My family doesn't go on enough real vacations. Sure, we head down to Disneyland a lot but something about an uptight 2 year old and long plane flights just scares me. Heck, the kid won't go on a sailboat (the single greatest form of transportation ever) what makes me think he'll sit on an airplane for 5-12 hours? He won't.
But, since we have to take a vacation some time, we're going to bite the bullet and head to Cape Cod next summer. Of course, the time for planning is now before the real planners get their hands on guide books and lists of cute B&Bs and recommendations from people who think the point to a vacation is to sit on a beach and build sand castles.
I gotta know where the sailboats are. You know, the cute little ones that people like Tillerman sail. I love those things; heck, I'd better love them I think I'm committed to sailing one in China in 2012.
One of the problems is my fear of Hobie Cats. I can't rent a Hobie Cat. When I was a kid, my brother rented a Hobie down in Miami for the two of us. I was really young and really didn't know how to sail but I trusted him. Of course, my brother is crazy and had a speed machine at his disposal. His thinking went like this: "the boat is fastest when heeling, how much can we make it heel?" Even then I had an understanding of physics that went like this, "at some point this freakin' thing is going over!" And of course it did, the first thing my brother said was "don't touch the hulls, they have razors on the bottom". I have no idea if that's true but it scared the beejeeesus out of me and I've never really recovered. So, in my mind, Hobies are dangerous, tippy, razor-sharp killing machines to be avoided at all costs.
But, they're still better than sand castles, anyone know the best beach on Cape Cod to rent one of these beasts?
30 comments:
The only place I know of it Nauti Janes in Chatham. They rent two kinds of dangerous, tippy, razor-sharp killing machines.
Seriously though, Cape Cod is a silly place for a summer vacation. It is expensive, over-rated, and packed with tourists. Rhode Island is much nicer. Plus, you can rent boats at SailNewport that are more your size. You could even go to Block Island (for a day trip or stay there for a few days).
Cape Cod is close enough to Rhode Island for a day trip from a vacation base in RI if you really want to see what it's like.
That is good advice...Cape Cod was picked by others, I'm just along for the ride. I actually want to rent dinghies instead of a leadmine, it seems more vacationy.
I was wondering where this "Rhode Island" thing came from.
To me, "Cape Cod" = "East of Sacramento". I'm sure we can find something we all agree on that's fun.
East of Sacramento. Cool, a much shorter flight for Junior.
I vote Block Island! Have heard great things about it.
Signed, mother of an uptight 2 year old
Cape Cod is a marketing name invented to describe a conglomeration of strip malls, parking lots, rotaries, fast food joints and gay bars on the outskirts of Boston. It's not so much a place as a state of mind. Think Margaritaville only not so much fun.
The advantage of the concept is that it lures most of the inhabitants of Massachusetts, not to mention tourists from California (a.k.a. everywhere west of Springfield), to spend hours every summer weekend sitting in stationary lines of traffic trying to cross two bridges over a ditch going by the cutesy name of the Cape Cod Canal.
As a result the much more attractive beaches of other parts of southern New England are spared the presence of the ditch crossers, and kept for the exclusive use of the more discrimintating residents.
Brendhan, this "Rhode Island" thing came from Giovanni da Verrazzano getting lost in 1524 and confusing Block Island with the island of Rhodes. Much later some dude living just down the road from me bred some chickens that have reddish feathers and the rest is history.
I lived on Block Island for two summers. It is my favorite place on earth.
I would second Rhode Island as an AWESOME alternate, but dispute that Cape Cod is overrated. The Cape is amazing if you want to sit on a beach for a week. There is a reason thousands of New Yorkers and Jerseyites sit in traffic for 8 hours each way each weekend to get out there. If you decide on the Cape, try Dennis Port.
If you'd rather split time with checking out amazing marinas and port towns than planting your buts on the beach, Rhode Island is the place to be. There are still beaches, and even ferries out to Block Island (where there are great beaches). There are many daytrips from Rhode Island to be had. There are beautiful beaches at Watch Hill, Mystic CT and Newport to name a few). Afterall, Newport is the sailing capital of the world.
We're likely keeping one of the boats in Newport for part of next summer. Should you be in town and the schedules align, we'll love to show you some Eastern hospitality.
This is fantastic, just what I was hoping I'd get. Any input into Maine would be helpful as well.
Most importantly, Tillerman solved one of the remaining mysteries of the world: Rhode Island isn't an island, but now we know why it's called that.
Now, please explain Times Square, conveniently shaped like a triangle.
Oh, Maine is amazing.
You might want to leave the beach ideas behind though (water is cold) and charter a boat. The harbors and inlets are amazing. Maine is awesome!
.
Why is Times Square so called?
Back in 1904, when the New York Times company was constructing its new building in what was then called Long Acre Square, one JWC Corbusier wrote to the newspaper suggesting that "the space about the edifice be called “Times Triangle” or “Times Square,” though perhaps it may not be a square?" The letter is still in the NYT archives.
The rest is history.
Actually Rhode Island is an island. It is the largest island in Narragansett Bay. The official name for the island is Rhode Island and it is identified as such on many maps, including USGS topographic maps. However it is almost universally known locally as Aquidneck Island, to distinguish it from what is sometimes called the State of Rhode Island, of which it is part.
But actually there is no such thing as the State of Rhode Island. The state's real name is the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.
The original European settlers in Aquidneck and Providence respectively were Anne Hutchinson and Roger Williams who at different times fell out with the folk in the Massachusetts Bay Colony (now known as Red Sox Nation). The Red Sox Nation folk had left England because they wanted religious freedom but as soon as they arrived in Red Sox Nation they started persecuting folk like Anne and Roger who had different religions.
And the rest is history.
Why wouldn't Block Island have been called Rhode Island then if it was the one originally discovered by Giovanni da Verrazzano and confused with the Island of Rhodes?
Maine is nice, Kennebunkport especially. It is another great place to head in summertime to avoid the tourists on Cape Cod, but the beach lovers in your party will be disappointed by the cold water temperatures. There is much more to do, and more sailing for you as well, in the Rhode Island area.
Water temp. is the priority for me. If my wife can sail, that's a bonus.
So...Florida?
When the founders of Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations surveyed the land, they thought that Aquidneck Island was the place referred to by Verrazzano as Rhode Island. Block Island became part of the colony of Rhode Island in 1672 and the island government adopted the name "New Shoreham." However, a Dutch map of 1685 clearly shows Block Island, indicated as Adrian Block Island ("Adriaen Blocks Eylant"). Adrian Block charted Block Island in his 1614 expedition to chart the lower Hudson and Long Island Sound. Apparently, Adrian Block might have been the one who named the Rhode Island ("Roode Eylandt") after the red (Dutch roode) color of its soil.
Florida, summer...eek. At that point warm water feels cold because the air temp is so hot. I've spent summers in Florida, you're on the right track for New England I think.
Good question Edward. It was all because of some Dutch guy who built a ship in Manhattan way back when even before Times Triangle was a glint in JWC Corbusier's eye.
He got carried by the tide and the wind up the East River and into Long Island Sound, the first European to sail on that Sound. He cruised around a bit until he reached the end of Long Island and was the first to prove it was an island.
Having claimed the Hamptons and JFK airport for the Netherlands, he then set sail for Cape Cod because he had heard that the traffic to get across the bridges was "wicked slow". On the way he saw a rocky island. He didn't know it was the same island that Verazzano had seen 90 years before and so named it after himself as "Adrian Blocks eylandt".
The rest is history.
Aaah. I see Litoralis beat me to it with the usual cock-and-bull story about the mythical Adrian Block.
I think I may be delusional.
Brendhan,
Do you really want to go to Florida in the summer time? Do you like humidity?
The water temperatures in New England are quite comfortable by mid-summer. Having married into a New England family I can relate the traditional New England beach technique which involves sitting on the beach until you are a sweaty mess and then going for a swim to cool off (repeat until the snacks run out). Variations include going for a walk until you are a sweaty mess, clambering on the rocks until you are a sweaty mess, building a sandcastle until you are a sweaty mess, and the possible option of getting a drink from the bar at the Sea Crest (if you are at Old Silver Beach, the best beach on Cape Cod according to my wife's family).
I was joking about Florida. I realize it's horrible. I'm using it to illustrate that I don't want to be on a cold beach in July, no matter how good the sailing.
I think Edward may be the only sailor that I can effectively communicate with. As for everyone else, it's like you're Popeye and I'm Blutto. We just don't get each other.
I'm starting to get hits from Oliver Hazard Perry Middle School's 7th grade "History of Rhode Island" class taught by Ms. Eggleson.
The elder member of a certain family of Laser sailors could possibly have a lot to answer for if these kids quote him on their papers.
I believe Bluto was a sailor too. At least, he has the hat and was apparently in the Navy at one point.
OK-then I'm Wimpy. See-I can't even communicate effectively with you now.
No-I think it's important we find a way to get you and Kathy on the water if we're sitting by the ocean for a week.
"We have met the enemy and they are ours." Oliver Hazard Perry
Actually it was: "We have met the enemy and they are ours; two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop."
Yeah but if I had been his speechwriter I would have told him that my version would be a better soundbite and be more likely to be picked up by the cable news channels.
And in any case it actually was...
"Dear Gen'l: We have met the enemy, and they are ours, two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop. Yours with great respect and esteem. H. Perry."
The guy had a tin ear.
Post a Comment