by SHERRY SHANAHAN, local
Wareham & Buzzards Bay aren’t only the “Gateway to Cape Cod”, it’s a great place to stay and here’s why:
Who likes to sit in traffic for hours just to get ON Cape and have to deal with a slew of more traffic, fight for parking spots, fight to get into any coffee shop, lunch cafe or restaurant for dinner all the while trying to figure out how to stretch that dollar for the entire family to have fun? NOT ME! I will tell you about an area where you can have the same vacation and see a lot of the same things without stepping foot on the Cape…
Plan a visit instead to Wareham / Buzzards Bay, neighboring towns!
You can stay at the NEW Hampton Inn Cape Cod Canal in Buzzards Bay or at the NEW TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Wareham. Both are located right off the highway and neither will break the bank! You can also check out what VRBO or AIRBNB may have available.
Need some snacks or a few things for your stay? SuperWalmart in Wareham has everything you could need. Gotta love that one stop shop. Wareham Crossing is also right across the way if you’re looking to do some shopping! Check out one of the 40 stores if you’re looking for that perfect something. And for any unfortunate incidents, they also offer a Southcoast Health Urgent Care facility.
Let’s talk about food! Our area boasts tons of restaurants in and around Wareham and Buzzards Bay. You can always grab Dunks or Starbucks for a quick coffee and breakfast sandwich, but maybe try Leo’s in Buzzards Bay or The Cranberry Cottage in Wareham for breakfast! Mezza-Luna & The Gateway Tavern are two of my favorites when it comes to dinner. Maybe the “Kids” want some ice cream…you can check out the Beach Bucket Sundae’s at Chills & Thrills or Betty Ann’s Dairy Freeze or Kool Kone. All offer foodfare as well. If you’re just in the mood for those originals…there’s all the fast food, pizza (Marc Anthony’s in Onset, the best) and subs you can eat plus a variety of chain restaurants like Red Robin, Longhorn Steakhouse, 99, Chili’s & Five Guys!
For those families traveling with animals, Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists is located right in Buzzards Bay. You can never be too sure what your pets will get into, but if they are in need of services, CCVS provides 24/7 emergency and specialty veterinary care.
Now, let’s talk about FUN!
It’s a hot summer day…the only thing you can think about is cooling off…how about Water Wizz, Southern New England’s LARGEST outdoor water park! TONS of fun for the entire family! Or, you can head over to Cartland where the “Kids” are in for a full day of Bumper Boats, Splash Attach, Go Carts, Mini Golf, Batting Cages, Boxing Robots, and more! Chills & Thrills ice cream is next door offering foodfare as well and you seriously can’t beat the prices!
Enjoy Fishing?
Then take your poles over to the Cape Cod Canal and cast a few! Need bait? Start over at Maco’s Bait & Tackle. They’ll set you up with whatever you need including tide charts and the best spots to set up shop on the Canal.
How about a ride on the Cape Cod Central Railroad?
The Cape Cod Central Railroad will take you past marshes, cranberry bogs, dunes and other places only accessible by rail. Would you enjoy a daytime ride with narrated stories of the history of the canal and how cranberries are harvested? Or maybe a relaxing weekday lunch or Sunday brunch is up your alley. How about a beautiful sunset dinner? Come see what the Cape Cod Central Railroad has to offer! Conveniently located in Buzzards Bay. They run rain or shine…ALL ABOARD!!!
Is a beach more your speed?
Wareham alone has over 52 miles of coastline. There are at least 10 beaches in the area, none of those more than a 5 minute ride away. You could also check out Buzzards Bay Bikes which not only rents bicycles, but they also rent paddle boards! Pick your own adventure!
There are a TON of things to do here in Buzzards Bay, Wareham and in our surrounding area.
No matter what, you’ll find what you’re looking for right here before the Bridge!
By Sherry Shanahan, local
