Sunset Cruising In Falmouth Harbor

Last summer InnSeason Resorts and R&R Charters started an exciting relationship that will continue in the summer of 2008. Last summer R&R offered sunset Cruise’s on Monday nights to all Inn Season guests. This year I am pleased to announce that not only will the Cruise take place on Monday nights but there will also be a Caribbean Cruise offered on Thursday nights.

Having gone on several Cruises last summer I can say it is a truly unique experience. The cruise starts in Falmouth Harbor right across the street from the HarborWalk Resort. This makes it easy for any guest to just walk across the street and onto the boat. For those guests staying at Captain’s Quarters or Surfside, Inn Season Resorts offers a complimentary shuttle that will pick you up at either resort and then drop you off when the cruise is over.

After boarding the boat you will notice a bar that serves beer, wine and mixed drinks. Get yourself a drink and prepare to set sail. Once the boat leaves the harbor it heads toward Nobska Lighthouse then towards Woods Hole. Until I took this cruise I had never seen this part of the cape by boat. It is very unique and there are house boats all over the harbor. I had never seen anything like it. The house boats look just like house sthat floating in the middle of the ocean! From there the cruise continues to the Elizabeth Islands where you will find some gigantic mansions surrounded by beautiful landscape. This is where the boat stops for a while and from the deck of the boat you gaze off to the east to see the sunset below the horizon.

Once the sun sets the boat heads back to Falmouth Harbor. The trip lasts about 3 hours long and the cost of the cruise is $30.00 per person, this includes appetizers (courtesy of InnSeason Resorts).

This year a Caribbean cruise will be offered on Thursday nights. This cruise costs $35.00 per person and will include appetizers as well as a live band. We will be starting the season off on June, 5th with are first Caribbean cruise. If you are planning on staying at an InnSeason Resort in Falmouth this summer please call ahead and reserve your tickets.

 Bon Voyage  

La Cucina in Downtown Falmouth (As good as Boston’s Famous North End)

This past weekend (3/1/0 my Mother, Stepfather and Aunt and Uncle came down to Falmouth for the weekend to celebrate my Stepfathers 59th birthday. The reason they came to Falmouth in March was to celebrate his birthday at La Cucina Sul Mare an Italian Restaurant located at 237 Main Street in downtown Falmouth (http://www.lacucinasulmare.com/about.htm). My family had dined there once before and had been looking forward to coming back ever since.

 La Cucina does not except reservations but you can call (508-548-5600) ahead an hour before you want to dine and the hostess will do her best to accommodate your request. After calling ahead and working out a time with the hostess we headed off to La Cucina for dinner. After spending a few minutes out front waiting for our table we were seated in the front window. This just so happened to be the same table we were sat at on our previous visit. As soon as we took our seats my Aunt said, “I hope we get the same waitress we had last time”, and much to our delight Chip the same waitress we had before came to drop off our menus. As she looked over our table she said to us that she remembered us from our previous visit and welcomed us back. This struck me as especially nice since it had been 6 months since our last visit and she even remembered what we ordered.

 As Chip brought us the menus she also explained in detail the house specials for the night, which everyone at the table was eagerly awaiting to hear. Chip began with the ”House Special Salad” this salad includes 7 different kinds of greens topped with dried cranberries & shaved goat cheese. We had this salad the last time and enjoyed it just as much this time. 

 Chip told us about two dinner entrees that where being offered that night. One of which really caught my taste buds was called Veal Napoleon. Which is sauteed veal topped with breaded eggplant, buffalo mozzarella  cheese & tomato, then repeated again and served over angel hair pasta.  After hearing the Veal Napoleon special my mind was made up as to what I wanted to eat. Now it was up to the rest of the party to make their choices. My Mother and Aunt both decided on a Lamb special while my Stepfather and Uncle both went with the Veal Napoleon.

 With are entrees ordered and a glass of wine in front of us we all eagerly awaited the ”Special House Salad”. One of the great things about this salad other than the truly unique taste, is the size of it. It can easily be shared by 5 people with each person enjoying a healthy proportion.  As we ate the salad each person agreed it was the best salad we had ever had.

Just as we had finished our salad our entrees where presented to us by Chip. Each plate was carefully prepared and garnished to perfection. Everyone enjoyed their meal very much. My mother let me try her lamb as it was cooked to perfection. My entree the Veal Napoleon was even better than my last visit, and with large protions that La Cucina serves I had more than enough left over for lunch the next day.

As we finished eating dinner Chip asked the table if anyone wanted coffee or dessert. I looked over the menu and decided upon a chocolate raspberry cake. After ordering the cake Chip brought the table both the Chocolate raspberry cake as well as a Lemon filled cannole with a candle on it for my Step Dad’s Birthday. She also gathered the entire wait staff around the table to sing happy birthday. This was a really nice touch and was perfect cap to the perfect evening.

 Anytime you find yourself in Falmouth and are looking to enjoy a top notch Italian dining experience I highly recommend going to La Cucina Sul Mare.

     

A Good Meal Any time of The Day.

Here in Falmouth we are lucky to have a Hearth & Kettle right around the corner from all 3 Falmouth Resorts. What is great about the Hearth and Kettle is that it is open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. So anytime you want a nice New England style meal the Hearth & Kettle is open. My favorite meal at the Hearth & Kettle is breakfast. They offer an extensive breakfast menu with anything from Omelets to French toast to Eggs Benedict.  To go along with these filling meals they also offer freshly squeezed Orange juice. This is the perfect compliment to any breakfast meal and is one of the best glasses of OJ this blogger has ever had.

 The food is not the only thing to rave about at the Hearth & Kettle as the service is always with a smile, and your food is served nice and hot out of the kitchen. Next time you find yourself in Falmouth I highly recommend dining at the Hearth and Kettle. Please go to http://www.hearthnkettle.com/ if you would like more information about this exceptional dining experience.

Year Round Mountain Biking on Cape Cod

Before I lived on Cape Cod mountain biking season ended as soon as the snow flew which was usually some time in November. This meant 4 months of waiting for the snow to melt and putting my bike away for the season. Now that I am a resident of Cape Cod this is no longer the case.  Sure it snows down here every once and a while, but it melts in a matter of days and the trails are ready to ride again.

Within 30 minutes of all 3 Inn Season Resorts in Falmouth are two great places to go riding for the day. First in Falmouth off of route 151 is the Mass Military Base ride. This ride offers miles and miles of single track trails that wind through the woods.  The riding you will find here is geared towards experienced riders as most trails are tight single track trails.

 The other location to ride is off of route 149 in Mashpee. All you need to do is get to the rotary on 149 and take Race Lane in the same direction that the Bi-plane airport is located. Drive down Race Lane for about 1.5 miles and the trail entrance to ”Trail of Tears” will be on your right. This mountain bike park has rides for all levels. You will find maps at the trail entrance that will help you navigate your way through the woods. ”Trail of Tears” is not only for mountain bikers as there are many fire roads that are great for a nice walk in the woods.

 If you would like to get more information about each one of these locations as well as other places to Mountain bike on Cape Cod please visit www.nemba.org. 

 Hope to see you out on the trails.

  

Carabiner’s Indoor Rock Climbing (AKA the sport of Bouldering)

January 12, 2008: So, I called ahead of time to get additional information about the facility and was pleased to hear that depending on availability and signing up, kids under 17 can climb on Saturdays for 2 hours from 10:30am-12:30pm for $9 each which also includes equipment. What a deal! My 6 year old loved it as much as my 14 year old. The facility is challenging enough for all levels of abilities, the staff is extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Upon appointment you can also become a certified Belayer for $19, the course takes about 1 hour. This is definitely beneficial since all climbers MUST have a belayer, and the facility charges $19/hour if you do not have a certified individual with you to man the ropes for you (which is exactly what a Belayer does). Carabiner’s also has an impressive assortment of free-weight machines in their gym down stairs, and cardio equipment upstairs, and rope climbing stations (also requires a Belayer). Approximately a 1-hour drive from the Falmouth Resorts, this is a great place to go on a rainy/cold day.

Woods Hole Science Aquarium - Winter Hours

The Woods Hole Aquarium is always a fun place to for a winter visit. Located right at the docks of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) the aquarium is smaller and more hands on than most. It is uncrowded and the staff is always willing to help and explain things. As a child I spent a lot of time there and saw my first blue lobster in their tanks!

Albatross Street, Woods Hole. 11:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
508-495-2001
Website: www.nefsc.noaa.gov

Dinner and a Movie

Recently in Falmouth a unique dining experience has opened called the Falmouth Cinema Pub (http://www.falmouthcinemapub.com). It is located in the Wal-mart shopping Plaza. This past holiday weekend two Inn Season employee’s Melisa Martinez and Laura Michaud enjoyed dinner and a  great  blockbuster movie. The following are their comments.

 As you first walk to the theater it seems like any other movie theater. Then as you get your ticket and take your seat  in a comfortable leather swivel chair, you come to realize you’ve stepped into a whole new dining and theater experience.  Waitstaff is at hand to serve you from one half hour before the show begins until the movie has ended.  With an extensive and affordable menu, including alcohol, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.  For example, enjoy a beer with your personal thin crust pizza, or let the kids nibble on curly fries and a burger along with a choice of 6 different sodas.  One concern of both Laura and Melisa was the disruption from servers as well as guests eating their food.  After all was said and done, both walked away pleasantly surprised that there was as little disruption as a movie only theater. 

4 thumbs up from both Inn Season staffers.  They will be back time and time again to enjoy those future blockbuster hits.

Wireless Village in Falmouth

Falmouth has made great strides in creating a wireless village. There are several places in town where the wireless internet is available for free! Thanks to the generosity of its’  sponsors (InnSeason Resorts being one) Falmouth is truely unwired. Just click on the below link to learn the locations of this ever expanding network.      http://www.falmouthchamber.com/unwired.php

All a’shore that’s goin’ ashore!

          We’re pleased to announce that we have renewed our alliance with R & R Charters. They offer  great sunset and daily cruises around Falmouth Harbor, leaving from the town dock in front of Harborwalk Resort. Mike and Trish are the owners and operators of three great charter fishing boats and their new Downeast Design 48′ footer. Our guests loved the weekly cruises. The 4th of July Fireworks and the Illumination trips were great too!If you are coming to the Falmouth area this Summer or Fall be sure to take a ride on their fleet. See their website at www.R-RCharters.com

Hyannis

 

No trip to Cape Cod is complete without a visit to Hyannis. It is the home of the Cape Cod Mall (very popular this time of year) and an array of restaurants and activities. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is located on Main Street and for those that remember or want to learn about our 35th President it is a delightful stop. It is open Thurs. - Sunday this time of year and is well worth the minimal admission of $5.00.  While in Hyannis, there are a couple of new restaurants you can try. Ardeo’s located at 644 Main St. (about 3 blocks down from the Museum), features Mediterranean Cuisine, a great bar and Pizza. A favorite with locals because the prices are reasonable and the food is consistently good. At the beginning of Main St. (#302) is the Island Merchant. A funky new spot serving Island specialties and a menu using words you rarely see on Cape Cod…like “pulled pork” and ”mango papaya coulis”.  Both worth a side trip by themselves, but combined with a Museum visit, or just a walk down Hyannis’s Main Street, make for a great “vacation day”.