Centrally located on Cape Cod, Yarmouth is ideally positioned for families seeking adventure.

It starts with mini-golf. Though no official title exists, Yarmouth should be considered the putt-putt capital of Cape Cod, with Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf and Skull Island Sports World less than a mile apart. Together, they represent a mini-golfer’s paradise (and Skull Island even ups the excitement factor with batting cages, an arcade, Go Karts and a skate park). Down the road, Ryan Family Amusements provides candlepin bowling and an arcade, all under one roof.

Want more fun? Head to the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, where your children can run, bounce, slide, climb and jump on an air-filled raptor, mechanical bull, velcro wall, obstacle course, volcano and more. Adjacent to the park is - you guessed it – a mini-golf course, as well as an outdoor pool and indoor arcade at Cape Cod Family Resort, a perfect retreat for your Cape vacation. 

While Yarmouth certainly caters to families, it also has more refined offerings, beginning with the newly redesigned Cultural Center of Cape Cod. Participate in a cooking, painting, photography, dancing or pottery class at the center, or you can enjoy the artwork on display by local artists and take in a live performance.

Yarmouth was home to one of Cape Cod’s most famous authors and illustrators, Edward Gorey, and his eccentric work is on display at the Edward Gorey House off Route 6A.

The region’s newest cultural beacon – the Whydah Pirate Museum - can be found, appropriately, just minutes from Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf. Opened in June 2016, the museum pays homage to Cape Cod’s marauding history with a focus on the Whydah Gally, the pirate ship that undersea explorer Barry Clifford discovered off the coast of Wellfleet in 1984. Since that time, Clifford has continued to unearth secrets of the Whydah, using them as the centerpiece of his museum, where visitors can get a glimpse of archaeologists plying their trade as they excavate artifacts in a working laboratory.

Afterwards, there’s a good chance you’ll be inspired to pursue your own high-seas adventure. If that’s the case, you’re in luck. Try to catch your own booty aboard the Aurora Zaq on a charter boat excursion with Yarmouth-based Shark Shark Tuna Saltwater Fishing. An expert crew will be on hand as you scour the waters off Cape Cod for bluefin tuna, striped bass, sharks, white marlin and more.

For a slightly more relaxing trip, Great Marsh Kayak Tours is the perfect choice. They offer everything from sunset tours and tidal tours (great for beginners) to a tour of Nauset Marsh, where you'll likely encounter harbor and gray seals and a variety of shorebirds (not to mention amazing views).

With all this excitement, you’ll need the proper food to fuel your body. In Yarmouth, you’re covered thanks to an assortment of dining options.

The Pancake Man or Keilar's Bakery are your go-to breakfast spots. For lunch, Red Face Jack’s offers pub-style food in a laid back setting. With more than 30 flat-screen TVs, it’s also the best place in town to catch the big game (and you can build your own burger as an added bonus).

For dinner, take your pick of Italian (DiParma or Gerardi's Cafe), seafood (Captain Parker’s or the Skipper) or something slightly more upscale (Yarmouth House and Primavera). Cape Cod Irish Village provides the best in Irish food, drink and entertainment; the atmosphere is so lively, in fact, that every April more than two dozen Santas convene there as part of the Northeast Santa Gathering on Cape Cod.

Of course, Cape Cod Irish Village is also a top pick for your St. Patrick’s Day festivities. Yarmouth embraces the spirit of St. Patrick during its annual Cape Cod St. Patrick's Parade, the Cape's largest celebration of the green drawing upwards of 45,000 spectators. The parade is held annually at the beginning of March (the 2017 parade date is March 4).

The Yarmouth Seaside Festival serves as the bookend event to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Taking place every Columbus Day Weekend in October, the festival features a parade, road and kayak race, kid-friendly activities, pumpkin decorating, a sand sculpture contest, fireworks and the highly original Bed Race competition, where teams create a theme, build a bed and race against other teams.

If you're looking for a keepsake from your trip to Cape Cod, swing by Mrs. Mitchell's Gifts in West Yarmouth, your one-stop shop for  Cape Cod tees, sweatshirts and hats, along with Cape-themed souvenirs, nautical pieces and plush toys for the kids.

And there's no better way to cap off your visit to Yarmouth than with a walk down the Bass Hole Boardwalk at Gray's Beach at sunset. Breathe in the salt air and call it a day.

Blogger's Note: This is part of a series of "Road Trip" blogs spotlighting each of Cape Cod's distinctive towns and villages!