It’s time to dispel the myth that Cape Cod is only a summertime destination. Each town on the peninsula has something to offer at any time of the year. Although the lack of warmer weather in the winter may sound unappealing to some, one positive is that the traffic will be MUCH quieter. For this trip, we will focus on an afternoon in Bourne.
Our Afternoon in Bourne
I would begin my tour of Bourne with a walk on the Cape Cod Canal. This is a perfectly flat path, fun for people of any age. Ride a bike, walk, run–pick your poison. Cross to the Cape side of the Canal for the easy ability to reach this trail. Some roads alongside the Canal lead to it but I often park at Aptucxet Trading Post. The Trading Post is a reproduction of a trading post that was located nearby where the Indigenous peoples traded with the English.
Aptucxet Trading Post
Aptucxet Trading Post is a small museum including a re-creation of the trading post, a windmill, a railroad station, and saltworks. It is a living history museum. This was the site of the original Aptucxet Trading Post which provided the Plymouth colonists a trading location with local Indigenous people and the Dutch. It was established in 1627 on the banks of the Manomet River, which was lost due to the construction of the Cape Cod Canal.
Enjoy the museum and then use it as an access point to this area of the Cape Cod Canal bike path.
Lobster Trap
One of my favorite restaurants in Bourne is the Lobster Trap. It is an excellent seafood restaurant located in the area of town near Monument Beach. It is not walkable from the Cape Cod Canal Path but is worth the extra gas.
Come here for all your favorite seafood dishes including lobster, fried fisherman’s platter, and steamers. I recommend getting there early since it fills up quickly, especially in season. Tasty seafood served both indoors and out is the perfect Cape Cod dining experience.
For other Bourne recommendations, check out the Sagamore Inn and in the summer, catching a Bourne Braves game at Doran Park is a must.
