Beaches
Ridgevale Beach: Our favorite beach! Located at 431 Ridgevale Rd, Chatham, MA 02633, this is a short drive or a really nice walk.
When you get to the beach parking lot and cross the bridge, take a left (or go east) towards the Bucks Creek Marsh tidal river, there is a wonderful spot with ocean on one side and tidal river on the other side. There is a decent snack bar and sailboat/kayak/paddleboard rentals.
Hardings Beach: Probably the most popular Chatham beach, it's worth visiting. From the parking lot, it's a beautiful walk down the beach to Stage Harbor Lighthouse.
Oyster Pond Beach: This beach is perfect for small kids to explore, and it's super close to town. There are a couple of floating docks to swim to and an ice cream truck every day.
Forest Beach is also a fun spot for families looking to avoid crowds. Small parking lot but worth walking down the beach a little to have a semi-private spot between the jetties.
Schoolhouse Pond is a freshwater kettle pond with a nice swimming area.
Sights and Activities
Chatham Band Concerts: Every Friday at 8pm there is a concert in the park. Head there after dinner or get there early with a picnic, it’s a wonderful Friday evening activity.
Chatham Anglers: The
Cape Cod Baseball League is a great evening out, and Veterans Field is just outside downtown Chatham. Watch from the stands, the foul line, or the hill, or just let your kids play on the playground.
Chatham Lighthouse: You can walk from downtown or park on one of the side streets. There is a parking lot right in front, with limited time to park.
Shark Center: An interesting spot to learn about the resurgence of the shark population in and around Chatham.
Chatham Fish Pier:
The Chatham Fish Pier is worth checking out in the morning as the Chatham fleet will come in daily and you can watch boats being unloaded greeted by the local seals.
There is also a great little restaurant run in the parking lot.
Orpheum Theater: If you are interested in catching a movie, this is the spot to go. It's also the start of the downtown shopping district, aka Main Street.
Shopping
Main Street: Definitely a quaint shopping district with lots of shops, restaurants, and galleries. There is something for everyone from candy, children's and adult clothing, gifts, jewelry, artwork, you name it.
A few funky spots worth calling out:
Maps of Antiquity
Yankee Ingenuity
Groceries
Village Market: Close to the house, great muffins, decent deli and butcher shop, perfect spot for in between grocery shopping.
Stop & Shop: This is the main grocery shopping spot.
Bookstores
Where the Sidewalk Ends: A fantastic bookstore in town, with a children's wing and an adult wing.
Yellow Umbrella: A wonderful little spot, worth wandering into.
Coffee Shops
Snowy Owl
Pain d'Avignon: Great bakery and coffee shop Chatham Perk
Hey Joe and Jam
Restaurants
Pizza: A few worth trying…
- Carmine's is downtown, and great for a slice.
- Sweet Tomatoes is just outside downtown and makes pretty good pizza and sandwiches, it's perfect to pick up food to picnic at the bandshell.
- Harwich House of Pizza and George’s in Harwich are both classic pizza places.
- Embers in Harwich has a great patio and wonderful woodfired pizza.
Mac's: Our favorite restaurant! (Great gluten and dairy free options, btw...)
Chatham Squire: Classic pub, it's got its own gift shop for Squire paraphernalia.
Wild Goose Tavern: Great patio right on Main Street
Nicer Food, or a night out...
Impudent Oyster: Worth making a reservation.
Del Mar Bistro: Really good food, it's also open year round.
Chatham Bars Inn: This is a great spot to go for drinks, have a burger, or to have a fine meal. There are several spots within CBI. Up at the main entrance and valet parking lot, there is an outdoor patio with live music many nights during the summer. The Veranda, Sacred Cow Tavern, and STARS are restaurants onsite, ranging from expensive, to more expensive. :) There is also a great beachside spot, called the Beach House Grill.