Next up on my favorite Cape Cod towns list is definitely Yarmouth. My parents are based in Yarmouth Port and it’s where I have spent most of my time while on the Cape. It’s definitely a lot busier than the Wellfleet/ Truro area because it’s not as far down the coast. It only takes about 25 minutes to reach Yarmouth once you are over the bridge versus Wellfleet which adds another solid hour to your trip. Yarmouth also has A LOT of hotels, restaurants, and beaches which is why people tend to flock to this area. I love everything touristy about Yarmouth and I will share my favorite tourist spots in this post (the spots that are actually as good as everyone says they are). BUT, I am also drawn to a few beautiful places in Yarmouth that are rarely visited by tourists. I will share these gems with you and I highly recommend you add them to your list.
Tourist Spot that is actually worth checking out:
Pirates Cove Golf Course, South, Yarmouth, MA– This is the best mini golf course on Cape. It is always packed no matter what time of day but for good reason. They have a front course and back course to choose from and it’s all pirate and shipwreck themed (hence the name). Each hole has theme appropriate facts and information that I still enjoy reading after my 18th visit over the last 15 years. I also still get excitedly nervous when I pass through the caves and see the unexpected spooky displays behind jail cell bars (I know, it’s sad). The course is not THAT difficult but it is challenging enough for people at all skill levels below pro-mini golfer. Also, be prepared to get a few free goodies at the end at the check-out counter where the super friendly employee stands to retrieve your golf club. Sometimes you will get a gold coin for a free round of mini golf (if you are the winner of your group) or a free ice cream ticket for the Pirate’s Cove market next door. If you aren’t lucky enough to get either of these freebies, you will always get a pirates cove flag, and some stick on pirate tattoos. Sweet.
Come here early afternoon (around the time they open) or late evening (hour and a half before close) to beat the crowds. It’s a fun spot for people of all ages.
Food spot the tourists love & are right about:
Keltic Kitchen, South, Yarmouth, MA- Talk about a stellar breakfast spot. This place is amazing and oh so satisfying. It’s owned by an Irish family and every family member and Irish friend they know seems to work here and has worked here for years. The front of the house is run by the wife and the husband manages the back office, the kitchen. All of the children wait tables or help the father prepare and cook the food which is a chaotic but organized operation that can be seen from the dining room. Side note: I love restaurants with open kitchens. There is something very homey and cozy about them.
I have too many favorite dishes but a few of my go-to’s are the Keltic breakfast sandwich, the sweet potato cranberry nut pancakes, and if I am in the mood for an omelet, the Mediterranean omelet with a side of home fries. The Keltic Breakfast sandwich is massive. It’s jam backed with your choice of meat (I usually get the ham), tomato, and cheddar cheese on a freshly toasted English muffin. It gets messy especially if you don’t strategize and just force the entire sandwich into your mouth (like me). The home fries that come with it are cooked perfectly, more potato-like than anything, lightly salted and perfectly crispy. For a little under $8 this meal will have you full for the rest of the day and night. The sweet potato cranberry nut pancakes are also a favorite because they are a unique twist on the traditional pancake order. They aren’t too sweet and you can taste both the cranberry and sweet potato in every bite. Do you like nuts? I am a nut lover so having the nuts thrown in the mix as well made me fall even more in love with the combination. I also like that the texture is exactly the same as a regular pancake. In conclusion, if you are in the mood for pancakes but are looking for something a little bit different, try these. The pancakes usually come in a stack of 3 and are some of the fluffiest I have ever eaten so I guarantee your tummy won’t be calling for more after you scarf them down. Now for the eggs. For the egg and feta lovers, try the Mediterranean omelet.
It’s scrumptious. It’s a massive omelet filled with spinach, plum tomatoes, feta, minced basil, sun dried tomatoes AND olives. Its jam backed with all of the Greek goods. They also have simpler omelets, like a veggie, ham & cheese, and mushroom omelet. Oh, and every omelet comes with a massive side order of home fries!
At Keltic Kitchen, the options are endless and every dish I have ever ordered here has been top-notch. Everyone in my life loves it here too and when I bring someone here who has not yet been, they don’t seem to stop talking about it for days. Yes, it gets ridiculously busy, like RIDICULOUSLY busy, but it’s worth the wait. If you are an early bird then you may be able to avoid the crowds completely. You can typically get seated pretty quickly anytime between 7 AM and 8 AM. As the morning progresses, the wait will get longer and longer, sometimes hitting an hour and a half. Just plan accordingly.
My favorites:
Gray’s Beach, Yarmouth Port, MA
This place has the best sunrises and sunsets. Oh my goodness. I was brought up calling this precious place “Basshole” but it is known as Gray’s beach to most. Here you will find a long boardwalk, almost a quarter of a mile long that leads you into the ocean and surrounding marsh lands. It’s a magical and peaceful walk in the early mornings or at sunset and especially off-season when you don’t have to share the natural beauty with many other visitors. The walk out to the end of the boardwalk is nice and relaxing and it’s always fun to look over the ledge to see the crabs and mini sea creatures scurrying around below in their own little world. The end of the boardwalk is my favorite place though. I get to the end of the boardwalk and after taking a few deep breathes of ocean air while I peer out at the horizon, I immediately find myself at ease. In the off-season, you can really sit at the end of this boardwalk in silence and hear nothing but the waves and birds chirping overhead while you ponder. To date, the end of this boardwalk is the most peaceful spot I have found in my life. With a good book in hand or just a mind full of racing thoughts searching for idleness and new perspective, Basshole can become a friend that I know I have quickly depended on for relief and balance. It is truly the perfect place to clear your head.
I highly recommend visiting this spot when you are on Cape. The early mornings and right before sunset are the best times to come for the best picturesque view. The mornings tend to be the best time to avoid the crowds. However, the absolute best times to really enjoy all Gray’s beach (Basshole to me) has to offer is on a warm day in early May or any time after labor day into October.
Bass River Beach (Getty, Boat Launch side)
This mini beach right near the Getty is the perfect place to veg out on a Sunday morning or lazy afternoon. Technically it’s open to the public and those who pay to park at Smuggler’s beach which is how you would get here (enter through Smugglers beach parking lot), but only the locals typically set up shop on this section of the beach, which is nice. It never really gets that crowded and screaming kids are rare because there is no direct access to the water. You have to walk to the Smuggler’s side if you would like to go for a swim (which is no more than a 1 minute walk to the left, so, it’s very manageable). I also love that you can watch the boats go in and out of the channel and dream about which one is going to be yours in t-minus 10 years. You also get a glimpse of the beautiful homes that are situated along the river. They are quite lovely and picturesque. And, if you are into fishing and crabbing this little spot is great for it. Some days, I sit here and see fishermen reeling in decent sized blue fish and sea bass. Crabs are everywhere too, so it’s fun to throw your net contraption in between the rocks and snatch up the crabs as they gnaw at your chicken leg. Like Basshole, the sunsets are absolutely killer but here you don’t feel like you are sharing the moment with many others, even during peak season. It’s one of those beaches that many people overlook, for reasons I do not understand, but that is okay with me.
Do come for sunset and if you can, come sit on the beach in the early morning before the parking lot fills and other beach goers arrive. It might be a little chilly so bring a long-sleeve or light sweater but it will be worth it especially if you enjoy meditation or reflection. I think this is the absolute best place to unwind in the early morning hours (6- 8:30 AM), no one is here, absolutely no one, and it’s a very peaceful time on the water.