A recent photo on the cover of the Cape Cod Times featured a rare Allen’s hummingbird on a feeder at a home in Harwich Port. Though it is not unusual to spot a hummingbird on the Cape, it is a rarity in the dead of winter. And this particular bird is worthy of a cover story because its normal habitat is coastal California and parts of central Mexico. Now I am not a bird expert, but this strange occurrence signals to me that this hummingbird has stumbled upon one of Cape Cod’s greatest secrets. It’s a great place to hang out at any time of the year. Let me tell you why.

Although it does snow here from time to time, the snow never lasts long. A good storm might drop as much as a foot at the beginning of the week, but by the time the weekend rolls around we’re looking at green grass again. Seriously, I saw golfers out the other day at the Hyannis Golf Club on Iyannough Road. I was out doing last minute Christmas shopping and there they were enjoying the back nine. Mind you, they were dressed for the weather, but they were golfing none-the-less.

Temperatures can dip into the 20s, and perhaps even into the teens in the wee hours of the morning. But 30s and 40s are more typical even in the dark days of winter. And now that the winter solstice has passed, the days are getting longer. Of course, it’s not beach weather yet, but it still is comfortable enough for a long walk on the beach. Casey, our yellow lab, loves a good walk on the beach in the winter. All kinds of cool things wash up on the beach after a good blow. Last year a vagrant buoy washed up on Sandy Neck Beach and created quite a stir. And the year before that the remains of an old shipwreck surfaced a Newcomb Hollow in Wellfleet. Winter is the perfect time to treasure hunt…you never know what you might find.

Winter is also the best time to go to a restaurant you may have been wanting to try. Off-season restaurants offer discounts, early bird dining, prix fixe menus, and other great deals in an effort to lure new diners. We take advantage of the slow winter months to find new haunts to recommend to our guests. Some restaurants also host wine dinners, cooking demonstrations, and themed events that are not only a great bargain but enormous fun. I’d share some pictures of the Naked Oyster’s Hawaiian Luau a couple of winters ago, but I’ve pledged to protect the innocent.

Now that the holidays are over, some of my favorite shops are offering deep discounts to deplete current inventory in an effort to ready themselves for their spring and summer stock. Red Fish Blue Fish on Main St. in Hyannis is a great spot to find fantastic gifts      for next year’s stockings at up to 75% off. Having been caught in the crunch of finding fun and funky items for the stockings I stuff this year, you can bet I’m going to be taking advantage of that sale.

Finally, most lodging properties are offering great deals for both midweek and weekend travel. Here at the High Pointe Inn in West Barnstable on Cape Cod, we offering 25%
off a 3-night mid-week stay from now through March 31st. That’s a savings of more than $100 off our regular low off-season rates!. We also have a great 3-night Romantic Valentine’s Getaway Package that includes side-by-side in-room couples massages, 3-course gourmet dinner for two, a bottle of chilled champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries. And for our teacher friends, we just put together a Teacher’s PET package for February and April vacation weeks.

For more information on these and our other great packages, call us toll free at 1-888-362-4441 or visit our Specials and Packages page on our website.

After all, if hummingbirds want to hang around on the Cape this winter, there must be something to it.

In return, I’d like to offer you some great gift ideas for those on your list with a love of Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce is marketing Cape Cod with what I think is a great tag line: “We all need a little Cape Cod.” So in that spirit, here are some of my favorite gift ideas for Cape Cod themed gifts for the Cape Cod lovers in your circle of friends and family:

1.) A subscription to Cape Cod Life Magazine. That way they can keep up with what’s doing on Cape Cod all year plus get a 12-month calendar with beautiful color photographs of Cape Cod scenes for every month.
2.) A selection of jams and jellies from the Chatham Jam and Jelly Shop. We serve their products exclusively at the Inn and our guests love them. Try cranberry vanilla for a real taste sensation, or wild beach plum made from local beach plums.
3.) A Cape Cod Road Atlas, which has proven indispensable to me as we wander the back roads of Cape Cod looking for new “road trip” destinations to suggest to our guests.
4.) Something from Truro Vineyards. They have a great selection of wines and wine accessories, or you could splurge on a Truro Vineyards Wine Club membership enjoy automatic shipment of Truro Vineyards wine containing 3 bottles per shipment delivered 4 times a year.
5.) A gift certificate for the Cape Cod Scenic Fun Train, or the Elegant Dinner Train. This would be a fabulous gift for the train enthusiasts on your list.
6.) High Speed Ferry Tickets on HyLine Cruises or the Steamship Authority to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. What could be better than visiting one of the islands during one of their annual festivals?!
7.) A gift membership to the Heritage Museum and Gardens, which includes a free subscription to Cape Cod View and unlimited entrance to the museum in all seasons. We often take the grandkids to ride the carousel and the antique car collection in the Shaker Round Barn is spectacular.
8.) A signed Elizabeth Mumford print. Her whimsical style often has a nautical theme, and each print is surrounded with a black border featuring a stenciled verse.
9.) An authentic Cape Cod Screwball bracelet hand-wrought from Eden Hand Arts.
10.) A beautiful nautical wreath or arrangement from Harvest of Barnstable or Pastiche of Cape Cod.
11.) A handmade angel shell ornament or a High Pointe Inn logo mug from our onsite gift shop.
12.) A High Pointe Inn gift certificate for a Two Enchanted Evenings package that includes dinner at our favorite Cape Cod Restaurant, the Belfry Bistro.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Pastiche of Cape Cod, 1595 Route 6A, West Barnstable, MA
When I first arrived on Cape Cod I worked for Irina, the owner of this high-end interior design store. What I learned from her about design was priceless. Although she specializes in interior design, her shop has some wonderfully whimsical items and some truly one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. Her botanical designs are world famous, especially her nautical wreaths and miniature Christmas trees.

Harvest of Barnstable, 89 Willow Street, Yarmouthport, MA
Wendy Smith, the proprietor, specializes in natural dried wreaths, centerpieces and custom designs. The store is an inspiration at any time of the year, but holidays are her specialty. Unique and beautiful dried flower arrangements, shell art, and fanciful ornaments are in abundance. I go here for home decorating ideas, holiday decorations, Nantucket lightship style baskets and nautical gifts, and I always leave with a smile on my face.

Painted Daisies, 679 Route 6A, East Sandwich, MA
Painted Daisies is one of the most beautiful and unique gift shops on Cape Cod. The shop showcases the finest in hand painted gifts and furniture, pottery, jewelry, floral arrangements and fine art from some of Cape Cod’s favorite artisans and craftsmen. Each of the 7 showrooms feature something different. There is penny candy, children’s clothing, glassware, and jewelry. Her displays are truly artful.

Mrs. Mugs, 680 Route 6A, East Sandwich, MA
This is a store for unique and unusual gift items from whimsical mugs (hence the name) to fun jewelry, great stocking stuffers, travel and handbags, and the ubiquitous Crocs. I always get a giggle from a visit to this shop.

Design Works, 159 Main Street, Yarmouthport, MA
Design Works carries an eclectic mix of home furnishings, antiques, linens, clothing, jewelry, gifts, and seasonal home accessories. It is most widely known for it’s large selection of antique Scandinavian Furniture.

Peach Tree Designs, 173 Main Street, Yarmouthport, MA
This store offers a unique collection of handpicked decorative accessories, fine furnishings, and unusual gifts. The barn outback has some wonderfully one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces and artwork. Occasionally, Peach Tree has a sale that makes their items much more affordable. But I have picked up a few really nice decorative items there and never tire of browsing.

The Barn & Co. and Details, 574 Main Street, Dennis, MA
Rich and I first discovered this shop when we moved to the Cape from North Conway, NH in 2003. That first Christmas, he gave me our first Elizabeth Mumford print called “Cape Cod Dogs”. Mumford is a primitive artist who specializes in nursery rhyme and anecdotal artwork with a coastal theme. Our collection of her work has grown over the years and we treasure each and every one. The shop also carries unique gift items, jewelry, Vera Bradley, baby gift items, cards, and whimsical signs.