Ok, we'll admit it. One of the main selling points for our resort is that we sit right smack on a private beach here on Cape Cod. Plenty of our guests come and are content to sit out on the beach and only come inside when the sun goes down, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But being the hardy year-rounders we are, we love exploring the Cape and putting together unique ides to show off the great place we live and the great activities that surround us.

A shared passion among Corsair and Cross Rip staff is a love of theatre. We've been pleased to see the expansion of stage shows on Cape Cod over the past 5-10 years and think it adds a great dimension to an already enticing place to vacation. Like much on Cape Cod, each theatre is unique - no cookie cutter centers for the arts here. Depending on the venue, some troupes put on adventurous and unique shows and occasionally one-of-a-kind productions. They range from the classics like Rogers and Hammerstein to the contemporary like Spam-A-Lot.

We're excited to show off some of our favorites. Perhaps you'll join us for dinner and a show? Try our special theatre packages (coming soon!) for a weekend of fun.

The Cape Rep Theatre
Perhaps the best known of the Cape Cod theaters, the Cape Cod Reparatory Theatre (Cape Rep as it's known to the locals) puts on a steady stream of productions - most run for about a month at a time. Unique to Cape Rep is its outdoor theatre open from late June-August. Nestled in the woods on the ocean in Brewster this theatre was home to the kids at Camp Monomoy. The indoor theatre was originally their dining hall! Now the six acre camp is protected by the National Seashore and entrusted to the folks at Cape Rep. Mixing home grown equity and non-equity actors to perform cutting edge contemporary and local written plays, last year's biggest hit, Spam-a-Lot, sold out for ten consecutive weeks!

Cape Playhouse
You could call the Cape Playhouse our local theatre - after all, it's located right here in Dennis. Considered "Broadway on Cape Cod," the Playhouse typically runs a schedule heavy with Broadway favorites old and new. The theater itself is historic to the Cape.  The first summer performances were held in 1927 in this former Unitarian church. Famous for bringing Hollywood to Dennis in the earlier years with such performers as Henry Fonda, Betty Davis, Gregory Peck, Humphrey Bogart and, yes even the likes of William Shatner. This year's showcase brings some old favorites like Hello Dolly. Located on Route 6A, the Playhouse is convenient to most of Dennis' best finer dining establishments, and makes for a great evening out. Stop in to the nearby Scargo Cafe or the Harvest Gallery for a drink and an appetizer before the show and make a night of it!

Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre - WHAT
One of the most adventurous theaters on Cape Cod, this 100% equity actor theater was the dream and realization of Julie Harris. Routinely putting on productions that push the envelope creatively, and they've carved out a niche as the theater people's theatre. In recent years, they've expanded beyond theatre to include film, music and opera. Be sure to check their website for upcoming shows and make plans to see a one-of-a-kind production.

Cotuit Center for the Arts
An up-and-coming theatre and overall arts program, the Cotuit Center for the Arts is an inexpensive and culturally rich way to enjoy a night out year round. The CCOA has an extensive theatre schedule with something on stage most nights out of the week, and a vibrant art gallery and art education program for the young and old. The viewing experience at this theatre is unique; The stage is surrounding by a Mezzanine that is used in elaborate scenery to engage the audience on two levels. For $55-$150 a season, an individual or a family can join and get preferred seating options for most shows. Don't worry about eating before hand - some smarty-pants at the Cotuit Center made an alliance with Bleu in Mashpee Commons so the drink and food options at the CCMOA are top notch...and buying a table's worth of tickets (four) includes a bottle of wine.

Monomoy Theatre - Chatham
Located near downtown Chatham, the Monomoy theatre puts on high-quality productions of many well-known theatre standards. The Monomoy has partnerships with Ohio University and the University of Hartford, meaning many upcoming young theatre students pass through the Monomoy on their way to their careers. Since it's located so close to Chatham's bustling main drag, it's super-easy to have a great meal and catch a show in the same evening.

Academy of Performing Arts - Cape Cod
The APA on Cape is a hybrid theatre school and playhouse, offering the opportunity for theatre students to put their shows up on stage in front of a packed house night in and night out. They put on an eclectic mix of shows, with some avant-garde style shows mixed in with theatre standards and old favorites. Check out the building - it's a historic converted town hall!


Provincetown Theaters
The story is not complete without homage paid to the many small theaters that can be found in and around Provincetown.  The town's theatre scene is anchored by a new year round facility just on the outskirts called (What else!) the Provincetown Theater.  You will find summer performances in the Unitarian church, The Art House (reconverted movie theater), Post Office Café, The Crown and Anchor Theater and, not to forget, the roving theaters that take place almost anywhere each week.  Provincetown has more shows in one block than all of Cape Cod. There is theater for every taste from the risqué performances of the Broadway hit Naked Boys Singing to the one person shows with performers like Margaret Chow or Leslie Jordan.  (Often times Provincetown is used for a test ground to hone their skills before taking the act to Broadway or HBO).


No matter which theatre you choose, you're supporting a great cause and advancing the arts here on Cape Cod. We're so much more than beaches, and we're more than happy to help show it all to you. If you're a member of a local theatre group or just someone interested in bringing a group of friends down to check out a show, give us a call. We'd be more than happy to put together a special midweek Cape Cod vacation package for you and go about securing your tickets!

'Til next time!

April Vacation is right around the corner. Hard to believe, but it's officially spring now in the Northeast, and that means the kids are going to be home from school for a week - again. This means endless squabbles over XBox controllers, desperate attempts to get the kids to go outside and one too many trips to a cookie-cutter "family friendly"restaurant.

Fear not. We're here to help. Pack the car and take a trip down to Cape Cod! Seriously! Ok, so you'll likely have to wear a sweatshirt outside and only the craziest 12 year old would go swimming in the North Atlantic in April, but trust us - there's plenty of other unique and fun activities to do and explore. Use our hotel as your home base - we have a heated indoor pool, large game room and enough free pizza and popcorn every day to keep the rambunctious ones fed while you enjoy the sea breeze and quiet of Dennisport. We've also assembled a list of things to do and sites to see when you've tired of the pool.

As many of our readers know, we close the resort for the off-season in October re-open in April. But that doesn't mean we're totally shut down! Other than an annually awesome staff party (This year they went mini-golfing and did the Cape Cod dinner train on Mark's dime. Thanks boss!) and a couple trips here and there to Arizona (Judith), the Caribbean (Mark), we're all at work year-round making improvements to the resort and making sure our friends come back to visit us each spring and summer.

Though we know our guests appreciate the hard work our staff puts in every summer, we wanted to give everyone an inside peek at what it takes to put the resort back together to open each spring. With four houses and two resort buildings to bring back online and an entire staff to hire, it's a daunting task!

The physical plant of the resort is largely the domain of one man in the offseason: our maintenance guru Rob. He's a master of all trades: plumbing, carpentry, electrical repairs and general crisis management. 

First on Rob's list is to open and test all the plumbing to the Corsair building. The water is shut off in the winter to prevent any mishaps with frozen pipes or leakage. Nothing can go forward until each room has its sinks, toilets and tubs opened, tested and repaired. Our fingers are crossed - we haven't had any major issues in the last few years, and hope to keep it that way. Adding to Rob's already full plate are the renovations of six Corsair bathrooms and kitchenettes - new tile, tubs, toilets, sinks and kitchen appliances all have to be framed for and installed. Every year it's something!

New tubs are going into 6 Corsair rooms. You can see the disconnected plumbing at right

Next, the rooms receive touch-up paint and some minor repairs to walls, baseboards and trim. We've had our crazy experiences at the hotel, but the guests are normally very respectful of the building so the repairs are nothing out of the ordinary, and usually go unnoticed but not unappreciated. It's a testament to the staff that the buildings are kept in such great shape, and that they somehow always manage balancing renovations with normal TLC. 

Outside, the pools at the Corsair and the Cross Rip have to be drained of any offseason rainwater, checked for major issues, repainted, have heaters and pumps reconnected, filled, chlorinated and pH balanced. The same process is repeated with all hot tubs later in the season. Just before opening weekend, the outdoor furniture is brought back outside, cleaned and readied for guests.

Hot tub covered. Inside, the plumbing, machinery and chemicals are disconnected and moved for the season.

Finally, the indoor furniture and TVs all return from winter storage and are put back in the rooms just before the resort opens. Housekeeping takes care of the linens and other goodies, and the Corsair building itself is ready to go! A couple weeks later, the process is repeated for the Cross Rip and that building is opened as well.

If you've stayed with us before, you've almost certainly met Judith and Sapphire. They're with us all year round - ordering supplies, following up with guests, double checking reservations and booking groups - basically everything. Since cloning is illegal, we're have to hire seasonal help to run housekeeping and the front of the desk. 

The staff is largely recruited and hired by the end of the previous year. By December our new housekeepers and desk staff have all been interviewed and had arrangements made if they're coming to America on a work or student visa. In the past, we've had students from Eastern Europe, Jamaica, South Africa and Russia work at the resort, native Cape Codders and more. Most of the international staff arrives by the end of May - those already in the U.S. are on-site by April 1 to help open the resort for the season. This year, we're planning on having 4 returning housekeepers, two rookies and two new front desk staffers. 

Preparations for opening weekend begin in earnest in the next couple weeks. Stationary, brochures and rate sheets have already been ordered, and Sapphire and Judith will start sending out last-minute newsletters and reminders up until opening weekend. Food for the breakfast nook, office supplies, t-shirts and more are ordered through opening weekend.

Don't Let All this Work be for Nothing!

Come stay with us! Ok, so it's a shameless plug, but we'd really love to have you this summer. For our returning guests, take an extra long weekend or midweek day off and come down for some beach time. If you've been reading our blog but haven't visited yet, what are you waiting for!?

'Til next time.

Want to visit Cape Cod to see more cool exhibits like this? Check out our shoulder season rates, or book your stay for next summer!

Provincetown on Dwellable

As a family resort on Cape Cod, all kinds of people come through our doors with a wide range of interests. Some are content to just sit by the pool or sit on the beach, while others take the kids, rent bicycles and ride all over the mid and outer Cape. Still others use the resort as a launching pad for adventures to the National Seashore or the islands. This post is for those guests that come and want to see the best art on Cape Cod!

The striking dunes, sandy beaches, scrub pines and picture book cottages of Cape Cod have inspired generations of painters, writers and other artists and the fruits of their labor are in museums and private collections all over the world; some even close to home here on Cape Cod!

Unlike a lot of other beach destinations, Cape Cod is not just a "tourist destination." There's literally over 200 years of history in each town, and many buildings and families have been fixtures here since the 1800s. A lot of culture has accumulated over the years, giving the Cape the added appeal of a big-city quality arts scene and a cutting-edge free-form art emporium (The artists of Provincetown come to mind). Routes 28 and 6A are dotted with little museums, like the Cahoon Museum in Cotuit and the Black Crow Gallery in East Sandwich. If you weren't looking for them, you'd drive right past!

Read on for our guide to the art museums of Cape Cod - from the nationally known galleries to the hidden gems.

Cape Cod Museum of Art - Dennis: Let's start with the biggest dog on the block - the Cape Cod Museum of Art. Located across town on Hope Lane, the CCMOA is home to a large collection of works from Cape Cod-based artists including Hans Hoffmann and Charles Hawthorne. The museum hosts frequent events and classes for artists of all ages and skill levels. The museum is currently home to Skid Row: Paintings of Life on the Street and other touring installations. Be sure to admire the building itself while visiting!

Provincetown Art Association and Museum - Provincetown: Heading out to the very tip of the Cape, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) is a destination for artists from all over that are on the cutting edge. Chartered in 1921, the museum hosts rotating exhibits, so be sure to check their website before making the drive out to P-Town. Recently, the museum entered into a long-term agreement with the Fine Arts Work Center of Provincetown, giving them a steady stream of fresh and innovative installations for years to come. A great place to make an annual stop off thanks to its constantly changing nature.

The Cahoon Museum of American Art - Cotuit: Housed in the Ebenezer Crocker mansion (a building older than America!), the Cahoon Museum is home to an extensive collection of folk art painted and collected by Ralph and Martha Cahoon, and a handpicked gallery of 19th and 20th century contemporary American art. The museum also hosts art classes, an innovative art and alzheimers program and produces exhibitions in partnership with the neighboring Cotuit Center for the Arts.

Heritage Museum and Gardens - Sandwich: Perhaps Cape Cod's best known museum attraction, Heritage Museum and Gardens has been a must-stop for families for generations. Situated on acres and acres of picturesque grounds with multiple exhibit halls, Heritage has something for everyone. The American Art and Carousel Gallery is one of the museum's better-known collections, with a working carousel built in 1908. We know they're not technically art, but the classic cars in Heritage's noted Classic Car Gallery absolutely should not be missed by anybody, car nut or not!

Harvest Gallery Wine Bar - Dennis: The Harvest Gallery Wine Bar - where you can see your art and drink it too! The gallery features works from 30 artists (almost all for sale) and the menu features locally-sourced, seasonal ingredients, not to mention the extensive and impressive wine list. Keep an eye on their website for events once they open in April. This museum is truly one of a kind!

Left Bank Gallery - Wellfleet/Orleans: Not your typical museum (it's more of a gallery, as in, you can buy most things you see), the Left Bank Gallery is built around Cape Cod art that tells a story. Home to everything from wall art to furniture to jewelry and clothes, the Left Bank Gallery's three locations are all worth a stroll through, and a purchase here and there.

Tree's Place - Orleans: Located at the intersection of Routes 6A and 28 in Orleans, Tree's Place hosts one of the region's best collections of contemporary art, with a focus on realism, impressionism and post-modernism. Visitors to the museum will find any number of hidden gems in their collection, whether they're from well-known artists or newcomers to the scene. Adding to the variety, submissions are taken at the end of each year, so the exhibitions are different for each visit.

Cultural Center of Cape Cod - South Yarmouth: Located in the beautifully-restored Bass River Savings Bank building (the restoration of the period bank is art in itself!), the Cultural Center of Cape Cod is home to a wide array of artistic endeavors. Not a museum in the traditional sense of the word, the Cultural Center is a great place for children and adults alike to get hands-on experience with the arts, and to get up close and personal with talented cultural figures. Keep an eye on their website, as artists frequently rent out the center's three galleries for showings (one is even in the old vault!) and these can change monthly and even weekly.

Plan Your Visit!

Have we piqued your interest in Cape Cod art? Come visit us! We're conveniently located minutes from Route 28 in Dennisport, and our friendly and knowledgable staff is more than happy to point you in the right direction to see the best art Cape Cod has to offer - without driving too far. Give us a call or email us today - we'd love to have you.

As you can probably guess, one of the questions we get asked the most here at the hotel is "Where is the best place to eat?" The short answer is that you'd have to try hard to get a bad meal here on Cape Cod; the longer answer is "How long can you stand to wait?" We figured we'd put our knowledge to good use and compile a list for our loyal guests and blog readers! We're focusing on funky and quirky local joints you might not hear about anywhere else - after all, we're here all year!

Red Cottage Restaurant, South Dennis - Oh my. What more can we say about a place that offers apples and sausages IN an omelet, hollandaise sauce on home fries and french toast foster? This little gem is locally owned and operated by the Rosenbach family and typically houses a who's who of the local hospitality industry. Sometimes - ok, frequently - you might spy our own Mark Downey grabbing a bite to eat for breakfast.

Buckies Biscotti, Dennisport - One of the newer restaurants in Dennisport (they've been around awhile, but recently moved into a new space), Buckies is a foodie paradise for baked goods and fresh breakfast and lunch sandwiches. We recommend stopping by and picking up some baked goods for the weekend when you arrive and keeping them on hand in the room for the kids or yourself. The store is at the corner of Upper County road and Route 28 - thanks to bridge work on Upper County road we recommend going the back way this summer.

Cape Cod Chat House, 6a in Dennis - Another newish restaurant in Dennis, the Chat House is fast becoming known for their great coffee and frequent planned and unplanned musical performances and showings by local artists. As an added bonus, they're open for dinner and now serve beer and wine as well. Architecture fans will delight in the circa 1853 facade of their building.

Marshside, Dennis - An old Cape Cod standby, the Marshside has been serving delicious dinners to its loyal patrons for years and years. Recently rebuilt from the floor up including the menu, the Marshside serves a New England traditional style menu in a contemporary atmosphere with some added flair. Come for the food, stay for the views and the giant cupcake off the dessert menu - although Mark would argue it's the hot berry crumble that keeps 'em coming back.

Local and fresh

Sesuit Harbor Cafe, Dennis - A Cape outdoor classic, the Sesuit Harbor is your postcard-worthy raw bar and seafood spot in Dennis. Located dockside in Sesuit Harbor, this is a picnic table and flip-flop style place  best enjoyed after a long day on the water. Fresh and sweet oysters are the raw bar highlights, while the lobster and clam rolls are sure to satisfy even the largest appetite. Parking can be a bit tight (free and paid at the marina), so be sure to ask at our front desk just so you don't get confused. 

Sundae School, Dennisport - Ok, ok, so this isn't a local hangout per se, but it's too good to be left off. Winner of our guest contest last summer for their favorite ice cream spot, Sundae School has been slinging the good stuff for as long as we can remember. Be prepared to wait in line for the heavenly refreshment that waits at the end. The school does just as well with traditional ice cream flavors as off-the-wall ones you've never heard of. 

We asked our guests on Facebook to submit their favorite Cape Cod destinations in and around Dennis. Here's what we heard:

Kreme and Kone, West Dennis - Known for their fried clams and soft serve, the Kone is exclusively a summer treat. Enjoy the river views and classic New England seafood dishes fresh off the boat daily. Fried or broiled, all your favorites are ordered at the counter and delivered to your table. Located on Route 28, it's convenient to the hotel, especially on the way back from a day exploring the Upper Cape. The Kreme and Kone is always a hit with kids (casual) and beguiling for english teachers.

Cooke's Seafood, Hyannis - Cooke's is another Cape Cod institution when it comes to seafood. The kitchen here (and at their second location in Mashpee) do a killer job on broiled and fried seafood, especially calamari and their clam chowder. Though they're frequently awarded for their clams, those in the know go for the calamari platter. With crispy fried calamari, onion rings and french fries, this platter can serve as a table dish and a great appetizer to a cookout.

Ring Brothers, Dennisport - This one is more for the DIYers in the crowd. Submitted by loyal Corsair guest Sue Anderson Limeri, the Ring - made up of a variety of food purveyors - has some of the best produce on Cape Cod, as well as an ample selection of meats and poultry in its deli, sushi, artisan pasta, catering, desserts, a great wine selection, and more. One of their retailers is Spinners Pizza - try the loaded white Greek pizza - a house specialty! A stop here is recommended before venturing out to a picnic on the national seashore or a beach day anywhere on the mid-Cape.

BZ's Mexican Pizzeria, Dennisport - One of the more unique restaurants on Cape Cod, BZ's menu is a blend of Italian Pizzeria and Mexican-style food. It's just west of Harwich on Route 28, and for those of you that prefer to hang around the resort (we can't blame you!) they do deliver, so order in!

Krista K's Ice Cream and Candy, West Dennis - Krista K's has an extensive menu of both traditional hard and soft serve ice cream, and features a candy shop to boot! If you're celebrating your birthday with us, consider ordering one of their ice cream cakes for your celebration. Those visiting in the shoulder seasons take note - Krista's is a summertime pleasure only!

Wee Packet, Dennisport - Located less than a five minute drive from the resort, the Wee Packet serves up some of the most authentic Irish breakfast menus on Cape Cod. Not in the mood for breakfast? Fear not! The Wee Packet has full lunch and dinner service, offering traditional fried seafood, burgers and more. A casual restaurant, the Wee Packet is a great destination for families with kids. 

Clancy's Restaurant and Tavern, West Dennis - Located right on Swan River, Clancy's has an expansive seafood-inspired menu including such items as loaded seafood alfredo, baked stuffed shrimp and lobster mac-n-cheese. Be sure to linger on the porch and watch the wildlife and kayakers paddle by!

The Oyster Company, Dennis - One of the newest additions to the Dennis restaurant scene, The Oyster Company is known for their, well, oysters. Fresh and local, their renowned raw bar is sure to please any fan of the succulent bivalve. But don't let yourself be limited to the delectable oysters - the Oyster Company has some inspired dishes on their menu and killer martinis at the bar.  

We, like everyone else on Cape Cod, ended up getting hit hard by the Great Blizzard of 2013, or as the Weather Channel so strangely dubbed it, Nemo. We got spared the worst of the winds here in Dennisport, but we had a front row seat to see the ocean's wrath. Check it out:

YAAAAWWWNNNN! 

We're waking up from our winter hibernation, shaking off the snowflakes and getting ready for our April 12th opening, which is coming up faster than we thought! Mark and Ian recently returned form their vacation to the Caribbean, Judith and Sapphire are holding down the phones (ringing off the hook, by the way! Going to be a busy summer!), all while work crews swirl around us renovating the resort buildings and the Admiral's and Mate's houses.

Yes, you read that right. The Corsair and Cross Rip is renovating, again! It's all part of our several years long plan to update the resort to keep offering you and your family the best Cape Cod vacation experience possible.

Here's a snapshot of the renovations in progress:

More of the rooms in the Corsair are being updated (ocean views) with new kitchens and bathrooms complete with jacuzzi tubs! We replaced and/or added balconies and new LCD HDTVs to all Corsair rooms over the last couple years, so you could call this "Phase 2" of Corsair renovations. 

Ahh the holidays! While we all love seeing family and friends, getting there can be a huge pain in the you know what. Those of us in the travel industry go on trips just like you do, and the same things that frustrate you frustrate us. 

However, from our years working in the business, we've gained some insight here and there, some nifty little tricks you might not think of right off the bat. We put together some of our favorites below:

1.) Reconfirm your reservations and check staff hours: This often goes unnoticed, or forgotten, by the ordinary traveler. Even at a tourist destination, the amount of staff available to assist you may be down substantially due to the holiday. Remember, we have families too! If it turns out that there is reduced availability, plan ahead and do your best to work around the reduced staffing during the holidays.

2.) Check and confirm what is open at your destination: So you've got your trip booked and planned out, ready to tackle the best your destination city has to offer. But when you get there, your favorites are closed! What happened?

Remember to call or go online and check to see what's going to be open ahead of time. Certain attractions, stores and restaurants may be closed (even in your hotel) for an extended period of time over the holidays to allow employees to spend time with their loved ones. Be prepared to compromise as some places will be open, but with reduced hours. 

The upside? You might be able to get a killer reservation you wouldn't have been able to get otherwise! I once dined with my family at a New York City restaurant without wait or reservation on Thanksgiving eve, and it ended up being one of my more memorable dinner experiences. Do be a bit more patient as your waiter might be missing time with his family! Maybe a higher tip than normal might be in order.

3.) Book the most direct route to avoid connecting disconnections: Though the direct flight might be more expensive, it is far easier than navigating two connections in hub airports just to make it home for turkey! If you can afford it, spring for the direct connection if it's available. Picking what in-flight show to watch next is much easier than calculating the time it will take you to get from gate B36 to C22 in Atlanta.

4.) Try to avoid flying at peak times: Though it might be tempting to book the most convenient flight available remember: everyone else thinks this way too! Try and book at off-peak times for your departure and return flights. It might mean an early morning or a late night, but in my mind it sure beats sitting in a security line and missing your flight!

Are we missing anything? Leave a comment and let us know your favorite holiday travel tips!

'Til next time.

As many of you know, our hotel season officially ended on Sunday, October 14th. After the last guests left, we went to work closing up the Corsair and Cross Rip buildings for the off-season, stripping sheets from the beds and putting much of the furniture in storage. The houses are still open for functions, weddings and conferences, and we'll keep them like that for the winter.

2012 was a great year for us! The resort was busy from the day it opened until the day we closed, and we saw many new faces come stay with us as guests or work along with us as staff. 

I think a lot of what makes our resort unique is the relationships that the guests develop with our staff. They truly appreciate the hard work that the front desk, housekeeping and maintenance staffs put in, sometimes even sending them gift baskets once they go home! Every member of our staff is outgoing and engaging; they're the first people that the guests meet when they call us and the first they see when they get here, and then the last they see when they go. They truly do make the resort.

As a thank you, we hosted our annual staff party on the Cape Cod Central Railroad's Dinner Train. For most of us, this was our first time on the dinner train, and some of our staff's first time ever on a train! We enjoyed a great five-course meal as we rode the rails from Hyannis across the canal to Wareham.

Thank you to the staff for another great season, and see you all in 2013! 

And remember as Charmaine says: "It's not Yankee Swap...it's Yankee Take!!"

As the travel industry continues to evolve and change, some new charges have appeared for services that used to be included. Rates for airfare, hotel stays, car rentals and cruise vacations are not what they seem anymore.  "Fees" have come into their own and are no longer incidentals on our bills. (Ironic as the hotel industry has been referring to these charges on our bills as "incidentals" for decades.)

Fees.

WiFi

Newspaper

Umbrellas

Beach chairs

In-room premium channels

Parking

Local and toll free calls

Live reservations
Recreational facilities

I take pride in having one of the most easy-going resorts on Cape Cod. Ask any of our guests - most come back year after year after year after year - and you'll hear that they universally appreciate how up-front, honest and friendly the staff is. This extends to our wedding packages - we include the wedding planner free of charge, or let you use your own. As you can imagine, being in this business means I love to travel as well, and I take my experiences as a traveler to heart when I'm deciding on my rate and fee structure each spring. I'm happy to say there's no plans to change our philosophy.

So give us a shot next summer. We've got a great oceanfront location at one of the best prices you'll find for a hotel of this caliber anywhere on Cape Cod. Don't believe me? Give us a call and chat with Judith or Sapphire - they'd be more than happy to explain what the Corsair and Cross Rip is all about, and to mail you some literature describing the resort in more detail. If you join us next summer, come say hello!

Have any fee horror stories? Tell us in the comments!

'Til next time,

Mark Downey

Owner, The Corsair and Cross Rip Oceanfront Resort 

As the season winds down, a lot of our seasonal workers start to pack up and head home. This is always a bittersweet time for us, as it means another summer is in the books. Though they're only here for a few months at time, a lot of our staff members become like a big extended family to us here at the Corsair and Cross Rip, so we try and send them off in the proper fashion!

If you've stayed with us before, you know we employ people from all over the world. Some of them have been coming to work with us for years, and others are new at the beginning of each season. Well, we thought it was time to get one last outing in before everyone goes their separate ways this fall. Our clients love mini golfing, and, truth be told, the owners and staff of the resort are no different! So one night last week, the entire staff went out to Pirates Cove in Yarmouth for some good old fashioned mini golfing and pizza at Carluccio's afterwards.

You will notice from the pictures one person is missing…Judith.  Someone had to mind the store and Judith was the trooper! Next event will have us all heading to Medieval Manor in Boston.  If you haven't been there you should check out their website at www.medievalmanor.com.  We'll have to wait till our last day Sunday October 14th before we can close up shop and all go on vacation for a bit.  Fun pictures to come. 

We brought our camera along. Enjoy!

Just because the season is winding down doesn't mean it's over! In fact, fall is one of the best times to come visit Cape Cod. The crowds are gone, the weather is still warm for a few more weeks and there's tons of stuff going on from Canal to Cape tip! We have some great October specials that are incredible values...a great excuse to come down and say hello! 

So give Cape Cod a shot in the fall this year! It's a lot easier to grab an ocean view room in September and October, and there are plenty of days when you can still get out there and enjoy the beach and water. (There's always our three heated pools too!) If you're thinking about joining the ranks of fall lovers here, check out these five fall things to do to make your weekend great:

You might not think or know it from looking at Cape Cod, but there's a ton of variable terrain and hilly trails to explore all over the Cape. From Maple Swamp in Sandwich, to the Salt Pond Trails in Eastham,  the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp trail of Wellfleet and all the way up to the Province Lands, unique trails can be found just off the road. Most of the hikes on Cape can be completed in a couple hours or less, and are generally accessible to hikers of all abilities. These hikes are about the views and not the challenge, so bear that in mind if you're expecting a Mount Washington level adventure. 

Locally, the hike around Scargo Lake is one of our favorites, and a laid-back way to spend a morning, especially if you remember your fishing pole. Flax Pond, Crow's Pasture and the Indian Lands also offer a wide variety of trails by length, difficulty and featured sites. From the resort, these sites are a drive at least halfway across town, and all are very easily accessible.

2.) Shop

Remember all those stores you stopped by in the summer, but just window-shopped because of the price or the crowds? Well, now's the time to go in and do some serious buying! You might ask, what makes Cape Cod such good spot to shop this time of year? There's a combination of a few factors that are unique to us. 

Secondly, the off-seasons are our time off! For Cape Codders, our vacation cycle is the reverse of most, where we take very little time off during the summer, and have more downtime after Labor Day and Columbus Day. Some stores in more seasonal neighborhoods, like the Popponesset Marketplace in Mashpee, close for the winter around this time of year - get in there while you can to get some steals! 

Lastly, September and October are bridge months between the summer and fall collections. Summer items are deeply discounted so they'll move out the door before the fall items go on display, and some of the new fall pieces are discounted as well.

September and October are unofficially festival season on Cape Cod. It's time to say goodbye to summer and to celebrate the arrival of the autumn harvest. There are festivals in literally every town from Bourne to Wellfleet, celebrating scallops, oysters, the fall harvest, local artists and so much more. The Bourne Scallop Festival, a three-day celebration of the Cape and South Coast's scallop fishing heritage, leads off the lineup September 21, 22 and 23 on the banks of the Cape Cod Canal in Buzzards Bay. Primarily a daytime celebration, it's a good stop for visitors from the south on their way up to the Cape, and, with transportation provided from Hyannis via the Cape Cod Central Railroad, it's also a convenient destination from the mid-Cape.  

Festival season rolls on the next week with the Barnstable County Harvest Festival (September 29 and 30) and Cape Cod Brew Fest at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds, and the Jazzfest in Downtown Falmouth all happening at the same time! We'll be doing our best to attend all three and summarizing our experiences here on the blog. The Wellfleet Oyster Festival rolls into town for two days the following weekend. This event is fast becoming one of the most popular on the Cape, and is well worth the drive up from Dennis. You won't even find it advertised like the rest - it's that popular with the locals!

We'll go in-depth on these festivals in our next blog post.

4.) Go to the Islands

5.) Hit the Beach

Seriously! Though the air might be a bit cooler than during the summer months, the water is still warm for a few weeks, and, on most sound-side beaches, matches or sometimes exceeds the air temperature, making for an exceptionally refreshing dip. The more popular beaches like Mayflower in Dennis and Craigville in Centerville fill up early in the morning during the summer months, but not so now! You can take your time getting over to the beach, stopping for breakfast or lunch along while getting away with sleeping in. Occasionally, a distant weather formation will kick the surf up at the beach, making late summer and early fall a great time to surf/bodysurf or just take the boogie board out for a day. Plus, there's just something about wearing a sweatshirt on the beach that makes it that much more fun. Most, if not all, are free to visit now!

Our Beach!

Have we convinced you to come visit Cape Cod in the fall yet? If you still need more convincing, check out our fall specials. We get a little lonely at the resort this time of year, so we make it super-affordable for you to come visit. Our Columbus Day special is always one of our most popular packages, with movie tickets and pizza at Ardeo's included. The famed Corsair and Cross Rip cold breakfast buffet returns for the fall season, and we keep that coffee running all day!

'Til next time!

The summer is upon us! Here on Cape Cod, that means it's the busy time, and for us at the Corsair and Cross Rip it means that we're saying hello to new guests just minutes after we say goodbye to old ones. It's hectic for sure, but our staff, from long-time veterans Judith, Sapphire and Ron all the way down to the new guys, is the best in the business and makes sure everything runs smoothly. I'd like to think that they, along with the stunning ocean views and new renovations, are the reason that once you stay at the Corsair and Cross Rip, you come back year after year.

But most of all, it's the power of Cape Cod that lures guests back, even when they could go somewhere else. Not to go all Field of Dreams on you, but there's just something about the Cape that lends itself to making lifelong memories and bonding with family members. Unlike some places, everyone that's here, whether they stay for a week or for their entire life, have a story and a reason.

Why not make your own memories? Some of Cape Cod's June traditions are a great place to start.

One of Cape Cod's most popular early summer (ok, technically spring) events is the Hyannis Father's Day Car Show, put on by the Hyannis Area Chamber of Commerce. On the morning of June 17th, Hyannis' Main Street is shut down and taken over by hundreds of rare, vintage classic cars. Sample food from Main Street restaurants and other area food vendors, peruse craft stands and, most of all, look at the cars! Hyannis is a short drive from pretty much everywhere on Cape Cod west of Truro, and is easily accessible from Route 6 and Route 28, Cape Cod's two main arteries.  

Why not make Father's Day the centerpiece of a Cape Cod Weekend Getaway? In addition to the Car Show, there are other great events going on that weekend, and the weather is usually summer-feeling without the humidity and high heat. We still have 14 rooms available that weekend, many with ocean views, so check us out and join in the fun. 

Earlier this month we wrote about a day trip to Chatham and the outer Cape. This time, we're going the opposite way and heading west and visiting the charming towns of the Upper Cape. If you're unfamiliar with Cape Cod, you probably a.) think that the Cape is just one giant town and b.) that all of Cape Cod has the same feel and vibe. Both of those couldn't be further from the truth! The Upper Cape (considered to be the towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee and some parts of Barnstable) has an entirely distinct, but equally enticing vibe as the outer Cape. 

So take a trip up Route 6 west with us and visit the towns of Sandwich and Mashpee!

As we state time and time again here on the blog, in order to get a lot of stuff in you gotta get up early! Given that we're oceanfront, and almost every one of our rooms has a big window view of the ocean, it shouldn't be too hard. Breakfast is up to you - grab something in the room (most of our accommodations have kitchenettes), or hit the road and stop for a sit down breakfast somewhere in Sandwich.  

We suggest getting of at Exit 4 or 3, switching to Route 6A and stopping somewhere like Momo's Food Emporium for a breakfast sandwich or an omelet. There are plenty of other little nooks along the road in East Sandwich.

1.) Since you're already up early, make it a beach day and stop by Sandy Neck Beach, considered by many to be one of the Top-10 or Top-5 beaches on Cape Cod. If you're coming from Exit 4, stay to the right and follow the road all the way to route 6A then turn left. Sandy Neck Road will come up quickly on your right. Turn onto Sandy Neck Road and follow it all the way to the gatehouse at the bottom of the road. We suggest grabbing a parking pass and setting up shop for the morning, or if you have an ORV permit, explore one of the open trails and drive right onto the beach! Sandy Neck is known for its crystal clear waters and excellent diving.

2.) Head away from the beach on Sandy Neck Road, and turn right onto Route 6A West and continue into downtown. 6A through Sandwich has some of the most stunning scenery on Cape Cod, flanked on both sides by old captain's homes, salt marshes and the occasional cranberry bog. Dotted throughout East Sandwich are large parcels of conservation land with many miles of walking trails. Murkwood and Talbot's Point are two of our favorites, with Talbot's Point offering sweeping views of Sandwich and Cape Cod Bay.

3.) Continue on Route 6A for a little over four miles until you see Discovery Hill Road on your left. Shortly after the turn, you'll come upon the Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen. This small museum has several acres of walkable grounds, classes for the little ones in the summer, and a working kitchen in which you can watch authentic homemade jams being made and canned. A gift shop contains an array of culinary wonders.

Midday

4.) Return to Route 6A and continue heading west towards the Canal. In about two miles, turn left onto Main Street and head into Sandwich's historic downtown. Many of the old homes and churches along this road look much the same as they did during the 1600s and 1700s when Sandwich was founded.

5.) After passing Jarves Street, you're in the heart of downtown. Park the car and explore! Stores like A Village Gift Shop, The Spotted Cod and The Weather Store are truly one of a kind. If you're hungry, stop in either the Belfry Inn and Bistro or the Dan'l Webster Inn for a dining experience inside stunning colonial era dining rooms. The Belfry Inn is noted for its soaring ceilings (it's in an old monastery!) and slightly adventurous menu, while the Dan'l Webster is a standout purveyor of continental cuisine.

6.) Head on over to the Sandwich Glass Museum, on the corner of Main Street and Tupper Road. For a nominal fee, you can see some of the best glassworks in the world from the 1800s through the present, watch live demonstrations, and learn the history of the glass industry on Cape Cod, once one of the largest employers here. The museum closes at 5, so be sure to get here in the afternoon.

7.) Alternatively, another option is to visit Heritage Museum and Gardens, one of the Cape's most celebrated cultural institutions. Sitting on acres of manicured botanical gardens, Heritage boasts superb collections of art and artifacts from American history, and one of the most extensive classic car collections on the Cape in their roundhouse. Through September 3, the museum is playing host to an exhibit of the works of Norman Rockwell. This museum also closes at 5:00 PM, except on Wednesdays when its open until 8:00 PM. The museum is located about a mile down Grove Street, which is the funky left hand turn out of Sandwich Center. If you're traveling with children, be sure to check out their "Hidden Hollow" area, where kids can explore the wonder of nature at one of Cape Cod's most well-maintained garden.


Evening

8.) Return to downtown and turn right onto Main Street, then right again onto Water Street (Route 130). Continue on Route 130 for 8.5 miles until you come to a traffic light, and turn right onto Great Neck Road North. At the Mashpee rotary, exit onto Route 28 North and then turn into Mashpee Commons for some shopping the whole family will enjoy. You can't miss it!

Mashpee Commons is very walkable! Source

9.) At the Commons there is a nice mix of unique local and national shops. Be sure to stop in the Cape Kaleidoscopes store and take a look at their beautiful handmade kaleidoscopes. Families with dogs will delight in the array of unique dog treats and items at Hot Diggity, and foodies will love the unusual gourmet flavors at Gustare Olive Oils.

10.) No trip to Mashpee Commons is complete without a stop at Cupcake Charlie's! Grab a couple cupcakes and sit and eat, or take a bunch for eating back at the hotel (make sure to save some for the Corsair staff!). The peanut butter pleasure and Oreo delight flavors are to die for!

11.) After you've filled up on cupcakes, it's time for dinner in Hyannis! Saddle up and take 28 south from the rotary all the way to West Main Street in Hyannis. Follow this road to the rotary, turn onto North Street and park in the giant lot behind Alberto's. We suggest calling ahead for reservations. Alberto's is one of our favorites, with a menu chock-full of old world Italian dishes. If there is time Ben & Jerry's ice cream is right next door, or, just down the street is Colombo's Café with dessert window that includes home made baked goods (try the lobster cream pugg) and gelato!

12.) If you've followed our itinerary, you should be exhausted by this point! Main Street in Hyannis is a great place to people watch, shop, or just sit on the town green and relax. From here, it's about a 20 minute ride on Route 28 back to the resort if you feel like calling it a night.  

That's a Wrap!

That's a wrap for our Sandwich/Mashpee day trip! What did you think? Please leave us a comment - if we left off your favorite attraction we'll do our best to work it into a future blog post.

As you can probably tell from the blog, we love Cape Cod! If you're planning on taking a vacation down here, please consider staying with us. We're a family owned and family-oriented resort, and we'd love to host yours! Take a look at our room options (we have a lot) and our specials (even more), and if you like what you see, give us a call.

Till next time!

As anyone who works in the hospitality industry on Cape Cod can tell you, people are always asking for things to do. The trouble is (shameless Cape Cod tourism plug here) - there's just so many good things to do! 

Long story short, we're starting an occasional Cape Cod Day Trip series. In each post, we'll suggest a day trip in a different region or town on Cape Cod. These posts are based on our years of living, working and vacationing on the Cape. Who knows, maybe we'll let a guest write one!  

This is the first post in the series - Chatham and the Outer Cape!

As anyone who's vacationed here can tell you, the key to stuffing as many activities as possible into one day is to wake up early! So Step 1: Wake up early and hit the road! We suggest doing breakfast one of two ways - eat something light and quick before heading out, or stop for a late breakfast once you get to Chatham - may we recommend Celestino's Cafe and Bakery.

1.) Take Route 28 to Main Street in Chatham Village. You're going to want to head straight though the funky rotary/intersection (you'll know it when you see it!) to get to the free parking and walkable portion of downtown. Great unique boutiques and shops line the street, be sure to stop in and buy something! Carmine's is a great spot to grab a quick slice of pizza, and just up the road the Chatham Squire is an old Cape Cod standby.

2.) Continue down Main Street to Shore Road and take a right to head south. You'll come upon Chatham Light, a beautiful 1877 working lighthouse. The light is on 24 hours a day and it's still an active Coast Guard station, so take in this piece of living history! Across the street is Lighthouse Beach - always a good choice for the beachgoers in the family. Tours are offered every Wednesday from 1 PM to 3:30 PM by the Coast Guard.

3.) Turn around and head north on Shore Road past the Chatham Bars Inn and Beach Facilities. The views from the resort are stunning - be sure to look for the harbor seals sunning themselves or looking for fish. Keep an eye out for the great white sharks!

Speaking of fish, head a little further north to the Chatham Fish Pier to watch fish being unloaded from the day boats. You can buy the fresh fish at the on-site market, and don't miss some of the freshest fried clams on Cape Cod!

1.) Continue on Route 28 until you can turn right onto Route 6 east, and follow it all the way to Eastham. At the first set of lights in town, turn right into the parking lot of the Salt Pond Visitor Center for the National Seashore. The visitor center houses a museum with displays on the ecology and history of Cape Cod, a movie theatre screening environmentally themed movies, park rangers, tour guides, brochures on Cape Cod and a small gift shop. 

Take a minute to poke around the exhibits in the building, and do not miss the self guided tour through the woods, the salt ponds and all the way out to the beach! Guided tours are available for a nominal fee. If you're traveling with kids, play parking lot bingo and see how many different state license plates you can find! 

2.) Turn right out of the parking lot and head down to Coast Guard Light and beach. For surfers and wave seekers, this is one of the best spots on the Cape to grab some action. In the summer months there is a $20 fee to park and use the beach facilities. There are shuttles available from other area parking lots.

3.) Once you've had your fill of sun, sand and sea, head back to Route 6 and continue heading east to Wellfleet. Turn right at Marconi Beach and head towards the overlook station. Stay left at the fork and pull up to the Marconi overlook station. This is the original location of the first telecommunication between the United States and Europe. You'll be able to see the platforms and artifacts that once housed the cable that was key to operating the four wireless transmission towers that allowed for instantaneous communications with another continent. 

Out of the back right hand side of the parking lot is the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp trail (you'll be facing away from the beach). The path is a 20-30 minute long shaded loop through one of Cape Cod's most beautiful ecosystems, taking you directly across the marshlands.

4.) Head back towards Route 6 and continue heading east (at this point, north) towards Highland Light Road (a right hand turn) in Truro. Here you'll want to stop and visit Highland Light, the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod and one of the few at which you can climb the tower to enjoy the stunning views from its peak. 

For the wine lovers, if you continue north on Route 6 you'll pass Truro Winery and Vineyards. Stop by and take the tasting tour, and don't forget to grab a couple bottles on your way out!

1.) Continue heading north on Route 6. On your left you'll pass the Days Cottages on the bayside of Cape Cod. Each cottage is known by its floral name. Shortly thereafter you'll be passing through the dunes on your way to the Province Lands. The dunes are truly a stunningly beautiful and alien landscape at the same time - there's nowhere else in the world like it and this is one of our favorite stretches of road on Cape Cod. Sadly, you can't walk the dunes anymore, but there are car tours available.

2.) After a few more minutes of driving, you've literally reached the end of the road! Outside of a short stretch of Route 6 out to Race Point, you've come to the end of the line on Cape Cod. While in Provincetown, don't miss out on a chance to take Art's Dune Tours out to the dunes you passed on the way in. Art's is the only company licensed to drive the dunes, and the ride does not disappoint. The tours leave from the corner of Bradford and Commercial Street. Don't miss out on the great art galleries, shops and restaurants along Commercial Street.

Downtown P-Town!

3.) End your trip with a drive out to the very tip of the Cape at Race Point. Head up to the visitor's center for some tremendous views of Cape Cod and the open ocean. The Old Harbor Life Saving Station, standing since 1897, is now a memorial to all the ship wrecked lives it saved until it was decommissioned in 1944. 

Well folks, that's it for the Chatham and Outer Cape Cod day trip! 

We'd love to hear what you thought. Leave a comment with any extra suggestions, tips or disagreements and we'll chat! 

If you're interested in coming to Cape Cod, definitely check out our specials page! Most of our summer packages include tickets to attractions listed here, and we can make any arrangements you need for your road trip. Our resort specializes in handling larger families, so have no fear if there's a gaggle of young ones coming along. 

Til next time!

One of the questions we get most often is where and when is each town having its fireworks show. Well, to make your life and our lives easier, we went ahead and put together this definitive list of places to watch fireworks on Cape Cod. If you're a guest, ask our staff and we can direct you anywhere. If you're not staying with us, enjoy the list and have a happy fourth of July.

Rock Harbor, Orleans - July 2, 9 PM, rain date July 6

Oyster Harbors/Cotuit - July 3, 6 PM, over Oyster Harbors 

Lewis Bay, Barnstable/Hyannis - July 4th at dusk 

Edgartown Harbor, Martha's Vineyard - July 4th, once it gets dark

Falmouth Heights Beach - July 4th, 9:15 PM, rain date July 5

Jetties Beach, Nantucket - July 4th, 9 PM, rain date July 5 

MacMillan Wharf, Provincetown - July 4, 9 PM, rain date July 5

Onset Beach, Wareham - July 7 at dusk

If you are looking for a place to stay for the 4th, we still have some rooms and fireworks cruise tickets available. We offer a package specifically for July 4th week that includes tickets on the Barnstable fireworks cruise, two movie tickets to Entertainment Cinemas in Dennis, and a $25 gift certificate to Ardeo's Mediterranean Taverna. This package starts at $795 for three nights, and we have a wide variety of rooms available! 

See you on the Cape!

Perhaps it's because we're positioned on a private beach between two jetties, but we spend a lot of time thinking about fishing. In the offseason, you may even find some of the staff shore casting off the jetties (shh! Don't tell Mark!). Our guests are no different - we get questions all the time like "Can we fish off the jetties?" and "Where are the best spots to go fishing?" So what did we do? We wrote a blog about it!

Dennis and Dennisport are great spots for shore casting, probably the easiest and most convenient method if you're staying with us or at one of the other hotels in town. While we're more than happy to help you set up a charter or party boat, this blog is more focused on spots you can access by car, foot, or a quick paddle.


Herring River Jetty - 

Herring River is just a bit up Chase Ave from the Corsair and Cross Rip, and is well worth the brief walk (5 minutes) or even briefer car ride from the resort. Parking can be tight, so we'd suggest walking or taking bikes if you're not carrying too much gear. The jetty on the West Side (closer to Dennisport) extends a bit further out, and is the side we prefer. Try your luck with some sand eels.

Corporation Beach / Sesuit Harbor area - 

If you want to venture over to the bay side of Dennis, the area from Corporation Beach to Sesuit Harbor is a good area to spend a day with rod and reel. The extreme tides on this side of the Cape make for some great fishing - occasionally the stripers will hide in the funky and unpredictable formations the sandbars leave when the tide runs out. Sand eels work well here too. Sesuit Harbor has a sizable charter fleet, worth a hire if you're looking to spend a half or full day on the water with friends. You'll find the fish closer to shore in the spring when the waters are cool and further out in the fall when the shore area is warmer.

Bass River - 



Ok, so this spot is not 100% Dennis as the river separates Yarmouth and Dennis, but it is one of the better known spots on Cape Cod. If you're bringing a boat, definitely put in anywhere along the river and enjoy a great day of fishing. The Bass River Bridge is a great spot, with stripers, fluke, and bluefish  frequenting the area. The Yarmouth side has a fishing pier just off Route 28 to your left (if coming from Dennis).  Drive by late at night and you'll find the true fisherman with their lines in the water and cars on the bridge.

Scargo Lake - 

Scargo Lake is quietly one of the best places for freshwater fishing on Cape Cod, and probably the best pond fishing available. A natural kettle hole pond, it's deeper than you'd expect (up to 48 feet), extremely clear and stocked with trout every spring. You can bring canoes, rowboats and small craft on the lake (7.5 horsepower limit) to get at the deeper water. Scargo normally yields rainbow, brook and brown trout and smallmouth bass. If you're staying with us, take advantage of one of our packages offering a meal at the nearby Scargo Cafe to make a day out of it. Next to you catching it Scargo is as fresh as you can get!

We're probably forgetting some, so feel free to add them in the comments! As always, if you're a guest of ours, the front desk staff is happy to help point you where you want to go or make a recommendation on a charter/party boat.

Be sure to check out our fall specials - who knows, one may lead you right to that last weekend of fishing on Cape Cod!

Ever see those stainless steel grills outside of the Corsair and Cross Rip buildings and wanted to do something different from the standard burgers, hot dogs and steak? Well now you can! We are here to help. 

We're starting a semi-regular cooking feature on the blog, showcasing some inexpensive, quick and tasty dishes you can make on the grill - because that's what summer cooking is all about. Grills poolside and on the decks along with refrigerators in almost every room leaves you ample space to store food and convenient locations to grill your favorite dish.

For our first recipe, we're going to do something that many of you probably have not heard of, or thought of doing: pizza on the grill! It's a quick and easy way to get the whole family involved in cooking. Make it a family event - the kids will love picking out the toppings and rolling out the dough.

Here's a step-by-step guide for pizza on the grill. 

For the example, we did a bourbon-marinated steak and red pepper pizza, using barbecue sauce as a base instead of red sauce. Experiment with whatever base you like - we've also made pizzas with traditional red sauce, pesto, and white pizzas on the grill, and they all come out delicious.

Head out to the nearest supermarket or food store to gather the ingredients. Pizza is a great canvas on which you can apply virtually anything you like, but there are a few basics you will need to pick up:

- Pizza dough (whole wheat or regular)

- Sauce (tomato or barbecue)

- Cheese (feta)

- Flour

- Toppings (1/2 lb marinated beef tips and jarred roasted red peppers)
- Garnish (cilantro)

Equipment (we have all of these items)

Flour your pizza pan and generously spread flour on your pizza dough. Roll out the dough and gently place it in the pan. The thinner the pizza the faster it cooks, and given the high temperature of the grill, we suggest making your pizza as thin as possible so the bottom will not burn as it cooks.

Step 3:

Apply sauce and toppings to your pizza dough. Here's where you can get creative with your pizza! Have fun with this, but remember thin-crust works the best on the grill, as it cooks the quickest.

Since out steak was already marinated, we spread a thin layer of BBQ sauce on our pizza dough to prevent barbecue overload.

Hungry yet?

Gently slide your pizza onto the grill.

Close the cover and let the pizza cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning once and checking occasionally to make sure the pizza isn't coming out burnt. It shouldn't take any more than 10 minutes to fully cook the pizza - ours took 8 almost on the nose.

We like to think of the Corsair and Cross Rip as something of a superhero resort. Our day job is working as a family resort, hosting travelers from all over the U.S. and Canada, but from time to time we put on our superhero suits and transform into a stunning wedding venue. It truly is amazing to watch the vendors come in and set up the tents, tables and the arch, and to see the looks on the guests faces when they catch their first glimpse of the waters of Nantucket Sound and realize that the wedding is happening, literally, steps from the ocean. 

About a year ago, it was our pleasure to host the Thibealt/Bradbury wedding here at the Corsair and Cross Rip. The lovely couple chose to have a beachfront ceremony on the lawn of the Cross Rip, which sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean, and their tented reception at the Mate's House.   Theirs was a beautiful Cape Cod wedding, and we have graciously been given permission to use pictures from it. Enjoy! 

All photo credits: Portrait New England

Reception area all set up and ready for guests. It's quiet now!

We can do tented receptions for up to 200 guests.

If you ask us, the answer, is of course, no! Cape Cod is our favorite place, and weddings are the happiest events we get to host, so it's only logical that they go together. Now, the weather hasn't been the best here the last couple weeks (it'll turn around!), and we needed something to boost our moods. We thoroughly enjoy planning and hosting weddings, so we figured we would put together a post!

Without further ado, here are five reasons to have a Cape Cod wedding.

Cape Cod is world-renowned for its beaches, striking shoreline features, and quaint seaside feel. Land yourself a nice sunny day, and you the perfect day to create the perfect memory. There are a host of wedding venues on Cape Cod, some on the coast, some at golf courses, and some in places you wouldn't expect across the peninsula. 

That being said, we'd like to throw our hat into the ring. We like to think that we've carved out a unique niche for ourselves - we can do everything from house weddings to tented, beachfront receptions for up to 200 people. Because we don't collect any fees from our wedding planning service, and use a list of preferred vendors (or your own!), we can do a beachfront, tented wedding for around $100 a person for 125-200 guests. Check out the views from our lawn!

Cape Codders are fiercely loyal to local small businesses. This means that we have a plethora of unique hotels, resorts and B&Bs that have a distinctly Cape Cod feel. That being said, if you want a cookie-cutter wedding in a hotel ballroom, you can find that at some resorts on Cape, but that's not us!

What does this mean for your wedding? It means that it will be in a one-of-a-kind location that everyone is sure to remember, especially if you go with us. Countless wedding guests become loyal customers year after year because our spot is unique, and it creates memories and traditions that can't be replicated anywhere else. Usually, we only do one tented wedding a weekend because we believe this encourages our wedding customers to take their time, and stay all weekend with their friends and family. This also allows you to have an early morning ceremony and a late afternoon or evening reception, and you won't be hustled off the property!

The cool thing is that our venue has evolved organically. In addition to the two hotel buildings, we offer five suites, and each one is different, not just in decor but in layout. The Townhouse Suite, for instance, is two stories with a loft bedroom, while our Parlour Suite is a large, single-floor oceanfront layout. This gives the resort more of a cottage feel, and, while it's cliche, makes it feel more like a home than a hotel.

Speaking of homes, we have four of those too! The resort has four beach houses available for rent: The Captain's House, the Mate's House, the Commodore House, and the Admiral House. For parties of 60 guests or less, we do a deck wedding on the front deck of the Commodore House overlooking the beach. We may be biased, but we think that this creates a truly stunning and intimate setting for a wedding.

Despite all the rumors about traffic, the reality is that Cape Cod is easy to get to, and easy to get around. Besides, you're going to be spending all day on the beach anyways, right?

We're about an hour and a half from boston, about five hours form New York straight up I-95, and convenient to Logan, T.F. Green in Providence, and Hyannis airports. This means that you can have a destination wedding without the logistical headaches that typically come with one. No matter where you stay, you're never far from the beach, a clam shack or a boutique. 

We'd be remiss if we completed this list without giving a shout out to the local wedding vendors that make your ceremony possible, and spectacular. Some of our favorites are Treats Catering, Clam Bakes Etc, Ardeo's and Chapin's. You can't go wrong with any of them.

Thinking about having your wedding on Cape Cod? Drop us a line and we'd be happy to talk! We pride ourselves on our personal service, our resort's grounds and it's eternal spotlessness. Stop by for a site visit! 

Traditionally, we have had a great relationship with the Cape Rep Theatre, and it's one of our favorite attractions to visit in the summer. The theatre company does a great job with well-known productions, but for our money, they really shine when discovering new or little-known shows. 

This year's spring production, "The Bottom of the Sky," has the doubly special distinction of being a completely new play and being a local product, having been written by local playwright Art Devine. This drama focuses on the life and times of female pilots between World Wars I and II. We haven't had a chance to get over to see it yet, but the reviews have been universally rave. Check it out on your own, or stay with us and have our concierge book your tickets and plan an entire evening around the show.

That's all until next time! Don't forget to join our email list! 

Well, that's a good question to ask! 

The first thing we should probably do is to explain what Victoria Day is. 

In short, it is a federal Canadian public holiday in most provinces celebrating Queen Victoria's birthday, as Canada is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, of which the Queen of England is head. It always falls on the last Monday before May 24th (Queen Victoria's actual birthday) and is the first long weekend of the Canadian summer season, much like Memorial Day here in the U.S. Many Canadians utilize the long weekend to de-winterize their summer cottages, take the first vacation and fire up the grill for the first time since the previous summer. In Quebec the same weekend is known as "National Patriots' Day."

The second thing we're going to do is to give you an interesting fact:

After Massachusetts, Connecticut and the cumulative total of the Northeastern United States, the next largest group of guests that we entertain are Canadians. Because of this, we've learned a lot about Canadian holidays and customs that we might otherwise not have learned. When we first discovered this, it surprised us a bit, but it makes perfect sense, as the trip down from our neighbor to the North isn't all that long of a journey, and, come on, who doesn't love Cape Cod!?

Because any long weekend is a good excuse to come to the beach! If you're journeying to Cape Cod from out-of-state, or out-of-country, save yourself the hassle of getting around on Memorial Day weekend and come down the weekend before! If you're a regular down in our neck of the woods, all your favorites will be open by this point (if they're not already), and if you've never taken a vacation to Cape Cod before, what better time to give it a shot? Skip the lines and waits and enjoy our towns and beaches.

A bonus for the early birds this year - the week of May 14-20 is Restaurant Week Cape Cod. Take advantage of this week to try some of the best food that Cape Cod has to offer.

We've put together a Victoria Day package for the Cosair & Cross Rip. The package starts at $275/3n for a couples stay in Value View accommodations, and includes a $25 towards dinner Alberto's Ristorante in downtown Hyannis, two tickets to Heritage Museum and Gardens or half-day bike rentals, and $10 towards ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. 

If you're bringing the family, we have a similar package from $295/3n for Deluxe or Superior accomodations, tickets to either the movie theatre or mini-golf at Pirates Cove, and a pizza dinner at any Ardeo's Mediterranean Taverna.

Check out the specials, and we hope to see you on Victoria Day weekend!