Yarmouth Family Fun Guide things to do on your Cape cod vacation 2024
Yarmouth is one of the oldest towns on Cape Cod and is popular with families thanks to its kid-friendly amenities, affordability, and outdoor attractions, there’s plenty to see and do in the mid cape town Yarmouth, MA.
Yarmouth is comprised of three villages:
Yarmouth Port, the smallest and quietest village popular with retirees and close to beaches and golf courses
South Yarmouth, the largest village and home to some of Cape Cod’s top attractions and resorts
West Yarmouth, a village close to the beaches but less overrun by tourists during the summer Find out what to do on your Cape cod family vacation in Yarmouth MA
Heading to Yarmouth soon? We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite things to do, places to visit and where to eat! Are we missing any of your favorite
Favorite Yarmouth Beaches
Bay View Beach Located at the end of Bay View Street (road past Cape Cod Hospital Parking Lot) Do you love the idea of sitting on a mid-sized beach with not much foot traffic and watching boats pass by? Bay View Beach may just be the beach for you! The sand is soft. This charming stretch of sand offers relatively calm waters and the opportunity to watch boats pass by on their way in and out of Hyannis Marina. There are no lifeguards on duty and have seasonal porta-potties.
Colonial Acres in West Yarmouth Beach is mid-sized with calm waters, making it a popular spot for families with young children. Cross the wooden bridge onto a beach full of small rocky treasures and enjoy a view of the bay featuring a rocky jetty and boats coming and going from Hyannis Harbor. Located at the end of Standish Way. There are no lifeguards on duty and have seasonal porta-potties.
Seagull beach Looking for a popular spot on Nantucket Sound? Seagull beach is large stretch of sand that hosts many activities such as wind surfing, swimming and beach games. Despite its name, it is home to very few seagulls! The beach offers clean sand, calm water, a large parking lot and plenty of room despite its popularity.
Thatcher Beach is located in South Yarmouth on Cape Cod. The beach overlooks Nantucket Sound and its calm water and small waves make it a great place to relax for the day and enjoy the view. There is no lifeguard on duty. There is some parking available, and a daily parking fee or beach parking sticker is required.
Bass River Beach (Smugglers) This Cape Cod Beach offers it all with a boat launch, ample parking, fishing pier, snack bar, facilities and lifeguards. This beach is spacious and offers a great view with calm waters. There is a cost to park
Parker’s River Beach (aka Beachwood) is a long, narrow beach situated in South Yarmouth. People come for the great views, rock jetties and ample parking. This popular beach is loaded with amenities including a pavilion and a playground. There is parking available for a daily fee. There are plenty of jetties at this beach which make for calm waters and great spots to explore. The beach does get a bit crowded, but it is for good reason.
Sea View Beach is overlooking Nantucket Sound and it offers great views and very clean sand. This mid-sized beach does not tend to get overly crowded and offers parking right next to the beach. There are no lifeguards on duty and have seasonal porta-potties.
Gray’s Beach – walk the boardwalk to get to the beach and soak up the sun for the day or to catch a stunning sunset! It’s a great spot to explore wildlife and let kids be kids. Low tide draws out much of the water leaving behind calm tide pools for the youngest of beach-goers to splash around in.
Where to go outdoors
The Bud Carter Memorial Trail is located on 300 acres of conservation land bounded by North Dennis Road in the east and West Great Western Road in the west. These trails are considered moderately difficult due to the tough terrain of lose rocks, narrow paths, and side trails that are unmarked and unmaintained. The trail is open to the public for walking, hiking, and mountain biking, so please use caution while visiting. To assist with navigation the main trail has been marked with red trail markers, and loop trails to the north and south have been marked with orange markers.
The conservation area is home to the highest point in Yarmouth, 118 feet above sea level. On clear days, Manomet Point in Plymouth is visible from the sandpit overlook. The trail is situated on the Sandwich Moraine, a significant glacially formed accumulation of unconsolidated glacial debris left over from the last ice age 20,000 years ago. Many large granite rocks dot the landscape and a history of granite mining is evident by the drill holes made for blasting.
The trail was named in memory of Bud Carter who spent many years walking the area and volunteering for various conservation projects. A memorial bench is located approximately 600 feet from the North Dennis Road trailhead, overlooking Reservoir Pond.
Callery-Darling Conservation Area The marshes and bogs support numerous bird, mammal, amphibian and reptile habitat. The 800 foot Bass Hole Boardwalk offers a unique perspective of the salt marshes.
Crab Creek Conservation Area The trail winds its way along the shore of Crab Creek which connects Mills Pond to Follins Pond and eventually Bass River.
Dennis Pond Conservation Area The Dennis Pond Conservation Area is one of the Town’s most popular recreational areas, used for swimming, fishing, hiking, and nature-watching. The main trail is 0.8 miles from end to end and takes you along the southern shore of Dennis Pond just north of Route 6 between Summer Street and Willow Street. The trail runs along the shoreline with multiple access points to the water and is mostly flat, but watch for areas of exposed roots and some steep slopes to the water.
The dominant underbrush along the sides of the trail is sweet pepperbush, while the large open woodland area includes mixed oak and pine trees. The woodland area leads to an old cranberry bog which has become home to red maple trees as it has dried out over time. Many beech trees can be found on the high ridge on the north side of the pond, indicating a late successional forest that has escaped disturbance for a long period of time.
Historical Society of Old Yarmouth Nature/Botanical Trails 1.5 miles of trails on 50 acres of upland woods, ponds and wetlands with a good display of spring-flowering shrubs.
OVER 50 ACRES OF TRAILS OPEN FROM DAWN TO DUSK, YEAR-ROUND
Open to all, our Nature Trails offer a way to stretch your legs in pleasant surroundings and get away from civilization for a while. Plus there are benches strategically placed along the way.
A former golf course, the land was donated to the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth by the Perera family, descendants of Henry C. Thacher, a prominent citizen and philanthropist. They are to be maintained and preserved as natural habitat forever.
Horse Pond Conservation Area The Horse Pond Trails are located within a 400 acre tract of Town owned land.
Meadowbrook Road Conservation AreaA 310 foot boardwalk leads from the parking area to the north shore of Swan Pond.
Peter Homer Park: Located on Old ownhouse Road.
Raymond J. Syrjala Conservation Area: The trail is approximately 3500 feet in length and forms a loop that passes through a rather wet environment.
Sandy Pond Recreation Area: Located opposite Park Dept on Buck Island Road
Taylor-Bray Farm: The farm is open during daylight hours. Picnic tables are available. There are no admission fees at the farm but donations are gratefully accepted.
Thacher Shore Conservation Area The Thatcher Shore Conservation area consists of mostly salt marsh with a short trail through a wooded thicket.
Where to eat & drink
Captain Parker’s Pub West Yarmouth – since 1981, Captain Parker’s Pub has been serving hearty New England fare in a lively atmosphere. Dine inside or relax on their deck to enjoy a Cape Cod tradition. Don’t miss out on their amazing clam chowder
Skipper Chowder House South Yarmouth – established in 1936, Skipper Restaurant and Chowder House is one of Cape Cod’s oldest waterfront restaurants with pristine views of Nantucket Sound. All entrees are made to order with the finest and freshest fish you can find. Don’t forget to try their award-winning clam chowder!
Tugboats in West yarmouth is known to be a family-friendly seafood spot for casual waterfront dining. Check out their newly-renovated decks that make them one of the best outdoor dining locations on the water o
Keltic Kitchen West Yarmouth the place to go for a traditional Irish Breakfast. Make sure you try their assortment of mouthwatering pancakes
Gerardi’s Cafe – Cape Cod’s finest Sicilian inspired Italian cuisine. Stop in to try Chef Diego’s home-style and creative dishes accompanied by the perfect wine for a complete experience, not just a meal.
Sweet Tomatoes Pizza a Cape Cod go-to for New Haven, “Neapolitan” style thin crust pies and slices. Sweet Tomatoes uses a whole wheat flour blend for the crust, a signature chunky tomato sauce, quality cheeses, and meats!
Old Yarmouth Inn a homey, yet elegant atmosphere serving homemade classics & local seafood since 1696. All meals are prepared with fresh, seasonal ingredients for tasty, nourishing meals.
Ann & Fran’s Kitchen since 1975, Ann & Fran’s Kitchen has been serving friends and neighbors an eclectic menu of scratch made, unique breakfast and lunch items. Whether you’re a meat lover, gluten free, or vegan, Chef Paul has created a menu to bring you back for a second visit!
Caffè Gelato Bertini – a cozy cottage cafe serving Italian gelato and sorbetto, plus coffee drinks and house made sodas. Try their affogato, espresso with gelato, which includes three scoops of gelato doused with espresso and whipped cream!
Where to visit
Pirate’s Cove Mini Golf “meet the challenge” on two different pirate themed 18-hole championship courses with waterfalls and caves all through the course. Boston Magazine says Pirate’s Cove is the next best thing to Disney this year!
Whydah Pirate Museum – home to thousands of items from the Whydah and displays the largest collection of pirate artifacts recovered from a single shipwreck anywhere in the world.
Cape Cod Inflatable Park Bounce, battle, slide and float through the two parks that make up the Cape Cod Inflatable Park. There’s something for everyone, ages 1 to 100.
Ryan’s entertainment centers feature candlepin bowling and ten pin bowling.. All of our centers have arcades with the latest games. If you can think of the game, we most likely have it. There are video games, skill games, arcade games, great prizes, and so much more. You can easily spend hours gaming here, no matter how old you are!
Where to Stay in Yarmouth
Our favorites
Captain Farris House Bed & Breakfast This beautiful bed and breakfast is ideally located on mid Cape Cod in the historic Bass River Village of South Yarmouth. The Captain Farris House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beautifully restored, this circa 1849 Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast Inn is beautifully furnished with antiques and elegant window treatments reflecting romance and a peacefulness of an earlier time.
Parker Beach Lodge Our re-imagined vision for a Cape Cod hideaway, Parker Beach Lodge incorporates timeless details with a bright, modern energy designed to help you soak up all the serenity of a beachside vacation. Kick off your shoes and make yourself at home in one of our 48 rooms and 2 suites, take a short stroll down to the beach with a book, and cap off the perfect day with a bucket of steamers and a beer.
The Cove at Yarmouth has so much to offer. Swim in our large indoor and outdoor pools. Exercise in our fully equipped fitness facility. Play racquetball, volleyball or indoor and outdoor tennis. Relax at the spa. Also, for enjoyment a barbecue area is provided for cookouts. The Cove at Yarmouth is located in the center of everything… beaches, golf and shopping. With its unique blend of on and off property activities, children’s play area, a 24 hour staff of dedicated and trained professionals, The Cove at Yarmouth is your ticket to great vacations.
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