Wellfleet

Cape Cod, MA

We are lucky enough to live very close to Cape Cod where a night or a weekend by a Cape Cod beach is anywhere from 30-90 minutes away. We are doubly lucky to have friends and family members who live on the Cape and Islands who invite us to join them at their homes or accommodations.

This weekend we visited our friends, Joy and Peter, in Wellfleet for a night. Wellfleet is considered part of the Outer Cape, just before Truro and Provincetown. Joy and Peter have a beautiful home on the bay side set right on a picturesque, marshy inlet. There are gorgeous sunsets here as well as kayaking from their backyard (which we didn’t do this time due to tides). We had perfect weather for outdoor dining and beach walks.

Sesuit Harbor Café in Dennis, MA

On our way down the Cape, we stopped at Sesuit Harbor Café in Dennis for a lobster roll. We heard of this place on a social media post stating it had one of the best lobster rolls on Cape Cod. The lobster roll was good and came with fries. I would put it as close to the lobster rolls at The Raw Bar in Mashpee or The Green Harbor Lobster Pound in Marshfield. Both favorites of ours, but you don’t get fries with either of those. We also split an order of fried clams. We ate at the picnic tables that overlook the Sesuit Creek as it makes its way out of the marina and out to Cape Cod Bay. It is so beautiful to look over the dunes covered with beach roses to the bay. We will be back here!

The Sharks are Back!!

Each time we come down, we try to visit new places to eat and beaches we haven’t yet explored. When we want to swim, we go to one of the many kettle ponds in Wellfleet. We try to avoid swimming in the ocean on the outside of Wellfleet. If you’ve ever seen Jaws, you will understand why.  We have a hard time swimming where there are Stop the Bleed kits and great white shark warning signs.

Duck Harbor, Wellfleet, MA

This weekend was still a little cool for swimming, so we opted for dining outside at Wellfleet Harbor, walking along Duck Harbor and Marconi Beach and sitting and enjoying the beauty at Lieutenant’s Island.

On the first day we went to Duck Harbor and did a beach walk. This pretty beach is tucked away, and the area leading up to it is undergoing some restoration work. This beach is a natural beauty with lots of interesting sights – shells, cliffs, driftwood on top of a circle of stones and driftwood tree trunks – all making great photo opportunities. We saw a seal playing in the surf which always makes me a little nervous as to what may be lurking in the water to hunt for seals.

The Pearl, Wellfleet Harbor

Next, we went to one of our favorite happy hour locations in Wellfleet, The Pearl, for oysters, calamari and a cocktail. It happened to be Wellfleet Restaurant Week, so the oysters were half price. The Pearl is right in the harbor and downstairs has a great raw bar and music. We sat upstairs on the outside deck with a beautiful view of Wellfleet Harbor.

Mac’s Shack, Wellfleet, MA

From here we went to Mac’s Shack for dinner, just up the road but not on the water. Mac’s has several different establishments, each with their own menu and personality. Mac’s Shack has a large raw bar and sushi menu, but there are many other items as well. There is a small dining room and a large tent with an outdoor bar and many tables. Their other restaurant in Wellfleet is Mac’s On the Pier, just across from the Pearl, and is a take-out clam shack with picnic tables. We have been to Mac’s On the Pier before and it is very good too, just very casual.

At Mac’s Shack I started with a pomegranate mojito that I had with tequila instead of rum, just my preference. The others had wines of their choice. All very good. We had the Cajun crab stuffed squash blossoms for an appetizer that was on the Wellfleet Restaurant Week menu. These were good though different than the typical Italian style squash blossoms. These ones were a bit spicier due to the Cajun preparation. They were deliciously fried in a tempura coating then drizzled with crème fresh. We also had the mussels as a shared appetizer that were served in a wonderful tomato, basil, roasted garlic butter broth accompanied by toasted bread. I am not a fan of mussels, but everyone said they were great. I did try the broth and it was delicious.

For my meal I ordered the appetizer of shrimp and scallop dumplings served in a lovely broth with scallions, cilantro and radish. Very good. Jim ordered the charred Spanish octopus served in an almond romesco with lemon, arugula and crispy chorizo. So good! Peter ordered the spice-crusted Ahi tuna served over spicy sesame noodles prepared with snow peas, scallions, toasted peanuts and wasabi aioli. Joy ordered the Maki roll special which we all helped her eat. Again, yummy. It is always a guarantee that when out with Joy and Peter we will be ordering a chocolatey dessert. I think Peter is addicted to chocolate. We opted to split the slice of flourless chocolate cake that we finished quite easily. Just like everything else, it was delicious.

Back at the house

We sat on the screened in porch back at the house and watched a gorgeous sunset through the trees and over the salt marsh. Always a spectacular sight.

Marconi Beach, Wellfleet, MA

In the morning, we opted to go for an early walk on Marconi Beach after we tried to go to Lieutenant’s Island, but the bridge was inaccessible due to the high tide. Marconi Beach is stunning. Even the boardwalk from the parking lot to the top of the stairs is pretty, as long as you don’t mind the signs about the sharks. The stairs to the beach were just replaced last week. I am posting a picture from 2 years ago and you can see how they were buried then, and last year were damaged by the tide. Marconi has nesting areas cordoned off for the piping plovers, so there are areas of the beach that pets are not allowed so as not to disturb the birds. We saw several seals close to shore and a lot of shiners, small shiny fish, washed up on shore from, I assume, the seals hunting them.

Blue Willow Fine Foods & Bakery, Wellfleet

We then grabbed breakfast at Blue Willow Fine Foods & Bakery, a cute little bakery and sandwich shop right on Route 6 with picnic tables outside. We had a variety of breakfast sandwiches – bacon, eggs and cheese on bagels and croissants – and I got avocado toast that was very good. The pastries looked amazing, but we didn’t need any after our sandwiches.

Lieutentant’s Island, Wellfleet, MA

At this point we felt the tide would cooperate with going to Lieutenant’s Island. We were able to drive across the road and bridge now that the tide receded. We were welcomed by a line of shells that another visitor had graciously arranged on a rock at the opening. We walked around to the left to get to the point. Another option would have been to walk up and over the dune on the right side of the beach. We set up our chairs on the point where we sat and chatted as well as combed the beach and sand flats for shells and sea glass. While walking on the beach I noticed a lot of holes in the sand. Peter told me these are from the fiddler crabs that sometimes show up in the thousands and move in unison like an army. A little later, they came out and put on a show. Fiddler crab males are known for their one large claw, hence the name. Lieutenant’s Island is truly a special, peaceful place. Thanks to Joy and Peter for introducing us to it.

Corn Hole!

We then went back to the house and played cornhole before heading home. I am so not a player! They were all very patient with me.

A big thank you to Joy and Peter for their hospitality for having us down, again. Special friends make for special times.

Until our next adventure,

Patti and Jim