20 Cool Things To Do in Cape Cod with Kids

Amanda Banta:  If you have a young Thomas the Tank Engine fan then you will want to hit up Edaville Family Theme Park during your Cape Cod family vacation. 'Thomas Land' is a one-of-a-kind experience making the 30-minute trip off the Cape worth it! Another favorite place for Boston families to visit too, kids will delight in seeing their favorite trains come to life as amusement rides, and in Thomas as the leader of the train that travels through the park and the neighboring cranberry bogs. Edaville has dozens of rides and attractions to make a full day of family fun. The life-size residents of 'Dino Land' are a must-see for my kids!

Amanda Banta:  Kids can get an up-close view of more than 140 kinds of sea life that live or travel in the waters of New England at the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, the country's oldest marine aquarium. Mingle with various types of fish, explore starfish, crabs, and lobsters in the touch tank too!

The quaint picturesque island known as "The Vineyard" is a great place for some laid back family fun. Martha's Vineyard is filled with charming streets, bakeries and restaurants, gingerbread cottages and low-key activities (Flying Horses Carousel, alpaca farms, beaches) appropriate for all ages.

Amanda Banta:  The Cape Cod Children's Museum is a great way to entertain young kids when you all need a break from the sun and sand. The exhibits give kids a way to learn through interactive fun. They can explore a pretend town, climb around the giant ship, engineer the large train structures, and more at this small museum in the upper section of the Cape. The museum typically offers special events like storytimes, crafts, and singalongs too.

Amanda Banta:  The Cape Cod Melody Tent is an open theater, literally under a huge tent, offering a family-friendly destination for top-notch entertainment in the summer. The Melody Tent typically schedules a series of children's shows each summer, with classic stories like Cinderella and Pinocchio coming to life on the stage. The shows typically are put on in the late morning, which is a friendly time for small children. Families with older kids and teens should check out the Melody Tent's concert schedule for something different to at night.

Amanda Banta:  This area of the Atlantic is a celebrated destination for whale watching excursions, and is one of the most fun things to do in Cape Cod with kids. Various boats travel out to Stellwagen Bank, a marine sanctuary at the mouth of Massachusetts Bay that is a hot spot for whales, dolphins, seals and marine life. The Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises, which run about 3-4 hours, leaves from Barnstable Harbor. Experienced staff on board will help you know when and where to look so you don't miss a sighting.

Amanda Banta:  Fans of Cape Cod Potato Chips may find it hard to resist getting a sneak peek at the process that produces that delicious crispy kettle-cooked crunch! The company offers self-guided tours of its Hyannis factory, ending in the property's gift shop. The tour is short, with visitors spending approximately 20-30 minutes there, making it an activity you can squeeze in on a busy day in the area or something to keep in your back pocket for a rainy afternoon.

Amanda Banta:  Sneak in a little local history and education with a trip to the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, which explores JFK's life, presidency, and the legacy his family has left on the Cape, the state of Massachusetts, and the United States. The Kennedys have long owned summer homes in Hyannis Port and JFK even spent time in the area during his presidency. The museum, which is different from JFK's presidential library, is a moving tribute to the former president. As there is a lot of reading, a visit to the museum may be more suitable for older children in your family.

Tracy Snyder Molina:  If you're on Cape Cod, relax with Afternoon Tea at The Optimist Café. Along with pot of tea, enjoy scones with Devon cream and preserves followed by tea sandwiches and an assortment of specialty desserts. For extra decadence, you can add on a flute of champagne. There is a separate kids menu with always-pleasing dishes. The“Tea Experience” on Cape Cod is one for the books!

Amanda Banta:  The Cape Cod Inflatable Park is the bounce house place of your kid's wildest dreams. This park has every kind of bounce house imaginable, ranging from typical bounce castles to giant slides that send you airborne to wild waterslides. As soon as my kids found the toddler waterslides they didn't want to leave - they spent hours there! Thrill-seekers can check out the Challenge Zone and, added in 2018, the H2O waterpark. A great perk is that only those who want to play need to pay. Parents who won't ride don't have to pay admission.

Amanda Banta:  The Cape Playhouse brings Broadway-level productions to Cape Cod every summer, letting theater-loving visitors get their fix of outdoor plays and musicals while on vacation. The theater started in the 1920s and its stage has been graced by the likes of Bernadette Peters, Bette Davis, and more. The current season's schedule can be found online, along with Kids series, concerts, and other events.

Provincetown, on the the eastern tip of the Cape, offers tons of activity for families throughout the year. Walking around town is a great way to see the quaint buildings and picturesque landscape of the town. Commercial Street is a must stop for visitors, with its expanse of locally-owned boutiques, art galleries, antique shops and restaurants. Stop into the Lobster Pot for fresh fried seafood and of course a picture of its iconic neon sign. Active families will find plenty of fun and thrills among the beaches (two in the National Seashore), biking, kayaking, parasailing and more.

Amanda Banta:  Biking the Cape Cod Rail Trail gives you a chance to see gorgeous parts of the Cape while also keeping active. The trail, which follows a former railroad line, has more than 20 miles of mostly flat paved paths that stretch through 6 towns. Take a few breaks during your ride to enjoy the views; you will not be disappointed! There are many local shops from which you can rent bikes if you don't bring yours with you. The path is not exclusively for bikers; walkers and runners are welcome as well.

Amanda Banta:  Ice cream from Sundae School is a must-have for Cape vacationers, so much so that the shops have attendants directing traffic in their parking lots on warm summer nights. Everyone in the family will be able to find something sweet from their extensive menu of flavors.

If you're a 'go big or go home type,' dig into a fresh strawberry or blueberry sundae, topped with a real cherry to boot!

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Head over to Harwich for an educational tour of the largest organic cranberry bog on Cape Cod. Families will learn about the yearly operation of a cranberry bog, see the equipment and farm animals. Afterward, visit their farm stand for cranberry related items.