Cape Cod is full of enjoyable little cities to go to, and Hyannis MA isn’t any completely different. Whereas some friends to Hyannis might realize it as the placement of lots of the common retail chain retailers on the Cape (like Goal, House Depot, and Kohls), Hyannis additionally presents some distinctive experiences like different quaint Cape Cod cities. In case you are visiting the realm, chances are you’ll be questioning what to do in Hyannis with youngsters.
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Enjoyable Issues To Do in Hyannis MA With Your Household
The place Is Hyannis?
Like the remainder of the Cape Cod cities, Hyannis is positioned in Barnstable County. Nonetheless, surprisingly, it’s additionally the most important village within the city of Barnstable and never a separate metropolis. Different Barnstable villages embody Centerville, Cotuit, Osterville, and West Barnstable.
Hyannis is within the mid-Cape part of the area. Along with the actions beneath, it’s additionally dwelling to Cape Cod Hospital, Barnstable Municipal Airport, and the Hyannis Transportation Heart.
The Hyannis area of Hyannis Port is named the summer time dwelling of the Kennedy household – the Kennedy compound. It’s positioned alongside the Nantucket Sound.
Important Avenue Hyannis
Positioned a number of blocks up from Ocean Avenue is Important Avenue Hyannis, the quaint purchasing avenue. Right here, you’ll discover a number of retailers, together with ice cream retailers, eating places, reward retailers, clothes retailers, vintage shops, and extra. Most of those are impartial retailers, with a number of native chains (together with Comfortable as a Grape).
The Hyannis Important Avenue space additionally hosts native occasions in the summertime season. In years previous, this included Zumba, Motion pictures on the Inexperienced drumming, stay music concert events, and Tai Chi. From Late June by means of Labor Day, there’s additionally a trolley that runs a loop from Important Avenue to Hyannis Harbor. It’s additionally a brief stroll across the city middle.
Paid parking is obtainable on the road and in municipal and personal tons. Free parking is fairly uncommon in Hyannis in the course of the summer time months.
Harbor and Whale Watching Cruises
With that attractive harbor location, it’s no shock that there are many harbor and whale-watching cruise choices. If you wish to spend a while on the water seeing Cape Cod from a unique vantage level, I’d advocate that you simply take one in all these cruises.
A number of corporations are providing these kinds of journeys. Common choices embody Hy-Line Cruises, Bay Spirit Cruises, and Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises.
Should you do need to take a Whale Watcher cruise, it’s best to 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 velocity that should be maintained.
Whilst you might be able to discover last-minute availability for these cruises, I like to recommend reserving prematurely. Availability might be restricted within the busy summer time season, and with good purpose. They’re a whole lot of enjoyable.
Seashores in Hyannis MA
There are stunning seashores nearly all over the place you look on Cape Cod, together with a number of choices in Hyannis. Don’t neglect to take a look at our seaside packing listing earlier than you go so you could have the entire necessities. There are additionally a lot of retailers on the Cape the place you should purchase what you want.
Kalmus Seaside is positioned on Ocean Avenue, alongside Nantucket Sound. It’s a public seaside, providing paid parking for friends.
In case you are hungry, the Kalmus Seaside Snack Bar presents snack bar fare, and native Cape Cod specialties, like lobster rolls, chowder, and fish. It’s one of many higher menus of the snack bars I’ve seen!
Different sandy seashores in Hyannis embody Veteran’s Park Seaside and Keyes (Sea Avenue) Seaside.
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 neglect any necessities. The Cape Cod Mall is conveniently positioned in Hyannis and presents many common chain retailers. Outlets and eating places embody Barnes and Noble, Goal, Macy’s, Marshalls, 5 Guys, and Jersey Mikes.
The mall additionally presents Ryan’s Digital Actuality, 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. Whereas we at all times hope the climate is ideal throughout our Cape Cod holidays, sometimes you’ll get a wet day on Cape Cod.
Artist Shanties
I really like looking for distinctive presents and souvenirs and at all times love shopping for one thing handmade as a memento from our trip. From Might by means of October (with some vacation occasions in November/December), the Hyannis HyArts Artist Shanties are open. They’re positioned within the Hyannis Harbor Overlook and Bismore Park.
The shanties are little shacks that includes completely different artists every week. The artwork is on the market, though guests are at all times welcome to browse.
After we had been there, we noticed various merchandise together with a lot of hand-crafted merchandise like jewellery and work. There are additionally picnic tables and outside video games within the space, so it’s probably the greatest locations to hang around.
For extra specifics, together with parking choices and opening dates/hours, go to their web site. Remember the fact that the artists fluctuate by week.
Ferries to Martha’s Winery and Nantucket
Wish to go to “the islands” portion of “Cape Cod and the Islands”? You’ll be able to take a ferry to both Martha’s Winery or Nantucket from Hyannis Harbor on both the Steamship Authority or Hy-Line Cruises. Each islands might 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 presents the one ferry to Martha’s Winery from Hyannis – a one-hour journey to Oak Bluffs.
In season, (particularly weekends and holidays), the ships e-book up. So that you’ll need to reserve your ferry prematurely so you could have the only option of occasions and dates.
Whereas a day journey is definitely attainable, we do advocate spending an extended go to on Martha’s Winery and/or Nantucket. There may be a lot to do and also you’ll in all probability need to spend so much of time there.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
Certainly one of America’s most well-known households, the Kennedy household, spent a lot of their summer time 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 an effective way to study extra about US historical past whereas in your Cape Cod trip.
The museum adjustments hours seasonally, so that you’ll need to verify their web site earlier than going. There may be an admission cost.
Cape Cod Baseball League
Should you take pleasure in baseball and go to in the course of the summer time, think about attending a Cape Cod Baseball League sport. This newbie summer time 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, and concessions/souvenirs are bought.
The Cape Cod league performs video games from late June to early August. Hyannis’ workforce is known as the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, and residential video games are performed at McKeon Park on the Judy Walden Scarafile Subject, positioned behind St. John Paul II Excessive Faculty in Hyannis, MA.
With no price for tickets and no obligation, Cape Cod baseball is a good sporting occasion possibility for households. Take a look at the schedule and venue data on their web site.
Fishing Charters in Hyannis MA
Fishing is among the hottest actions in any seaside neighborhood, and Cape Cod isn’t any completely different. If you wish to go fishing whereas on trip, essentially the most handy manner is to e-book a fishing constitution. That manner, you gained’t have to fret about packing something however your private belongings.
A number of completely different fishing boat corporations depart from Hyannis Harbor, together with Hy-Line cruises. These fishing journeys supply 4-hour cruises which can be open to a number of events. You may as well e-book a non-public constitution, which is dearer however is perhaps higher for youthful youngsters.
Cape Cod Central Railroad
If you wish to discover Cape Cod from a unique perspective, the Cape Cod Central Railroad presents a dinner prepare leaving from Hyannis. This journey is for adults and youngsters aged 12 and over.
The prepare fare features a five-course dinner and a three-hour prepare journey, so it’s greatest for older teenagers or adults. For teenagers that love trains, different prepare choices can be found, leaving from Buzzards Bay.
This contains THE POLAR EXPRESS™ prepare journey, which takes place over the Christmas vacation season. The Polar Categorical leaves from Buzzards Bay and is 60-90 minutes lengthy. It’s a highly regarded vacation exercise, so buy tickets proper once they go on sale.
Pirate Adventures Hyannis
Pirate-loving youngsters will take pleasure in a journey on the Sea Gypsy VIII with Pirate Journey Hyannis. This ship units sail from Hyannis Harbor from Memorial Day to Labor Day every summer time.
In accordance with their web site, Pirate Adventures Hyannis is greatest for teenagers aged 3-10. It contains enjoyable actions for teenagers on each the dock and onboard. In season, there are 5 sailings of the Sea Gypsy VIII per day. The entire journey is ninety minutes, and reservations are beneficial.
You’ll be able to 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 regularly operated tent theaters within the spherical in america. The Melody Tent is positioned in Hyannis and presents stay leisure all through the season. Tickets and the schedule are out there on their web site.
Along with all of those enjoyable actions, there are many different issues to do within the close by space. These actions embody the Cape Cod Inflatable Park, which presents 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 Nationwide Seashore (a number of the greatest seashores in Massachusetts), the Cape Cod Rail Path, and the Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past.
See issues to do in Falmouth right here and issues to do in Mashpee right here.
Consuming in Hyannis
Whereas Hyannis is the place you’ll discover a number of the common chain eating places within the US, it’s additionally the place you may get some scrumptious native dishes. Certainly one of my favorites is the Uncooked Bar on the Bluewater Grill.
The Uncooked Bar is greatest identified for his or her big lobster roll, however additionally they supply many different dishes together with chowder, salads, burgers, mac and cheese, and extra. Additionally they have nice cocktails, and outside seating proper alongside Ocean Avenue.
For sandwiches, kabobs, soup, and salads, go to the Ocean Avenue Cafe and Deli. It’s an incredible place to choose up lunch to eat outdoors.
One other enjoyable possibility is Baxter’s, positioned on the waterfront. The menu contains fried seafood, lobster rolls, soups, salads, and extra. There’s additionally a youngsters’ menu. Throughout the way in which, technically in Yarmouth, is Tugboats, one other enjoyable, family-friendly waterfront restaurant.
Different common eating places in Hyannis embody Spanky’s Clam Shack, the Bare Oyster, and Faucet Metropolis Grille. Don’t neglect to go to Cape Cod Creamery for some post-lunch/dinner ice cream.
The place to Keep in Hyannis
We at all times keep at our dwelling in Yarmouth throughout our Cape Cod holidays. However there are some nice family-friendly inns and resorts in Hyannis. A few of the extra common choices embody:
There are additionally a number of chain inns together with the Fairfield Inn and Suites, Doubletree by Hilton, Courtyard Cape Cod Hyannis, and Vacation Inn Cape Cod.
Test the map to see extra lodging choices (affiliate hyperlinks on the map).
In search of extra Cape Cod journey suggestions? Click on to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.
