News from the High Pointe Inn, a Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast:  This morning at breakfast a guest asked me where to play miniature golf on Cape Cod. That question is a sure sign that the season has begun here on Cape Cod. Not just the summer season, but the season for reliving our youth and remembering the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Like mini-golf.

Mini-golf is but one way to pass a lazy summer afternoon or evening. And it’s not just the kids who enjoy a challenging course. Many adults simply cannot pass up the temptation of a revolving waterwheel and tilting at windmills.

My days of mini-golf were pretty demure compared to the tricked-out courses of today. And there are no shortage of courses to choose from on the Cape. Route 28 from West Harwich through Dennis and Yarmouth could easily be renamed mini-golf alley. A long stretch of courses line the road. There’s Pirate’s Cove in South Yarmouth with its distinctive pirate ship sunk in a lagoon, numerous pirate statues, a shark, and brand new water cannons. And nearby, Wild Animal Lagoon features a newly installed four-seat airplane on its course in West Yarmouth.

Skull Island Adventure Golf in Bass River boasts, what else, a giant skull as its centerpiece, along with cascading waterfalls, alligator infested waters, a haunted treasure cave, and a Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. The course at Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham, offers miniature hand-crafted, scaled replicas of lower Cape Cod’s historical landmarks in an effort to make history fun. What could be more fun than fried clams and mini-golf? Cape Escape, a nautical 18-hole adventure course in Orleans, touts an amply stocked Japanese koi pond, fishing boats and waterfalls, plus a fog machine to amp up the atmosphere.

But perhaps my favorite, and one of the oldest on Cape Cod, is Sandwich Mini-Golf, which started about a half century ago along Route 6A. Originally opened with just nine holes, over the years the owner hand-built 18 more holes to expand the operation to a 36-hole course, including nine hand-built bridges.

Elsewhere on the Cape you’ll find Harbor Lights Mini-Golf in Brewster, Harbor Glen Miniature Golf and Weatherdeck Restaurant in Harwich, Holiday Hill Miniature Golf in Dennisport, Cataumet Light Mini Golf in Cataumet, Sand ‘n’ Surf in Buzzards Bay, Popponesset Mini Golf in Mashpee, Putters Paradise in West Yarmouth, West Main Mini Golf in Hyannis, Poit’s Lighthouse Mini Golf in Eastham, Cape Cod Miniature Golf in Hyannis, Wellfleet Mini Golf , and Cape Cod Storyland Golf, also in Hyannis.

Certainly there is no shortage of options to choose from when the mini-golf mood strikes. So break out your nine iron and loosen up your swing. Let the season begin. Fore….

Culinary tourism is one of the current “hot” things to do when visiting a new destination. With the trend towards “farm to table” the traveling public has developed a penchant for exploring farms, farmstands, microbreweries, and unique purveyors of locally grown products whenever they visit a new place. Cape Cod has warmly embraced this trend, I’m happy to say, and hence there is no shortage of great places to explore during your stay at our bed and breakfast inn if you want to have an authentic culinary experience.

Rich and I did a culinary tour on a recent visit to Vermont. Our travels took us to a maple farm where we learned the maple sugaring process; Cabot Creamery to see cheese being made; Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to tour the factory where the makers of Cherries Garcia got their start; and to Stave Puzzles where devious artisans create unique and challenging wooden jigsaw puzzles. It was a blast. We’re still talking about it weeks later, entertaining our guests with stories of “sugaring off” and other trivia gained on our culinary adventure.

So it seems perfectly fitting that we should offer our version of “Culinary Cape Cod”. Here among the beaches and scrub pine is a veritable gold mine of home grown producers and beverage purveyors who are as eager to share their wares with guests as guests are to learn about, and perhaps sample, them.

So let us begin by quenching our thirst:

Cape Cod Beer, 2020 Phinney’s Lane, Hyannis, (508) 790-4200. Guided tours available Tuesdays at 11:00 AM and Saturdays at 1:00PM year round. Self-guided tours available during regular retail hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Closed Sundays.

Truro Vineyards, 11 Shore Road (Route 6A), North Truro, (508) 487-6200. Open for tours and tastings. Weekends in April, November-December; 7 days a week May-October. Noon to 5:00 PM

Cape Cod Winery and Vineyard, 681 Sandwich Road, East Falmouth, (508) 457-5592. Open for tastings. Weekends spring and fall; Wednesday through Sunday in July and August. 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

In the mood for a jam session?:

Chatham Jam and Jelly Shop, 10 Vineyard Avenue, West Chatham, (508) 945-3052. Tastings encouraged. Retail shop open in the summer Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Open weekends in the winter, spring, and fall. Call to confirm.

Green Briar Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich, (508) 888-6870. Open mid-April through December, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday; and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. January to mid-April, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Jam making workshops offered March through October. Call for schedule.

Herbal, Medicinal, and Botanical Remedies:

Cedar Spring Herb Farm, 159 Long Pond Drive, Harwich. (508) 430-HERB. Herb specialty shop offering organic herbal products, organically grown culinary, medicinal and decorative plants, and related botanical products. Open May 15 to November 15, Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Winter hours by appointment.

Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Island Pond Road, Harwich. (508) 432-8397. Visit this 12-acre farm when the lavender is in bloom, typically late June through July. Lavender plants and products for sale in the gift shop.

Atlantic Spice Company, 2 Shore Road, North Truro. (800) 316-7965. Offering quality culinary herbs and spices, teas, dehydrated vegetables, nuts, seeds, botanicals, essential oils, spice blends, potpourri ingredients and fragrance oils at wholesale prices. Open Monday through  Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; and
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Down on the Farm:

Coonamessett Farm, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth. (508) 563-2560. Pick your own berries, herbs, and vegetables. Feed the chickens. Visit alpacas, sheep, donkeys, ducks, guinea hens and turkeys. Farm stand open weekends in April, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Sunday, May through September, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and in the fall, Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On-site café serving soup, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Farm stand and gift shop. In season: Jamaica grill and buffet night every Wednesday, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Friday night farm dinners from 5:00 to 8:00 PM; and special Saturday night buffets. Call for details.

Food for Thought:

Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory, 100 Breeds Hill Road, Hyannis. (888) 881-CHIP (2447). Self-guided tours offered Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Gustare Oils & Vinegars, 425 Main Street, Chatham. (508) 945-4505. Sample imported extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world. Open Friday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

“What are the absolute “must sees” and “must dos” when visiting Cape Cod?” Often asked this question by our Inn guests, we decided to put together our list of the top things to see and do here. It wasn’t easy. Surrounded by miles of sandy beaches and gorgeous coastline, dotted with picturesque villages, and blessed with countless quality museums, Cape Cod is a destination that offers endless opportunity for the explorer and serenity seeker alike.

Of course some activities are seasonal, but the season is long on Cape Cod. So here are some of our favorites, all of which we recommend to our guests when asked, and all of which we have done ourselves, many more than once. Of course, the list could be twice as long as it is, but this will give you a starting place at least, to help you plan your stay.

1. Visit Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich offers 100 acres of landscaped gardens, but is especially known for its Dexter Rhododendrons, which bloom in mid- to late May. Among its many collections of note are the American Automobile Gallery, with more than 30 classic American cars; the American Art and Carousel Gallery, with a working vintage carousel; and a special exhibitions gallery currently hosting an exhibit of Normal Rockwell’s works.
2. Take a daytrip to Nantucket via high-speed ferry, a tiny island 30 miles offshore that offers the visitor a glimpse into the past when whaling was king and intrepid sailors built fortunes at sea. The whaling museum alone is worth the trip, but take time to tour the island by bike or minivan.
3. Go whale watching via the Hyannis Whale Watcher out of Barnstable Harbor or the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown. To witness whales in their natural habitat with an experienced guide and naturalist is an adventure of a lifetime.
4. Climb Highland Light in Truro, one of the few original lighthouses that you can go up into. The docents at the top of the light are fascinating and if you are lucky, you might see whales frolicking offshore.
5. Take one of Art’s Dunes Tours in Provincetown that will take you deep into the dunes to see the “dune shacks” and mountains of sand in specially equipped dune buggies.
6. Take a guided tour with Explore Cape Cod in Nauset Marsh or Little Pleasant Bay. If Dick Hilmer is at the helm, you’ll be treated to an awesome adventure while getting an education in marine life and native shorebirds.
7. Take a nature walk at Long Pasture in Barnstable or Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, both Audubon Society facilities that offer diverse ecology and numerous educational programs throughout the year.
8. Explore the National Seashore and the Salt Pond Visitors Center. The beaches of the National Seashore are beyond beautiful and the network of nature trails offer a diversity of flora and fauna unmatched elsewhere.
9. All roads eventually lead to Provincetown, the tip of Cape Cod where the peninsula curls back on itself revealing a quaint town where artists and writers coexist in a tiny fishing village that other counter culture groups have migrated to for ages. Drive through the Provincelands, visit Race Point and the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, and climb the Pilgrim Monument for a gorgeous view of the Atlantic and Cape Cod Bay.
10. Cruise along Shore Road in Chatham past Lighthouse Beach, Chatham Light, and Chatham Bars Inn for a glimpse at old Cape Cod. End the day at the Chatham Fish Pier and watch the commercial fisherman offload their catch of the day and be amused by the gray seals that come in hopes of a treat.
11. Take a seal cruise with Captain Rob and the Blue Claw to witness colonies of gray seals frolicking in Chatham Harbor. It’s an excellent way to beat the heat on a sultry summer day.
12. Catch the sunset over Cape Cod Bay at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouthport or at the Sandwich boardwalk on Town Neck Beach in Sandwich. Walk along the boardwalk that crosses the marshlands and witness the sun set serenely on Cape Cod Bay.
13. Have fried clams or a lobster roll at any one of the many authentic clam shacks throughout Cape Cod.
14. Bike the Shining Sea Bikeway From Falmouth to Woods Hole and have lunch at the Fishmonger.
15. Take the Island Queen to Martha’s Vineyard and visit Edgartown, Chilmark, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, Menemsha, Gay Head, and Chappaquidick. You can rent a bike, a car, a moped, or use public transportation to get around. Be sure to stop at the Black Dog for some logo items to take home with you.
16. Visit the Natural History Museum in Brewster and watch the osprey nest on closed circuit TV. The nature trails on the grounds will lead you out to Brewster Flats for some great beach scavenging.
17. Watch glass blowers demonstrate their craft at the Glass Museum, Pairpoint Glass, or the Glass Studio all located in Sandwich, MA.
18. Have an ice cream cone at Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville, the absolute best ice cream on Cape Cod.
19. Take a charter fishing trip from Rock Harbor in Orleans for an opportunity to reel in a striped bass, bluefish, or tuna.
20. Golf at one of the beautiful public golf courses strewn across the Cape. From Par 3 to challenging pro-designed courses, there is course suited to golfer of all abilities here.
21. Walk the dune trails at Sandy Neck Beach. From 1 to 5 miles in length, they all eventually lead to the beach where you can hunt for sea glass to add to your collection or have a bonfire after sunset.
22. Take in a play at one of the oldest summer theater venues in the U.S., the Cape Cod Playhouse. Featuring a mix of comedies and musicals, the setting is nostalgic and the acting superb.
23. Take in a Cape Cod Baseball league game and watch the rising stars of the sport play up close and personal.
24. Catch world-class entertainment under the tent at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. Country, jazz, blues, rock, and pop stars from all across the country perform throughout the summer season.
25. Drive scenic Route 6A through many of Cape Cod’s most historic and beautiful villages. As you wind your way along you’ll see old sea captain’s mansions and be tempted by numerous art galleries, antique stores, and unique gift shops.
26. Bring a picnic for a relaxing afternoon. Catch the view at Fort Point in Eastham.

An exhibition of the works of Norman Rockwell, one of this country’s preeminent illustrators, opened this past weekend at the Heritage Museum and Gardens, just a 10 minute drive from our little bed and breakfast inn on Cape Cod. Entitled, Norman Rockwell: Beyond the Easel, the exhibit includes some of the artist’s most notable works, as well as an in-depth look at the photography that inspired him and the processes he used to create them.

Rockwell, a prolific artist, is perhaps best known for his cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post. Over a span of nearly 50 years (2020-2020), he eventually amassed more than 300 cover illustrations for the Post depicting the American family and lifestyle.

Featuring more than 150 original pieces, the exhibit will be on display through September 3, 2020. In addition to his artwork, this show includes many of his photographs, which the artist used as a compositional aid. Complimented by a lecture series, the exhibit is showcasing two perspectives: the photos and related illustrations, plus works the artist completed for the health care industry that focus on the doctor and patient relationship.

Heritage Musuem and Gardens is located at 67 Grove Street in Sandwich, MA. Open 7 days a week from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM and Wednesday evenings in July and August until 8:00 PM. Cost of admission is $15.00 for adults. For more information, call (508) 888-3300 or visit their website.

Every holiday has its special significance, whether it be celebrated quietly at home with family and friends, or with a more public, and perhaps more jubilant, display of patriotism, religion, or political affinity. As owners of a small inn on Cape Cod, we believe in holiday equality, so we try to honor all such special occasions with a little something special High Pointe Inn style.

This morning in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we served a dish first introduced to us by a very dear friend from Austin, Texas. Called Migas, it is a typical northern Mexican dish with many interpretations across the border. Our version consists of scrambled eggs with cheese and chorizo mixed in, then topped with salsa and a dollop of sour cream and served in a toasted tortilla shell. It has become a guest favorite.

Earlier this winter we were privileged enough to take a cooking class hosted by a local inn. Taught jointly by the owner and chef of Anejo, an authentic Mexican restaurant located on Main Street in Falmouth, we were introduced to the intricacies of salsa verde, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa rojas, and mole sauce among other things. Though we have had little opportunity to serve these dishes to our guests, we have had many opportunities to perfect the Margarita recipe they shared with us.

So this evening when our guests have checked in and are chillaxing in their own rooms or out trying one of the many great restaurants we have here on Cape Cod, I will be paying a personal tribute to Cinco de Mayo and all of our friends and guests of Mexican heritage with Margarita in hand. If you’d care to join me, here is the recipe:

3 parts Blanco Tequilla

1 part Patron Orange Liquor

1-2 tsps. dark agave nectar

Splash of water

Juice of one whole lime

Place ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Pour into a margarita glass and enjoy! Olé!