July 11, 2016 | Sandy Giardi
As seen in BDG's Premiere Cape & Islands Issue, Summer 2016.
We've asked our insiders what to see, sip, eat, do and discover while you're on the Cape and Islands. Here are their sweet summer standouts...
SEASIDE SIPS
P-town’s The Red Inn is a spirited destination for cocktails. Sip a teatini (Earl Grey infused Plymouth Gin, with lemon and a sugared rim) out on the deck or at the inside bar during the Raw Bar Happy Hour. You simply can’t get any closer to the water, says Executive Chef/Owner Philip Mossy Jr. theredinn.com
On the beach just outside the Ocean House Restaurant resides the Beach Bar, one of the Cape's coolest hot spots. Since its inception, this alfresco watering hole on Nantucket Sound has gained popularity for its cold cocktails (blueberry lemon drop, among them) sandy vantage, raw bar and small plates, and live music in the evenings. oceanhouserestaurant.com/beachbar
ELEGANT EATS
Everything on the menu at Provincetown’s Joon Bar & Kitchen is made from scratch, and, we’ve been told, divine. Chef Paul Krikorian prizes seasonal ingredients and plates traditional favorites with a spin. Think duck sliders with house smoked cheddar and slaw served on house-made buttermilk biscuits; and Spanish olives stuffed with Manchego and deep-fried in panko. joonbar.com
If Nantucket’s discriminating restaurant culture is the oyster, The Pearl is the gem. Foodies favor Executive Chef Seth Raynor’s coastal cuisine that’s emboldened by exotic flavors found on off-season travels. The menu mingles fresh seafood, heritage meats and local produce like salt and pepper wok-fried lobster over fresh lo mein. thepearlnantucket.com
They say you can't please all the people all the time, but Hyannis' Pain D'Avignon may be the exception. With fresh croissants in the bakery, rise-and-shine breakfasts and midday meals in the cafe, ready-to-go picnic provisions, premium cocktails and savory French dinner fare, Pain D'Avignon can be your go-to-spot morning, noon and night - and it should be. paindavignon.com
SUNNY SURF
Four miles south of Edgartown, Katama Beach, (aka the other South Beach) is beloved for its breaks and its beauty. The Vineyard beach is marked by sweeping dunes, crystal-clear waters and five- to eight-foot waves that call to surfers.
With its rolling waves off Nantucket Sound and steady winds, Hyannis' Kalmus Beach thrills windsurfers looking to take flight atop the swells. This expansive beach suits shredders as well as swimmers; it's partitioned into two zones - one for adrenaline, the other for relaxation.
AMAZING ARTS
America's oldest art colony is alive and well, and thriving on Friday nights in summertime. Provincetown's Friday Night Stroll hails the district's vibrant arts scene as galleries stay open late, provide refreshments and welcome onlookers to view their varied exhibitions. Don't miss Commercial Street's Rice Polak Gallery. It boasts the area's most comprehensive art, with works that explore - and question - established boundaries. ricepolakgallery.com
The island's public theatre, the Theatre Workshop of Nantucket, is turning 60 this summer. To celebrate, they've invited the inimitable Meryl Streep to perform in "On With the Show- A 60th Anniversary Cabaret" at the Nantucket Hotel and Resort July 30. Other TWN hot tickets include productions of Venus in Fur, Annie Get Your Gun, The Full Monty and more. theatreworkshop.com
SOARING SIGHTS
The Pilgrims stopped here, shouldn't you? Pilgrim Monument commemorates the New World landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620 (before they set sail to Plymouth) and features the Provincetown Museum at its base. An easy climb up the 252-foot granite structure gives sightseers a fantastic view of Provincetown's harbor and beyond. pilgrim-monument.org
Drive a Jeep to the western end of Martha's Vineyard to view the russet clay cliffs and gorgeous ocean views of Aquinnah. One hundred and fifty feet above sea level, the windswept cliffs are stunning to look at, as well as sacred to the Wampanoag Tribe, who own the national landmark. Visitors can also tour Gay Head Light nearby.
STUNNING SUNSETS
The docks of Menemsha in Chilmark are a prime vantage for sunset viewing on the Vineyard. Bring a bottle of wine, duck into Larsen's Fish Market for fresh-off-the-boat seafood and take your seat among the boats of this working fishing village to watch the sun make its colorful descent.
Yarmouth's Gray's Beach (Bass Hole) boasts one spectacular sunset. Walk the boardwalk over the scenic salt marsh to the sea, and watch as the sun dips into the horizon, coloring the sky in fiery orange and red. yarmouthcapecod.com
LUSCIOUS LOBSTER
No Cape Cod visit is complete without diving into a delicious lobster roll. Cap't Cass, a quaint seafood shanty on Rock Harbor in Orleans, is a fan favorite for their stellar sandwich and rustic digs. Their lobster roll sings of the sea and very little else; the lobster meat is tossed with just a hint of mayo and lemon and has zero fillers or frills. 117 Rock Harbor Rd.
The Raw Bar at Mashpee's Popponesset Marketplace rocks the oh-so sweet roll; so well, in fact, that it nabbed a slot on Food & Wine's Top 10 list nationwide. The kitchen coasts the buttery lobster meat with a bit of mayo and dishes up heaping portions on torpedo rolls, proving you can't have too much of a good thing. therawbar.com
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