But what if you are on a limited budget, as many of our guests are? What can Cape Cod offer the frugal traveler or those interested in an authentic experience on their vacation. Plenty. So much that boston.com just released their top “25 Free Things to do on Cape Cod” list online this week.

It got me thinking about our favorite things to do on Cape Cod. As innkeepers we get very little free time, especially during the summer months. But having survived 11 years of running an inn, Rich and I have become fairly adept at carving out time for ourselves and exploring all the nooks and crannies that make up this amazing peninsula we live and work on. We quite often jump in the car and see where it takes us. These little adventures have uncovered some great places to while away an afternoon. And many of them offer no cost or low cost entertainment. Here for your enjoyment and consideration, is our “Top Ten List of Free Ways to Spend a Cape Cod Day“.

1. Hop in the car and drive the Old King’s Highway (Route 6A), rated one of the “Ten Most Scenic Byways in America”.
2. Pack a picnic and a good book and spend the afternoon at Fort Hill wandering the trails and enjoying an awe-inspiring view.
3. Stroll the paved multi-use path along the Cape Cod Canal admiring the numerous boat that ply the water.
4. Grab a net and head for Paines Creek in Brewster when the tide is low to explore the tide pools.
5. Walk the beach at Sandy Neck looking for sea glass and heart rocks.
6. Kayak Chase Garden Creek following the tides for an “up a lazy river” experience.
7. Take an ice cream cone to the boardwalk at Gray’s Beach for a magnificent sunset.
8. Climb Scargo Tower and take pictures of Cape Cod Bay from the top.
9. Take a leisurely walk in the 6-acre Spohr Garden on Oyster Pond in Falmouth.
10. Ride your bike along the 11-mile Shining Sea Bikeway from north Falmouth to Woods Hole.

Here are some ideas if you have more than one week of vacation time:

Day Eight: Cape Cod Rail Trail
Grab your bike and tackle the 26-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail that starts in Dennis and ends in Provincetown. This trail runs along a former railroad track, so for the most part it is flat with few hills. Upgraded in 2008, the trail is shared with walkers, in-line skaters, runners, and baby strollers, but for the most part it is smooth sailing, especially on week days and in the shoulder seasons. Along the trail are numerous opportunities to “stop and smell the roses” or the fried clams, ice cream, and salty air. You can pack a lunch for a picnic along the trail, or sample one of the clam shacks and ice cream parlors that dot the route. Take a detour into Nickerson State Park for a more challenging and hilly bike track, and reward yourself with a swim in the one of the lovely ponds. A number of bike rental shops abut the trail heads in Dennis, Brewster, and Orleans. When you are done “riding the rails” for the day, return via Route 6A and stop at the Sesuit Harbor Café in Dennis for a lobster roll or perhaps a sunset cruise on Cape Cod Bay.

Day Nine: Cape Cod at Play
Spend the day at any one of Cape Cod’s beautiful beaches soaking up the sun, reading the latest novel, walking the coastline in search of treasures from the sea, or frolicking in the waves. For the more adventuresome in your party, plan a kayak excursion in Pleasant Bay or Nauset Marsh with Osprey Sea Kayak Adventures. A day on the ocean with owner Dick Hilmer will inform, delight, and inspire. And for the duffers in the group, choose from among dozens of challenging golf courses from Ballymeade in Falmouth to Highland Links in Truro. Looking for even more adventure? Then set sail aboard a chartered fishing vessel from Sandwich, Hyannis, Chatham, or Rock Harbor for an afternoon of sport-fishing for striped bass, bluefish, shark, and bluefin tuna. Looking for dinner with a view of the ocean? Try the Aqua Grille, the Boat House, the Chart Room, the Ocean House, Mattakeese Wharf, 28 Atlantic, the Beachcomber, or the Mews. After dinner, catch a play at the Cape Cod Playhouse, America’s oldest professional summer theatre (in season).

Day Ten: Rail and Sail
Ride the rails on the Cape Cod Scenic Train, a 2-hour journey through beautiful cranberry bogs, natural woodlands, lush marshes and more as you make your way between Hyannis and the Cape Cod Canal. The perfect antidote to a sun-scorched day at the beach, a combination “rail and sail” package from the Cape Cod Scenic Railroad affords you a leisurely pace on both land and sea. After your narrated scenic trip on the “fun train” stop for lunch at Baxter’s Boat House on the harbor. In the afternoon, set sail for a leisurely one-hour harbor cruise aboard the Maine coastal steamer replica, Prudence, which will take you on a journey across Lewis Bay and Hyannis Harbor. After your cruise, visit the Cape Cod Maritime Museum at the head of the harbor for a lesson in maritime traditions and heritage. End you day with a concert at the Cape Cod Melody Tent (in season) or stop for a nightcap and some jazz at Harry’s Blues Bar on Main St.

Still have more time to play? Stay tuned for our next installment: Six Fabulous Day Trips 90 Minutes or Less from Cape Cod