Welcome to our Shul
Places to Stay
Things to Do
Contact Us
Arranging for Food
Directions to Onset
Download Brochure

Things to do

Onset is centrally located for trips down the Cape, to Boston, Plymouth, Newport or Martha’s Vineyard. Buzzards Bay Information Center, 70 Main St. Buzzards Bay. 508.759.6000. Most of the shopping malls have guides as well. There will typically be discount coupons inside. We’ve collected some of our favorite ideas here. We hope this listing is helpful. Let us know of any special places you find that should be included here for others to enjoy.

Beach: No matter where you go on Cape, the beach is only minutes away. Bring a kite or book and spend the day with your toes in the sand. Don’t forget your pail & shovel.
Onset has miles of open beaches on Buzzards Bay and a zillion small protected beaches perfect for toddlers & kids. The waves are imperceptible, except for splashing. You can easily find an empty quiet beach for you and your kids to enjoy.

Cape Cod National Seashore, of course, is incomparable. 45 minutes away. Old Silver Beach, Falmouth, is beautiful.

Nemasket Kayak Kayak rentals or guides tours 508.291.4900. Onset Beach location & Base Camp at 146 Tihonet Road, Wareham www.nemasketkayak.com

Light Houses—there are more than a few to be found. Chatham Light. Nauset Light. Just like the postcards.

Bicycle trails. Cape Cod Canal 10 minutes from Onset, 7 miles on each side. Rent bicycles @ Sailworld, 139 Main St. Buzzards Bay,508.759.6559(ask about windsurfing lessons)

Shining Sea Trail, 4 mile ride along the coast, runs between Falmouth and Woods Hole, Really Beautiful! Cape Cod Rail Trail. Begins in Dennis on Rte 134 and goes to Wellfleet. Bicycle trail map can be found in Falmouth at the visitor center on Route 28, or at the Sagamore rotary visitor center. Nauset Trail start at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham and runs for 1.6 miles to Coast Guard Beach.

Whale Watching. These are unbelievable. Captain John’s boats will take you on a 4 hour excursion, 800.242.2469, leave from Plymouth, fishing trips, too. Whale Watcher Cruises from Barnstable, 800.942.0920. This will be your vacation highlight.

Seal Cruises. These are great! About 1.5 hours on the boat. Leave from Chatham. Beachcomber 508.945.5265, Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, 508.349.2615, or Monomoy Island Ferry 508.945.5450. Plan to spend some time on South Beach. Dress in layers as it can cold out on the water!!!
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary walking trails & nature center. Really beautiful!

Martha’s Vineyard. Island Queen ferry in Falmouth (35 minute ride)508.548.4800, Steamship Authority in Woods Hole (1 hour ride) 508.477.8600, Hy-Line Cruises in Hyannis (50 minute ride) 800.492.8082. The ferries have specific schedules, often requiring reservations. On the Vineyard, you can rent bicycles, mopeds or take the bus. To bring your car over you need to make reservations months ahead! Be sure to look for the gingerbread village in Vineyard Haven. Edgartown has beautiful turn-of-the-century captain’s houses.

Nantucket Island. A two-hour boat ride from Hyannis. Or, a ½ hour plane ride. Serene beauty. Old Quaker houses. Museums, quiet streets, rolling countryside with curving beaches.

Water Wizz. Right in Onset on Rt. 6. Giant waterslide, “not so lazy” river ride. Wild Tube Ride. Miniature golf. 508.295.3255. Voted best Water Park in New England! Cartland, Rte 28 in Onset. Go-carts, batting cages, bumper boats & mini-golf. Miniature Golf Courses are everywhere on the Cape. Almost as prevalent as antique stores. Pirate’s Cove, W. Yarmouth, open ‘till 11pm. Calamity Cave Mini Golf on Rte 28in Onset $7.50-play all day! Real golf—the Little Yellow Cape Cod Guide lists no less than 26 public courses and their phone numbers.

Buzzards Bay Scuba Dive Center. 2 East Blvd. Right in Onset 508.291.7282 , buzzardsbaydivecenter.com

Adventure Isle Amusement Center. 2 miles South of Bourne Bridge on Rt. 28. Long Go-Kart track, mini golf, Bumper Boats, kiddie rides, Laser Tag, Roller Skating. 800.53-KARTS. Look for coupons in guidebooks. Kids will love this place!

Historic sites, antique shops Tucked willy nilly about Cape Cod, (even in Onset), especially on Rte. 6A. Thermometer Museum in Onset, 508.295.5504. It’s in the Guinness World Record Book!

Aptucxet Trading Post Museum, Bourne 508.759.9487 Trading Post built by the pilgrims. Nice place to picnic.

Canal Cruises. Leave right from Onset dock. Jazz cruises as well. Fishing. Boats leave from Onset. Also Buzzards Bay, Plymouth, Falmouth, Hyannis. Actually, from just about every town on the Cape. Hyannis Harbor Cruises 508.778.2600. There’s even a Jazz Nightclub, right in Onset.
Woods Hole. Little free aquarium just right for little people. Great for a rainy day, Closed Sundays & Mondays! Seal feedings at 11 & 4, 166 Water St. 508.495.2001. Oceanographic Institute exhibit center, 15 School St. Step inside full size model of submersible Alvin. 508.289.2252. Sun. 12-4:30, M-F, 10-4:30. Oceanquest Marine education onboard 60’ research vessel, Hands-On fun & learning! 800.376.2326. Spohr Gardens 45 Fells Road, Falmouth, MA 02540. Open 8am.8pm daily. Magnificent site & Free!

Cape Cod Inflatable Park 518 Main St. West Yarmouth 508.771.6060. Cape Cod Parasail & Jet Ski 1 South Shore Drive, South Yarmouth 508.398.7245.

Cape Cod Beer Brewery Hrs. M.F 10.6. Tours M.F @11am 1336. Phinney’s Lane, Hyannis.
Toad Hall 50 Classic red Sports Cars 288 Scudder Ave. Hyannis Port 508.778.4934.

Plimoth Plantation. The spelling is correct, honest! See the way the early Americans lived. The Plantation has live actors portraying actual residents, in period dress. Really great. Plymouth National Wax Museum, Plymouth Rock, Mayflower II (reproduction ship). Cranberry World—see how cranberries are cultivated and grown. Plymouth is maybe 25 minutes from Onset.

Route 6A. This is the scenic road and runs from Sandwich to Orleans. Each town along the way is picture perfect. Clapboard and cedar shingled homes. Rose covered walls. White picket fences. Take your camera and your time. Have fun antiquing!

Sandwich. Located just across the Sagamore Bridge. Sandwich is the Cape’s oldest town. Small enough for a relaxing walking tour. While in Sandwich, visit Heritage Museums and Gardens, 508.888.3300, 100 acres of cultivated landscapes, an antique automobile museum, antique toys, a baseball exhibit, the world’s largest collection of Currier & Ives prints, and a 1912 carousel. The Adventure Park at Heritage Museum. Aerial Adventures including Ziplines! Also, the Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main Street. Watch daily glassblowing Museum Open 9:30-5:00, 508. 888.0251

For more great info: www.kidsonthecape.com

Chatham Fish Pier kids will love to watch the day’s catch being unloaded (and the seals swimming around looking for a hand-out).

Orleans. What a beautiful village! Look for Tree’s Place, showing arts and crafts from artisans across Cape Cod. A tremendous collection of kaleidoscopes, music boxes and ceramic tiles. Wednesday nights, visit Nauset Model Railroad Club 180 Route 6A in the rear, lower level of Hilltop Plaza, Fantastic!!! & Free!

Cape Cod National Seashore: Salt Pond Visitor Center Rte 6, Eastham 508.255.3421. Daily ranger-led programs, make reservations early! Well-marked self guided trails too.

Provincetown. The tip of Cape Cod. Lifestyles are a bit, well, exotic, so be forewarned! Art galleries abound. Nice beaches & bicycle trails. The drive from Onset is about 1.5 hours, and the traffic back on Rt. 6 is relentless on Sunday afternoon. Another way to go is a ferry from Plymouth. Call Cape Cod Cruise Lines, 508.747.2400.

Blueberry Picking-Yes!

Rainy Day Activities: Ryan Family Amusements 508.759.9892, 200 Main St. Buzzards Bay (10 min. away) Candlepin bowling & game room, ask about bumper bowling for the kids (look for coupons in guidebook). Paint your own ceramics studios, Color Me Mine in Mashpee Commons, 508.539.8500. Pottery By Me, in Brewster 508.896.6140. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History has many indoor and outdoor programs, creative exhibits and nature trails 508.896.3867. Rte 6A in Brewster.

Cape Cod Potato Chip factory tour, Free, 508.775.7253, M-F 9-5:00. Hyannis.

Movies.. Buzzards Bay Theater 105 Main St. Buzzards Bay 508.759.1171. Wellfleet drive-in 508.349.7176, Wellfleet FlagshipCinemas W. Wareham 508.291.4100. Exit 2 off 495, 13 min. from Onset (need to pay in cash).

Summer Theater on the Cape is fantastic! The Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis highlights first class music revues in the round 508.775.5630. The Cape Playhouse, 508.385.3911 Dennis. Monomoy Theater 508.945.1589 Chatham. Cape Rep Theatre 508.896.1888 Brewster. Payomet Performing Arts Center 508.487.5400, Truro. Harwich Junior Theater 508.432.2002 x4.

Cape Baseball. AAA ball played across the Cape. Our local teams are in Wareham and Bourne. Free!

Cape Cod Lavender Farm: In Harwich, 508. 432.8397 Enchanted garden & Lavender Shop. Visit in July at harvest time.

Scargo Tower in East Dennis has breathtaking views of Cape Cod Bay, very romantic sunsets! Scargo Hill Road, off Rte 6A. Don’t forget your camera!

Shopping.. The Bourne outlet center (Izod, Liz Claiborne, nine west) is right at the Buzzards Bay rotary (10 minutes away). The Cape Cod Factory Outlet Mall is at the first exit over the Sagamore Bridge. Mashpee Commons over 90 beautiful shops, lots of fun.



Newport, R.I. is a little over an hour away. (I-495N to I-195W. Then follow the signs). Here you’ll find the Touro Synagogue, one of the oldest synagogues in North America, and a stop on the Underground Railroad. Newport is home to the Newport Cup Race. Finally, Newport was, and is, the summer home of the incredibly wealthy. The gardens are fantastic; the homes stupendous. Many of these mansions have been opened to the public and operate tours year round. The Breakers, home to the Vanderbilts, is absolutely overwhelming. Rosecliff too. You can buy a multi pass and save $.



Please let us know by email whauser@capecodshul.org or phone call when you plan on visiting so we can confirm the number of people we can count on for minyan for any given day. Thanks!
More questions? Call Wendy Hauser 339.364.0063.

Lighthouses

Museum

Wildlife and Zoo