What to do on Cape Cod when it’s not beach weather? In the mood to commune with nature, we headed out on a whim with some friends recently to hike a few local nature trails and prayed that our adventurous spirit would be undaunted by the dreary weather. Eight days of intermittent gray had taken its toll and, although the sun seemed poised to make an appearance, our hopes had been dashed before.

Our first destination was the Knob at Quissett Harbor in Falmouth. A gentle well-worn path winds through woodlands along one of the most beautiful harbors on Cape Cod. About ¾ of the way in you come to a crescent-shaped sandy beach tucked into a small inlet that would make the perfect stop for a quick dip. On this day, however, the weather gods did not allow for swimming so we search for sea glass instead and were rewarded mightily. Just past the access to the beach, stone steps lead to the Knob itself. This recently revetted hill of land juts out into the water and offers amazing views of Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands, and the towns of Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, Fairhaven, and Sakonnet in the distance. Or so we were told by the only member of the group that had walked this way before. Our visit was shrouded in fog, so a return visit is required to confirm this. Undaunted by the lack of view, we enjoyed the solitude and sat on the rocks for quite a while.

Our second destination was the Museum of Natural History on Route 6A in Brewster. There on the grounds are a series of short walks through the salt marsh to Wing’s Island. Wing’s Island is named for one of the first colonial settlers, John Wing, a monument to whom you will pass along the trail. The trails lead through the salt marsh, an upland meadow and forest, and out to the dunes and beach and Cape Cod Bay. The marshlands are bounded to the west by Quivet Creek and to the east by Paine’s Creek, which becomes Stony Brook just south of Route 6A. It’s a gentle walk, clearly marked and easy to traverse, the only obstacle being an occasional muddy spot along the trail that requires bushwhacking a bit or carefully balancing on thoughtfully placed boards. Though we were unable to reach the dunes that day due to flooding in the marsh from recent rains, we were able to spot an errant lady slipper, a blue butterfly, and a rufous-sided towhee, my first.

So if the weather is less than perfect on your next visit to Cape Cod, don’t be discouraged. These are but two of the wonderful nature walks you can explore…one that led us to sea glass treasure, and the other to a treasure of flora and fauna.

Cape Cod offers so much to see and do that you could literally spend weeks exploring its beautiful beaches, great nature trails, and kayaking the numerous creeks and tidal marshes. Museums are plentiful too, as is live theatre, and music at the Melody Tent and other venues. Not to mention sampling all the fine restaurants, clam shacks, farmer’s markets, and ice cream shops that feature the freshest of local fare. And dare we leave out fun adventures like whale watching, seal cruises, and deep sea fishing.

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.