Hillside Farm Stand
Farmers Market · Barnstable County
"The drive from New York to Truro takes about five and a half hours. I like to leave by 6 a.m. and get there by lunchtime. On the way into town, stop at Hillside Farmstand. You can buy fruits, veggies, snacks, breakfast ingredients, and all that you would need to make a sandwich for lunch."
Cape Tip Seafood & Lobster Market
Seafood market · Barnstable County
"While you’re at the Farmstand, go next door to Cape Tip Seafood and put your order in to have a to-go lobster bake or clambake ready that night."
Ballston Beach
Beach · Barnstable County
"After you unpack, go to the beach. If your house is not on the beach and you’re looking for more of an ocean experience where you can be in the waves surfing or boogie boarding, Ballston Beach is the best."
Longnook Beach
Beach · Barnstable County
"Another great beach for surfing or boogie boarding. The ocean side is colder and the waves are stronger, and to get to the beach, you have to traverse a dune."
Corn Hill Beach
Beach · Barnstable County
"The bay side is much calmer for wading, swimming, looking for shells and hermit crabs, and watching the sunset. For that, I like to go to Corn Hill Beach. You can park and walk right onto the beach."
"On Day 2, I pack a book, cards, and chess for the beach later, then I go to Jams Truro. It’s known for pastries. It’s extremely artisanal and on the pricier end, but great for coffee, tea, baked goods, and breakfast sandwiches, things like that."
Wellfleet Flea Market
Temporarily Closed
"From Jams, go straight to the Wellfleet Flea Market, a 20-minute drive. I’m usually the first one there at 8 a.m. Like any flea market, it’s really hit or miss, but it has great vintage jewelry and antique textiles."
Wellfleet Kettle Ponds
Lake · Barnstable County
"By 4 or 5, I would go to the Kettle Ponds. They’re all over Truro and Wellfleet. These ponds were formed by glaciers 10,000 years ago and are a peaceful retreat from the hot, busy beaches. My favorite time to go is for a quick dip after the beach, when it’s very quiet and meditative."
Mac's Shack
Temporarily Closed
"After the Ponds, go straight to dinner at Mac’s Shack in Wellfleet. It’s one of the better restaurants in the outer Cape. Call ahead to make a reservation."
Cape Cod National Seashore National Park
National Park · Chatham
"On Day 3, go wild-blueberry picking along the National Seashore. Bring a bucket or two and be prepared to be in the sun for a while, even if you enter through the woods."
Box Lunch
Sandwich Place · Barnstable County
"Pick up a wrap at Box Lunch - they do a lobster wrap instead of a lobster roll. Go to your beach of choice and eat your lunch."
Highland House Museum - Truro Historical Society
Temporarily Closed
"Leave yourself enough time to spend a few hours at the Highland House Museum, which usually closes at 4:30 p.m. It’s such a cool old museum. The building is from the 1910s, and it highlights old industries like fish netting, so there are old examples of fishnet bags and fishnets for fishing."
Wellfleet Cinemas
Drive-in movie theater · Barnstable County
"Then drive straight to the drive-in theater in Wellfleet. It’s been around since 1957, in the same lot as the flea market. When I was a kid, my family and I would load a mattress into the bed of my uncle’s truck and park backwards to catch both features."