Over the July 4 holiday, our family traveled to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. Our trip was amazing even if it required a few adjustments. Although traveling as a single parent can be challenging, I am grateful for the experience and the opportunity to make new memories. We took several adventures but these are the ones we’ll never forget:
Biking the Shining Sea Trail in Cape Cod.
While my daughter and I ride bikes in our Central Ohio neighborhood, I’d never taken her on a trail ride. When my son was little we rode the Monon Trail in Indianapolis frequently. I wanted to replicate the experience with my daughter and crossed this goal off our bucket list in Cape Cod. We rented two bikes from Corner Cycles and went for a short but enjoyable ride. Although we only did a few miles, I was pleased she had the experience of biking on a trail. The experience is like none other.
- Visiting the Menauhant beach in the evening. One of my favorite memories was walking on the beach with my daughter in the evening. The cool breeze was a stark contrast to what we’d experienced earlier in the day when the sun chastised our skin. The sound of the waves crashing into one another reminded me why I love listening to the sound of rainfall at night when dozing off to sleep.
- Visiting White Lion Baking Company, Guilty Bakery, Charlie’s Cupcakes and Back Door Donuts. Whenever I visit a new city, I get excited about trying local bakeries. There weren’t a host of bakeries in Falmouth that offered the types of treats I enjoy – cupcakes, cookies and cake. I instead drove to Mashpee, which was a few miles away, and found three bakeries within a 3-mile radius. I visited the White Lion Baking Company, Guilty Bakery, and Charlie’s Cupcakes. But I fell in love with the concept, name and mission of Back Door Donuts. Check out the blog of the same title to learn why.
- Traveling to Martha’s Vineyard. When I visited Cape Cod in the past, I stayed at a beach house. I did the same this time, but felt slightly out of place as there was little diversity in the area and most of the residents were return visitors who knew each other. To be clear, the accommodations were remarkable but, for a moment, I began to rethink the trip. While I always planned to take a day-trip to Martha’s Vineyard, I decided to pivot and spend two days and two nights on the island. It was such a good decision. While in Martha’s Vineyard, I felt at home. I felt comfortable. On our first night on the beach, I instantly exhaled as my daughter found multiple kids to play with and she seemed right at home. Like Cape Cod, we also enjoyed checking out the cute shops and eateries.
- Biking to Jaws Beach after Renting from All Star Martha’s Vineyard Bike Rentals. I knew I needed exercise and also appreciated that walking or biking longer than a few miles would be challenging for my daughter. I decided to rent a bike with a Burley to get the joy of biking a longer distance while ensuring my daughter wouldn’t tire in the process. My daughter played with my phone while seated in the Burley and I smiled from ear to ear as I traversed hills, and as the sun and the wind kissed my face. We biked from Oak Bluffs to the Jaws Bridge, watched young people jump off the bridge and into the water, before allowing my daughter to play on the beach and in the ocean with new friends.
- Shopping. I didn’t intend to shop while in Cape Cod or Martha’s Vineyard. I was excited about visiting the beach, checking out cool restaurants and visiting local bakeries. But both locales boast an inviting shopping scene. I found multiple cute boutiques with one-of-a-kind clothing, at a decent price. My favorite was Sea Bags, which makes bags and accessories out of boat sails. I was so in love with the store that I visited two locations, the one at Mashpee Commons and in Martha’s Vineyard. I purchased a fabulous, yellow and white beach bag, a hand tote for my daughter and seaweed lotion.
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