The Slow Life on Cape Cod
It’s been a little while since my last trip to Cape Cod. I visited my grandparents over winter break and had an amazing time. When I’m in a funk, there’s nothing that a visit to this beautiful coastal area can’t solve. Seeing as I took so many nice photos there and visited a lot of interesting places, I thought I would write about my experiences, even though it’s been a little while. After all, I needed a post to get my travel section up and running!
I find that the beach during this time of the year can be far more beautiful than in peak season with all the tourists. There’s something calming and natural about the cool colors of the surf in wintertime and the waves turning over and over. We took a wonderful walk along Nauset beach. My grandfather kept the pace while I scurried behind him taking photos and picking up beach stones. Does anyone else still have the urge to collect shells and rocks on the beach? Growing up, we would bring home bags full. Now, I choose only a few. Keeping my Nauset Beach stone in my pocket has been a great reminder of the serene, natural landscape. Whenever I’m feeling stressed, reaching into my pocket reminds me of the unhurried pace of nature.
Believe it or not, there were surfers out there, even in the middle of January!
Time in my grandparent’s beautiful home consisted of my two favorite things: reading and cooking. Somehow, when on the Cape, time feels like it slows down. There’s a focus on the simple things. I never feel hurried or overwhelmed when I’m there. It’s all about the moment. Such a good message! In the future, I’d like to try and carry this philosophy back home with me.
For lunch, we usually enjoyed a smorgasbord of different things. Here’s one of my favorite assortments: Lundberg thin stackers (kind of like rice cakes), the first topped with avocado, sunflower seeds and feta and the second topped with whipped cream cheese and red pepper jelly. To go with it, we had some cottage cheese and crackers (my favorite gluten free option is Mary’s Gone Crackers).
Another treat was my grandmother’s homemade Chex mix! It was so fun and easy to make and I was constantly snacking on it. I’ll include the recipe in a separate post for anyone interested.
When venturing out there are a few little gems that we like to hit up.
Not to be missed is this little lunch joint called Sunbird. This place has been a favorite of mine for a couple of years now. It gives the impression of a bohemian sanctuary. If I had to capture my vibes in a restaurant, this would be the place. The food is mouthwateringly good, and they have great options for gluten free, vegetarians. I love the house made sodas and the breakfast tacos. My favorite part? Right in the center is a mustard couch!
My favorite stop during this trip was to a newly discovered coffee shop. It’s called The Snowy Owl, and I could not have found a place that was more quintessentially Cape Cod in the off season. It was such a warm, friendly community of people, and the interior reminded me of a beachy cabin.
And how sweet are these plants! They were everywhere!
I couldn’t have felt more in my element. The coffee was quite strong, a perk in my opinion, and they sold one of my favorite brands of sweet: Taza Mexican Chocolate. It’s admirable how much time and care goes into the coffee at The Snowy Owl. Even better is the fact that all their coffee is environmentally friendly, sourced from small lot growers and co-ops. You can learn more about The Snowy Owl coffee, and order yourself a bag here. We left with a little souvenir, a bag of coffee beans for a fresh cup at home.
Whatever time of the year, Cape Cod is beautiful, but I can’t reiterate enough how stunning it is in the off season. There is a stillness and beauty to it that is purely unique.