The Beach Times
Cape Cod's Top Family-Friendly Activities
Posted by Kinlin Grover | Monday, September 17, 2018
There's something for everyone on Cape Cod, and if you choose to bring the little ones or even teenagers on your vacation, you'll never be short on things to do. Obviously, the Cape is full beaches, bike trails, marinas, hiking paths, and other great family-friendly places, but there are also amusement parks and fun centers for you to enjoy throughout your stay.
When it’s chilly or raining, or if you just want your kids to entertain themselves for a little while, these attractions are a great place to spend a few hours or an entire day. And since you can find an amusement park pretty much anywhere on Cape Cod, you'll never have to travel far to get there.
The following is a list of family fun centers and amusements parks that are waiting for you on Cape Cod.
Water Wizz of Cape Cod
Although it’s technically just off the Cape in Wareham, Water Wizz was the Cape Cod area’s only waterpark until 2018 and brings in roughly 100,000 visitors annually. The park is mostly made up of waterslides, although there is a lazy river and a wave pool, as well. There is also an area with slides and activities for smaller children, should you travel with very young kids.
Water Wizz is a large park where you'll probably want to spend an entire day, so plan accordingly. You won’t have to pack a lunch or leave the park to eat, either, as there are numerous on-site restaurants and a shop with all of the essentials.
Ryan Family Amusements
You'll come across Ryan Amusements locations in Falmouth, Hyannis, South Yarmouth, and Buzzards Bay, in addition to other communities throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Most of these centers have bowling alleys, while all of them offer video games and party rooms.
Ryan Amusements is a great place to let the kids play indoors when the weather doesn't cooperate, and since you only pay for the games you play, it’s possible to get away without spending a whole lot of money. The fact that this is a chain of fun centers is also helpful because you know precisely what to expect at each location.
Cape Cod Inflatable Park
The Cape Cod Inflatable Park is the most extensive attraction of its type in the world and has four distinct areas. First, there's the original Inflatable Park, which is basically a series of themed bouncy castles. Each apparatus provides a different experience for children and adults alike, and your kids are likely to spend hours navigating through the park.
Next, there's the Challenge Zone, which is an adventure park with zip-lining, rock-climbing, a trapeze, a tightrope, and numerous other tests for your endurance and strength. Older kids will spend hours trying to get through the various courses and challenges, and parents are allowed to participate, as well.
Thirdly, there's The H2O, an attraction that just opened in 2018 featuring a waterpark, a lazy river, some waterslides, and a private pool with cabanas. If you rent one of the cabanas, you can spend the entire day relaxing by the swimming pool, or you can just fill your time enjoying the other water-based activities.
Finally, there's the Shark Tank, which is the largest arcade on Cape Cod. With over 50 games and a climate-controlled environment, the Shark Tank is a pleasant place to kill an afternoon if you’d rather be indoors.
All of these attractions come together to create a park where you can spend multiple days without your kids ever getting bored. Pricing depends on which parts of the venue you’ll be using, but you can decide what you want to experience after you arrive at this one-of-a-kind park.
Various Mini Golf Courses
There are many different places to play mini golf on Cape Cod. Depending on where your vacation rental is located, you can choose Cape Escape Adventure Golf, Pirate's Cove Adventure Golf, Skull Island, Wild Animal Lagoon, Putters Paradise, or Harbor Lights Mini Golf, just to name a few, to play a round.
The great thing about there being so many different courses is that each one offers something different. For example, Cape Escape Adventure Golf, in Orleans, has fishing boats and koi fish, while Harbour Lights in Brewster features a waterfall and serves world famous Gifford's Ice Cream. Putters Paradise in Yarmouth is a Cape Cod-themed course and Skull Island, also in Yarmouth, takes you to a deserted island that is protecting a pirate's treasure. You’ll have the chance to experience all different forms of mini golf during your time on the Cape.
Grand Slam Entertainment
There's a little bit of everything at Grand Slam Entertainment, as you can ride the bumper boats, take a few swings in the batting cage, hit the zip line, or climb the rock wall. The center is located right on Main Street in Harwich and is close to Bud's Go-Karts and the Trampoline Center, so you can spend the entire day in this area while trying a variety of different things. There are plenty of restaurants nearby, as well.
Grand Slam Entertainment is a cash-only facility, and you must pay for each attraction individually. As a result, you want to make sure you visit an ATM before arrival.
Cartland of Cape Cod
Almost right next to Water Wizz of Cape Cod in Wareham is Cartland of Cape Cod. This amusement park is known for its go-karts, and for good reason because it has three different styles, but it also features bumper boats, mini golf, batting cages, boxing robots, and water balloon fights.
Cartland isn't the largest amusement park on Cape Cod, but it's certainly worth taking the kids to if they're into go-karts. Remember, however, that this park is entirely outdoors, so it's only an option when the weather isn’t an issue.
Cap'n Kids Fishing Adventures
Getting your kids out fishing is always a good idea, and Cap'n Kids Fishing Adventures makes it extremely easy. This fishing vessel is specially geared towards children, as it takes two-hour trips into the ocean on a boat certified by the U.S. Coast Guard and provides everything they'll need throughout the day. If you want to get your kids out on the water, this is probably the best way to start.
Keep in mind that at least one responsible adult must accompany the kids on the boat, but you’ll be able to relax while the professionals teach them how to fish and keep them thoroughly entertained throughout the ride.
Keeping the Kids Occupied
When traveling with kids, it’s vital that you have a plan to keep them occupied each and every day. While it’s nice to have free attractions like the beaches on Cape Cod, taking them somewhere different on occasion also makes for an enjoyable day.
Take the time to research a few of these fun centers on Cape Cod before your arrival and figure out a plan based on what your children enjoy. You'll be happy that you're aware of all the choices Cape Cod has to offer throughout your vacation.
Activities Childrens Activities Family Fun Kids Mini Golf Water Parks