by Donna Cain
We love to visit with guests when they arrive, and if they are new to Cape Cod, it’s fun to recommend some of our favorite places to dine and visit. We have a wonderful map that Byron designed that highlights all the must sees while on the Cape including a section of favorite dining by town and activities. We always recommend that our guests visit Wellfleet. It’s about half way between Brewster and P’Town and has wonderful rural appeal, natural beauty, vibrant art and many dining spots that are over the top delicious!
Wellfleet has a wonderful sense of community that we experienced first hand when we befriended one of our spa therapists that lives in Wellfleet. We loved her stories and hearing about the unique energy that pulses in a community that includes many oyster farmers, artisans, 2nd home owners and naturalists. The year round population is about 3,500 and expands to over 17,000 in the summer.
National Seashore in Wellfleet
Sixty-one percent of the land area in Wellfleet is included in the National Seashore and is protected. It’s sometimes hard to comprehend that the National Seashore encompasses 44,000 acres of open beaches. Wellfleet has five beaches including our favorite- Marconi Beach which is part of the National seashore and includes the unique Atlantic Cedar Swamp trail, Newcomb Hollow Beach, Cahoon Hollow Beach, White Crest Beach and Maguire’s Landing. There are also many fresh water kettle ponds which are a wonderful way to enjoy that old fashion waterhole kinda swim.
The Great Island can also be found in Wellfleet which has free parking and many miles of beautiful walk paths on the beach and in the woods. Several years ago we were walking on the island with our dog Harrison and came upon an elderly couple walking with a huge basket. We had a lovely visit with them and were enchanted when we learned they were picking wild mushrooms for their son’s restaurant in Wellfleet.
Wing Island on the bay side
For those wanting to bird watch and to learn more about nature the Massachusetts Audubon Society’s Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is a perfect destination. The sanctuary includes over 1,000 acres with five miles of trails. The Sanctuary sponsors many events including seminars that discuss the environment and animals. Birders can spot many different species on the trails that includes salt marshes, beaches, pine woods and ponds.
The Wellfleet Historical Society sponsors walking tours of main Street to take you back in time, including an annual house and garden tour.
More than a dozen art galleries call Wellfleet their home including Left Bank Gallery and Burdick Gallery.
Wellfleet is also home to two theaters including Wellfleet Harbor Actor’s Theater and Harbor Stage Company. One also has to mention the Beachcomber which is a popular live music spot right on the beach with casual dining and a raw bar.
The Wellfleet Oyster’s have a world wide acclaim and are prominently presented at the Wellfleet Oyster Festival in October. We always sell out our rooms that weekend and what a wonderful way to celebrate and support the local shellfishing community.
Onto our favorite subject….dining…Wellfleet has many wonderful eateries that we love to recommend.
The Bookstore is a wonderful casual eatery, close to the water with wonderful vistas of the bay. They always have Wellfleet Oysters and we always enjoy dining on their patio. Winslow’s Tavern is one of our favorites and includes outside dining shaded by many trees with views of the Main Street in Wellfleet. Fine dining with a creative menu. The Wicked Oyster is a casual fine dining that serves both breakfast, lunch and dinner……always yummy and casuual.
We love Wellfleet and like to describe it as an old fashion fishing community with plenty of vibrant art!
