A Cape Cod vacation offers a variety of fun and stimulating activities for your little one. Outdoor adventures for your toddler include enjoying the tidal pools, play areas, biking, hiking, and camping. Indoors, you can visit museums, movies and waterparks.
The Cape also has plenty of family-friendly restaurants with many food options kids will love. Read on to find out more about what a Cape Cod vacation has to offer for your toddlers!
What can toddlers do on a Cape Cod Vacation?
Here you have 15 ideas to enjoy a Cape Cod Vacation with your toddler.
1. Walk or Bike along the Cape Cod Canal or Rail Trail
The Cape Cod Canal Trail, 14 miles of level pathways split between the south and north shores, is a great place to take your toddler with a stroller, bike or scooter.There are plenty of places along the canal to picnic, check out the fisherman and herring runs, or watch the boat traffic in the Canal.
Stretching through 6 different towns and ending at the Cape Cod National Seashore, the Cape Cod Rail Trail 22-mile trail offers picturesque views of the surrounding greenery, ponds, and beaches. The trail is a breathtaking place to bike, hike, or rollerblade with your kids during your Cape Cod vacation.
2. Look for Seashells
Beaches like Longnook, Breakwater, and Cold Storage Beach have the best variety of seashells you can find. What toddler doesn’t love shiny, peculiarly shaped objects?
Scallops, clams, and oyster shells line this beach’s waters. The best time to visit is in the morning when it’s less crowded.
3. Enjoy the Tidal Pools
Paines Creek Beach has gorgeous tidal pools inhabited by crabs and other sea life. Your kiddies can splash around in these waters and have a great time. Brewster Flats also has miles of shallow beaches that are great for exploring at low tide.
4. Take the Hyannis Harbor Cruise
Hyannis Harbor has one of the most stunning shorelines on Cape Cod, offering views of boats entering and leaving the harbor.
The cruise is an hour long and provides an informative guide to Cape Cod’s maritime history. It passes through places like Squaw Island, the Kennedy Memorial, and the Great Island. On Wednesday nights, they also serve ice cream floats, which your kids will love!
5. Jump Around at the Cape Cod Inflatable Park
Kids love bouncy houses. This outdoor park in West Yarmouth is filled with inflatables, water rides, and obstacles that kids below 38 inches can enjoy!
Next door you will find the Wicked Waves Water Park, with plenty of attractions suitable for toddlers. Opening Day for 2023 is June 10th. A combo-ticket is available for both parks.
6. Heritage Museums and Gardens
Heritage Museums and Gardens, with its beautiful flowers, fascinating sculptures and historical exhibits like the 1908 Looff Carousel intrigues children of all ages.
Their Hidden Hollow was designed for children from ages 2-10 to climb stepping stumps, navigate log balance beams, construct forts, create nature-inspired art, build with blocks, dig in sand, experiment with water, and much more.
On Fourth Fridays, they also have food trucks that everyone can enjoy.
7. Corporation Beach
Corporation Beach’s crescent-like shape leaves a kid-friendly tidal pool that toddlers can safely explore.
When the tide withdraws, they can look at the sea life–like crabs and snails–left behind. There’s a snack bar for when your toddler gets hungry. Equally important are the clean restrooms and playground.
Parking is $30 daily or $90 for a week pass, but the lot does fill up fast. Beach space is limited during high tide.
8. Outdoor Activities at Nickerson State Park
Parks are always exciting for children. Plan a day visit or reserve a camping site for full immersion into nature.
This scenic park engulfed by pine trees and crystalline ponds offers you a place where you can hike, bike, or pitch a tent and camp with your kiddies.
The Park also provides informative programs for kids, so they get to learn a lot on their Cape Cod vacation!
9. Museum of Natural History
The museum of Natural History in Brewster offers hours of exploration and hands-on activities for your little one. Children 2 and under are admitted free.
Feed the butterflies, visit the honey bee observation hive, meet the the inflatable gray and humpback whales, or explore many kinds of marine life in the aquarium. Toddlers also love to visit the outdoor Mud Kitchen to mix, create, and make a mess.
10. Golf at Pirates Cove or Skull Island
Your young children will love to play mini golf at one of these locations. A great activity after a day at the beach!
At Pirates Cove in Yarmouth, the pirate-themed course with pirate ships, sunken treasure and waterfalls is free for children 3 and under.
Skull Island, also in Yarmouth, features waterfalls cascading over alligator infested waters, a haunted treasure cave, and even a Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. The onsite arcade and go-carts will provide hours more entertainment. These courses are both stroller and handicap accessible.
11. Spot Some Treasure at the Whydah Pirate Museum
Capture your child’s curiosity with the display of the world’s only pirate treasure from 300 years ago at the Whydah Pirates Museum.
This museum offers an interactive experience where you get to board a replica of an 18th-century pirate ship and touch the treasure from all those years ago.
12. Enjoy a Flick at Wellfleet Drive-In Theater
With free entry for kids under the age of 3, this drive-in theater offers a wide selection of movies for every age.
With this last-of-its-kind location, relive the nostalgia and allow your kids to experience the way you used to watch movies when you were their age.
13. Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Located in Mashpee, the Cape Cod Children’s Museum is perfect for kids aged five months-8 years. With bright, interactive exhibits geared towards younger children, your kids will be learning while they play.
The museum also rents out the space for private parties and events, creating a perfect venue for a birthday party. If you are away from home on your Cape Cod vacation, they can handle most of the arrangements for you.
14. Cape Cod National Seashore
The seashore offers your kids an opportunity to enjoy the waters or bike and hike along the beach.
It also has a Junior Program, which is a learning opportunity for your little ones.
After all, what’s better than learning while you’re having fun?
15. Cape Cod Water Park
This indoor water park is open all year round. It offers a wave pool, jacuzzi, and water slides that kids and teen alike can enjoy! It also has a cafe where you can relax while you drop off your kids in the children’s play area.
Conclusion
If you take a Cape Cod vacation with toddlers, you can certainly find enough to keep the whole family entertained.From beautiful beaches, clear waters, amusement parks and interactive museums,it is an excellent spot to bring the little ones.
Whether you decide to spend the trip indoors scouring the museums or sliding through the water park rides or outside at the beach or playing mini golf, this place is also a retreat for your kids.
We hope you consider taking a Cape Cod vacation for your next family vacation. Safe Travels!
