Miles of shoreline and endless summer days make it easy to see why Cape Cod is one of America’s renowned family playgrounds. From offshore adventures to celebrated summer pastimes, these family activities earn a seal of approval from kids of all ages.
 

Family-Friendly Accommodations on Cape Cod

Surprise your children with their very own no-adults-allowed Kids’ Club, packed with games, crafts and exciting themed daytime programming.  Fishing derbies, kite-making and sandcastle bingo will keep your little ones busy at Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth, while an outdoor amphitheater and nautical themed pirate ship playground set the scene for the kids’ program at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Harwich. Plan a vacation date night and add on an after-dark escape with a kids’ pizza party and crafts at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club in Brewster, or enroll your kids in the Night Owls evening sessions at Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham. Chatham Bars also offers daytime programming for kids that includes everything from scavenger hunts to pirate adventures.

Cape Cod Seal Cruise

Fun Things to Do on the Water on Cape Cod

Go on a salty sightseeing adventure and observe Cape Cod’s marine life in their natural habitat for an unforgettable Cape Cod experience. Hear the chorus of hundreds of seals singing in unison and visit the local sandbars and jetties teeming with resident gray and harbor seals on a seal tour along the Chatham Harbor waterways with Beachcomber Boat Tours.  Or take a narrated seal cruise with Monomoy Island Excursions, that will travel past picturesque harbors and marshes to its final destinatiion, a barrier island and wildlife refuge off the coast of Chatham.

Inspire a lifelong love of learning and discovery with a personalized science tour led by local naturalists at Cape Cod Learning Tours. Families can explore Cape Cod’s shores and habitats alongside botanists and field instructors¬ fully equipped with a mobile science lab. From the Explorer’s Deluxe program to the Whale of a Time three-hour tour and drop-in summer day science adventures, these unique outdoor learning experiences will astound! 

Hit the open waters for a deep-sea fishing expedition geared toward family fun with local charter trips departing Cape Cod’s bustling harbors. Cast off with the family-owned and operated Patriot Party Boats crew, and experience the thrill of the catch fishing for scup, tautog and sea bass in the calm waters of Vineyard Sound.

Cape Cod Inflatable Park
Supersize your family fun at Cape Cod Inflatable Park, a two-in-one outdoor attraction towering with excitement. From all-levels obstacle courses to giant slides in the sky, get ready to bounce, ride, and fly through the largest inflatable park in the U.S. Head to the Nor’easter Wave Pool when it’s time to cool off at the Wicked Waves Water Park, cruise around the lazy river and test your skills on the FlowRider surf machine! Private cabana rentals with food and beverage service are available. 

Prepare your kids to launch at the RideAway Adventures Kids’ Camp in Mashpee, where they’ll learn how to navigate and protect Cape Cod’s unique ecosystem, see a variety of active wildlife, and become paddle boarding and kayaking pros. This adventurous outdoor summer program combines nature-based learning and team building with plenty of fun and games on the water and features a full tour out to the Popponesset Spit. 

Did you know Cape Cod was ranked a top ten whale watch destination in the world? Book your family on an iconic whale watch adventure with one of these top-rated local excursion outfits designed for a dynamic day on New England waters. Head out to Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary with Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises out of Barnstable Harbor, or Dolphin Fleet or Capt. John Boats, departing from Provincetown.

Pirate Adventures

Swashbuckling Family Adventures on Cape Cod

Set sail on a swashbuckling, treasure hunting voyage into Hyannis Harbor with Cape Cod Pirate Adventures that your kids will tell tales about for years to come. It’s nonstop action and entertainment aboard the Sea Gypsy, a working pirate ship that transports all hands on deck to a fantasy world of high seas adventure with a storytelling cast of characters who need help fending off fellow pirates and sea monsters, blasting water cannons, and finding the underwater treasure so everyone can take home some booty. Voyages set sail from June to Labor Day. 

Putt your way through the legendary Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf in Yarmouth, a true Cape Cod landmark and award-winning family favorite. Choose from two enchanting, Disney-esque 18-hole courses brimming with pirate lore, caves and cascading waterfalls. 

Visit the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth with your favorite landlubbers and discover the Golden Age of Piracy and the legend behind the world’s only identified pirate shipwreck that went down off the coast of Cape Cod in 1717. Explore the museum’s display of hundreds of artifacts and pirate treasure from the wreck of the Whydah, climb aboard a life-size replica of the ship, and investigate the latest underwater discoveries with on-site archaeologists in the state-of-the-art Sea Lab & Learning Center where real treasure is still being excavated.

Ten Pin Eatery

Fun Things to Do on Land on Cape Cod

It’s all fun and games at Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis, where you can book a lane, try your hand at candlepin or ten pin bowling, and level up the family competition in the hottest game room in town. Virtual reality, laser tag, a golf simulator and upscale pub food make this a winning combination entertainment complex. Another Ryan Amusements location in South Yarmouth features a 5,000 square foot indoor bounce park, in addition to bowling lanes and arcade play. And thrill-seeking families will also love the bumper boats, batting cages, zip lines and rock walls at Grand Slam Entertainment in Harwich, a surefire way to get the wiggles out.

Cruise to the classic 1950’s Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre for a movie under the stars and throwback evening of family fun. Arrive early for a round of retro mini golf before the show, grab your favorite vintage concessions at the snack bar, and tune into the original speaker boxes for a truly nostalgic movie-going experience at one of America’s last original drive-ins. 

Spark curiosity and imaginative play at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee, where your youngest can tinker around and explore to their heart’s content. Hands-on exhibits, puzzles to solve, and over 20 interactive activities featuring a restaurant and magnetic fishing make this a hit for parents, toddlers, and elementary-aged siblings alike!

Go on a playdate with Mother Nature at Hidden Hollow at Heritage Museums & Gardens, one of New England’s first certified Nature Explore Classrooms nestled in a glacially formed, two-acre dry kettle hole designed for nature-based free play, learning, and outdoor family fun. Imaginative play areas encourage kids to run free, explore at will, get dirty, safely test physical limits, and let their imaginations soar from the crown jewel Hidden Hollow treehouse. Also take time to check out Heritage's soon-to-open Adventure Park, where you can climb and zip line through the trees.

Cape Cod Baseball League

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

Last, but certainly not least, make the Cape Cod Baseball League part of your summer tradition and cheer on the stars of tomorrow while you celebrate America’s favorite pastime from Cape Cod’s ten ballparks. The nation’s premier amateur baseball league invites the best of the best collegiate players to the Cape for a summer season of outstanding baseball. Free admission, refreshments and plenty of parking make these evenings a home run. Your kids can even play ball with the big leagues at each team’s summer youth clinics, where they can learn about sportsmanship from the pros.