Two great offers for the procrastinators out there.

First, we have a few one night stays available, which we like to call HOT DATES…COOL RATES.

SAVE 20% on a one-night stay on SELECT dates in August! Stay in a spacious ocean-view room or a garden suite with private deck and SAVE 20%. This deal is ONLY available for one night on August 7, 12, 16, 23, 27 or 28. Call (888) 362-4441 to book this special and ask for the “Hot Dates” rate. Includes full breakfast, afternoon treats, 24-hour coffee and tea service, and a complimentary after-dinner drink.

Second, we have a two-night AUGUST BREAK-AWAY special.

Breakaway for two (2) nights August 12 through 17 and SAVE a minimum of $110.00 total ($55.00 per night). Treat yourselves to a spacious ocean-view deluxe room or a garden suite with deck and sample the hospitality that won us this year’s TOP TEN ROMANTIC INNS contest. Call toll free (888) 362-4441 and ask for the “Break-Away” deal.

If you’ve missed your Cape Cod getaway so far this year, NOW is the time to call us. Remember, the early bird gets the worm. Call now for the best selection of rooms.

I should have known when my friend, Dawn, said “I’ve found a new craft for us Debbie” that I was in for an adventure. The two of us have undertaken a number of projects together, always with good results, but never without a hiccup or two. We stamped the walls of our guest half-bath with a split leaf philodendron stamp we created ourselves; applied a nautical saying in script to our luxury suite; festooned the vanity in our Sea Dream deluxe ocean-view room with bamboo appliqués; and most recently created a new line of jewelry we affectionately call “Sassy Glass”.

Using high-quality art paper, which we adhered to glass tiles in round, square, and rectangular shapes, we created stunningly beautiful and whimsical pendants. The process was relatively simple, though multi-layered and requiring several steps. We ordered the glass tiles, bails, adhesive, and chains online, but the paper came from our own personal collections we have for our hand-crafted line of greeting cards.

The fun began one afternoon here at the Inn, painstakingly cutting the papers to fit the tiles with an x-acto knife and cutting mat. We chose a variety of patterns and colors, hoping to create pendants in a rainbow of colors to match any outfit. We then applied the papers to the backs of the tiles with diamond glaze. Allowing the tiles to dry overnight, we next sealed the backs with the glaze, allowed them to dry again, and finished by adhering the silver bails. This multi-step process required several days, as each of us have other responsibilities we needed to attend to, but we rewarded ourselves with a glass of wine or two at the end of each working session.

The hardest part was waiting for the chains to arrive. We decided to offer three styles of necklaces to pair with the unique nature of each of the pendants. Some are more earthy and seem suited to a black leather necklace; others more delicate and feminine that work well with an organza ribbon. Still others seem just perfect when paired with a traditional silver neck chain.

Our “Sassy Glass” necklaces are now selling in the gift shop here at the High Pointe Inn for $15.00 ea. You can mix and match the pieces to create your own one-of-a-kind necklace to suit a particular mood or outfit. Choose a round, square, or rectangular pendant and a black leather, organza ribbon, or silver necklace to match.

So far the reaction from our guests has been fantastic, and we expect to sell out soon. But don’t worry, we have lots more paper to work with and plenty of wine to fortify our efforts. Come on down and visit us soon. It’s summer on Cape Cod and time to get “Sassy”.

So summer 2012 has arrived. It blasted in this week with record temperatures and paved the way for sequels yesterday and today. Now twelve long weeks of sultry days followed by equally balmy nights await us. This is the season for lying on the beach and splashing in the waves. Time to put away the “to do” list and get out your beach shoes. Another endless summer stretches before us.

When I was a kid the nearest beach was an hour’s drive from home and another state away. Consequently, we didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities to go to the beach for the day. So when an chance did arise, it was cause for celebration. Today, I can be on the nearest beach in 4 minutes or less, depending on the traffic.

Sandy Neck beach stretches for miles along Cape Cod Bay and its shimmering sands wink at us in the distance. Rich and I often stroll along the beach in the late afternoon looking for sea glass and hoping to find some other treasure to take home and share with our guests. Driftwood, sand dollars, stray lobster buoys and an assortment of flotsam and jetsam tossed from the ocean decorate the yard and garden of our Inn.

But Sandy Neck is not the only beach we frequent. When it comes to finding the ultimate stretch of sand on Cape Cod, choice is the operative word. While we as residents can purchase a beach sticker to access all of the beaches in Barnstable, visitors must pay a daily parking fee or, for longer stays, buy a week-long pass at the Hyannis Youth and Community Center located at 141 Bassett Lane in Hyannis. Here, in no particular order, are some of the choices here in the mid-Cape area:

• Sandy Neck Beach: Barnstable’s longest beach, which is noted for its high sand dunes and RV access. Sandy Neck Road in Barnstable.
• Millway Beach: Located next to Barnstable Harbor (departure point for the Hyannis Whale Watcher). Though it is a small stretch of sand it does have a lovely view of the lighthouse on Sandy Neck. This is a residents-only beach found at the end of Millway Road in Barnstable.
• Hathaway’s Pond: Open to the public, this fresh water pond has a nice playground area for the kids. Phinney’s Lane in Barnstable.
• Craigville Beach: A very popular warm water beach on Vineyard Sound. Located in Centerville off Craigville Beach Road in Centerville.
• Covells Beach: Another residents-only beach east of Craigville Beach with moderate surf and warm water. Craigville Beach Road in Centerville.
• Kalmus Beach: Located on Hyannis Harbor. This beach is great for windsurfing and offers a nice picnic area. Ocean Street in Hyannis.
• Veterans Beach: Located next to the Kennedy Memorial along Ocean Street in Hyannis.
• Sea Street Beach: This public beach is located on Hyannis Harbor and features a nice picnic area. Sea Street in Hyannis.
• Dowses Beach A residents-only beach located on East Bay in Osterville. Wianno Avenue.

Rich and I have been innkeeping for a long time now, first in the mountains of New Hampshire and now here at our little B&B on Cape Cod. We love what we do and we strongly believe that we offer our guests something that a larger hotel or motel can’t possibly match. That is, in a nutshell, personalized service and intimate knowledge of the Cape: the best clam shacks, scenic drives, lighthouse tours, hikes, beaches, ice cream, pizza, sunset view, fishing holes, and restaurants for a romantic dinner. If you tell us what would make your stay perfect, we’ll find a way to make it happen.

Our “never stayed at a B&B before” guests are always amazed at all the extra touches we provide throughout the Inn itself and in the individual guest rooms. For us, it’s all about the details. So from the warmed mugs for coffee at breakfast to complimentary after-dinner drinks from the cordials bar in the evening and everything in between, our goal is to have it available for our guests before they even know they want or need it.

It amazes me that our “first time at an Inn guests” are so blown away by the experience. I chalk it up to too many stays at non-descript motels or big box hotels. While those properties serve their purpose, if you are looking for something unique or distinctive, if you want an authentic experience when you travel, a bed and breakfast inn is the ideal choice.

Why, you might ask? What makes a bed and breakfast inn stand out from among all the accommodation choices on Cape Cod or anywhere you might travel? Quite simply, it’s the innkeepers themselves. Innkeepers are a special breed. They come from myriad life experiences with a desire for one thing, really: to live and work in their destination of choice. And that, my friends, is why we choose to stay at B&Bs whenever possible. Because the innkeepers have a love affair with not only what they are doing, but where they are doing it and with whom. And they want to share that with their guests.

Rich and I chose Cape Cod. Why? Because we love it here. It’s the pride of place reflected in the lovely tended gardens along Route 6A, the smiles of the people you pass walking on the beach, the light in the evening sky, and the smell of freshly mown grass. It’s lobster a la everything and fried anything. It’s concerts and theater, festivals and parades, moors and marshlands, and sunsets and starry nights. It’s Cape Cod, a place like no other, fragile and beautiful, bold and beguiling.

We’ve spent a lifetime traveling here and we plan to make the most of it. So if you find yourself asking “What to expect when you are expecting a B&B on Cape Cod?” the answer is simple: it‘s the innkeepers. If they love what they do, love where they live, then likely they’d like nothing more than to see a smile of satisfaction on the face of a guest who sought their advice on what to do or where to eat during their stay and followed it. They are fully invested in your good time.

Where else can you get that kind of dedication?

Memorial Day weekend on Cape Cod was lovely. Picture perfect. And the guests at our Inn enjoyed all kinds of outdoor activities, including riding the bike trails, taking the fast ferry to Nantucket for the day, and cavorting on the lovely beaches of the National Seashore. We heard all about it at breakfast on the deck in the morning, including the fabulous meals they enjoyed at some of our spectacular local restaurants. It made our mouths water.

So on a rare quiet night at the Inn this week, Rich and I took the opportunity to revisit the Regatta of Cotuit, an intimate restaurant located in an historic 200-year-old Federal mansion along Route 28, midway between Falmouth and Hyannis. Its most recent chef/owner, Weldon Fizell, is a graduate of Johnson and Wales Culinary Institute and a veteran of the restaurant industry, having amassed an impressive resume that includes working with a Michelin chef and serving as executive chef of both the distinguished Chatham Bars Inn and the storied Hyannis Port Club.

We sat in the Tap Room, which features an extensive bar, warm wood floor, and intimate candlelit tables. Several smaller dining rooms with white-clothed tables were equally attractive, but we chose the Tap Room for its relaxed atmosphere and subtle charm. The wait staff was friendly and attentive, a delicate balance to achieve, but executed with aplomb.

Martinis were in order, carefully selected from an extensive menu, and delivered perfectly chilled. I chose the baby iceberg wedge to start, which was dressed with Great Hill bleu cheese dressing, sweet cranberries, smoky bacon and crispy onions. My husband, the carnivore, selected the pork belly appetizer, as he is on a mission to try this trendy cut of meat in all its iterations. This version did not disappoint. I think “melts in you mouth” was the description he gave after his first and final bites.

For an entrée I went with the jumbo dayboat scallops, which came seared to a golden brown and accompanied by sautéed asparagus and a basil and angel hair pasta flan. The flan was delightfully light and the herb beurre blanc over the scallops exquisitely rich, with a perfect balance of flavors. Rich opted for the slow roasted crispy lacquered half duck with a ginger scallion pancake, sautéed Asian vegetables and finished with a raspberry ginger glaze. Though not his favorite preparation of duck, it was right up there near the top.

For dessert we were convinced to have the special of the day, a fresh berry trifle. Served in a parfait glass, we fought over each and every bite, it was so good.

For those with a lighter appetite or budget, the Regatta offers a Tap Room menu that features a pizzetta of the evening, decadent burger, Tap Room salad, and a shrimp pad thai that almost got my vote that evening. I will definitely have to go back to try it.

The Regatta serves dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5:00 PM until close in season; Wednesday through Saturday in the winter. Thursday night is jazz night in the Tap Room.

News from the High Pointe Inn, a Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast:  This morning at breakfast a guest asked me where to play miniature golf on Cape Cod. That question is a sure sign that the season has begun here on Cape Cod. Not just the summer season, but the season for reliving our youth and remembering the simple pleasure of living in the moment. Like mini-golf.

Mini-golf is but one way to pass a lazy summer afternoon or evening. And it’s not just the kids who enjoy a challenging course. Many adults simply cannot pass up the temptation of a revolving waterwheel and tilting at windmills.

My days of mini-golf were pretty demure compared to the tricked-out courses of today. And there are no shortage of courses to choose from on the Cape. Route 28 from West Harwich through Dennis and Yarmouth could easily be renamed mini-golf alley. A long stretch of courses line the road. There’s Pirate’s Cove in South Yarmouth with its distinctive pirate ship sunk in a lagoon, numerous pirate statues, a shark, and brand new water cannons. And nearby, Wild Animal Lagoon features a newly installed four-seat airplane on its course in West Yarmouth.

Skull Island Adventure Golf in Bass River boasts, what else, a giant skull as its centerpiece, along with cascading waterfalls, alligator infested waters, a haunted treasure cave, and a Swiss Family Robinson Tree House. The course at Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham, offers miniature hand-crafted, scaled replicas of lower Cape Cod’s historical landmarks in an effort to make history fun. What could be more fun than fried clams and mini-golf? Cape Escape, a nautical 18-hole adventure course in Orleans, touts an amply stocked Japanese koi pond, fishing boats and waterfalls, plus a fog machine to amp up the atmosphere.

But perhaps my favorite, and one of the oldest on Cape Cod, is Sandwich Mini-Golf, which started about a half century ago along Route 6A. Originally opened with just nine holes, over the years the owner hand-built 18 more holes to expand the operation to a 36-hole course, including nine hand-built bridges.

Elsewhere on the Cape you’ll find Harbor Lights Mini-Golf in Brewster, Harbor Glen Miniature Golf and Weatherdeck Restaurant in Harwich, Holiday Hill Miniature Golf in Dennisport, Cataumet Light Mini Golf in Cataumet, Sand ‘n’ Surf in Buzzards Bay, Popponesset Mini Golf in Mashpee, Putters Paradise in West Yarmouth, West Main Mini Golf in Hyannis, Poit’s Lighthouse Mini Golf in Eastham, Cape Cod Miniature Golf in Hyannis, Wellfleet Mini Golf , and Cape Cod Storyland Golf, also in Hyannis.

Certainly there is no shortage of options to choose from when the mini-golf mood strikes. So break out your nine iron and loosen up your swing. Let the season begin. Fore….