shopping on Main Street in Falmouth.
8. Slurping oysters at the Naked Oyster with a glass of really good wine.
9. Watching glass being blown at the Glass Studio in Sandwich.
10. Catching a film at the Cape Cinema in Dennis.
11. Tea at the Borsari Gallery.
12. Coffee and pastry at the Cape Cod Chat House.

And as a bonus, top your day of sightseeing with dinner at any of our favorite Cape Cod restaurants, including Fin, the Old Yarmouth Inn, Anejo, Marshside, Trevi, Lyric, or the BeeHive Tavern.

We have a number of great seasonal specials and packages to make your Cape Cod winter getaway complete, and for a real treat, take advantage of our mobile spa service and book an in-room side-by-side couples massage.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

In early October, a couple from San Diego checked into the High Pointe Inn specifically to experience a cranberry harvest. Purchased as a Christmas gift for his wife, the 3-night stay was part of a package designed to help her fulfill her lifelong dream of actually harvesting cranberries in a bog. As curious as this might be to some, I thought it was inspired, both as a gift and as a dream.

More and more baby boomers are traveling with a purpose these days. No longer content to simply sightsee, these active adults are eager for experiences that enrich their lives. For some this might mean participating in a cooking school in Paris, truffle hunting in Tuscany, or a Spanish language immersion program in Mexico. For Marcia, it meant getting down and dirty with some cranberry growers in Carver, MA. For her, and many travelers like her, it’s about authenticity.

Many of our Fall guests are interested in seeing a cranberry bog and would love to catch one being harvested. A while back I created a video that explains how cranberry bogs are harvested using the wet method. For those of you who might have missed it, you can view it on our You Tube channel. But other than Marcia, I have yet to see a guest actually put on waders, get in the bog and start corralling cranberries. Apparently she loved it, as can be seen in the smile on her face.

It got me thinking about creating opportunities for our guests to truly experience Cape Cod, not just see it but live it, if only for a day. How about Innkeeper for a Day, or Oyster Farmer for a Day?

If you have any ideas or suggestions for a true Cape Cod experience,  email us at [email protected] or call us toll free at 888-362-4441.

And to Marcia, thanks for sharing your dream with us and for making it happen on your trip to the High Pointe Inn on Cape Cod.