Don’t look now, but…Here comes summer! Memorial Day weekend is the official unofficial start to the summer and Cape Cod is all about the summer. If you are heading down for the holiday weekend, or making your vacation plans, it’s always good to have plan B, as in beach isn’t an option. Hey, it happens, especially on Memorial Day weekend. It’s often chilly and unpredictable. So, here’s your plan B, 9 fun things to do on Cape Cod when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

I’ve been going to the Cape my whole life. I even lived there year-round for about 4 years. I’m well versed in backup plans. Yes, some of these will be obvious, but sometimes you just need a reminder. Like, “hey, I forgot about that option.” Sure, bring the bathing suit for good luck, but always bring the rain coat, umbrella and extra outerwear to keep you warm for outdoor activities in not ideal weather.

Imperfect weather can make for memorable times. Hello Taylor Swift fans. “Meet me in the pouring rain” was a theme at one of her recent Gillette Stadium shows. Those who were there, as well as Ms. Swift, will never forget it! It was special. So get ready to make some special memories on the Cape, finding alternative fun to sun and surf and sand. Take a look at these 9 fun things to do on Cape Cod when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

• 1. Mini golf

  I know, this one is painfully obvious. But not for most people, if it’s raining or chilly. But it isomething you can do in the rain. Or light rain, anyway, as long as the mini golf establishment is open. Test your skills at holding an umbrella with one hand and putting with the other. There are many great mini golf places all over the Cape. Trip Advisor shared their 5 best, HERE.

  Cape Escape is one of my favorites, located near the rotary in Orleans, MA.

  cape escape adventure golf

  CAPE ESCAPE THE LOWER CAPES LARGEST ADVENTURE GOLF

• 2. Shop a main street you've never been to

  Downtown Hyannis, P-Town, Chatham and Sandwich are popular favorites. But try mixing it up on inclement weather days. Visit the charming little town of Wellfleet, or enjoy a shoppers delight at Mashpee and the Mashpee Commons. Downtown Harwich Port was named by Country Living Magazine as one of the best Main Streets in America. You won’t find national stores here. But you will find quaint shops, unique stores and plenty to see and shop.

  Harwich Chamber of Commerce | Promote - Connect - Savor - Thrive

  Promote - Connect - Savor - Thrive

• 3. See a Movie

  I realize you likely watch plenty of movies in your home. But going out to the movie theaters is a different experience. It’s more social, there’s endless popcorn and there’s nothing like seeing a great movie, and everyone claps in the end. Or laughing alongside strangers, because the story moved you to do so. Here are some movie theaters on the Cape to check out:

  Cape Cod Guide to Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Islands

  Cape Cod Movie Theaters on Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard

   

• 4. Take a hike

  A little rain or cold never stopped a true adventurer! Just dress properly. There are so many beautiful hiking and walking trails to discover on the Cape. I love the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail in Welfleet. It’s next to Marconi Beach, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. swamp aread of the trail can get mucky, but there is a wood boardwalk for most of your hike. Keep in mind, no pets are allowed here. Fort Hill in Eastham is a beautiful, shorter hike (about a mile) with spectacular views, forests, boardwalks and fields. 

  For plenty more walking/hiking trails and areas, check this out:

  Spring Hikes on Cape Cod | Locations & Trail Details

  Hit the hiking trails this spring while on Cape Cod. Explore Nickerson State Park, Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary, or The Knob.

• 5. Bowling

  There are quite a few fun places to have a ball, or roll a ball down a lane, on Cape Cod. Some even serve adult beverages. We love The Alley Bowling and BBQ in Orleans. But any of these places are fun. Just make sure you plan ahead and try to get a reservation.

  Five Places to Go Bowling on Cape Cod | Kinlin Grover Compass

  When you're overdue for a night out with your family, hitting some of the Cape's bowling alleys is a good idea. You'll have a variety of options available, with some offering full-service restaurants and others being limited to just a few lanes.

• 6. Go-Karts

  Go-karts are perfect on cloudy, cooler days. Bud’s Go- Karts in Harwich Port has been a family favorite since I was a kid. It’s fun and affordable. There are quite a few places to grab a bite to eat nearby, too. You’ll find a few other go-kart places on the Cape, here:

  4 Best Go-Kart Tracks in Cape Cod | GoKartGuide

  The best karting places also happen to be large family recreational facilities, with plenty to do other than just karting! Racing go-karts in Cape Cod is fun

• 7. Breweries

  Sometimes, you just need cold one, even when it’s colder out. Over the past decade or so, breweries have been hopping (pardon the pun) on the Cape. It seems like a new one pops up every year. Hog Island in Orleans will often feature live music. Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis was the first (since 2004) and it’s hugely popular. Also featuring live music, games, food trucks and more. Need more, here you go:

  12 Excellent Cape Cod Brewery Taprooms & Tours

  "Relaxation" is a word that comes to mind when most people think of a Cape Cod getaway. And, one relaxing activity that's one of the best things to do on Cape

   

• 8. Ice Cream

  When the weather on Cape Cod makes you scream. Just scream for ice cream! There is certainly no shortage of it. Homemade is always the best, and the best for me is Nauset Ice Cream in Eastham. There is something about that homemade coffee heath bar that keeps me coming back. Last year, boston.com shared their readers’favorite ice cream places on the Cape. See if you agree:

  Where to get the best ice cream on Cape Cod

  Over the past two years, more than 4,500 readers named shops where you can get a chilled treat along the Cape.

• 9. Museums

  Whether it’s sharks, pirates, or history you are searching for, there’s a museum for it on the Cape. The Whydah Pirate Museum is open year round. And it’s not just for kids. It’s an interactive science and history museum that has a display of what is left of the shipwrecked pirate ship, the Whydah. It was shipwrecked in 1717 after a horrible storm, off the coast of Welfleet. The former slave shipped was stolen by pirate captain Sam Bellamy, and the remains were discovered in the 1980s. 

  Here are 9 other museums you may want to explore:

  The Top 10 Museums on Cape Cod

  When people think about Cape Cod, they tend to think of the beaches, the boats, the sharks, the ice cream, the mini-golf, the light houses, the quaint streets and the fried clams. Less in the foref...

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