Wellfleet Family Fun Guide Things to Do 2024
Wellfleet is a charming small town located on Cape Cod and it’s surrounded by the coast on both sides. It’s most well known for its great oysters and wildlife sanctuary. Plus, it’s pretty centrally located on Cape Cod, so you can easily take trips to nearby towns and beaches if you want. Route 6, the main highway on Cape Cod flows directly through Wellfleet. Drive your car, ride your bike, take a bus or hop on a boat and easily find your way to Wellfleet any time of year. Find out what to do on your Cape cod family vacation in Wellfleet MA.
First inhabited by several Indian villages of the Nauset tribe, Wellfleet can trace a long history. Captain Smith
voyaged here in 1614 and the pilgrims visited in 1620 before moving on. In 1763 it separated from being part of
“the north district of Eastham” and incorporated as a town.
In the early days, whaling ships dotted the horizons, and salt mills interrupted the landscapes. When the Fall River
& Old Colony Railroad laid its tracks to Wellfleet around 1869, the industry of tourism was born and survives today. Instead of the railroad, we have the mid-Cape highway winding from one end of the Cape to the other. Instead of
whaling ships, shell fishermen grace the harbor at low tide cultivating that world-renowned mollusk—the Wellfleet Oyster.
There is so much to do in Wellfleet
Come enjoy this historic seaside village located between the sandy shores of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. You can walk on the miles of unspoiled beaches, browse through the shops and galleries, swim in the fresh
water ponds, savor the sweetness of a Wellfleet Oyster, surf the waves of White Crest, bicycle for miles on the Rail Trail, kayak in the bay, deep sea fish the Atlantic, spot a beautiful bird at the wildlife sanctuary, visit the Historical Museum, bounce the ball around the tennis court,
hike on Great Island, play a round of golf, watch shell fishermen tend to their beds, skateboard in the park, crack into a fresh lobster, experience the theater or take in a movie at the drive-in, square dance at the pier, sail into the sunset, and stay longer than the pilgrims did. Once you have experienced the wonders of Wellfleet, you will know you have found the true gem of the Cape. Come to Wellfleet… for the beauty of it… for the fun of it.
Favorite Wellfleet Beaches your Family Cape Cod Vacation
Wellfleet has a wonderful variety of beaches on both the Atlantic Ocean and Wellfleet Harbor. The oceanside boasts iconic Ocean View Drive, towering dunes, cool surf and six miles of golden sand from Lecount Hollow at Maguire’s Landing, White Crest Beach and Cahoon Hollow Beach, all the way north to Newcomb Hollow Beach. These beaches are equipped with restrooms and lifeguards. A fifth ocean beach, Marconi Beach, is equally as beautiful and owned and maintained by the Cape Cod National Seashore.
If you prefer warmer waters and calmer surf, the bayside beaches are for you. On Wellfleet Harbor you can enjoy Indian Neck and Powers Landing for swimming and collecting shells- and the beautiful Duck Harbor, located on Cape Cod Bay, is a great place to watch the sunset. Mayo Beach abuts the Town Pier and is another good option for beachcombing or simply relaxing.
A Town of Wellfleet issued permit or parking fee is required for town-owned and operated beaches from the third weekend in June through Labor Day. Permits (“beach stickers”) can be purchased at the Beach Office located at the Town Pier. Mayo Beach is free and requires no fee or permit to park or enjoy, and daily parking is available for a fee at Marconi Beach.
Where to Eat in Wellfleet your Family Cape Cod Vacation
Mac’s Shack – serving ice cold Wellfleet oysters, tender lobster dripping with butter, mouthwatering sushi, and the freshest seafood served on the Cape made exactly how you like it. It is the perfect place to relax with friends and take in the water views.
Pearl Restaurant and Bar is located Wellfleet Harbor. They have fresh Seafood and amazing views of the harbor/ Located at the corner of Commercial St and Kendrick Ave in historic Wellfleet Harbor, PEARL has quickly become one of Cape Cod’s favorite destinations for waterfront dining and cocktails.
The Block & Tackle a smokehouse and tavern serving BBQ done the right way. Make sure to try their mouthwatering smoked chicken and fermented cheese nachos!
The Beachcomber Restaurant – a must-visit to enjoy freshly shucked Wellfleet oysters, lobster, and steamers on their outdoor patio overlooking the Atlantic. They have been voted, “One of the Best Seaside Dining Spots in New England” by Yankee Magazine as well as many other awards . Bring the whole family down for lunch or dinner, it does not get any more authentic than the Wellfleet Beachcomber!
Moby Dick’s since 1983 has been THE Cape Cod seafood restaurant for friends and families to eat and have a good time. We take the New England clam shack to a new level, offering you and your family a great experience, and the freshest and best seafood on Cape Cod. Bring Your Own Beer and Wine! We invite you to grab your favorite beer or wine and head right over.
Where to Visit your Family Cape Cod Vacation
Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre – enjoy a movie under the stars at the Drive-In-Theatre built in 1957!
The Frying Pan Gallery – stop by and see artist/owner Steve Swain’s steel sailfish, stripers, tuna, bait-fish, and horseshoe crabs. In the Frying Pan you will also find local Cape Cod artists’ paintings, etchings, jewelry, furniture, and photographs.
Mayo Beach Lighthouse The 30 foot, cast-iron tower, erected in 1881, was the last lighthouse to be built in the harbor area. A notable distinction is that it was the first one to have a female lighthouse keeper. Rumor had it
that it was destroyed in 1939. Imagine the shock and surprise when 80 years later, Colleen MacNeney along with her parents, Bob and Sandra Shanklin, discovered the lighthouse sitting 3,000 miles away at point Montara, just south of San Francisco. The reason is not clear why a lighthouse would have been moved so far, but it had been
transferred from excess stock from one Coast Guard district to another. The lighthouse keeper’s house still stands in its original location on Kendrick Avenue and remains a popular subject for artist
Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary travel along the self-guided smooth packed nature trail while listening to an Audio Tour on your device. Mass Audubon serves to protect the nature of Massachusetts by simulating individual and constitutional action through conservation, education, and advocacy.
Where to Stay in Wellfleet
The Even’tide Resort Motel and Cottages have been voted the “Best Motel on Outer Cape Cod” for 22 years. We are located adjacent to the 44,000 Cape Cod National Seashore property and 22 mile paved Rail Trail bike path. Our accommodations include motel rooms, suites, efficiencies with kitchens, and one to four bedroom cottages. Guests can enjoy the largest, indoor, motel pool on Cape Cod, free Wifi, kid’s mini golf, shuffleboard, basketball, horseshoes, badminton, ping pong, billiards, exercise equipment, coin op laundry facilities, playground and barbecue area. Family owned and operated.
Gull Cottage B&B is an old Cape house located between two of Wellfleet’s most beautiful ponds. Our one rental room, the Boathouse Studio is ideal for one or two persons and is separated from the main house. It provides a peaceful and comfortable room at tree top level, with views of both ponds. Guests have Breakfast at the main house
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