Cape Cod is a quintessential summer vacation spot for New Englanders, with thousands flocking there each year to enjoy the beautiful beaches, sunny weather, and sea-side tranquility.
However, not every hotel on the cape is a good fit for families with young children, and some places can get downright rowdy in the summertime. Before you put that deposit or payment down, you’ll want to research to find the right resort for your family.
In this article, we will give you our top five picks for the best family-friendly resorts on Cape Cod for you and your kids.
Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, East Harwich – our luxury pick
If you’re looking for the ultimate beach family luxury experiences for your next vacation, Wequassett is the place for you. This five-star resort is located in East Harwich, between Chatham and South Orleans, at about the cape’s midway point.
Family accommodations at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club – if you’re planning to stay at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, our recommendation is the Tulip Cottage due to its standalone setting and additional bedroom, which gives parents a bit more privacy than they would have in a standard one king/queen + pullout bed configuration.
The Mother Goose House might be better than connected cottage or suite rooms if you have a larger family. This three-bedroom cape-style home has two king bedrooms and one with two twins.
Kids activities at Wequassett Resort and Golf Club – Besides fine dining and luxury lodging, Wequassett has an incredible pirate-themed splash pad where the kids can run around all day and a ball pit, slides, and beach access.
If keeping your kids engaged and entertained while you enjoy some quiet time or a round of golf is more your speed, Wequassett also offers for-pay summer camp where your children can participate in scavenger hunts, be a chef for a day, or sail the seven seas on a pirate-themed adventure with their friends.
Blue Water Resort, South Yarmouth – our pick for best family-friendly beaches
If your family is looking for a more traditional vacation on Cape Cod but still likes a certain degree of creature comforts, you can’t go wrong with Blue Water Resort in South Yarmouth.
Blue Water is known for its incredible beach, which my boys enjoyed for hours each day on our last trip, but it also offers a range of other family-centric amenities that I couldn’t have done without.
Blue Water Resort accommodations – on our last visit to this resort, my family stayed in one of the resort’s two-bedroom cottages, with one queen bed in one bedroom and one bedroom with two twin beds, and it was the perfect mix of resort-style fun and family-friendly fun.
I’ve mentioned in other articles that I fully believe that the key to successfully traveling with kids is to balance their home routines with their vacation experiences, and our cottage gave us that perfect harmony.
With an in-cottage kitchen and dining area, my kids and I could play all day but also settle in at night with a family dinner cooked in our cottage before our regular bedtime routine, making this my top pick for family accommodations.
Though Blue Water Resort doesn’t offer the same level of amenities for children as Wequassett, they still provide a range of activities that your family can engage in together for an unforgettable vacation experience in Cape Cod.
Kid-friendly activities at Blue Water Resort – from watching a movie under the stars to learning about Cape Cod’s native sea creatures, Blue Water Resort has plenty of activities and games to keep your kiddos busy and entertained, especially for those budding biological scientists. Plus, the resort is conveniently located and allows for many off-site adventures if you wish.
Green Harbor Resort, West Yarmouth
Cape Cod Family Resort – our pick for the most family-friendly accommodations
Another Red Jacket resort that deserves to be on this list is the Green Harbor Resort in West Yarmouth. The same company that owns the Blue Water Resort owns this property, and you’ll find many of the same general amenities available here, though they are technically in different locations.
We rank this resort highly due to its proximity to beautiful beaches, on-site amenities, and range of family-friendly activities like mini-golf by the beach.
Green Harbor Resort family accommodations – “Simple, clean, small, family-friendly resort” is how recent guests describe this resort, and sometimes that’s just what we’re looking for in our family-friendly New England vacations.
While the Blue Water Resort is more of a mix between singles, families, groups, and gaggles, the Green Harbor Resort is all about families and those who prefer a more laid-back and private experience.
Take the family out on a rentable row boat, play a game of old-fashioned shuffleboard, or enjoy a quiet afternoon on the beach while the kids hang out in the resort’s summer program for 5-12-year-olds.
Complimentary access to all other RedJacket resorts is included with your stay, but the family-friendly programming is largely the same and equally available at both resorts, so don’t worry that you’ll be missing out on staying here vs. Blue Water.
AutoCamp, Falmouth – our pick for something truly unique
If your family is looking for a truly unique New England experience this summer, AutoCamp is something to consider. This destination gives you all the views, all the food, and all of the beach access you’d expect of a Cape Cod summer resort with a fun twist.
AutoCamp family accommodations – nestled in the woods of Falmouth but with stunning views of Buzzards Bay, your family will be lulled to sleep each night by the sounds of nature.
Choose from a luxury AirStream that can fit up to two adults and one child, a contemporary style tiny house, glamping style canvas tents, or mix it up and book a combined suite where the adults can enjoy the luxuries of an AirStream while the kids “escape” to their own tent safely within reach for the night.
Family-friendly activities at AutoCamp – play all day on the local beaches before settling in at night for fun around the campfire. The possibilities here are really endless. Each suite has outdoor fire pits, grills, cast-iron cookware, dinnerware, and utensils.
Consider signing up for an on-site cooking class and working together as a family to create the ultimate cowboy dinner at night. In the mood for something sweet? The camp’s staples store also sells S’mores kits, so grab a stick, partner. Throw a few more logs on the fire after dinner and tell stories until bedtime.
If your family is searching for the perfect New England Summer vacation on Cape Cod, we hope you’ve found this post useful. While our family doesn’t get the chance to go every year, Cape Cod is undoubtedly one of our favorite destinations to explore, and these resorts can’t be beaten.
Until next time!