Cape Cod Recap: Chatham Bars Inn
Photo: Cathie in Cape Code for Flytographer
Just returned from an amazing week in Cape Cod- we went with another family (some of our closest friends, easy travel partners!) and rented a house connected to the Chatham Bars Inn- which is an incredible hotel property located along the beach in Chatham, MA. I am no travel blogger, but did want to quickly share our experience since I know so many of you are trying to navigate an unpredictable summer where the idea of traveling- even by car- feels daunting and full of unknowns.
Here is the deal- renting a house made the experience feel super “normal”- we had all the amenities of the hotel at our fingertips, but, in the main hotel area, everyone was wearing masks and to me (and this is a personal thing- some may not be as bothered by it as I am!) it makes everything feel sort of Handmaid’s Tale-esque, and not “vacation-y” if that makes sense. Believe me, I am all for safety and masks and all of those things right now- it is important- but if I am being honest here (which I always am, can’t help it), were I to be wearing a mask every time I walked out of my hotel room to go to the lobby, it would feel stressful to me. The staff was VERY on top of safety- always wearing masks, handling things carefully, hand sanitizer everywhere, etc. I didn’t feel worried at all the entire time (again, though- in general I am more on the laid-back side when it comes this stuff- my husband is the one who always remembers to remind me to wear gloves to the grocery, etc.).
Daily Activities at Chatham Bars Inn
Our days starting with a lazy morning hanging out at the house- my friend Courtney and I tried to do a livestream workout each day (still binging on DanceBody Live- you guys need to try it, I am obsessed!), our kids played on iPads, and husbands got work calls out of the way as much as possible. Then we went to the pool for a bit (the pool is gorgeous, and the food is so good- the lobster nachos are a MUST), played tennis in the afternoon (the kids took a lesson with the in-house pro and they LOVED it- my girls don’t always love taking lessons, but he made it so fun for them!), then usually cooked dinner at our house. The fish pier is a short walk from the hotel and became our go-to for picking up clams and seafood each night. Before arrival, we got a giant PeaPod grocery order delivered, which made it very easy for us to really keep to ourselves and make the rental house feel like home.
Oh- and also, I didn’t know this, but Chatham is where hundreds of seals hang out just off-shore, basking in the sun each day waiting to fish for dinner. That was SUPER cool. They were right out of our window! And since shark season hasn’t kicked into gear yet, it didn’t feel ominous to watch them play and howl to each other all day long. It was such a treat to watch and something extra special in my opinion about the property!
What It Was Like In Chatham, MA.
We got a babysitter for 2 nights (the hotel works with Summer Sitters which is a local on-demand sitter service and super organized and wonderful!) but, upon realizing most restaurants off-property were closed (or booked already!), we ended up cancelling our second night out (kids were bummed as they LOVED the sitter- go figure!). Our one night out we went to a place called The Port about 25 minutes away- and while the food was good, it wasn’t on the water, and the entire time we were there, I think all 4 of us secretly wished we were in sweats at our house!
The hotel gave us bikes to use for the week- and we loved biking around the town. One thing that did take getting used to though was remembering to bring our masks with us any time we left the house! In the main town area, masks are required- so a couple times we had to run back into the house upon realizing we didn’t have ours with us. New habits take time! Most restaurants in the town are closed as they didn’t have outdoor dining, but we did pick up one night from Blue Fin Sushi which was highly recommended and totally delicious!
Service and Vibe at Chatham Bars Inn
Our first 5 days there, the hotel was super quiet. The kids club opened on June 19th (we left on the 20th) and we noticed a MAJOR influx of guests on the 19th. People love the kids club there, and I think many planned their trips around the opening. The staff was so kind and eager to be on top of things- but given that the hotel had JUST opened on June 8th, days before we arrived, there was definitely a bit of chaos once the property was at capacity. So I don’t fault them for glitches here and there- nothing was a big deal. We booked the clambake for our last night- it looked like a gorgeous set up on the beach- but ended up leaving before our meals arrived and opted to order the pizza they do on the room service menu instead (it is SO GOOD, you guys- random, but delicious!). There were definitely some flow issues with the kitchen getting up and running under new circumstances, and given that we had 3 kids age 9 and under with us, we were slightly less patient than we would have been had it just been adults. Also- they can only seat (due to regulations) tables of 6 people or less. Since we had 7 in our group, the kids were at a separate table and while that is great in theory, it is often tricky in execution.
Would We Go Back to Chatham Bars Inn?
YES YES, a million times YES! It is an easy drive for us- 3.5 hours from Fairfield County, CT. Plus a mandatory stop in Noank, CT for lobsters and steamers at Abbott’s Lobster- essential, seriously! While we may not always be able to go all out and do a house for a week, there are tons of adorable cottages and I heard the hotel rooms are very nice. The property is small enough that no matter where you stay, it is a short walk to the beach, pool and tennis courts- and town is like an 8 minute walk away.
I think going back post-Pandemic will feel like a different experience also because the town will be open, and we will feel more comfortable getting on our bikes or hopping in the car and exploring Cape Cod. So, yeah, definitely gonna have to get another trip (or annual trips- that is the ultimate dream!) on the books…
Packing Highlights for Our Trip To Cape Cod
