Cape Cod Gift Ideas Part III

Here is our final installment of Cape Cod gift ideas that we have been posting every day on Twitter.

Idea # 21 - The book Still Alice written by Cape Cod author Lisa Genova.
Idea #22 - Cards from Cape Card.
Idea # 23 - A growler of beer (or a shirt or a hat) from Cape Cod Beer .
Idea #24 - A Cape Cod Hammock.
Idea #25 - A tie from Vineyard Vines .
Idea #26 - The Last Best League - a book about the Cape Cod Baseball League - order from Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Idea #27 - Baby Quilt hand made on Cape Cod .
Idea #28 - A Cape Cod weathervane.
Idea #29 - Community Cookbook created by the Chatham Women's Club - Peggy at 508-348-1938.
Idea #30 - Maybe the best of them all - a gift certificate to the Captain's House Inn.

We hope you all have a Happy Holiday!

Cape Cod Gift Ideas

To help out with the holiday shopping, we have been posting Cape Cod gift ideas on our Twitter page. Every day at noon, we have been listing a great Cape Cod present to help you out with your shopping. We have posted 10 so far, and will do another 20. Follow along on Twitter, or wait 10 more days and we will update them here.

1) A wine club from Truro Vineyards.
2) A beautiful Cape Cod necklace.
3) An antique map of Cape Cod or one of the towns that make up the Cape.
4) Spa appointments at Sol Spa in Harwich or Le Petit Day Spa in Chatham.
5) Delicious jam and jelly made at Chatham Jam and Jelly shop.
6) Hire Bob Hessler to be your personal chef for a relaxing, romantic dinner at home.
7) An aerial tour of Cape Cod.
8) A Captain's House Inn mug - a great way to wake up in the morning.
9) Chocolate covered cranberries (or any thing else) from the Candy Manor.
10) A Nantucket Basket made on Nantucket.

Happy shopping.

Golf specials in Brewster

For those of you looking for a last minute getaway (yes we do have a few rooms still available in August) or those of you wondering what to do during your stay at the Captain's House Inn, the Captain's Golf Course has some great specials in the month of August. With two par 72 courses, the Captain's Golf Course offers some premier golfing here on the lower Cape. And with specials in August, there's never been a better time to golf at the Captain's.

Cape Cod Vacation Itinerary Day One

Whether you plan to spend ten nights or ten hours on your Cape Cod getaway, there are plenty of activities and day trips to fill your time and the next few posts are suggested itineraries to ensure you get the most out of your vacation.

Day One

On your arrival day, if you're anything like me, you will want to unwind from your travels and get situated in your room before heading out to get your bearings. At the Captains House Inn, we are happy to bring a pot of tea or a glass of fresh lemonade to your room while you unpack, relax, and plan your afternoon.

I usually suggest guests head to downtown Chatham as their first stop. Main Street is lined with countless boutiques, galleries, and restaurants and one can spend an afternoon meandering along the mile long stretch window shopping or enjoying a full blown shopping spree. Don't miss some of my favorite shops - the Dalli Lama for unique silver jewelry, the Crooked Fence, set back from the street behind Carmine's Pizzeria, chock full of decorative home goods, and Where the Sidewalk Ends, an independent bookstore featuring numerous special events held throughout the year. Take a break from shoppping and grab lunch on the outdoor terrace at the Wild Goose Tavern - the chowder is some of our favorite and the menu is varied with fresh salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and a no frills lobster roll, which, as far as I'm concerned is the only way to serve this Cape Cod specialty properly.

Finish the afternoon with a stroll or quick drive down to Lighthouse Beach where you can snap a picture of Chatham's famous lighthouse and putter along the shoreline of the beach and maybe catch a glimpse of a seal or two. Then, continue down Shore Road to the fish pier next to Nickerson's Fish Market where you can watch the fishermen unload their catch as the seals linger in the water awaiting the occasional fish gone overboard. Finally, return to the Captains House to enjoy our cream tea in the dining room or outdoor terrace and relax with a good book in one of our adirondeck chairs scattered throughout the grounds before preparing to go out to dinner.

Complete the day with a casual, yet exceptional seafood dinner at Chatham's Pisces Restaurant, just ten minutes from the inn. Pisces is a small, chef owned eatery featuring some of the best local seafood around. Dishes are innovative without overpowering the fresh fish flavors and the ambiance will truly set the mood for the rest of your Cape Cod vacation.

Chowder's On At The Nun!

The Red Nun is a new-ish addition to the restaurant scene in Chatham. Over the last couple years it has gained a reputation as one of the few places I can honestly say still feels "local" even in the height of the tourist season. Its no frills decor bodes well with the locals and it doesn't hurt that the bar is always bustling, the flat screen TV's are tuned to the right games, and the pub style food hits the spot. The chowder is no exception - with heaps of big clams and chunks of "just right" potatoes, the Red Nun's chowder delivered on our expectations. We needed to add just a bit of salt and pepper to kick the flavor up a touch, but all in all, this was some of the better chowder we tasted. The best part, though? If you're in the mood for a pint of beer and a bowl of chowdah, the Nun is just the right atmosphere.

Impudent Oyster Chowder

The Impudent Oyster is a landmark in Chatham – the ambiance is bustling and the tables are always full and hard to come by in the summer. The reason? Certainly people aren’t flocking here for the décor which is minimal and somewhat rustic. They come for the food which is consistently outstanding and draws customers back, sometimes multiple times during their vacation. With this in mind, we decided a sample of their chowder, or, as they call it “Yesterday’s Quahog Chowder,” was a must. We were surprised to find that while certainly tasty, this was not at the top of our list. The clams and potatoes were plentiful and the consistency was a bit on the creamier side, but we felt it was lacking a bit in the flavor department. With a bit of doctoring up with some salt and pepper, we did enjoy the chowder and do recommend it, particularly since the atmosphere lends itself to the chowder and beer image we all have in our minds.

Chatham Bars Inn Chowder

While one typically envisions their clam chowder dining experience as casually slurping down a bowl with a pint of beer and perhaps the Red Sox game broadcasting on the bar’s TV, we couldn’t complain about the water views and fine china that accompanied our bowl of chowder at the Chatham Bars Inn. This was certainly the most different chowder we have sampled so far. Rather than spoonfuls of chunky potatoes and tender clams, the Chatham Bars Inn version was more of a purée than chowder. Though far from what we expected, the flavors were fantastic while perhaps a bit salty for some. Sometimes, it’s best not to mess with a classic, but we think the Chatham Bars Inn did a fine job of putting a gourmet spin on a New England tradition.

Roo Bar Chowder

One might think that with a new baby our search for the perfect chowder would be put on the back burner. However, we are trying to expose Abigail to our favorite pastime of dining out well before she is actually able to enjoy anything off the menu. So, while she downed a few ounces of formula, we downed a couple cups of chowder. The Roo Bar's version is on the creamier side, but not "stick to your spoon (and ultimately your gut)" thick. While we would have preferred a few more clams, the ones that were there were cooked well and there were plenty of potatoes for a those who prefer a heartier bisque. Overall, we enjoyed the flavors, but personally prefer our chowder a little less creamy and a little more clammy!

Captain Linnell House chowder

For those of you who do not know us that well, the Captain Linnell House in Orleans, MA, is a special place for us. We were married there back in 2001 and go every year for our anniversary. This year when I opened the menu, at the top was Clam Chowder and the menu claimed it was the best. Upon arrival of their clam chowder, I received a wonderful aroma. It was nicely presented, with chives on top. No oyster crackers, but with their rolls, one does not need crackers. The chowder had a great consistency, not too thick, just the perfect creaminess. It tasted great and I was truly impressed. My biggest complaint would be the amount of clams. I would have been looking for more, but other than that, this may be the best (it is only our second entry, but it was good). The Captain Linnell House is not the type of place to go just for a bowl of chowder as it is a romantic sea captain's home, but if you are looking for good chowder and a nice meal, it is a great choice.

In Search of the Best Clam Chowder

Here in Chatham, Massachusetts, it's pronounced "chowdah," but however you pronounce it, one thing is for sure - tourists and locals alike are constantly on the prowl for the best bowl around. Join us as we embark on our own mission to find the tastiest- then go try for yourself when you visit us on your next Cape Cod vacation.

Our first stop...the infamous Chatham Squire. A favorite New England eatery and bar, those seeking comfort food in a casual setting will find it here. Chock full of clams and tender potatoes, the Squire's chowdah recipe didn't disappoint. The pepper flavor, while not too strong, was distinct, and the clams were cooked to perfection. Our only complaint? Perhaps it could have been a bit thicker in consistency, but for those who don't like their chowdah too creamy, this could be the chowdah for you.