7 things to do during a rainy day on the Cape

The 15 towns that make up Cape Cod are well known for their beaches and outdoor excursions, but there is also plenty to do on a rainy day.

Ahead, discover seven things to do when the weather is wet on the Cape.

Brush up on your shark knowledge

Learn all about sharks at the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy’s family-friendly Shark Center in Chatham, which features interactive exhibits, videos, life-sized shark displays, and more. The center hosts a shark story time for children and also a Fossil Pit Experience where kids can dig for shark teeth and have them turned into necklaces (the latter is only available during the summer season). Support white shark research and education by buying a shark souvenir from the gift shop before you go.

Frolick at an indoor water park

Spend the day splashing and sliding at the indoor Fins Up! Waterpark at Margaritaville Resort in Hyannis. Families can enjoy water slides, a lazy river, and dedicated children’s areas. Guests don’t have to stay at the resort to enjoy the waterpark. Day passes are available, as well as towels for rent.

Explore a museum, historic home

From presidents to pirates, there are museums for all interests on the Cape. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum in Hyannis details the life of the 35th president of the United States and his connection to Cape Cod. The Wydah Pirate Museum in Yarmouth boasts the largest collection of pirate artifacts recovered from a single shipwreck. Highland House Museum in Truro is steps away from the 1797 Highland Light — Cape Cod’s first lighthouse. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster has two floors of exhibits and also operates as a nature education center. Or visit the 252-foot Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum and climb the 116 steps to the top.

There are also many historic homes dotting the Cape. Brewster is proud of its sea captain history, and many of the homes once lived in by the captains have been restored and now serve as museums. The 1675 Hoxie House in Sandwich is one of the oldest homes on the Cape. The saltbox house on a hill overlooking Shawme Pond was built by Rev. John Smith, who lived there in the 17th century with his wife and 13 children.

See a movie or a show

Grab tickets to a performance at the Cape Playhouse in Dennis, operated by the Cape Cod Center for the Arts. The playhouse, which first opened in 1927, is billed as the longest-running professional summer theater in America. The 23-acre Cape Cod Center for the Arts campus also includes a cinema, art museum, and restaurant.

If you’d rather see a movie, the Chatham Orpheum Theater originally opened in 1916 and offers free kids matinees daily at 9:30 a.m. The free shows routinely sell out, especially during bad weather, so securing tickets early is recommended.

Make art / view art

Check out one of the many art galleries sprinkled throughout the quaint downtowns across the Cape.

For more hands-on art, the Creative Arts Center in Chatham, a nonprofit organization established in 1969, offers painting, drawing, pottery, and jewelry classes. The Cape Cod Art Center in Barnstable is a non-profit with three exhibit galleries as well as workshops, demonstrations, and classes in watercolor, photography, digital art, and more.

Antique lovers can explore Sandwich Antiques Center Gallery, which offers 5,500 square feet of items such as furniture, fine art, and jewelry. Other antique spots include Harwich Antique Center in Harwich and Wayne’s Antiques in Brewster.

For a very Cape experience, head to Cuffy’s of Cape Cod, a 20,000 square-foot themed shopping destination in Dennis. The store sells those popular Cape Cod sweatshirts with the block letters, of course, but also candy, home goods, pet products, stuffed animals, and more. There’s a general store, confectionary, lifesaving station boathouse, and free activities for kids.

Or grab an umbrella and hit up a main street in towns like Harwich and Chatham, where there are many unique boutiques.

Play games

Get your game on at Ryan Family Amusements in Yarmouth, Hyannis, and Bourne, where families can spend a rainy day playing arcade games and laser tag, bowling, axe throwing, and using a golf simulator. There is also a virtual reality ride. The offerings vary by location.

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

 

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.