Nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a trip to Cape Cod in my second-favorite season. My husband thought it would be fun to get me a long-weekend trip to Falmouth, MA, as a Christmas gift. And honestly, he wasn’t wrong. I enjoyed our trip to the Cape very much, and now I am sharing a simple guide to Falmouth, MA, in the winter.
I know Cape Cod isn’t known as a winter getaway spot — in fact, it is obviously more of a summer hot spot. But with everyone hitting the slopes in the winter, the Cape feels smaller, and more intimate. And while not everything is open due to seasonality, it is still a perfect place to relax and get away from busy life.
Yet, my husband and I had lots of fun getting to know Falmouth and everything it had to offer in the winter months. It honestly motivated to try to see how the town looks in the summer, and post another guide on Falmouth in the summer. Thoughts?
How to Get to Cape Cod
Since we knew it was going to be cold, and we wanted to have our car, we decided to drive from our home in South Boston to Falmouth, MA. If you decide to drive from Boston, it can take 1.5-2 hours depending on traffic, Boston location and where your Airbnb is located.
While there is a way to get to Falmouth in the winter using public transportation, it isn’t as easy to get to like in the summer. Google Maps will provide the best way for you to get to the town, but honestly, car is best due to the weather, location, and timeliness.
Where to Stay
Because it is Cape Cod, you have a large variety of options to stay at when it comes to lodging. We stayed at a cute Airbnb because we were expecting a larger group to come with us, but ended up being just my husband and I going. Our Airbnb was located in a very quiet location, but within a 5 minute drive of Main Street.
But the town has plenty of Airbnbs, locally owned inns and large corporate hotels. Winter in Falmouth means that prices are cheaper than in the summer due to lack of demand, so feel free to shop around to figure out what works best for you and your group. Not to mention where in Falmouth you want to stay.
What to do in Falmouth, MA
The beach is everyone’s go-to when in Cape Cod, but because it’s winter, you probably don’t want to go in the winter. But we still got to do some fun stuff, so let me share it with you on this Falmouth, MA guide.
Hike the Knob
While it isn’t a long or tiring hike, going to the Knob is a really fun experience. It is a major attraction in Woods Hole known for its nature walk, birding, marsh, coastal bank and the gorgeous views of Quissett Harbor and Buzzards Bay. It was empty when we hiked, so we took our time exploring the area. And it was freaking breathtaking especially watching the waves hit the rocks. You can actually see New Bedford in the west, the canal entrance to the north, and the Elizabeth Islands to the south when it’s a clear day.
You can learn more about the property here.
Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary
Is this Falmouth, MA Guide mostly hikes and nature stuff? Yes, that’s okay! The Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary contains 1.5 miles of trails that take you all over. But at the heart is an eight-acre pond that attracts over 30 species of dragonflies and many rare wildflowers. Many birds nest at the sanctuary making it a good spot for birding. There were also benches throughout the sanctuary to rest, meditate or even just take in the beauty of your surroundings.
You can read more about the Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary here.
Woods Hole Science Aquarium
I REALLY wanted to go to the country’s oldest aquarium, but they were closed when we in Falmouth. The reason was due to Covid, so if you plan on going, check their social media platforms to make sure they are open. They are open year-round, but might close in certain cases.
You can find more information here.
Main Street Shopping
From a candy shop to jewelry, you can shop to you drop on Main Street. I didn’t really buy much on Main Street other than some chocolates, and a few shirts. You will also find many restaurants in this area so I highly recommend giving yourself time to check out downtown after lunch or before dinner. They also had really clean public bathrooms so you don’t have to worry about finding a shop that will let you use the bathroom.
Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area
My husband and I didn’t get to visit the Wildlife Management Area due to snow changing our plans, but if you are into winter sports, I got news for you. The wildlife management area is a good place to go cross-country skiing or snow-shoeing. You can also walk the bike path and look for winter creatures wondering around.
You can find more information here.
Nobska Lighthouse
Did you really think I was going to go to Cape Cod, but not see a lighthouse? HA! The Nobska Lighthouse is located in Woods Hole, MA, on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod. It overlooks Martha’s Vineyard and Nomamesset Island, and was established in 1826 with the tower standing over the keeper’s house. The tower was replaced in 1876 by the current 42-foot tall iron tower.
There is construction underway so we had to stay in the small parking area, but I still got some really nice photos of the light house. But if you would like to learn more about it, or what construction work they are working on, you can read about it here.
Walk the Beach
Last, but not least on this Falmouth, MA guide, is walking on the beach. You’re probably thinking I am crazy for suggesting, but if the wind isn’t that bad, go on that walk. The wind was crazy when we went, and snow was falling, but I was playing Taylor Swift’s ‘Snow on the Beach’ on repeat throughout my short walk. Not to mention that it look freaking gorgeous, and a bit scary with how hard the waves were hitting the shore. So if the weather isn’t that bad, get your boots on and go for a walk.
Places to Eat
I am going to be fully transparent with you. Some of these places were highly recommended to me by my Airbnb host, but were 100 percent worth it. But thought I should be transparent in my Falmouth, MA guide.
Osteria La Civetta
This Italian eatery is perfect for dinner. The food was delicious, the cocktails top-tier and the service was perfection. I highly recommend making reservations because it is a small restaurant and does fill up fast. We ordered the meat and cheese platter, the Bucatini, the lasagna, gelato, espresso martinis and a lavender martini. You can find their menu and make reservations here.
Crabapples
Probably the cheapest place we ate throughout our trip, but it was still freaking good. We arrived around 7:30 – 8 am and it was slowly getting busy on a Saturday morning, so be wary of that if you decide to go. We ordered the blueberry muffin french toast, and the Popeye Omelet. Both were delicious, and pretty big plates to be honest. You can find their website here.
Tiger Ramen
Tiger Ramen is another small restaurant that is best to go outside of usual lunch and dinner hours. It was a really cute vibe though, and the food was really good. We ordered the ginger-pork gyoza, a lunch special that consisted of spicy pork ramen and a pork belly bao, and a full-size spicy chicken ramen with a spicy chicken bao. I also had a cocktail named Tiger’s Last Word that contained green-tea infused gin that was the best thing I ordered there. You can find their website here.
Eli’s Tavern
The vibe here was immaculate. It felt like it was the place to be on a Saturday night, and I was very glad that I made reservations. They were extremely busy, but I understood why. The food and cocktails were delightful, and the steak I had was the best thing I had all weekend. We ordered the Bavarian Pretzel with an IPA beer cheese dip, Chicken Gorgonzola Pasta, Grilled N.Y. Strip and the largest carrot cake I have ever been served (and it was delicious too!). For cocktails, I had Jay’s Punch that made me feel like I was on spring break and the watermelon cosmo that made me feel classy. You can see the menu and make reservations here.
Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery
With the snow ruining our hike plans, we ended up at Bad Martha Farmer’s Brewery and it was really good, and fun! We had never been, and it was a last minute decision, but the bartender was so helpful in helping choose beers for our flights. My favorite beer was the gingerbread cream ale, and least favorite was the mojito seltzer. They also had pizza, snacks, and non-alcoholic drinks. We ordered a pepperoni pizza that filled us up big time and pretzel sticks that kept us warm on a snowy day. Not to mention that they have plenty of board games to keep you entertained. You can check them out here.
Estia
I don’t eat a lot of Greek food, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But I have to say that the food was freaking delicious. They do not take reservations, so you should try to go a bit earlier to avoid a long wait, but it is worth it. We ordered the lobster ravioli, the calamari and a swordfish steak. I had the lobster ravioli for breakfast the next morning after I put our luggage in the car, and it warmed me up big time. The bread was soft, and made me want to take a loaf home with me. But my favorite part was the Figetaboutit martini made with fig vodka and had a fig garnish. It was perfectly sweet, and I wish I could take a gallon to go. My other martini, Pom-Pom Pear was also good too! You can check them out here.
Tips on Visiting Falmouth, MA
What is a Falmouth, MA guide if I don’t give you tips on how to make the most of this trip? Let me tell you a few things before you pack your bags.
- Check the weather beforehand so you pack properly. Because of how close the town is to the water, know that it will be extremely windy. Pack a windbreaker or a nice winter jacket. Keep the coat for outdoor stuff.
- Make reservations. People still live in town, so it can get pretty busy especially in the popular spots.
- Before reserving your lodging, check the location to any hot spots.
- If traveling in the winter, rent the car, trust me. And if it snows, they are good about plowing quickly so you don’t need to worry about getting stuck.
- If you are going to visit some nature sites, read their rules and regulations before going. Many of these places don’t open until later in the day or don’t allow pets. The Knob, for example, doesn’t open until 8 a.m.
- You don’t need to be doing stuff the entire time. We spent our snow day at the brewery, and then went to the Airbnb where my husband napped, and I read by the window.
- Be considerate and don’t liter.
- Downtown Falmouth does have public bathrooms. Good spot in case you need to use it while shopping.
- Parking was easily available since it is winter.
Conclusion
I know Cape Cod isn’t the top choice for winter getaways, but I highly recommend if you want to do do a mix of adventuring and staying-in. Give it a chance, and let me know how it goes.
