Rich and I did a culinary tour on a recent visit to Vermont. Our travels took us to a maple farm where we learned the maple sugaring process; Cabot Creamery to see cheese being made; Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream to tour the factory where the makers of Cherries Garcia got their start; and to Stave Puzzles where devious artisans create unique and challenging wooden jigsaw puzzles. It was a blast. We’re still talking about it weeks later, entertaining our guests with stories of “sugaring off” and other trivia gained on our culinary adventure.

So it seems perfectly fitting that we should offer our version of “Culinary Cape Cod”. Here among the beaches and scrub pine is a veritable gold mine of home grown producers and beverage purveyors who are as eager to share their wares with guests as guests are to learn about, and perhaps sample, them.

So let us begin by quenching our thirst:

Cape Cod Beer, 1336 Phinney’s Lane, Hyannis, (508) 790-4200. Guided tours available Tuesdays at 11:00 AM and Saturdays at 1:00PM year round. Self-guided tours available during regular retail hours: Monday-Friday, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM; Saturday, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Closed Sundays.

Truro Vineyards, 11 Shore Road (Route 6A), North Truro, (508) 487-6200. Open for tours and tastings. Weekends in April, November-December; 7 days a week May-October. Noon to 5:00 PM

Cape Cod Winery and Vineyard, 681 Sandwich Road, East Falmouth, (508) 457-5592. Open for tastings. Weekends spring and fall; Wednesday through Sunday in July and August. 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

In the mood for a jam session?:

Chatham Jam and Jelly Shop, 10 Vineyard Avenue, West Chatham, (508) 945-3052. Tastings encouraged. Retail shop open in the summer Monday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Open weekends in the winter, spring, and fall. Call to confirm.

Green Briar Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Road, East Sandwich, (508) 888-6870. Open mid-April through December, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday; and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM on Sunday. January to mid-April, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Tuesday through Saturday. Jam making workshops offered March through October. Call for schedule.

Herbal, Medicinal, and Botanical Remedies:

Cedar Spring Herb Farm, 159 Long Pond Drive, Harwich. (508) 430-HERB. Herb specialty shop offering organic herbal products, organically grown culinary, medicinal and decorative plants, and related botanical products. Open May 15 to November 15, Wednesday through Sunday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Winter hours by appointment.

Cape Cod Lavender Farm, Island Pond Road, Harwich. (508) 432-8397. Visit this 12-acre farm when the lavender is in bloom, typically late June through July. Lavender plants and products for sale in the gift shop.

Atlantic Spice Company, 2 Shore Road, North Truro. (800) 316-7965. Offering quality culinary herbs and spices, teas, dehydrated vegetables, nuts, seeds, botanicals, essential oils, spice blends, potpourri ingredients and fragrance oils at wholesale prices. Open Monday through  Friday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Saturday: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM; and
Sunday: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

Down on the Farm:

Coonamessett Farm, 277 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth. (508) 563-2560. Pick your own berries, herbs, and vegetables. Feed the chickens. Visit alpacas, sheep, donkeys, ducks, guinea hens and turkeys. Farm stand open weekends in April, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Sunday, May through September, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and in the fall, Wednesday through Sunday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On-site café serving soup, sandwiches, salads and baked goods. Farm stand and gift shop. In season: Jamaica grill and buffet night every Wednesday, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Friday night farm dinners from 5:00 to 8:00 PM; and special Saturday night buffets. Call for details.

Food for Thought:

Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory, 100 Breeds Hill Road, Hyannis. (888) 881-CHIP (2447). Self-guided tours offered Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Gustare Oils & Vinegars, 425 Main Street, Chatham. (508) 945-4505. Sample imported extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars from around the world. Open Friday through Sunday, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Of course some activities are seasonal, but the season is long on Cape Cod. So here are some of our favorites, all of which we recommend to our guests when asked, and all of which we have done ourselves, many more than once. Of course, the list could be twice as long as it is, but this will give you a starting place at least, to help you plan your stay.

1. Visit Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich offers 100 acres of landscaped gardens, but is especially known for its Dexter Rhododendrons, which bloom in mid- to late May. Among its many collections of note are the American Automobile Gallery, with more than 30 classic American cars; the American Art and Carousel Gallery, with a working vintage carousel; and a special exhibitions gallery currently hosting an exhibit of Normal Rockwell’s works.
2. Take a daytrip to Nantucket via high-speed ferry, a tiny island 30 miles offshore that offers the visitor a glimpse into the past when whaling was king and intrepid sailors built fortunes at sea. The whaling museum alone is worth the trip, but take time to tour the island by bike or minivan.
3. Go whale watching via the Hyannis Whale Watcher out of Barnstable Harbor or the Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown. To witness whales in their natural habitat with an experienced guide and naturalist is an adventure of a lifetime.
4. Climb Highland Light in Truro, one of the few original lighthouses that you can go up into. The docents at the top of the light are fascinating and if you are lucky, you might see whales frolicking offshore.
5. Take one of Art’s Dunes Tours in Provincetown that will take you deep into the dunes to see the “dune shacks” and mountains of sand in specially equipped dune buggies.
6. Take a guided tour with Explore Cape Cod in Nauset Marsh or Little Pleasant Bay. If Dick Hilmer is at the helm, you’ll be treated to an awesome adventure while getting an education in marine life and native shorebirds.
7. Take a nature walk at Long Pasture in Barnstable or Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, both Audubon Society facilities that offer diverse ecology and numerous educational programs throughout the year.
8. Explore the National Seashore and the Salt Pond Visitors Center. The beaches of the National Seashore are beyond beautiful and the network of nature trails offer a diversity of flora and fauna unmatched elsewhere.
9. All roads eventually lead to Provincetown, the tip of Cape Cod where the peninsula curls back on itself revealing a quaint town where artists and writers coexist in a tiny fishing village that other counter culture groups have migrated to for ages. Drive through the Provincelands, visit Race Point and the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, and climb the Pilgrim Monument for a gorgeous view of the Atlantic and Cape Cod Bay.
10. Cruise along Shore Road in Chatham past Lighthouse Beach, Chatham Light, and Chatham Bars Inn for a glimpse at old Cape Cod. End the day at the Chatham Fish Pier and watch the commercial fisherman offload their catch of the day and be amused by the gray seals that come in hopes of a treat.
11. Take a seal cruise with Captain Rob and the Blue Claw to witness colonies of gray seals frolicking in Chatham Harbor. It’s an excellent way to beat the heat on a sultry summer day.
12. Catch the sunset over Cape Cod Bay at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouthport or at the Sandwich boardwalk on Town Neck Beach in Sandwich. Walk along the boardwalk that crosses the marshlands and witness the sun set serenely on Cape Cod Bay.
13. Have fried clams or a lobster roll at any one of the many authentic clam shacks throughout Cape Cod.
14. Bike the Shining Sea Bikeway From Falmouth to Woods Hole and have lunch at the Fishmonger.
15. Take the Island Queen to Martha’s Vineyard and visit Edgartown, Chilmark, Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, Menemsha, Gay Head, and Chappaquidick. You can rent a bike, a car, a moped, or use public transportation to get around. Be sure to stop at the Black Dog for some logo items to take home with you.
16. Visit the Natural History Museum in Brewster and watch the osprey nest on closed circuit TV. The nature trails on the grounds will lead you out to Brewster Flats for some great beach scavenging.
17. Watch glass blowers demonstrate their craft at the Glass Museum, Pairpoint Glass, or the Glass Studio all located in Sandwich, MA.
18. Have an ice cream cone at Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville, the absolute best ice cream on Cape Cod.
19. Take a charter fishing trip from Rock Harbor in Orleans for an opportunity to reel in a striped bass, bluefish, or tuna.
20. Golf at one of the beautiful public golf courses strewn across the Cape. From Par 3 to challenging pro-designed courses, there is course suited to golfer of all abilities here.
21. Walk the dune trails at Sandy Neck Beach. From 1 to 5 miles in length, they all eventually lead to the beach where you can hunt for sea glass to add to your collection or have a bonfire after sunset.
22. Take in a play at one of the oldest summer theater venues in the U.S., the Cape Cod Playhouse. Featuring a mix of comedies and musicals, the setting is nostalgic and the acting superb.
23. Take in a Cape Cod Baseball league game and watch the rising stars of the sport play up close and personal.
24. Catch world-class entertainment under the tent at the Cape Cod Melody Tent. Country, jazz, blues, rock, and pop stars from all across the country perform throughout the summer season.
25. Drive scenic Route 6A through many of Cape Cod’s most historic and beautiful villages. As you wind your way along you’ll see old sea captain’s mansions and be tempted by numerous art galleries, antique stores, and unique gift shops.
26. Bring a picnic for a relaxing afternoon. Catch the view at Fort Point in Eastham.

Rockwell, a prolific artist, is perhaps best known for his cover illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post. Over a span of nearly 50 years (1916-1963), he eventually amassed more than 300 cover illustrations for the Post depicting the American family and lifestyle.

Featuring more than 150 original pieces, the exhibit will be on display through September 3, 2012. In addition to his artwork, this show includes many of his photographs, which the artist used as a compositional aid. Complimented by a lecture series, the exhibit is showcasing two perspectives: the photos and related illustrations, plus works the artist completed for the health care industry that focus on the doctor and patient relationship.

Heritage Musuem and Gardens is located at 67 Grove Street in Sandwich, MA. Open 7 days a week from 10:00AM to 5:00 PM and Wednesday evenings in July and August until 8:00 PM. Cost of admission is $15.00 for adults. For more information, call (508) 888-3300 or visit their website.

This morning in honor of Cinco de Mayo, we served a dish first introduced to us by a very dear friend from Austin, Texas. Called Migas, it is a typical northern Mexican dish with many interpretations across the border. Our version consists of scrambled eggs with cheese and chorizo mixed in, then topped with salsa and a dollop of sour cream and served in a toasted tortilla shell. It has become a guest favorite.

Earlier this winter we were privileged enough to take a cooking class hosted by a local inn. Taught jointly by the owner and chef of Anejo, an authentic Mexican restaurant located on Main Street in Falmouth, we were introduced to the intricacies of salsa verde, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa rojas, and mole sauce among other things. Though we have had little opportunity to serve these dishes to our guests, we have had many opportunities to perfect the Margarita recipe they shared with us.

So this evening when our guests have checked in and are chillaxing in their own rooms or out trying one of the many great restaurants we have here on Cape Cod, I will be paying a personal tribute to Cinco de Mayo and all of our friends and guests of Mexican heritage with Margarita in hand. If you’d care to join me, here is the recipe:

3 parts Blanco Tequilla

1 part Patron Orange Liquor

1-2 tsps. dark agave nectar

Splash of water

Juice of one whole lime

Place ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake. Pour into a margarita glass and enjoy! Olé!

Starting the season with a Sherlock Homes murder mystery cloaked in a shroud of physical comedy is “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (June 11 -23). Next up is “As Bees in Honey Drown”, a face-paced comedy filled with twists and turns and double takes that promises to be a rollicking good time (June 25 – July 7).

“Ain’t Misbehavin” a Tony award-winning musical featuring the tunes of Fats Waller set in the sultry dives of the jazz era guarantees to be a foot-stomping evening of great music and dance ( July 9 – 21). Close on its heels is “Legally Blonde”, a Broadway sensation based on the eponymous film that starred Reese Witherspoon in the title role of Elle Woods. A personal favorite, the play takes us from the laid-back California social scene to the uptight halls of Harvard. Playing July 24 – August 4, this one is sure to be the season’s must-see.

On stage August 5 – 16 is Cole Porter’s “Kiss me Kate”, another Tony award-winner, and a raucous romantic comedy filled with such standards as “It’s Too Darn Hot”, “Another Opening, Another Show”, and “From this Moment On”. And wrapping up the season August 20 – September 20 are the Little Sisters of Hoboken who treat us to an evening of show stopping songs and fun-filled dance numbers in “Nunsense”. Mother Superior will never be the same.

Tickets are on sale now at the Cape Cod Playhouse. Be sure to order early so you won’t miss out on the best theater experience this side of Broadway.

Rich and I were avid hikers when we owned our inn in North Conway, NH, but hiking here is a more relaxed and often less challenging activity than ascending the rugged peaks of the White Mountains. We’ve adapted our style and now tend to take leisurely strolls observing the wildlife and appreciating the landscape, often through the lens of a camera for Rich, and for me with an eye to collecting unusual bits of driftwood, rocks, shells and sea glass.

I’ve written before about the walk to the Knob in Falmouth, the nature trails behind the Natural History Museum in Brewster, and the spectacular vistas from the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, but recently I’ve become aware of a few more intriguing trails that we need to put on our list of “must dos” this summer.

For example, The National Seashore has 12 self-guided trails including Fort Hill, Red Maple Swamp, Nauset Marsh, Doane, Atlantic White Cedar Swamp, Great Island, Pamet Area, Small’s Swamp, Highlands Woods Walk, Pilgrim Spring, Beech Forest, and the Buttonbush Trail near the Salt Pond Visitor Center, which is accessible for visitors who are blind. You can pick up a map of the trails at the Salt Pond Visitors Center in Eastham.

In Chatham you’ll find marked trails on Strong Island, Frost Fish Creek, old Comers Woodland, Training Field, Barclay’s Pond, and Cedar Street. You can find detailed maps of these trails online at the Chatham Conservation Foundation website.

No need for any special equipment to enjoy these trails, just a map, some bottled water, and perhaps some bug spray. Even better, bring a picnic and a bottle of your favorite libation and linger a while. We’ll be here at the High Pointe Inn to greet you on your return.

Not everyone is a fan of fried clams, but the number one fried clam fan lives with me. Something about the succulent bivalve sends my husband into a tailspin. “Tender morsels of clam goodness” is the way he describes a heaping platter of crispy fried clams. The accompanying creamy coleslaw and ubiquitous French fries complete what he considers to be a feast fit for the gods.

I, on the other hand, am a sucker for lobster. Last year my husband took me to Maine for my birthday on a 3-day tour he loving labeled “looking for Larry lobster”. In a 72-hour period he took me to six dining establishments in the mid-coast Maine area that warranted a mention on one of the many the Food Network shows for a spectacular lobster dish. I had lobster pot pie, several different versions of lobster rolls, and lobster bisque. From the high brow restaurant Fore Street in Portland to the diner dive known as the Porthole, it was all lobster all the time for me. Best birthday gift ever.

This year a trip to Maine is not in the cards for us, but that won’t stop me from pursuing the omnipotent Cape Cod lobster roll. Several of my favorites are opening in the next few days: Baxter’s Boathouse in Hyannis, Captain Frosty’s in Dennis, Spanky’s in Hyannis, and my all-time favorite, Sesuit Harbor Café, also in Dennis at the Northside Marina. Kream N’ Kone in West Dennis has been open since mid-February for us diehards, and Seafood Sam’s rolled out the welcome mat in March. Arnold’s in Eastham will clock in on May 11th.

So fear not you lobster and clam lovers. The world is about to return to its senses. All hail the mighty Cape Cod clam shack for another spectacular season of dining delights.

This week we welcomed the Red Chair to the High Pointe Inn in West Barnstable, MA. She arrived without fanfare, undaunted by her trip thus far, and unencumbered by the usual trappings of world travel. It was our mission to introduce her to our historic hamlet by the sea.

Sandy Neck Beach seemed the best place to get started. Perhaps a brisk walk on the beach would put a blush on her cheek, and the airing out wouldn’t do us any harm either. Toting a red chair around causes a bit of a stir, and one intrepid park ranger queried the significance. We explained as best we could, then carried on exploring a few of the trails that wind their way through the marsh and dunes. Although she longed to play in the surf, the wind and waves proved to be too much for her, so she dallied a bit with the other chairs in the parking lot.

After our romp at the beach, we set off for the historic West Parish Meetinghouse. En route we passed by West Barnstable Tables and decided to stop. Here, housed in a large barn, 14 gifted craftsmen and women fashion beautiful hand-crafted furniture from salvaged antique buildings, boats, pianos and what-have-you. Unable to resist the juxtaposition of tables and chairs, we paused for a photo op.

Eventually we made it to the Meetinghouse where she paid homage to our servicemen and women and sat for a spell in the shadow of the bell tower and its gilded “Rooster” weathervane.

Our final stop was the West Barnstable train depot, where we parted ways with the Red Chair so that she might continue her journey. Our interlude had been brief, a whirlwind affair. She has miles to go and people to meet.

You can follow the Red Chair’s circumnavigation of Cape Cod at redchairtravels.com. And you can see more photos on our Pinterest board  “Red Chair Travels Cape Cod“.

It feels like spring arrived far sooner than she was expected, at least here on the Cape where often she doesn‘t truly engage until May. Already the goldfinches are turning their bright summer yellow and the crocuses are in full bloom, with the daffodils not far behind. Temperatures have soared into the upper 60s and low 70s for several days in a row and the convertibles and motorcycles enjoying the curves along scenic Route 6A are multiplying daily. Time to rev up the old Miata for her next season of adventures

What’s in store for her this year? Hopefully lots of trips to Sesuit Harbor Café for fried clams and lobster rolls, followed by a trip to Captain Frosty’s for coffee soft serve. There will be a trip or two to Fort Hill in Eastham for picnics and walking the nature trails. I would suspect she might also take us to Chatham a time or two for a visit to the Monomy National Wildlife Refuge and perhaps a stop at the Chatham Fish Pier as well. No doubt she will want to take a spin over to Wellfleet for a cruise along Ocean Drive, maybe sneak into the Beachcomber for a cocktail or two before dinner at Mac’s Shack.

Eventually we may end up at Highland Light in Truro or Race Point in Provincetown trying to spot a whale or two out on the horizon. We actually made that trip without her last week, as all reports indicated that the right whales were frolicking freely in Cape Cod Bay enjoying the early spring-like weather and the rich feeding grounds that attract them yearly on their migration north. We ended up at Herring Cove Beach in the Provincelands, where we were able to spot a few off in the distance through binoculars and Rich’s telephoto lens.

It promises to be a good spring, hopefully followed by a wonderful summer and a delightful fall. Rich and I, along with the Miata, hope to discover more of Cape Cod’s hidden treasures to share with our guests, more great eateries to enjoy the bounty of Cape Cod, and definitely more spots to wander aimlessly simply taking pleasure in this lovely peninsula we call home.

If you want to take full advantage of what Cape Cod has to offer this spring, summer or fall, check out some of our romance and adventure packages and call us for reservations. We’ll be happy to share our secret places with you, perhaps over coffee on the deck before breakfast in the morning.

So imagine our surprise when we opened our copy of the Cape Cod Times today to read that a group of approximately 25 right whales were spotted very close to the shoreline off Sandy Neck Beach yesterday. Photographed by an aerial survey team from the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies (PCCS), the whales were clearly visible within several hundred feet of the beach.

According to the Boston Globe, there are only about 475 North Atlantic right whales left in the world, many of which gather off the coast of  Cape Cod in springtime due to the rich feeding grounds located in Cape Cod Bay. This incredible phenomena draws crowds of spectators to witness the whales breaching so close to shore.

One of the world’s most endangered species, state and federal regulation prevent boaters from approaching within 500 yards of a right whale. They are called “right whales” because whalers thought the whales were the “right” ones to hunt, as they float when killed and often swim within sight of shore. They are also incredibly friendly, and often swam right up to boats as well. As such, they were hunted nearly to extinction during the active years of the whaling industry.

Other sightings have occurred recently at Herring Cove and Race Point beaches in Provincetown, as well as off the coast of Plymouth and Martha’s Vineyard, some as early as mid-December. So if any of you adventurers want to see whales “up close and personal” we suggest you make a beeline for Cape Cod soon and stay at our lovely Inn.