Summer Activities Off The CapeFLYER!

Posted by Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism

Among all things ‘new’ this summer in Massachusetts, perhaps the most-functional addition to the Bay State, which is bound to provide great use to travelers and residents alike, is the CapeFLYER — a new, Boston to Cape Cod weekend passenger train service that’s set to run Memorial Day through Labor Day (on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays) for the first time in 25-years.

With on-board concessions, free Wi-Fi, wheelchair accessibility, and the opportunity to bring your bike aboard (for free!), the CapeFLYER is an exciting new connection for city-goers and coastal adventurers.
The train service will stretch from South Station to Hyannis, with stops in Braintree, Middleborough, and Buzzards Bay.
Once you’ve arrived in Hyannis, accessibility to the Cape’s many other areas is certainly in place. You can hop aboard the Hyannis FREE Trolley, and access a number of the Cape’s ferry and bus services, connecting you to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, or other areas like Harwich and Orleans.
Surely, spanning from Boston to Cape Cod, there’s a whole lot to do. So, here’s a look at some local, easily accessible activities off each of the CapeFLYER’s stops!
In transit from Boston…
First stop: Braintree Station, 197 Ivory Street, Braintree (Google Map)
For those interested in shopping, you can take the 236 Bus to South Shore Plaza, one of Greater Boston’s premiere shopping destinations with over 240 unique, specialty shops, as well as a collection of fine dining establishments.
Just a short cab ride or drive from South Shore Plaza (roughly a 1.5-mile walk), you’ll find F1 Boston, the ultimate indoor kart-racing experience for those seeking a thrilling, full-of-speed, racing experience with friends or family.
Click here for a map with directions from Braintree Station to South Shore Plaza to F1 Boston.
Second stop: Middleborough/Lakeville Station, 125 Commercial Drive, Lakeville (Google Map)
From Middleborough/Lakeville Station, the Downtown Middleborough Shuttle provides easy access to the town’s Downtown area, where you can take a step back in time at The Robbins Museum of Archaeology, which features more than 4,600 artifacts – some of which are over 10,000 years old!
After museum going, you can head over to Peaceful Meadows Ice Cream for a sweet, summer treat or to Dave’s Diner for lunch.
Third stop: Buzzards Bay, 70 Main Street, Buzzards Bay (Google Map)
In Buzzards Bay, you’ll find the National Marine Life Center’s Marine Animal Discovery Center and Gift Shop, which is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, featuring educational displays, specimens, and information about marine animals, with a gift shop full of local art, jewelry, educational toys & games, and fair trade items with a marine-theme.
A short distance from Buzzards Bay Station, the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway, which provides a great area for biking, strolling, or picnicking with families, offers wonderful views of the Canal’s boating traffic, as well as the natural shoreline scenery.
Also, the Bourne Run, a transportation system between Bourne and Mashpee, offers a quick and easy means to visiting the Monument Beach area along Shore Road, where you’ll also find The Lobster Trap, a family-friendly restaurant and fish market that provides the perfect opportunity for a taste of local seafood.
Final stop: Hyannis Transportation Center, 215 Iyannough Road, Hyannis (Google Map)
The CapeFLYER’s final stop in Hyannis — likely the most anticipated, as it connects to many other points along Cape Cod — boasts a number of activities within close proximity; some within walking distance, and others a short bike ride, or drive.
Bike Zone of Cape Cod offers affordable pricing and packages on bike rentals, and car rental services like Enterprise Rent-a-Car and Cape Destinations are also available for use, as well as a number of additional transportation services.
For those looking to stay in the area for the day, here are 5 easily accessible activities and experiences just off the CapeFLYER in Hyannis:
Cape Cod Central Railroad — If one train ride wasn’t enough, the Cape Cod Central Railroad offers a number of family-friendly, narrated scenic train rides that depart the Hyannis area.
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum — A multimedia exhibit designed to open a window on the days JFK spend on Cape Cod.
Hy-Line Cruises — Features a number of deep-sea fishing and sightseeing cruises out of Hyannis, along with a collection of special offerings.
Pirate Adventures Cape Cod — Perfect for children ages 3-10, Pirate Adventures provides an interactive, pirate-themed adventure that sales out of Hyannis on a real-life pirate ship. Reservations are required, and can be made here.
Hyannis Main Street — Boasting over 150 shops, and 40 restaurants, a stroll along Main Street makes for the perfect shopping and dinning experience in a historic, eclectic area. For a full shopping directory, click here.
Discover more on the CapeFLYER and Cape Cod tourism! In the meantime, you can find the CapeFLYER on Facebook and Twitter.

TOPICS: Cape & Islands, Summer, Things to Do