Nickerson Mushroom Hunting

Over the weekend, I went on a mushroom hunt at Nickerson State Park, sponsored by the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. There is so much to learn about mushrooms. Even after this trip, I'd still be leery about eating most wild mushrooms but I do feel safe about a few. Our guide Lawrence instructed us to go out and pick mushrooms for a good hour, and then, to bring them back and place them on the picnic tables. Lawrence then showed us a helpful way of carrying our collected mushrooms in an egg carton to protect them, and some people brought their own baskets for collecting. (click for more photos) - by Elizabeth, DayTripper Diva for our Dispatches blog on Gather.

Dream Space for a Wanderer

What is it about a place that 'draws you in' and when you see it, you just know you could be quite comfortable there for a time? Last Thursday, after attending the Gay Carnival in downtown Provincetown, Nick and I started walking back down Commercial Street to the West Inn where the swimming pool at the Provincetown Inn awaited our hot, tired bodies. The pavement was really hot and crowds of people were in the street and so we decided to walk back by way of the shore. The tide was out and as we cut through an alley, we discovered the most romantic place....Captain Jack's. Click here to see the full photo essay on our DayTripper Dispatches Blog on Gather

Drop of Hope Photography Project

Drop of Hope Photography Project

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Marconi Site and Provincetown

Last week, DayTripper Rick Silva had friends visiting at their place at Ogremoot on Cape Cod. "If [people are] visiting for the first time," says Rick, "one thing you've got to do is take the ride out to Provincetown, all the way at the end of the Cape."So, we set out Tuesday morning, and our first stop was the Marconi Site on the Cape Cod National Seashore in South Wellfleet MA.

This was the site where Guglielmo Marconi sent the first wireless telegraph message from the USA to England, bearing a greeting from President Theodore Roosevelt to King Edward VII.

Actually, it occupies about half of the original station. Erosion has washed away about half of the land on which the transmitter stood. Inside the shelter is a model of Marconi's station. The Marconi Site has free parking, hiking trails, and beautiful views of the ocean, but no direct access to the beach. Although it isn't completely clear from Rick's photos, there is a sheer forty-foot drop down to the beach below.

See Rick's full photo essay on our Gather blog.

Get a Mass Value Pass

Times may be tight, but help for DayTrippers is at hand. Click here to sign up for the monthly Dispatches newsletter, and we'll zip you the amazing Mass Value Pass, which provides hundreds of summer-season discounts on lodging and day trip destinations across the Commonweath through August 31. To request by email, click here and specify "Mass Value Pass" in the message subject. If you aren't a subscriber, request the pass anyway and we'll add you to our free and secure "opt-in" mailing list. You'll be able to unsubscribe any time you wish. It's our way of saying "thanks" and encouraging DayTripping in times that are tough for many of us.

The Loathesome Day Trip

DayTripper blogger Rick S. reports in a photo essay on on our Gather blog:

"Our friend Josh Sullivan is in town this week. Josh is a cartoonist and musician who has embarked on a year-long cross-country road trip, a project he calls "52 Friends." Josh stays with a different friend in a different city every week for a year. We've been having a lot of fun hosting him and showing him around Cape Cod.

"So, one local attraction that Josh wanted to see was the Edward Gorey House. This was the Cape Cod home of author/illustrator Edward Gorey. Located in Yarmouthport MA on Cape Cod, the house was sometimes known as the Elephant House, because of some elephant-related collectibles inside and also because its original weathered shingles resembled the skin of an elephant. The home houses an impressive display of Gorey's work and his personal collections, including props from the sets that Gorey designed for the TV series, Mystery.

"Outside is a [great garden] and sculpture of Gorey's famous sculpture, Doubtful Guest. Josh is a huge fan of Gorey's artwork, so this [day trip] was a great experience for him."

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Gather photo essay about the Gorey House

Upcoming in the Cape Cod Chronicle

Watch this week's Cape Cod Chronicle (and the website on Wednesday) for stories about a proposed bike lane on Long Pond Road in Harwich, an update on the new police department-town hall annex project in Chatham, a feature on the Pleasant Bay Community Boating program, and photos from Monday's Taste of Chatham, last week's Music in The Port stroll, and an old-time baseball game in Harwich! The Cape Cod Chronicle is a weekly newspaper providing information about Chatham, Harwich and the lower Cape.

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PHOTO: The Cape Cod Rail Trail follows a former railroad right-of-way for 22 miles through the towns of Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. Its paved surface, few hills, and well-marked automobile crossings make it ideal for cyclists. The trail has a wide unpaved shoulder on one side to accommodate horseback riding, walkers, and runners.

Here Comes the Train!

A friend from our church highly recommends the Cape Cod Railroad, which is open from May through October, when the "Halloween Fun Train" ushers out the season. "We took the "Scenic Fun Train," said Don Griffin, "and we definitely recommend it." For a schedule, visit the official website of the Cape Cod Central Railroad, located in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Subscribe to the Dispatches for exclusive discounts on the railroad and other Cape destinations.

I (Heart) Nickerson Hiking

Back in February, Cape Cod Day Tripper Rick S. had a friend visting for the weekend and headed out to Brewster, MA to Nickerson State Park for a Valentine's Day hike. It's even better now - the trail's still there, and the weather is warmer! Please visit the Gather Dispatches site for more amazing and thoughtful photos by Rick.

Herring River Kayaking

We are hosting the teenaged daughter of a close friend for a few days here on Cape Cod while before she visits her aunt down in New York City. The weather hasn't been great, but yesterday was forecasted to clear up, so we looked around for an outdoor activity. We ended up letting our guest choose between a whale watch and kayaking with the Mass Audubon Society, and she picked the kayaking trip.The trips are run by Mass Audubon's Long Pasture facility. The cost is $40 per person, and all equipment is provided (although some people on the trip did bring their own kayaks and paddles). Trips run throughout the summer and can be booked at 508.362.7475 ex. 9355. The trips are scheduled based on the tides. Ours was a late afternoon paddle, from 3-6 PM. The starting point was the public landing at the Herring River in Harwich MA. - Thanks for this Dispatch from DayTripper Rick S., Gather.

Day Tripper Boston: DayTripping from Farm to Factory

DayTripping from Farm to Factory

Communing with Seagulls at Yarmouth

by our Cape Cod Gather blogger Rick S.

Sea Gull Beach is the largest beach in Yarmouth MA, on Cape Cod. The beach faces south on Nantucket Sound and is located a few miles east of Hyannis. It's popular with teenagers for swimming and windsurfing in the summer, but in the winter it's a great place for a quiet walk.

Looking west down the beach:

Looking back to the east, the lifeguard stations stand waiting for the summer crowds:

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