Beach, Boats, Blooms and Baseball – Summer at the Inn
The Beach
Walking barefoot on the beach. Swimming in the sunshine. Reading in a lounge chair under the shade of an umbrella. Building a sand castle with your family. Lunching in a private cabana or toasting at the beach bar. Admit it . . . you’re ready for a few beach days on our private quarter mile beach.
Beach Days
Stroll along classic wooden boardwalks on the sand past sea grass and toward the clear blue water . . . it’s a beach day! Perhaps your day will start with a long walk along our private beach or a morning yoga class with a spectacular view of the local fishing boats heading out for the day. Our team is there to help you and your family or friends set up your lounge chair, umbrella and provide towels, cold drinks and lunch. Or take a seat at our beach bar with your toes in the sand and your favorite tropical cocktail in hand.
Beach Cabanas
Ready for a little extra shade and privacy? Be sure to reserve in advance for your own beach cabana with curtains on all four sides that can be closed for additional shade or privacy, a wooden boardwalk-style base, lounge chairs with comfortable cushions, a snack basket and a cooler stocked with water and soft drinks.
Fun Fact
Throughout the winter, over 8,000 additional cubic yards of sand were dredged from the harbor, deposited on shore in a towering 20-foot pile then spread across our private beach to help control coastal erosion and create an even better beach experience for our guests with a wider beach area.
Boating
Whether it’s your first time on the water or you’re a veteran mariner, a Chatham Bars Inn boating excursion will be a memorable part of your visit to the Inn. From complimentary boat launches to North Beach Island just across the harbor to sailing, whale watching or sport fishing, time on the water is time well spent.
Excursions
Our captains and waterfront team make it easy, convenient and fun to explore the area by boat. The dock is right along our private beach where our boats will pick you up and whisk you away for a sailing trip, seal and harbor tour, private whale watching, fishing or off to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket for the day.
North Beach Island
One of our guests’ favorites is our complimentary launch. The Bar Tender boat shuttles guests back and forth throughout the day across the harbor to North Beach Island which is part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. North Beach Island is only accessible by boat and is ideal for embracing nature as its unspoiled environment is perfect for a quiet beach walk with the calm of the harbor and swimming seals on one side and the waves of the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Paradise found.
The Fleet
Can you name all five boats in our fleet? They are StarStruck, Shooting Star, LobStar, Stars & Stripes and Bar Tender.
Fun Fact
Our Shooting Star 38’ Shelter Island Runabout has ties to none other than Billy Joel. The famous singer and “piano man” designed this boat after sketching ideas on a cocktail napkin in consultation with a boat builder from Shelter Island. A naval architect translated their ideas for a lightweight, fast boat into detailed blueprints. These high-end speedboats are known for their graceful lines, teak wood and distinguished and serene style. Keep an eye out at our dock for Shooting Star which takes our guests on private whale watches and charters to Nantucket.
Blooms
Cape residents and visitors are crazy for hydrangeas! And at Chatham Bars Inn, we have over 4,000 hydrangeas with dozens of different types and colors across our 25-acre property. There’s even an annual Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival which is celebrated with private garden tours, lectures and seminars.
Hydrangeas at the Inn
Over 75% of our property is full of stunning hydrangeas each season. Our 12 varieties of hydrangeas vary in color because of our different soil types around the property such as sand, clay or traditional soil. Varieties include the Endless Summer, Glowing Embers, Blushing Bride, Lace Cap, Merritt’s Supreme and Tellers Blue. Hydrangeas at the Inn usually begin to bloom mid-June and certain varieties last through late September or early October depending upon the weather patterns each year.
Click here for a video tour of the Inn’s hydrangeas and growing tips from our Fine Gardner Pam Vasques.
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival July 7 – 16, 2023
The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival is an annual celebration of the region's blue, pink, and white signature flowers. This ten-day festival's main attractions are the daily tours of private gardens, each designed and maintained by the individual homeowners and carrying a unique charm. You are sure to enjoy such eclectic spaces, not to mention the good feeling of supporting a variety of local nonprofits. The final schedule of garden tours and events will be available soon. Click here to visit the festival’s official website for more details.
Fun Fact
The Inn’s hydrangeas were highlighted by Mo Rocca on the national television program CBS Sunday Morning last summer including an interview with our Fine Gardner Pam Vasques and a tour of her favorite blooms.
Click here to watch the CBS Sunday Morning video.
Baseball
Cape Cod Baseball League’s 100th Anniversary
Celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year, the Cape Cod Baseball League is the premier collegiate summer baseball league in the nation, officially formed in 1923, but with roots dating back to 1885. Players from across the United States representing all NCAA college divisions are recruited to play in the 10-team league. Teams are located in Chatham, Harwich, Orleans, Brewster, Bourne, Cotuit, Falmouth, Hyannis, Wareham and Yarmouth-Dennis with a 44-game regular-season schedule and an action-packed postseason. There is no admission fee to attend, though there are opportunities to donate to the league upon entry to each game and during the games.
Click here for the full Cape League schedule.
Chatham Anglers
Veteran’s Field, home of the Chatham Anglers of the Cape Cod Baseball League is only a half mile from the Inn, making it an easy walk or a quick ride from one of our complimentary Lexus shuttles. Watch the game from the grassy outfield hill or have a seat in the stands to be closer to the action. While you’re there, you’ll see Major League Baseball scouts in person as they use speed guns to time the pitches and take notes on each player. The first home game for the Anglers this year is Sunday June 11, 2023. The Chatham Anglers also offer clinics for kids throughout the summer and they even make visits to the Inn to give hands-on tips and sign autographs for our Kids Crew.
Fun Fact
There are annually over 350 active Cape Cod Baseball League Alumni playing in the major leagues and more than 1,600 all-time. Current major leaguers who played in the Cape Cod Baseball League include New York Yankee Aaron Judge, Boston Red Sox Chris Sale and Toronto Bule Jays Alek Manoah. Former Cape League players now in the Baseball Hall of Fame include Carlton Fisk, Frank Thomas and Craig Biggio.
