My dear wife Karen and I have been to Cape Cod in the Happy Cottage four years in a row now. Long enough to know what we must do to make the near-summer vacation complete.
Drive that 15 or so miles down the road to visit Chatham makes the list.
This year, though, we crossed off the pier and the viewing of the seals and went straight to the quaint village on the main drag. (Maybe next year, my flapper friends.)
Click on gallery photos for a description. Click and hold on the bottom right photo for an enlarged slide show.
The shops, restaurants, pubs and village sites have the right feel for us. Karen pokes her head into any store that calls her name. I follow. It works. We both find things of interest.
Karen came back with cool gifts to bring to her girlie pals later this summer. I have a tidy little box of sugar-free chocolates. We each scored a majorly nice T at Life Is Good. Ellie B is wearing a new collar from Black Dog. You’ll see the Ts and collar in another post. I won’t scoop the gifts, though.
Speaking of aka Dogamous Pyle, we were quite disappointed to see that Chatham Dog has closed since last June. We’d purchased Ellie B treats there and brought them back to the Happy Cottage two years running.
Yet Chatham is not all about buy, buy, buy for us.
Afer all walking, of course it was time for a late lunch. We huddled. Here? The Happy Cottage? Sesuit Harbor Marina?
Immediacy prevailed.
The Captain’s Table looked simple and inviting with its covered outdoor patio. Brunch was still available, but we both went with our first seafood of the trip.
Karen enjoyed her lobster roll, which came unadorned by extras and room temperature. We’re accustomed to a chilled mix more akin to a tuna salad.
I thought my five fried shrimp were tasty enough, but I could have used one more on my plate. I also discovered that tartar and not cocktail sauce must be the default condiment of the area, because I had to send the waitress back to get my preferred red stuff to go with the lemon juice from the slice she provided.
The drive home was quite relaxing.
Do you have a favorite little village to visit, and if so, where and why? What shops look interesting to you? What’s your favorite photograph and why?
Mark Bialczak 
That looks like a fun place to walk around. It reminds me of when I used to walk around Woodstock. I hope Ellie got a nice consolation prize.
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It does remind me of Woodstock. Good eye, Rachel. Ellie B got a nice prize. Yes, she did.
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mark- it looks absolutely Lovely !!!!
And I see the sun!!!!!! 🙂
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I know! And thanks for the latest, Anna. I love it. Sorry I haven’t thanked you back yet on email. Cape Cod!
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I feel you Mark. There is just something about that red sauce and shrimp that a mere mayo based concoction can’t give.
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Thank you, Benson! Hooray!!
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Dave’s family had some connection to Chatham because they named their dog after the town! I’ve never been to the Cape but would love to visit some day. In the mean time, I’ll live vicariously through you and Karen. Enjoy, enjoy!
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A dog named Chatham. I love it, Angie McFly! I imagine the pooch barking with a New England accent!
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Picture a dachshund with a belly that practically touched the ground!
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Hey Mark..lovely portrayal of the village..wish to go to your place and cordially invite you along with your family to my place..I have invited youfor 3 days quote challenge, if u are willing, visit my last post..
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I will visit now that you have alerted me about the challenge soumi. As you see, I’m on vacation!
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ok…I know no challenge or nothing should come your way this time at least..Happy vacation time to u and to your family..
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Wow! It looks so beautiful!
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It’s a tidy place, Raphaela. 🙂
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Beautiful photos, Mark, you’ve captured its charm. But..tartar with fried shrimp, red sauce if steamed. IMHO. Is there clam chowder in your plans ??? ☺ Van
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You may eat it all your way, Van. Answer: No to clams of any variety for me. Only lobster and shrimp from the sea. I know, odd for somebody who grew up on Long Island and lived in Maryland.
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how cute is chatham? ! wow, and lobster rolls are my favorite. i can understand the expectation of a chilled sandwich, that’s what i’d expect too, but when in rome, i guess…… i have only been to cape cod once, and we were in the busy city of provincetown, and traveled to nearby truro, which was lovely.
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MDW Karen still loved the lobster roll, Beth, so all was good. We will be going to P-town later this week. Yay!
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Chatham looks absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing, Mark. But, what is a Goobie?
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I didn’t want to know, Roy. I really, really did not. I loved taking the photo, though.
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My favourite little village is the same village I hate to be in after two weeks! It’s the town/village I was grumbling about last week.
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Love-hate relationship, hey, Shooby Doo? You are a tricky one. 😉
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Hahah, yes, l’m more tangled than Maggi Noodles. 😛
Have you heard about the controversy over there, by any chance?
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No, you’ll have to fill me in, Shooby Doo.
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Oh! Actually Maggi Noodles is the most popular noodles in India, and recently it was found out that there is high amount of lead content in it!
It broke many hearts! Everyone loves Maggi here. It’s a Nestlé product.
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Cape Cod looks just about perfect, Mark. We have a huge project coming up, and probably won’t be getting away anywhere for vacation this summer so I appreciate you letting me live vicariously through your pictures. Btw, tartar on shrimp? What is wrong with those people! Cocktail all the way!
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I am glad to help relieve some of the daily stress with the photos, Rachel. Think of how good you and your hubby will reel when the project is finished! And I’m glad to hear you are in the cocktail sauce club with me. 🙂
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Sadly, or not??? My favorite village is not in the US of A. 🙂
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We know that, MBC, and love that, MBC! ❤
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😉 You understand me well MBM. ❤
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I just love places like that, with the little shops full of interesting things. What a great trip! I’m feelin lunch-ish so the photo of Karen’s lobster roll looks awfully good to me, especially at room temperature, but I’ll need to steal a few of your fries, Mark!
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The lobster roll was delish, and I has many fries, I’m glad to share, Joey! 🙂
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The place looks awesomeeeee. And Mrs. B – *sigh* so pretty!!
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Yes, it is awesome, LR, and Mrs. B is looking great! Thank you, ❤
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I’ve always wanted to visit Cape Cod. I’ve been to New England once and had a blast taking in the scenery of southern Maine and Portsmouth, NH area. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
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It’s really pretty and very relaxing, Gary. I’m happy to share. You’re welcome. 🙂
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My favorite of those photos is the one of Karen, she looks happy!
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She’s pretty relaxed on vacation, isn’t she, Hollie? Agreed.
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It looks like a lovely place to get away for awhile!
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We like Cape Cod as a whole, PJ. 🙂
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That’s nice you both can get away and go there.
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🙂
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I love the idea of you huddling to decide where to have lunch. It looks like a lovely place.
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We huddle to make our decisions often, Rachel. We try to blend in while we’re doing it. 🙂 It was a nice place. That was a good decision!
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blending in while huddling – you two are talented!
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Or I am very deluded. 😉
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talented for sure 🙂
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You are such a good friend, Rachel. 🙂
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I love these quaint little shopping villages. The pic of the rainbow fish is great. Is it a dolphin?
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It’s a shark, if they stuck to the name of the exhibit, Marissa.
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Oh boy, I really didn’t do well in my biology courses.
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Fins to the left, fins to the right … Nah, you didn’t listen to Jimmy Buffet, eitther, Marissa. 🙂
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Oh goodness!!
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Since I am a Florida resident and we do have some really cool little towns around; one of my favorites is St. Augustine. Love the history, cobblestone original streets, vendors, shops, etc. Quaint and fun!
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Isn’t St. Augustine the first city in the country, Cheryl? I believe I’ve read that. It sounds memorable.
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Yes it is America’s oldest city! The Fort still stands that was built in the mid 16th century.
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Thanks for confirming my memory, Cheryl. 🙂
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And it is a remarkable memory at that!!!
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I love, love, love Chatham! When I was there a couple of weekends ago for my friend’s 60th birthday celebration, we ate at the Beach House down by the Chatham Bars Inn, right by the water. I have to say, the lobster roll was huge and delicious as were the fries. Not as good as Sesuit of course. Looks like you and your lovely wife are having a good ‘ol time. These are some nice pics, Mr. B. 🙂
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We are unwinding in style, Mrs. B. I like where a certain A city is in relation to Syracuse and Dennis, by the way. 🙂
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I like the shark alley photo, it’s exactly the kind of thing you can count on in a little town, some little hand-made quirky touch. Of course, I’m only picking it because I’m not allowed to comment on your wife twice in a row.
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This little town knows it has to keep things on the schedule to get people to stop their cars. Smart planners. And you can dig MDW Karen’s look from up there, Jay. 🙂
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Only been there once, but I couldn’t enjoy myself because I was looking for a summer job during college. Never did find a job there and ended up working in Boston suburbs. Cape Cod would have made for a better summer I’m sure.
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Too bad, Scott, that you didn’t land a spot at a Cuffy’s hawking T-shirts. This would have been way more fun.
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Almost anything would have been way more fun.
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Love the first photograph. Makes me homesick for New England. Oh, and I prefer the red stuff too; can’t stand tartar sauce. Truth be told I like my cocktail sauce almost pink from so much horseradish. I want it to crawl up the back of my nose and make my cry. You should take a poll: cocktail sauce or tartar sauce?
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I’m glad I took you home, DE. We are alike in our love of horseradish. You are very descriptive. Sinus-cleaner! And later this week in my Cape Cod series, expect a tartar vs. cocktail poll thanks to you. I know I plan to order fried shrimp take-out one more time at a joint we love. 🙂
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You can tell a serious seafood place: they hand you ketchup, horseradish and a lemon and let you make your own blend.
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Yes, that’s the way to do it, DE.
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Love small, stress-free towns where the traffic is slow and the people relaxed. 🙂 🙂
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You would love it a lot here, Tess!
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The village pictures remind me of Niagara-On-The-Lake in Ontario, Canada. I’ll bet the prices are a whole lot better in Chatham, though. Sounds like you had a great trip.
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It’s really pretty, CM. The prices are not low, though. I can’t compare with the Ontario fare, of course. I do recall how high things were in Niagara Falls …
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When I went to Niagara-On-The-Lake with my daughters a number of years ago, we went into some of the little shops. My youngest found a really cute plaid skirt she liked – it was almost $1000 (Canadian)! Needless to say, she did not get that skirt.
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Let’s see, a skirt or a used car? Criminy, CM.
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We have our own fond memories of Chatham while visiting Grandpa Williams out in Wellfleet.
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That must have been a good time in your life, Jnana. Thanks for hopping over a state and coming along again with me here today.
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Great post and beautiful photos Mark 😀
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Thank you, Irene. Almost like your spots in Spain?
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Yes Mark 😀
Wish you a wonderful vacation 😉
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My friend lives in Chatham, Kent UK but your Chatham looks much prettier 🙂 Lots of greenery around too.
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It is very green and lush right now, Cathy. But the U.K. of course sounds interesting to me as well. 🙂
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I love visiting my favorite little village of your blog, Mark, and I’m glad you’re listing your favorite things.
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Your sister and sister-in-law live here, Ann? Or am I swinging and missing? I know I’ve read about you loving it and them at your place.
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It’s not a miss, Mark. They have a place in the little village of Provincetown.
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Where we will also be visiting later this stay, Ann. 🙂
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They’re only there certain times, so it will be a miss, that way.
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What a lovely place to visit. It is wonderful to revisit places and have that feeling of “coming home” again. We enjoy visiting Ocean Grove in NJ- a quaint town on the Jersey Shore- not over run with tourists and amusements- just a boardwalk, a great Main Street and a wonderful beach.
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Ocean Grove sounds fantastic, Lisa. I think there are many places like that up and down the Jersey Shore, acclimated for more quiet visitors. I hope it was spared the wrath of the killer storm several years ago.
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The boardwalk was destroyed but reopened last summer 🙂
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My favorite photo is the one of your wife at The Captain’s Table. She looks happy and the place looks like a good spot to relax. I also like that you call her your “dear wife Karen.” I’ve lived in New England, so, your photos are all interesting.
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This village is New England in a nutshell to me Freeda. It’s an easy place to relax for us. My dear wife Karen works so hard at home I love to see her smile like this on vacation.
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Ah, the lazy stress free vacation in a quaint historic town. Wish I was there Mark – you describe it so alluringly.
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Thanks, Paul. You would enjoy this town — if you found a spot to park the rig. 🙂
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