Perfect Beach Day - Wellfleet's Beachcomber

If you're looking for the perfect beach day, get up early, pack up the car and take a road trip to Wellfleet on Cape Cod. It's about an hour and a half from Boston (without traffic) but it's well worth the trip. We went on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend when I anticipated traffic would be light due to the fact that most people had already driven to their destination. Luckily I was right. No traffic in either direction. You gotta love that.

For those of you who don't know, Wellfleet is way down on the Cape, only two towns away from the furthest point on the Cape, Provincetown. What makes it worth the journey? The National Seashore. In my opinion the beaches on the National Seashore (that run all the way from Orleans to Provincetown) are the most beautiful in all of New England (except perhaps some of the beaches on Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard). Stunning cliffs, thick sand and beautiful (yet frigid) open ocean.

Cahoon Hollow Beach is my beach of choice in Wellfeet even though there are many stellar choices. You drive down this long windy road off Rte 6 and are greeted by a truly breathtaking view of the ocean. The beach is located at the base of a huge cliff so you have to decend down a steep path. It's easy going down but the ole calves burn a little on the way up. It's good to burn a few calories before you make it back up to the top where the best waterfront bar and restaurant resides - the Beachcomber. It's the kind of place you find in places like the Carribbean but not so much in these parts. There's an outdoor deck where you can walk in with sand all over you, sit down, get waited on by the same friendly bartenders that have worked there for decades and order up a delicious Mudslide, some freshly shucked Wellfleet oysters (but of course), an amazing grilled swordfish sandwich or a simple but tasty burger. Inside there are tables, pinball machines, a big bar and plenty of space for the great bands they have playing there all summer. I've been going to the Beachcomber for many years and I never get sick of it. Sit down at the bar on that deck, look out at the ocean and you immediately begin to relax. What job? What stress?

After the beach, it's always fun to head to PJ's Seafood which is at the end of Cahoon Hollow Road on Rte 6. It's an old- school stand where you can order everything at the take-out window from boiled lobster dinner to hot fudge sundaes. They have picnic tables you can sit and eat at that are covered with plastic tablecloths - easy to hose down after a messy lobster dinner. Their fried clams are to die for and the chocolate/vanilla soft serve twist is a winner. Don't pass PJ's without getting a snack.

If you do decide to make it a weekend, Wellfleet Center (which is on the bay side of Wellfleet, the other side of Route 6) is a really nice place to stay. There are many inns and bed and breakfasts, great places to eat and several galleries to browse. If you want to venture out a bit, Provincetown is just another 15 minutes away. Plenty of entertainment there!

Don't let the summer go by without hitting the Beachcomber at least once. It's a great escape!


Beachcomber, Wellfleet, Cape Cod, MA
www.thebeachcomber.com
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