CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : Greyfinch Chatham Inn provides a tranquil oasis for travelers ; Chatham Lighthouse Beach is prime for swimming and scenic nature walks ; stop by Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters to pick up your fuel for the day ahead ; stop by the Wild Goose Tavern and indulge in the Gouda-and-bacon-loaded Goose fries ; catch glimpses of these cuties aboard the
Monomoy Island Excursions ’ seal cruise ; the Chatham Light is one of the few lighthouses in
America that still operates twenty-four hours a day . can ’ t pass up the Goose fries — golden fries smothered in smoked Gouda , bacon bits and green onion — and we happily wash them down with a pair of refreshing , fruit-filled sangrias . We follow up with the lobster mac and cheese and the crisp clams casino flatbread and would probably lick our plates clean if it were socially acceptable .
With bellies full , but not stuffed enough to dissuade us from picking up a bottle of rose at the local liquor store , we head back to the inn . We return to the bistro area to enjoy a glass while figuring out plans for the next day by the fire pit , and then finally turn in for the night .
FRIDAY MORNING : The allure of the tucked away Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters ( socoffee . co / espresso-bar-in-chatham ) gets us up and out the door before 9 a . m . The tiny , trendy espresso bar serves up not just fancy caffeinated bevvies but also an array of sweet and savory pastries , plus locally sourced gifts like jewelry and apparel . We ’ re tempted to sip our iced lattes in the property ’ s courtyard , but the forecast ’ s promise of dwindling sunlight pushes us toward the ocean instead .
Though it ’ s not technically our destination , we park across from the historic Chatham Lighthouse — don ’ t worry , we still admire its beauty with our phones — so we can walk down to the structure ’ s namesake : Chatham Lighthouse Beach ( note : parking passes are required between June 23 – Sept . 3 ). In another warmer and sunnier universe , we would be lounging here all day , but we manage to enjoy an hour of sinking our toes in the sand while breathing in the salty air all the same .
Not that we wouldn ’ t be getting plenty of the latter , anyway . A fifteen-minute drive brings us to Monomoy Island Excursions ( monomoysealcruise . com ) in Harwich Port for a ninety-minute seal tour around the barrier island of Monomoy . The cold and cloudy conditions have me skeptical that anyone , on land or sea , would be out and about that morning , but our boat is | | CONTINUED ON PAGE 157
NUTS & BOLTS
Travel Time : One-hour-and-forty-fiveminute drive from Providence .
Miles : 93 miles . How to Get There : I-95 and US-6 E .
Best Season to Go : Summer and fall , otherwise you may run into seasonal closures .
Bucket List for Next Time : Beachin ’ it up and exploring the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge .
Worth a Detour : Give into the temptation and stop by Devil ’ s Purse Brewing Company in South Dennis either on the way there or the way back . On Sept . 23 , head to East Falmouth for the Cape Cod Brew Festival and taste the area ’ s finest .
Nestled at the southeastern tip of the Cape , Chatham is the quintessential small-town seaside getaway . ABOVE : Hopheads convene at the annual Cape Cod Brew Festival .
PHOTOGRAPHY , CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT : CLIFF BROWN AND CAMERON HAYES / CROWN ; GETTY IMAGES / LAGUNATIC PHOTO ; COURTESY OF SNOWY OWL COFFEE ROASTERS ; MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM ; GETTY IMAGES / HALBERGMAN ; COURTESY OF WILD GOOSE TAVERN ( INTERIOR AND FRIES ); GETTY IMAGES / JZ HUNT ; MASSACHUSETTS OFFICE OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM ; GETTY IMAGES / WILLIAM REAGAN .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l SEPTEMBER 2023 51