Cape Cod is stuffed with enjoyable little cities to go to, and Hyannis MA is not any totally different. While some visitors to Hyannis might understand it as the situation of lots of the widespread retail chain retailers on the Cape (like Target, Home Depot, and Kohls), Hyannis additionally gives some distinctive experiences like different quaint Cape Cod cities. If you might be visiting the realm, you could be questioning what to do in Hyannis with youngsters.
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Fun Things To Do in Hyannis MA With Your Family
Where Is Hyannis?
Like the remainder of the Cape Cod cities, Hyannis is situated in Barnstable County. However, surprisingly, it’s additionally the most important village within the city of Barnstable, and never its personal metropolis. Other Barnstable villages embrace Centerville, Cotuit, Osterville, and West Barnstable.
Hyannis is within the mid-Cape part of the area. In addition to the actions under, it’s additionally dwelling to Cape Cod Hospital, Barnstable Municipal Airport, and the Hyannis Transportation Center.
The Hyannis area of Hyannis Port is called the summer season dwelling of the Kennedy household – the Kennedy compound. It’s situated alongside the Nantucket Sound.
Main Street Hyannis
Located a number of blocks up from Ocean Street is Main Street Hyannis, the quaint procuring road. Here, you’ll discover a lot of retailers, together with ice cream retailers, eating places, reward retailers, clothes retailers, vintage shops, and extra. Most of those are unbiased retailers, with a number of native chains (together with Soft as a Grape).
The Hyannis Main Street space additionally hosts native occasions in the summertime season. In years previous, this included Zumba, Movies on the Green drumming, reside music concert events, and Tai Chi. From Late June via Labor Day, there’s additionally a trolley that runs a loop from Main Street to Hyannis Harbor. It’s additionally a brief stroll across the city heart.
Paid parking is obtainable on road and in municipal and personal heaps. Free parking is fairly uncommon in Hyannis through the summer season months.
Harbor and Whale Watching Cruises
With that beautiful harbor location, it’s no shock that there are many harbor and whale-watching cruise choices. If you need to spend a while on the water seeing Cape Cod from a unique vantage level, I’d advocate that you simply take one in every of these cruises.
Several firms are providing these varieties of journeys. Popular choices embrace Hy-Line Cruises, Bay Spirit Cruises, and Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises.
If you do need to take a Whale Watcher cruise, you must know that they run for about 3 1/2-4 hours. This is because of each the gap that should be traveled, in addition to the pace that should be maintained.
While you could possibly discover last-minute availability for these cruises, I positively advocate reserving upfront. Availability will be restricted within the busy summer season season, and with good cause. They are lots of enjoyable.
Beaches in Hyannis MA
There are lovely seashores virtually all over the place you look on Cape Cod, together with a number of choices in Hyannis. Don’t neglect to have a look at our seaside packing listing earlier than you go so you might have all the necessities. There are additionally plenty of retailers on the Cape the place you should purchase what you want.
Kalmus Beach is situated on Ocean Street, alongside Nantucket Sound. It’s a public seaside, providing paid parking for visitors. If you might be hungry, the Kalmus Beach Snack Bar gives snack bar fare, in addition to native Cape Cod specialties, like lobster rolls, chowder, and fish. It’s positively one of many higher menus of the snack bars I’ve seen!
Other sandy seashores in Hyannis embrace Veteran’s Park Beach and Keyes (Sea Street) Beach.
Cape Cod Mall
I don’t typically advocate visiting the mall on a household trip when there are such a lot of different actions, however it’s good to have one close by in case you forgot any necessities. The Cape Cod Mall is conveniently situated in Hyannis and gives many widespread chain retailers. Shops and eating places embrace Barnes and Noble, Target, Macy’s, Marshalls, Five Guys, and Jersey Mikes.
The mall additionally gives Ryan’s Virtual Reality, Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery, an escape room, and Regal Cinemas, that are nice choices for at any time when the climate isn’t cooperating. While we at all times hope the climate is ideal throughout our Cape Cod holidays, often you’ll get a wet day on Cape Cod.
Artist Shanties
I like purchasing for distinctive items and souvenirs and at all times love shopping for one thing handmade as a memento from our trip. In the months of May via October (with some vacation occasions in November/December), the Hyannis HyArts Artist Shanties are open. They are situated within the Hyannis Harbor Overlook and Bismore Park.
The shanties are little shacks that includes totally different artists every week. The artwork is on the market, though guests are at all times welcome to browse.
When we had been there, we noticed numerous merchandise together with plenty of hand-crafted merchandise like jewellery and work. There are additionally picnic tables and outside video games within the space, so it’s the most effective locations to hang around.
For extra specifics, together with parking choices and opening dates/hours, go to their web site. Keep in thoughts that the artists differ by week.
Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket
Want to go to “the islands” portion of “Cape Cod and the Islands”? You can take a ferry to both Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket from Hyannis Harbor on both the Steamship Authority or Hy-Line Cruises. Both islands will be visited for day journeys or an extended keep.
It takes about an hour to get to Nantucket on a high-speed ferry, or two hours and fifteen minutes on a typical ferry. Hy-Line gives the one ferry to Martha’s Vineyard from Hyannis – a one-hour journey to Oak Bluffs.
In season, (particularly weekends and holidays), the ships do e-book up. So you’ll need to reserve your ferry upfront so you might have your best option of instances and dates.
While a day journey is actually potential, we do advocate spending an extended go to on Martha’s Vineyard and/or Nantucket. There is a lot to do and also you’ll most likely need to spend so much of time there.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
One of America’s most well-known households, the Kennedy household, spent a lot of their summer season trip time on Cape Cod. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is a well-liked Cape Cod attraction providing displays that includes the historical past of the household, together with Robert F. Kennedy in addition to JFK’s household. It’s a good way to study extra about US historical past whereas in your Cape Cod trip.
The museum modifications hours seasonally, so that you’ll need to examine their web site earlier than going. There is an admission cost.
Cape Cod Baseball League
If you get pleasure from baseball and go to through the summer season, contemplate attending a Cape Cod Baseball League sport. This beginner summer season league performs video games in ten Cape Cod cities, together with Hyannis. Cape Cod Baseball League video games are free, and there are not any tickets. Donations could also be accepted.
The Cape Cod league performs video games from late June to early August. Hyannis’ group is known as the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and residential video games are performed at McKeon Park on the Judy Walden Scarafile Field, which is situated behind St. John Paul II High School in Hyannis, MA.
With no value for tickets and no obligation, Cape Cod baseball is a good sporting occasion possibility for households. Check out the schedule and venue data on their web site.
Fishing Charters in Hyannis MA
Fishing is without doubt one of the hottest actions in any seaside neighborhood, and Cape Cod is not any totally different. If you need to go fishing whereas on trip, essentially the most handy means is to e-book a fishing constitution. That means, you gained’t have to fret about packing something however your private belongings.
Several totally different fishing boat firms depart from Hyannis Harbor, together with Hy-Line cruises. Those fishing journeys supply 4-hour cruises which can be open to a number of events. You may e-book a personal constitution, which is dearer however could be higher for youthful youngsters.
Cape Cod Potato Chips
One of essentially the most scrumptious snacks in Massachusetts is Cape Cod Potato Chips (our favorites are the Salt and Vinegar chips). The Cape Cod Potato Chip manufacturing unit is situated in Hyannis.
It’s presently closed attributable to elevated manufacturing due to the present state of affairs. However, when it’s open, visitors can tour the manufacturing unit, watch the potato chips being made, and get samples. There’s additionally a retail retailer on the finish of the tour (which can be closed briefly).
Cape Cod Central Railroad
If you need to discover Cape Cod from a unique perspective, the Cape Cod Central Railroad gives a dinner practice leaving from Hyannis. This journey is for adults and youngsters aged 12 and over.
The practice fare features a five-course dinner and a three-hour practice journey, so it’s finest for older teenagers or adults. For youngsters that love trains, different practice choices can be found, leaving from Buzzards Bay.
This consists of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ practice journey, which takes place over the Christmas vacation season. The Polar Express leaves from Buzzards Bay and is 60-90 minutes lengthy. It’s a very talked-about vacation exercise, so buy tickets proper once they go on sale.
Pirate Adventures Hyannis
Pirate-loving youngsters will get pleasure from a journey on the Sea Gypsy VIII with Pirate Adventure Hyannis. This ship units sail from Hyannis Harbor from Memorial Day to Labor Day every summer season.
According to their web site, Pirate Adventures Hyannis is finest for teenagers aged 3-10. It consists of enjoyable actions for teenagers on each the dock and onboard. In season, there are 5 sailings of the Sea Gypsy VIII per day. The whole journey is ninety minutes, and reservations are advisable.
You can study extra about Pirate Adventures Hyannis on their web site.
Cape Cod Melody Tent
The Cape Cod Melody Tent and its sister tent (the South Shore Music Circus) are the one continually-operated tent theaters within the spherical within the United States. The Melody Tent is situated in Hyannis and gives reside leisure all through the season. Tickets and the schedule are obtainable on their web site.
In addition to all of those enjoyable actions, there are many different issues to do within the close by space. These actions embrace the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, which gives bounce homes, inflatable water slides, and extra, Nickerson State Park, the Heritage Museums and Gardens, mini golf, the Whydah Pirate Museum, the seashores of the Cape Cod National Seashore (among the finest seashores in Massachusetts), the Cape Cod Rail Trail, and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
See issues to do in Falmouth right here and issues to do in Mashpee right here.
Eating in Hyannis
While Hyannis is the place you’ll discover among the widespread chain eating places within the US, it’s additionally the place you may get some scrumptious native dishes. One of my favorites is Raw Bar on the Bluewater Grill.
Raw Bar is finest recognized for his or her large lobster roll, however in addition they supply many different dishes together with chowder, salads, burgers, mac and cheese, and extra. They even have nice cocktails, and outside seating proper alongside Ocean Street.
For sandwiches, kabobs, soup, and salads, go to the Ocean Street Cafe and Deli. It’s an excellent place to choose up lunch to eat outdoors.
Another enjoyable possibility is Baxter’s, situated on the waterfront. The menu consists of fried seafood, lobster rolls, soups, salads, and extra. There’s additionally a youngsters’ menu. Across the best way, technically in Yarmouth, is Tugboats, one other enjoyable, family-friendly waterfront restaurant.
Other widespread eating places in Hyannis embrace Spanky’s Clam Shack, the Naked Oyster, and Tap City Grille. Don’t neglect to go to Cape Cod Creamery for some post-lunch/dinner ice cream.
Where to Stay in Hyannis
We at all times keep at our dwelling in Yarmouth throughout our Cape Cod holidays. But there are some nice family-friendly resorts and resorts in Hyannis. Some of the extra widespread choices embrace:
There are additionally a number of chain resorts together with the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Doubletree by Hilton, Courtyard Cape Cod Hyannis, and Holiday Inn Cape Cod.
Check the map to see extra lodging choices (affiliate hyperlinks on the map).
Looking for extra Cape Cod journey ideas? Click to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
