Brewster in Bloom--Parade, Arts and Antiques During the Day, Cape Theatre in the Evenings

Today starts Brewster in Bloom. Especially excited this year, as the grandsons will be marching in the Sunday Parade and the weather is supposed to be lovely. Look for the red head with the sax and the other red head with the bass drum -- probably the smallest drummer there. Also this weekend our grand daughter will be in the Nauset Middle School production of The Wizard of Oz. She will be dressed in green. Of course, there will be a lot of kids dressed in green, but she will be the pretty red head -- kind of runs in the family, and of course, those who have stayed at the Inn already know about all the red hair.

If you are looking for some serious theatre on the Cape "Eurydice" is at the Cape Rep, "Of Mice and Men" at the Orleans Academy of Performing Arts, "Edward II" at The Provincetown Theater, "Much Ado About Nothing" at Cape Cod Community College, and there are other performances throughout the Cape.

The Cape Cod Symphony Orchestra Classics V Austrian connections will be performed in Barnstable at the Performing Arts Center on Saturday and Sunday.

Feel like dancing -- well Head over to Joe's Beach Road Bar & Grill in East Orleans. Enjoy the music of The Rip It Ups, starting at 10:00 PM. Also music at the Lost Dog Pub on Friday at 9:30 PM. Check the Cape Cod Times for other musical entertainment.

This coming Wednesday head to the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History for a spring walk. Meet at 9:20 at the Museum for a trek on Morris Island that lasts for two hours. Beautiful scenery there. One of our favorite haunts for hiking.

Birders head up to the Massachusetts Audubon society' Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary for a great hike. That evening at 6:30 at the Truro Public Library learn about the Coastal Waterbird Program. Call 508-487-1125 for more information.

Also, check out the Cape Cod Times website for information on all that is going on this weekend and next week. The Cape is springing up with events and The Whalewalk Inn is ready to greet visitors. Enjoy off-season rates and all that the Cape has to offer.

Free Adventures at the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham

The first official weekend of the season, Memorial Day Weekend, was certainly a lot of fun. The Memorial Day Picnic and first ever Scavenger Hunt went really well.

Kevin did a superb job with the ribs and chicken and the brisket was done to perfection. Tried a new German potato salad with bacon and a sweet and sour dressing, which was served warm. The whole 5 pounds was eaten. Erika, one of my friends from Germany, really liked it and asked for the recipe. She said in Germany they never had it warm. Showed her the old family cookbook from 1947. Now she can't wait to make it for their next gathering. We had a corn salad, Navy beans with parsley, scallions and white wine vinegar, sweet potato salad with peanut dressing, lemon vinaigrette pasta salad, watermelon and brownies for desert.

Dinner was followed by the awarding of Scavenger Hunt prizes. The grand prize went to Alan and Karla who earned the most points and gave us ideas for some new questions for the Labor Day Scavenger Hunt. They were pleased with their two-night stay gift certificate at the Inn. Better make your reservations early for Labor Day and get in on all the fun.

The next picnic coming up is Friday, July 3rd. This picnic will be held in conjunction with the fireworks at Rock Harbor. Come and enjoy all the great food and beautiful fireworks. After dinner we walk down to Rock Harbor, and the fireworks are right over head. You feel like you can almost touch them. Those that boom kind of reverberate through ones bones.

While waiting for the Whalewalk Inn summer events, the Cape Cod National Seashore has some programs to get summer rolling. The Seashore has a host of weekly events that are free and informative. Some do require advance reservations, and a couple do have fees (Canoe and Kayak trips).


SUNDAYS

Tour the Three Sisters Lighthouse. Tours are 3:00 PM in May and 4:00 PM in June. Beach fees may apply.

MONDAYS

Walk: Life on the Edge at 3:00 PM for 1 hour for 1 mile. Witness the impact the sea has on the shore and the species that live there. Explore the beach below the bluff and discuss the issues associated with an ever-changing shoreline. Meet at Nauset Light Beach parking area. Beach fees may apply.

Walk: Stormy Nights at 10:00 AM, for 1 hour for 1 mile. Join a ranger for a short walk to discuss some of the more famous ship wrecks that came ashore and discover whether anything remains of the Newcomb Hollow wreck that mysteriously appeared in the winter of 2007/2008. Meet at the Newcomb Hollow Beach parking area, off Ocean View Drive, Wellfleet. Through June 8 only.

Tour the Captain Penniman House and learn about the their home, stories, and travels. Tour starts and 11:00 AM by reservation only. Call 508-255-3421, ext. 0 for details.

TUESDAYS

Call the Salt Pond Visitor Center, 508-255-3421, EXT.0 for hiking information. Explore your Park leaves at varying times and the hike is 3 to 4 miles and takes up to 3 1/2 hours. You will join an experienced ranger and explore the beauty and variety of park destinations, resources and stories. You must be a good walker. Dress for the weather. Bring water, sunscreen and bug spray.

Tour the Three Sisters Lighthouses. See Sunday for details.

WEDNESDAYS

Walk: Fort Hill: Window into the Past at 10:00 AM for 1 1/2 hours for 1 1/2 miles. Learn about the history of the various people who inhabited the lands at Fort Hill and surrounding Nauset Marsh. Meet at Hemenway Town Landing (one road north of Fort Hill off Route 6, Eastham. Through June 10 only.

Open House at the Captain Penniman House. Browse through this home. Meet at the Penniman House at Fort Hill, Eastham. Limited Parking.

THURSDAYS

Walk: Shoreline Stroll at 10:00 AM for 1 hour and for 1 mile. Explore the various habitats of forest, marsh, dunes and bay while discovering how they all work together to create a dynamic coastal barrier system known as the Great Island 'gut'. Meet at the Great Island parking area, Wellfleet. Through June 11 only.

Walk: Lore of Nauset Marsh at 3:00 PM for 1 hour for 1 mile. Meet at the terrace at the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham. Learn about this alluring place and what has drawn people to its shores for thousands of years.

FRIDAYS

Canoeing: Gull Pond at 8:00 AM for 2 1/2 hours, 1 to 2 miles. Fee required. Call for reservations at 508-487-1256. Through June 12 only.

Walk: Seal Search at 9:30 AM for 1 1/2 hours for 1 1/2 miles. Hike along the Coast Guard spit and look for seals and learn about the species that might be seen. Meet at Coast Guard Beach parking area, Eastham. Through June 12 only.

Walk: Walking with Authors at 3:00 PM for 1 hour for 1 mile. Experience Cape Cod through the eyes of some of the area's most famous or most beloved authors, such as Beston, Thoreau, Hay and others. See what they saw and hear what they heard. Join local author Dana Eldridge for this stroll at the edge of Nauset Marsh. Meet on the terrace at Salt Pond Visitor Center. Through June 19 only.

SATURDAYS

Canoeing: Salt Pond paddle at 9:30 AM for 1 1/2 hours for 1 to 2 miles. Fee requires. Take a leisurely paddle in the protected waters of Salt Pond and Nauset Marsh in Eastham to explore its beauty. By reservation only. Call 508-255-3421, ext. 0, for information and reservations.

Captain Penniman House Tour. See Monday for more information.

Film: "Portrait of a Coast -- 21st Century" at 1:30 PM for 45 minutes. From the Storm of 1978 to the new Chatham inlet created during the April 2007 nor'easter, Cape Cod's coastline is constantly changing. Join a ranger for a viewing and discussion of this newly-updated film. Takes place at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. No showing on May 30th.

So make your reservations today to enjoy all the beauties of nature that the Cape has to offer. Also be sure to take a whale watching adventure. The naturalists are even surprised at how great the trips have been and how many whales are spotted at each trip. So see you soon at The Whalewalk Inn & Spa (where you can get the best massage ever!)

More Maritime Days' Activities, Wellfleet Harbor Tours, Lectures, and Lighthouse Tours

For those of you who will be visiting us on the Cape beginning on May 25th can still take advantage of our 40% discount for three nights, Sunday through Thursday. Here are some of the events for Maritime Days during that time. Also, heard from guests that whale watching has just be awesome this year. The whale antics are fun to watch and the numbers out there seems to be more than ever. Even the naturalists are excited about the numbers. So make your reservations today and enjoy all that the Cape has to offer.

MONDAY, MAY 25

Boat Tour of the Historic Lower Cape
Time: 11a.m.-12 p.m. and 2-3 p.m.
Location: The River, Orleans to Pleasant Bay
Join Blue Claw Boat Tours for a one-hour narrated boat tour through the Lower Cape’s most pristine rivers, bays and island passages to learn about their history. View working fishermen and bay men as they go through the centuries old traditon of harvesting the sea. Glimpse diverse wildlife, including seals, shortbirds and waterfowl. Dress warmly, non-slip footwear preferred.
Information: Reservations required. Call 508-240-578


TUESDAY, MAY 26

Lighthouse Inn Tours
Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Location: The Lighthouse Inn, 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis
Enjoy a tour of The Lighthouse Inn and West Dennis Light, built in 1855, the only privately owned and operated lighthouse in the US, sanctioned by the United States Coast Guard. Reservations required, space is limited.
Cost: Free
Information: 508-398-2244 for reservations


WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

Lighthouse Inn Tours
Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Location: The Lighthouse Inn, 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis
Enjoy a tour of The Lighthouse Inn and West Dennis Light, built in 1855, the only privately owned and operated lighthouse in the US, sanctioned by the United States Coast Guard. Reservations required, space is limited.
Cost: Free
Information: 508-398-2244 for reservations


THURSDAY, MAY 28

“Thermometer-Mania Tour”
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Porter Thermometer Museum, 49 Zarahemla Road, Onset
The curator will provide guided tours of the museum in Onset, the Thermometer Capital of the World. Emphasis will be placed on maritime thermometers. Tour includes the museum’s collection of over 1,000 devices, recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records and Ripley’s.
Cost: Free
Information: 508-295-5504


FRIDAY, MAY 29

Boat Tour of the Historic Lower Cape
Time: 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m.
Location: Wellfleet Harbor to Great Island
Join Blue Claw Boat Tours for a one-hour narrated boat tour through the Lower Cape’s most pristine rivers, bays and island passages to learn about their history. View working fishermen and bay men as they go through the centuries old traditon of harvesting the sea. Glimpse diverse wildlife, including seals, shorebirds and waterfowl. Dress warmly, non-slip footwear preferred.
Cost: $20 per passenger
Information: Reservations required. Call 508-240-5783, www.blueclawboattours.com

Cape Cod Maritime Museum Lectures and Book signings
Time: 6 to 7 p.m.
Location: Cape Cod Maritime Museum, 135 South St., Hyannis
“The Wreck of the Sparrow-Hawk”: Lecture by Historian and Curator Mark Wilkins.
Cost: Free
Information: 508-775-1723

Spring Break Discount on the Outer Cape Cod at the Whalewalk Inn

Greetings from Belize! We are resting up for the Spring season on Cape Cod, when gardens will be sprouting with daffodils, cherry blossoms, pansies, and the amazing wisteria vines. The Whalewalk Inn's kitchen will be merry with the scents of baking banana bread, frying bacon, Captain Harding's eggs and other delights. Beaches will be quiet for romantic walks, fishing, birding, and watching sunrises and sunsets. We look forward to seeing new guests and welcoming back old friends.

Remember to book your spring get away and take advantage of our 40% off discount which will also help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary. We would like to share this significant event in our lives, and also do our part to boost our economy, by offering our guests a 40% discount, Sunday through Thursday, during the months of April, May, and the first two weeks in June. We do require a three-night minimum for this celebration of Spring and our lives together.

And, once upon a time having been a teacher, those teachers coming to the Cape for spring break, bring your lesson plan book. We will give you a split of champagne for all your hard work, and you may have your own romantic toast to spring.

Do not forget to book your massages when booking your reservation.

So reinvigorate your romance with a Spring stay with us and enjoy this budding time on Cape Cod.

Cannot be combined with any other offer. Valid Sunday through Thursday with a three-night minimum. Friday and Saturday nights are regular off-season rates. Memorial Weekend begins our in-season rates. This special is valid for direct booking only and not when booking through a travel agent.

A Romantic Fall Walk on Cape Cod--Rock Harbor and Cape Cod Bay

Today is rather a blustery day on Cape Cod, but the sun is shining over the marsh rendering a cacophony of color. The sea grass is showing off its golden color, which almost seems to sparkle in the sun -- natures own "amber waves." Ground cover on the dunes has turned a dark shade of red. This back drop really shows off the white of the gulls circling about.

The trees have all taken on their fall jewel tones. The evergreen trees are emerald with berries of jade. The blue spruce certainly challenges the blue of any star sapphire. The oak trees run the gamut from smokey quartz to the dark shades of the cat's eye. The ruby red fire bushes stand out in nature's fall array. Added to this mix of color are the brilliant citrine yellows, the agate oranges, and all splattered with garnet splotches.

So come on down for your own romantic walk on Cape Cod. Afterwards sit by your fire, read that book you haven't had time for, enjoy a bowl of clam chowder at one of our many area restaurants, do a little holiday shopping, or book the best massage ever, after relaxing in the sauna, hot tub, and resistance pool. Check out our November specials, and we will see you soon.

Sunny Cape Cod Activities -- AAUW, Book Signing, Square Dancing and Guided Hikes

The weekend of October 24th through 26th brought a really nice group of people to the Inn. We shared in anniversaries, birthdays, and family get-to-gethers. Guests enjoyed the property, massages, breakfast and happenings in the area. One family was especially pleased with our itineraries and spent the day finding all the sights mentioned in it. Thanks to the many great restaurants in the area, guests said a diet was in order starting on Monday.

This week on Cape Cod (October 27 through October 30), there are a couple of things that you may not want to miss.

Monday, October 27 -- chair yoga begins with Patty Renauld at the Eastham Methodist Church, Route 6. Call 508-349-1915 for details.

Tuesday, October 28 -- University Women at 12:30 at St. David's Church, Old Main Street, South Yarmouth. Jeanmarie Fraser, "Women as Leaders at CCCC," open to the public.

Book signing and reception for Beverly Ryle "Ground of Your Own Choosing," 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Brewster Ladies Library, Route 6A, Brewster.

Nau-Sets Square dancing, multilevel with intermediate rounds, 7:30 to 9:30 PM, workshop 7:3- to 8:00 PM, Dennis Senior Center, Route 134, $7.00, 508-896-5237, Halloween Dance.

Wednesday, October 29 -- Guided hike with the Eastham Hiking Club, 9:00 AM, free, open to all, 508-255-3808. Meet at south Street parking lot for Dennis-Crowes Pasture hike, just past Quivett Cemetery.

Wednesday walks with Naturalist Connie Boyce, Flax Pond to Run Pond, Dennis, leave Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, route 6A, Brewster at 9:40 AM, 508-896-3867.

Thursday, October 30 -- Free film screening "Iron Jawed Angels," with Hilary Swank, 7:00 PM at Cultural Center of Cape Cod, 307 Old Main Street, South Yarmouth.

Radio hoax lecture 70th anniversary of the 1938 War of the World radio hoax, 7:00 PM, Brooks Free Library, Harwich. Bart Stewart, author, reads excerpts from his story "Theater on the Air."

Theater
"Beatlejuice" Starcreations Theater, 7:30 PM, Thursday, October 30th at Hyannis Elks Club, 852 Bearses Way, Hyannis, $10, 508-747-1234."The Importance of Being Earnest", comedy, Chatham Drama Guild, 134 Crowell Road, Chatham, 8)) PM Thursday - Saturday; 2:00 PM Sunday, October 23rd through November 16th. Call 508-945-0510 for ticket information.

"The Producers" Academy Playhouse, 8:00 PM, Thursday through Saturday; 2:00 PM, Sunday through November 9th, $20, Main Street, Orleans, 508-255-1963.

"Shining City", mystery, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (W.H.A.T.), 8:00 PM, Wednesday through Sunday: 3:30 PN Sunday, through November 1, Julie Harris Stage, 1 Kendrick Avenue, Wellfleet, $32, $22 matinee, 508-349-9428.

So call now for your reservations at the Inn. You don't want to miss any of the great events, nature, and the arts that the Cape has to offer. See you soon!

Weekend Walks on Cape Cod to Celebrate Cape Cod Pathways

This weekend is the annual Cape Cod Pathways' "Walking Weekend," with interesting excursions planned for around the Cape. Parking is available at all walk locations.

Friday, October 10:

1:00 pm Wing's Island Brewster
1:30 pm Stony Brook Preserve, Brewster

Saturday, October 11:

9:00 am Namequoit Bog Ramble in the Bramble, Orleans
10:00 am Provincelands Dune and Bog Walk, Privincetown
10:00 am Schoolhouse Pond Watershed, Chatham
1:00 pm Wing's Island, Brewster

Sunday, October 12:

9:30 am Three Pond Hike, Orleans
1:00 pm Wing's Island, Brewster
2:00 pm Archaeology Walk, Harwich
3:45 pm Sunset hike on Griffin Island, Wellfleet
5:00 pm Full Moon Tour at Nauset Light, Eastham

Monday, October 13:

7:30 am Birding: Fall Visitors, Truro
9:00 am Bird Walk at Bank Street Bogs, Harwich
10:00 am Kenrick Woods, South Orleans
10:00 Glacial Ponds Parks trail, Eastham
1:00 pm Bridge Creek Conservation, West Barnstable
1:00 pm Wing's Island, Brewster

Guided Hikes at National Seashore and Museum of Natural History

Tuesday, September 23rd, visit the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Eastham for an illustrated program by Park Ranger Jenna Sammartino, "Shifting Sands of the Shore" at 6:30 PM.

Wednesday, September 24th, there will be a guided hike with the Eastham Hiking Club at 9:00 AM. It is free and open to all. Call 508-255-3808 for more details. Meet at the entrance parking lot at Nickerson State Park, Route 6A, Brewster.

Guitta Blau, member of Boston Mycological Society will host a foraging walk and talk at 10:00 AM at the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Route 6A, Brewster. The cost is $5 for members and $7 for non-members. Call 508-896-3867 for more details.

Cape Cod National Seashore Passes for Seniors

WOW! Did you Know 62 Isn't so Bad? Here are three really important items for those turning (or have already turned)62 years of age. First of all, the National Parks offers, for a one-time fee of $10, a National Park Pass that is good for any National Park in the USA, and it is good for the whole of your life.

Secondly, Cape Cod National Seashore, which is a nationally recognized premier destination for those visiting the Cape, is a place where you can use this great little pass.

Created by an act of Congress in 1961, here is what the National Seashore has to offer: 43,000 acres of coastline, dunes, kettle ponds and trails. It is a vibrant source of education and entertainment for locals and visitors alike. You can sightsee by car, canoe, bicycle, kayak, or backpack. There are six beaches, 11 self-guided nature trails, nine lighthouses, numberous picnic areas and countless breathtaking views. At the Salt Pond Visitor's Center, open from 9 to 4:30 daily, pick up trail maps, event calendars, and knowledge of the area. There is also a visitor center in the Province Lands in Provincetown, where the bicycle trail offers a challenge.

Third, you can spend your vacation at the Whalewalk Inn on our three acre compound. Become a part of the history of this 1830s whaling captain's house. Also, check out our wildlife -- bunnies, coyote, deer, and birds galore: Gold Finch, Red-tailed Hawks, Robins, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Chickadees, the Phoebe bird, Bob Whites, Orioles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Crows, Morning Doves, Sparrows, Grackle, and squirrels, who think they are birds.

September is a beautiful time of year on the Cape. It is warm in the day, cool at night, and the water is actually the warmest of the whole summer. Get into the nature of the Cape by also visiting the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History 508-896-3867, Green Briar Nature Center 508-888-6870, Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary 508-362-7475, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary 508-349-2615, and the Woods Hole Science Aquarium, which is the country's oldest acquarium for public education and scientific research 508-495-2267.

See You in September

Well, children are back in school, the weather is still amazing on Cape Cod, and the traffic is smooth sailing. There are still many events planned for fall visitors, so hop in your car and come on over to the Cape.

If you are spending the day on Nantucket, now through September 5th is the 16th Annual Nantucket Arts Festival featuring a vast array of local talent. Call 508-325-8588 for details.

Right here in beautiful Eastham -- step back in time and enjoy a three-day Eastham Windmill Weekend. The "Fabulous 50s" is the theme so you can listen to the rock and roll sounds of the Juletones, check out the sand art contest enjoy the Cookout on the Green or check out the Antique and Classic Vehicle Show.

September 6th cheer on the swimmers and kayakers at the 21st Annual Provincetown Harbor Swim for Life and Paddler Flotilla.

Enjoy bird watching -- September 6th and 7th the Bird Carvers' Show and Sale comes to East Sandwich. The show includes works from 20 of New England's most prominent bird carvers.

The Cape Cod Museum of Art current exhibit, "Spirits of Sea and Land: Skip Treglia's Found Objects, has an unusual twist. He uses objects he finds in nature to craft pieces depicting fish, shamans, and other figures. See now through September 28th.

At the Heritage Museums & Gardens host the first ever Cape Cod Scottish Highland Festival. There will be dancing, athletic competitions, sheep herding, authentic food and tons of music from the Cape Cod Fiddlers. Call 508-888-3300 for details.

September 13th is the Second Annual Provincetown Music Festival held at the high school from 5 to 9 PM. For information call 508-274-2513.

September 19 to 21 is the Truro Treasures Annual Gala Weekend. The exciting weekend features activities like a silent art auction, antique and classic car show, treasure hunt and golf tournament. Visit trurotreasures.org.

So see you at the Inn and make plans to enjoy many of the festivities around.

Thursday, July, 31 -- What's Happening about Town

Just a couple of things to do to kick off your vacation. Art show and sale by the Eastham Painters guild, 9 AM to 5:30 PM at the Schoolhouse Museum, Route 6, Eastham.

The Guild of Chatham Painters is having an outdoor art show Thursday and Friday at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church, Main Street, Chatham.

The French Cable Station hosting guided tours 1 -- 4 PM, at 41 South Orleans Road (Route 28), Orleans. History and equipment of telegraph cable from France to the US. Open through Sunday.

If Wildlife sightings are part of your perfect vacation, things are starting to heat up in the shorebird world. Numbers and varieties are increasing as are rarities and uncommon shorebirds showing up.

The first rarity of the season was a Ruff spotted at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary in Wellfleet. Also spotted was a Wilson's Phalarope. Although the Wilson's Phalarope breeds in Massachusetts, they can still be difficult to find away from breeding grounds.

South Beach continues to bring in large numbers of shorebirds. In Chatham this past week those seen were: black-bellied plover, semipalmated plover, piping plover, American oystercatcher, greater yellowlegs, lesser yellowlegs, willet, spotted sandpiper, whimbrel, husonain godwit, ruddy turnstone, red knot, sanderling, semipalmated sandpiper, least sandpiper, white-rumped sandpiper, dunlin and short-billed dowitcher. That surely is a full days exploration.

Right here around the corner from the Whalewalk Inn at Nauset Marsh a good number of shorebirds are being spotted.

Not only are the birds plentiful, but the whales continue to dazzle guests with their numbers and their antics. Humpback whales still number from the 40s to 60s, while the Minke and fin whales continue to put in a nice appearance. There have even been Sea Turtle sightings and if you are fortunate enough to spot one, please report it to 1-888-732-8878.

For more information please call the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary at 508-349-2615. If you want to take a one night trip to Cape Cod, we do have a couple of one-nights availabel -- and don't forget the 15% discount.