Spending Your Vacation in South Yarmouth

There’s always something going on in South Yarmouth, making the community one of the top places on Cape Cod to spend a vacation.

Here, you’ll find everything for which the Cape is famous, including scenic beaches, outstanding restaurants, and lively outdoor attractions, ensuring you never run out of things to do in the area.

In fact, if you’re able to book a vacation rental in South Yarmouth, you’d probably be happy spending your entire week in the community, although that would mean missing out on some fun in the Cape’s other towns and villages.

Here’s a look at some ways to spend your time on your South Yarmouth vacation.

Hit the Beaches

Before all else, South Yarmouth is known for its scenic beaches. The oceanfront areas feature white sand and beautiful views over Nantucket Sound, while there are other beaches on the Bass River, too. The waters are calm in all the oceanfront sections.

The largest of the bunch is Smuggler’s Beach, which sits at the mouth of the Bass River and overlooks Nantucket Sound. This area features a fishing pier that hangs over the river and a boat launch that makes it easy to put your vessel in the water. There’s also a large parking lot, some beach volleyball courts, a concession stand, washrooms, picnic tables, and lifeguards on duty.

Parker’s River Beach is another popular oceanfront section with lifeguards, a playground, washrooms, and a pavilion with a concession. You’ll also find a concrete walk along the seawall and a sizable parking lot at this beach.

Seaview Beach is a little more rustic but has a small parking lot and some picnic tables. There are portable washrooms on-site in the summer; however, it’s important to keep in mind that there aren’t any lifeguards on duty.

Other smaller beaches in South Yarmouth include Wilbur Park and Windmill Beach, on the Bass River, and Sea View Beach and Seagull Beach, on Nantucket Sound.

There’s also South Middle Beach on Nantucket Sound, but it’s only open to Yarmouth residents.

Enjoy a Meal

You’ll probably be hungry after your day at the beach. Fortunately, South Yarmouth is loaded with outstanding dining options to keep you happy.

Perhaps the best-known restaurant in town is Skipper Chowder House, an oceanfront seafood shack across the street from Parker’s River Beach. This restaurant has all of your seafood favorites, including award-winning clam chowder, lobster rolls, seafood platters, and clambakes, in addition to burgers, chicken, and other options. There’s a scenic patio overlooking the water and an on-site ice cream shop, too.

Seafood Sam’s South Yarmouth has a convenient location on Route 28 and has all kinds of seafood options like crab, oyster, scallop, clam, and lobster rolls. They also have hot dogs, hamburgers, fried chicken, broiled seafood, and fried platters. There’s a kid’s menu at Seafood Sam’s, as well.

There’s a great patio at Captain Parker’s Pub on Route 28, in addition to a raw bar and all kinds of Cape Cod seafood classics. Their clam chowder is famous all over the Cape, and they make a special stuffed quahog that you’ll definitely want to try. Their lobster roll and fisherman’s platter are worth your time, too.

For breakfast, The Pancake Man on Route 28 could become your go-to restaurant all vacation long. That’s because you’ll find all of your early-morning favorites at this diner-style venue, including bacon, eggs, French toast, waffles, and, of course, pancakes. They’re open for lunch, as well, so you can stop in for a burger, sandwich, or salad in the afternoon.

Check Out Some Attractions

Although the beaches and restaurants will take up much of your time, there’s a lot more to South Yarmouth.

First, the Yarmouth Drive-In reopened in 2020 after a long hiatus, showing classic movies throughout the summer. The venue also expanded into live music and comedy shows that patrons could enjoy from their vehicles in a COVID-safe manner.

The Yarmouth Tennis Club has drop-in openings for visitors to the Cape. You should book your court a few days in advance to ensure you get a spot, and keep in mind that you can sign up for a weekly membership if you plan to play a few times during your vacation.

Kids and adults alike love the Whydah Pirate Museum because it features the artifacts found on a sunken pirate ship from the 1700s. In fact, this is the most extensive collection of pirate artifacts collected from a single wreck anywhere in the world, which is reason enough to give them a visit.

Just up the street from the museum is Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf, a mini-golf facility that is a great way to fill an evening with your kids. This pirate-themed venue has two 18-hole courses, so you can spend multiple days there without getting bored.

Getting to Know South Yarmouth

As you spend time in South Yarmouth, you’ll get to know the community and its attractions much better. Depending on the location of your vacation rental, you might be able to walk to some of these venues, which is great because parking can be a challenge.

No matter which facilities you visit while on the Cape, you’re sure to have a great time in one of the East Coast’s most visitor-friendly locations.