Improvise, Adapt, Overcome
No, this isn’t an episode of Man vs. Wild (exactly), since we local Cape Codders have slightly more than a knife and some flint to help us survive. But, in many ways our current conditions are at odds with community needs: housing, wastewater, healthcare, and our economy are a few of the complex challenges that [...]
Cape Cod vacation rentals had another incredible year in 2021. After many months cooped up by the pandemic, we saw exceptional bookings and many happy returning tenants who did not rent in 2020. There were a few points that we found very interesting after letting our heads clear from the heat of the [...]
Another annual newsletter, another moment of reckoning how much the pandemic has changed our lives. The only constant seems to be that rapid change and unpredictability will continue to waylay our plans….but it’s not all bad!
Based on polling data from the Cape & Islands Association of Realtors, a majority of people who purchased a home on Cape during the pandemic intend to stay full-time. While an increased year-round population poses some of its own challenges, having a new generation of ‘locals’ bringing fresh ideas, different perspectives, and tons of enthusiasm for their new home can only be a positive development! The strength of this community was one of the reasons I fell in love with this place. Now, I’m excited to pay it forward and welcome our newcomers into the fold – there’s plenty of work to be done!
Speaking of work to be done, the residents of Brewster have ours cut out for us: in a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, the Town elected to purchase the former Cape Cod Sea Camps properties. With frontage on both the Bay (see picture below) and Long Pond, this is the largest purchase Brewster has ever made! After a record turnout at town meeting to vote in favor of the acquisition, we are now embarking on a public engagement process to figure out what to do with the 110-ish acres. In recent years, Brewster has determined several town-wide planning priorities for the future, so I’m excited to see those manifest as we decide how to use our latest and greatest public asset.
Collaboration is the name of the game over in Yarmouth, too! At the site of the former Riverway restaurant, something new is cooking. It’s now home to the Family Table Collaborative, a self-sustaining nonprofit aimed at eliminating food insecurity on Cape. They provided over 100,000 free meals during 2021, and recently expanded their services to include rentable commercial kitchen hours, a local maker’s market/cafe, and a group meeting space! Yours truly lent her (very mediocre) skills with a paintbrush ahead of the grand opening, and it’s been a joy to watch their innovative approach be so completely embraced by the community.
The start of a new year always renews optimism for better things to come. Being an individual in the midst of a global pandemic feels overwhelming and totally out of our control, but I am heartened by seeing our local community rally around the issues that matter most to us (and there are plenty of them). Our little sandbar faces some complex challenges, but Cape Codders have always been resilient. If anything, these last two years have made us more stubborn, more dedicated to finding solutions, and more willing to create a fuss to make things happen – I can only imagine what we’ll accomplish next!
What a year it’s been since I sat down to write for our last annual newsletter! Then, I was just settling into my new position here at Chatelain Real Estate and was looking forward to a wonderful year. What’s that they say about ‘the best laid plans’? While the Cape has been experiencing a record-breaking real estate market, many people and [...]
All my life, I’ve been a cat person. I liked their begrudging acceptance of affection and our shared love of naps.
And then 2020 happened.
I avoided panic-adopting a puppy in March, but by June, I decided there was indeed room in my life for a fluffy companion. Mid-July, I got the call that the incredibly pathetic looking creature I’d been [...]
October Review:
The Cape Cod real estate market continues its unprecedented year. Most remarkably is that median sales price remains at $550,000, up 25% from this time last year. What is driving this increase? Demand. Both closed sales and pending sales are up more than 40% from this time last year and inventory is incredibly low, at [...]
Though it’s practically treason to say so, fall -- and not summer -- is my favorite season on Cape Cod. With fair skin and a short attention span, lying on the beach all day has never been overly appealing to me. But give me a crisp autumn day wandering around in a thick sweater, sipping a hot beverage -- now you’ve got my attention!
Usually the Cape’s fall schedule is packed with Fests, road races, and craft fairs, but this is hardly a typical year. Still, there are plenty of ways to make the best of this quieter, cooler season!
Wellfleet’s famous OysterFest is moving online this year! As always, it’s the weekend following Columbus Day, and will feature a live stream of the Shuck Off for the 20th iteration of this great event. Support the community by ordering Wellfleet oysters to eat while you watch, bid on auction items, and buy some great local merch!
Forget pumpkin spice: the fall is cranberry season. There’s something very pleasing and orderly about watching them round up all of the cranberries for harvest (not to mention highly Instagrammable). Watch the process in action in Harwich off Exit 10 or in Yarmouth on Weir Road, go for a walking tour of a working bog, or just pick up some delicious, locally-grown goodies!
Lower temperatures mean more time spent outside without immediately being covered in sweat. Nothing beats soaking up the warm sunshine, cool ocean breezes, and changing foliage on a Thoreau-esque stroll in nature! Try the Boardwalk Trail in Wellfleet or on the John Wing Trail in Brewster for a peaceful moment of solitude that feels miles away from civilization….but is still close enough to grab lunch when you’re done.
Somehow, we’ve made it this far through 2020. The change of seasons is a perfect moment to pause and reflect on how far we’ve come…and then brace yourself for the upcoming holiday season. So enjoy being outside while the sunlight lasts, and as always, wear your mask, wash your hands, and keep your distance!
Some people are die-hards for their favorite baseball or football team; others are ready to throw hands over deep dish vs. thin crust pizza. Here on the Cape, we display loyalty (and a fair amount of smugness) through our choice of [...]
July, at last! Summer’s here and everyone has an opinion on how you should spend your time here on the Cape. So little time, so many things to choose from! Whatever you do, don’t miss out on these classics….
Water, water everywhere: If wheels and walks aren’t your jam, watercraft is also about as Cape Cod as it gets. While Cape Cod Bay, Nantucket Sound, and the National Seashore are the obvious bodies of water, the Cape also boasts a ton of freshwater ponds and the Bass River. Take in the scenery from a new angle in a kayak or pedal boat, or subtly show off your killer core strength and impressive balance on a stand-up paddleboard. Either way, being out on the water is its own form of relaxation and meditation, with the added perk of seeing all the native flora and fauna. Am I the only one who yells, “bird” every time I see a bird? I think not. The Pump House in Orleans, Cape Cod Waterways in Dennis, and Down Cape in Harwich provide a variety of rental craft and locales to explore!
The big screen (literally): One of my favorite memories of vacationing on the Cape was going to the drive-in. It didn’t matter if I’d seen the movie before -- there’s something so novel about watching it outside, wrapped up in a cozy blanket, occasionally heckling the out-of-state SUV in front of you for opening their tailgate halfway through the film. From choosing the perfect spot to park, to setting up the beach chairs and forgetting just how long Jaws really is, the drive-in is a must-do when you’re here on the Cape. This year especially, it’s a perfect way to enjoy the Cape while keeping a safe distance!
The Wellfleet Drive-In has been around since the 50’s and is a Cape Cod landmark in its own right! It has nightly showings during the summer, changing weekly. If you’re in the Mid-Cape region, both Yarmouth and Hyannis have screenings as well: Yarmouth’s calendar starts July 12th, and Hyannis is operating on Fridays into August.
I could keep going about all the ‘quintessential’ Cape things to do -- mini-golfing, bridge traffic, waiting two hours for a table on a Saturday night. But truly, the heart of Cape Cod is all the people who choose to come here to make memories, be it for a week, the season, or their whole lives. So however you decide to fill your time here this summer, remember to wash your hands, wear your mask in public, and give people space wherever you can. This is a special place to spend any amount of time, so thank you for helping us keep our wonderful community healthy and thriving!
Check in next week, when I break down which beaches are the best for soaking up all this gorgeous sunshine.
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Ahh, summer on Cape Cod. The thing we dream of all year long: breeze-kissed beaches, lobster rolls eaten on wooden picnic tables, and sitting in traffic on 6A behind someone who absolutely does not know how to take a left turn.
And while “quintessential” is one of those words that I could easily go without ever hearing again, along with “unprecedented” and “the Big Lebowski,” there are a few activities that qualify as being quintessential Cape Cod things to do and live up to the hype (beaches and dining out are deserving of their own dedicated posts, so we’ll save those for another time).
Bike Rides: Have you ever really vacationed on the Cape if you haven’t spent at least one sweltering August afternoon, biking uphill both ways (somehow) on the Cape Cod Rail Trail? Bonus points if you have, or were, a patently miserable child riding one of those half-bike attachments (official name: Alleycat)! The bike path is a great socially-distant activity that really makes you appreciate nature, time spent with your loved ones, and how awful humidity is.
Orleans and Eastham have bike rentals convenient to the bike path, or bring your own and park at any of the free CCRT lots. Be sure to call or check the websites for Covid-related policies currently in place.
** A couple points of etiquette: as a cyclist, when you’re passing people on the trail, it is customary to give them a heads-up by saying, "on your left". When crossing the road, be sure to dismount, make sure traffic can see you and stops for you, and then walk across to the other side. As a pedestrian, you have the right of way, but if you cycle your bike across the road, you’re a cyclist and the oncoming cars get to decide whether to let you pass or not. **
Stroll & Snack: Maybe you’re like me, and years of summer cycle treks have left you scarred for life. Or maybe you prefer to avoid the parking lots that are routes 6, 6A, and 28. Either way, you’re happy to walk the trails, and if there’s a conveniently-located spot to get something to eat, what a delightful coincidence! Heading from Brewster to Eastham, Stone L’Oven, Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters, the Hot Chocolate Sparrow, and Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar are all bike-path adjacent places to pause your leisurely stroll and grab a delicious treat. Plus, it’s a long-standing Cape rule that any calories consumed during a walk or bike ride just don’t count. It is known.
Stay tuned for part 2!