1. Sea Crest Oceanfront Resort &Conference Center
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Accommodations
Telephone: (508) 540-9400, (800) 225-3110
Address: 350 Quaker Rd.
Description: The Sea Crest has 700 feet of white-sand waterfront on Buzzards Bay. The facility offers you the opportunity to indulge in everything from tennis to swimming, dancing to dining. In season, kayaks, sailboards, and sailboats are available to let you explore the inlets of the bay. Windsurfing instruction is offered during the summer months. Enjoy water-view dining in the Sea Crest’s oceanfront dining room, or grab a bite at Oscars. If you’d rather soak up some rays, try the cabana bar, on a deck adjoining the outdoor pool. In addition you can enjoy the resort’s indoor pool, exercise room, game room, whirlpool, sauna, and its two all-weather tennis courts. If you’re bringing the kids, you’ll be happy to know that during July and August, the day camp staff holds activities for children. Many of the rooms have water views and balconies; all rooms come with double or king-size beds, irons and ironing boards, refrigerators, cable TV, telephones with data ports, wireless Internet access and hair dryers. Available space is sometimes limited by conferences. The resort has numerous conference rooms for those who have to work for a living. For those who can tear themselves away from the meetings and the beach, Falmouth’s downtown and harbor are about a 10- to 15-minute drive away. Sea Crest is typically a year-round facility but will be closed for about five months at the end of the 2009 season for renovations.
2. Ballymeade Country Club & Estates
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (508) 540-4005
Address: 125 Falmouth Woods Rd.
Description: Ballymeade opened in 1987 and immediately became known as one of the toughest layouts on the Cape. Recently redesigned by Chichi Rodriquez, this semiprivate 18-hole course plays to a 139 slope of more than 6,900 yards from its back tees. Ballymeade is obviously not a beginner’s course, but the front tees do knock the course down to size for most high- and mid-handicappers. Ballymeade has hilly, rocky terrain, and narrow, tree-lined fairways. The panoramic views are stunning, especially from the par 3 11th hole, which is one of the highest points on Cape Cod and offers fantastic views of Buzzards Bay.Reservations for tee times can be made up to seven days in advance, and groups of 16 or more can book up to a year in advance. Greens fees in the summer, including mandatory carts, are $80 weekends and $65 weekdays. Off-season fees drop. The course is open year-round and has a driving range and a putting green complete with a bunker so you can practice those pesky sand shots. Ballymeade also has PGA teaching pros and a fully stocked pro shop.
3. Cape Cod Country Club
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Golf
Telephone: (508) 563-9842, (508) 563-6109
Address: 48 Theatre Dr.
Description: This course sets up for everyone, good players and beginners alike. From the tips, this par 71 course measures a moderate 6,400 yards with a slope of 120. There are several elevated greens on this layout, including the par 4 14th hole, where you’ll feel like you’re trying to land your approach on a mountaintop. A few feet left or right turns into several yards with a kick off the side of the hill. Cape Cod Country Club offers rental carts and equipment, a pro shop, and lunch counter. There is a practice green, and lessons are available. Fees are $42 on weekdays and $56 on weekends for 18 holes. After 3 p.m. rates go down. Tee times are taken up to a week in advance. The course is open year-round.
4. Silver Lounge
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (508) 563-2410
Address: 412 Rte. 28A
Description: The Silver Lounge in North Falmouth has been a favorite hangout for years and is one of the few that serves a full menu until 11:45 p.m. Eat in the railroad caboose, then join the crowd at the piano bar in the lounge, always a focal point for local gatherings. The pianist plays Thurs through Sat, and the Silver Lounge is open all year-round.
5. Surf Lounge At The Sea Crest Resort
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (508) 540-9400
Address: 350 Quaker Rd.
Description: This oceanfront resort is a great place for an evening out if you want a romantic dinner overlooking Buzzards Bay, followed by some music and maybe a little cheek-to-cheek dancing. Most nights during the high season, there is live music that includes everything from a disc jockey to bands performing blues, show tunes, or Top 40.
6. Brewer Fiddler’S Cove Marina
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 564-6327
Address: 42 Fiddler’s Cove Rd.
Description: Well located for access to the Cape Cod Canal, Fiddler’s Cove is a marina and boatyard with complete marine service. The facility has no moorings, but it has 105 seasonal slips and offers power, fuel, water, and cable. It can accommodate boats up to 80 feet in length and up to a 7-foot draft. The marina has a 35-ton travel lift for launching or hauling. It also has a laundry, showers, clubhouse, and a picnic area with grill. The marina is open year-round.
7. Cape Cod Windsurfing
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (508) 801-3329
Address: 350 Quaker Rd.
Description: On beautiful Vineyard Sound, this outfit rents watercraft such as kayaks, pedal boats, Sunfish, and sailboats. It also has windsurfing and sailboarding equipment and instruction available. The shop is located on Old Silver Beach at the Sea Crest Hotel.
8. Uncle Bill’S Country Store
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 564-4355
Address: 412 Rte. 28A
Description: This store carries a little bit of everything—greeting cards, collectibles, homemade jams, penny candy, and jewelry. Special collections include Byers Choice carolers,Old World Christmas, and decorations for all holiday seasons, especially Christmas. The store has a huge variety of teddy bears and also stocks a large number of cranberry and cranberry-design products, among them linen, pottery, food, cookbooks, and children’s toys. Open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas.
9. Gallery 333
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (508) 564-4467, (617) 332-5459
Address: 333 Old Main Rd.
Description: Housed in an 1800 home, this gallery has three rooms of paintings, drawings, limited edition prints, glass, sculpture, ceramics, and photography, representing a range of styles from representational to abstract. The gallery focuses on distinguished local and New England artists. Open Wed through Sun from mid-June to mid-Sept, and by appointment in the off-season (by calling the number above), Gallery 333 offers five or six shows each summer, with Sat evening receptions opening each show.
10. Shining Sea Bikeway
City: North Falmouth, MA
Category: Tours & Attractions
Description: This bike trail is named the Shining Sea to honor Falmouth native Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote the words to the song “America the Beautiful.” This easy 10-mile route begins in North Falmouth, passing farmland and cranberry bogs. The route hugs Vineyard Sound for a mile or so before swinging you into the fishing village of Woods Hole. This route is also a favorite for runners and walkers.