My favorite childhood memories are of summer road trips with my family: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Dad loved exploring new places, and instilled that wanderlust in me. I want my own kids to have the same summer good times and memories that last a lifetime, and I’d heard wonderful things about Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club on Cape Cod. So when the hotel offered to host us, off we went for five days.
The view that greets you and makes you think “I could get used to this.”
Located in the über-charming town of Brewster, Massachusetts, Ocean Edge sits on 429 acres. Recently named Best Resort Hotel on Cape Cod by Boston Magazine, it dates back to the 1890s, when it served as an estate for a banker and his family. If you have a vivid imagination, you can pretend the place is your summer home.
Room memories: #235, in the East Wing (before the kids flung their stuff everywhere).
The Mansion side, recently renovated, has guestrooms, suites and villas with two and three bedrooms; the Villages side has villas with one, two and three bedrooms. All of us love being in hotel rooms, and ours was particularly awesome. It had a beach-chic vibe—and seriously comfy beds. We couldn’t resist sleeping late a couple of mornings, as much as there was to see and do.
So pretty!
Every day, organized activities take place on the front lawn: kick ball, wiffle ball, crafts, kite-making, capture the flag, toddler games, flag football, soccer, ultimate frisbee, a treasure night. There are also Splashtastic Games at Fletcher Pool, along with family basketball, badminton and volleyball at Fletcher Complex. We’re not into golfing as a family, but if you are, the resort offers lessons and Family Golf in the afternoon, with tee markers that allow kids to play the hole from a closer distance to the green. Every night had an activity as well: karaoke at the pool, movie at the pool, family bingo, Putting and Pizza and Kids’ Night Out—also known as parents’ night out, because you can drop off the kids, go have dinner and make some romantic memories of your own.
Croquet memories
Tennis memories
Chill-out memories at Ocean Edge Terrace
The view from Ocean Terrace. Yes, it looks like a postcard, and yes, wish I were there!
Fun-time memories: hanging on a tree “swing”
As the parent of a kid with special-needs, I’m especially happy to frequent resorts that are special-needs friendly, as Ocean Edge is. Years ago, the resort’s developers donated a three-bedroom villa to Simon of Cyrene Society, a non-profit in Boston that offers support, advice and services to people with special needs and their families. So many flocked to the villa that the organization purchased a second one. Every year, it sends about 30 families to vacation on the property—with full access to amenities, courtesy of Ocean Edge. Love that.
In the summer the resort offers day camp for kids including Ocean EdgeVenture, complete with a “Learn to Swim Program” taught on Mondays. I’d asked to speak with the camp director ahead of time to fill her in on Max’s needs, and we had a nice phone conversation before we even arrived. Max was happy to hang out there for a half day making crafts, swimming and having his beloved mac ‘n cheese for lunch. Sabrina was equally pleased.
Camp memories
The hotel has water fun galore: two indoor pools open year-round and three outdoor pools. There also two fitness facilities, and yoga and spinning classes.
Our fave: the Arbor pool (the largest one), which features a toddler pool, hot tub and snack cabana
Tugboat Daddy memories
Pina-colada-in-the-pool memories. (Do my kids know how to live or what?!)
And one very special memory: Sabrina helping her brother into the pool
There’s a pretty, private beach for guests staying at the Mansion, and six Brewster beaches for guests on the Villages side. We stuck with the Mansion side one at Bay Pines, which you access via a two-minute walk. Typically, hauling your kids and the beach paraphernalia over the sand is not much fun, but the attendants were there to help, setting up a tent and umbrella and getting us settled in. The kids liked watching people taking standup paddle lessons.
Boogie board memories…
…and sand digging memories
When we were able to tear ourselves away from the beach, the pools and the endless activities, we explored Brewster and nearby towns. On the one rainy day of the week, we hit the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, the old-fashioned Brewster Store and a Tanglewood Marionettes performance of Cinderella in the First Parish Brewster Meeting House. Plus, one requisite stop at Sundae School, home to the world’s yummiest ice-cream.
The resort is adjacent to the Cape Cod Bike Trail, a 26-mile path that runs alongside several scenic towns and extends all the way to the seashore. One morning we picked up sandwiches, rented bikes and a trailer (the resort has two bike-rental shops), pedaled away for hours and picnicked.
“Mommy, can we ride a lot?”
“Faster, Daddy, faster!” memories
One activity we were particularly excited about: The S’mores Family Beach fire on Thursday evening. Sure enough, there were marshmallows, graham crackers and Hershey’s chocolate bars galore. Sabrina was our family’s Official Marshmallow Roaster. Max set a personal best record, downing ten (I don’t think he’s yet come down from the sugar high).
We sat on beach chairs, munching and enjoying the crisp night air and the stars up above—another memory none of us will ever forget.
Note: We were given a discounted room rate and complimentary camp, but the opinions (and memories) are all my own.