The Beach:
Our lovely and extensive private beach welcomes people of all ages. The bay water is very warm and calm, so high tide is the perfect time for a swim. Children will enjoy playing in the sand and in the shallow salt-water 'river' called 'Sewel's Gutter' which fills and drains with the tides. Strong adult swimmers will find themselves hard-pressed to swim even half-way across the large Wellfleet Bay, while pleasure swimmers can enjoy the deeper water closer to shore. Low tide reveals enormous tracts of bay-bottom and the abundant shellfish who live there: oysters, clams, scallops, whelks, snails of all sizes, and of course tiny hermit crabs. Low or in-between tides also offer a lovely opportunity for a seriously long hike: either walk to the Town of Wellfleet right along the bay, or in the other direction, walk the length of Indian Neck Heights and return to the house via King Phillip Rd. More casual beach-combing is available at any time.
The House:
Our Wellfleet house is set up to welcome families during rain or shine. Our fireplace can warm you (in addition to the heat) on rainy days, while books, drawing supplies, games, and toys offer amusement. We have a small library of tapes and dvd discs as well (of course there are rental shops for these in Wellfleet, too). Even the sunset is lovely on a stormy night! Sunny days of course beckon to the beach, ponds, or ocean; be sure to bring along beach chairs, towels, boogie boards, and a tote with your favorite book and a snack. Cooks will love our modern kitchen with large and small gourmet pots, pans, utensils, and cuisinart; we have many recipe books as well. More serious cooks will want to purchase a $40 non-resident seasonal shellfish license, so they can collect the clams and oysters that litter the beach at low tide. Wellfleet oysters are shipped world-wide, valued for their delicate smoky flavor. Some enjoy them raw (we have special 'opening knives'); others steamed.
The Town of Wellfleet:
The Town of Wellfleet offers many different types of events, places to see, and things to do. The Town Pier has fishing, an ice cream shop, and a large playground with a fenced-in skateboard ramp, nearby. You can take a fishing boat out to catch some seriously large fish, or watch whales. There are many art galleries and interesting shops in the town, featuring local high-quality pottery and other creations. The Wellfleet Market is a great place for groceries, although if you really want to stock up the large supermarkets in Orleans 10 miles away are worth the drive. There is an historical museum, and a large library with a nice chidren's room and story readings; the library also features well-known authors as guest speakers. And of course, Wellfleet has lots of ponds and ocean beaches, as well as the interesting Marconi Station in Eastham, where the first transatlantic telegraph message was sent. Wellfleet's Chequesset Yacht and Golf Club offers golf; tennis courts nearby.
