So you’ve already booked a vacation rental and checked out the nearby attractions, and now it’s time to pack for your trip. (For those of you who still need to find a house or read about the area, First Vacation Rental has lots of information.) Although everyone has different needs and wants, here’s a packing list of essential (or highly recommended) items to get the most out of your Cape Cod vacation.

• Sunscreen. Sunscreen is good for avoiding painful sunburns and also for long-term skin health. Beware of some conventional sunscreens– recent studies have suggested that certain active ingredients could be harmful. For this reason, you might want to look into buying a “natural” sunblock that uses Zinc Oxide or Titanium Oxide to block the sun. Sunscreens that use Zinc or Titanium are called “physical barrier” sunscreens or sunblocks. Natural sunscreens are more expensive and don’t spread as thinly (they sometimes leave a white layer), but may be worth using in the long run. You can evaluate the toxicity of sunscreen ingredients at Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Cosmetics Database.
• Sunglasses and hat or beach umbrella. In Cape Cod the summer sun is blazing! The sun’s rays are even harder to withstand when they’re coming at you from all angles by bouncing off the water and sand.
• Bathing suits. You might want to bring two. That way you can change into a dry one in between a morning outing to the pond and an afternoon trip to the beach.
• Book, e-reader, or other reading material.
• Comfortable walking shoes. Sneakers, shoes, or hiking boots that are comfortable to walk in will make hiking or walking a trail a more enjoyable experience.
• Deck of cards. Good way to pack a lot of fun and games into a tiny space.
• Beach toys. Great for kids, and grown-ups too! How about a ball to throw around on the beach or in the pond, or some paddles to play paddleball.
• Breakfast. A little planning pays off. Here’s the scenario: You wake up, you’re hungry, and you don’t feel like driving anywhere right away (after all, it’s vacation!). It’s nice to have something like cereal or yogurt to tide you over till lunchtime. If the house where you’re staying isn’t close to a supermarket it might make sense to buy food on your way to your vacation rental on your first day.

Optional:

• Board games. Does your group like to get together around the dining room table and play a board game after dinner? Do you enjoy just staying home on a rainy day to play Monopoly? Some vacation rental homes on the Cape have a few board games on the shelves, but you might want to bring your own to be safe.
• Beach shoes. Special beach shoes with rubber bottoms and mesh tops are designed to protect your feet from sharp shells and stones. They’re especially useful for walking in water that’s a few inches deep in the bay. You can often get them at convenience stores.

The beaches in Wellfleet have parking lots, but to park in them you’ll need a beach sticker. There are two kinds of stickers: a Resident Beach Sticker and a Visitor’s Beach Sticker.

Visitor’s Beach Sticker

If you’re on a summer vacation in Wellfleet, you’ll need to get a Visitor’s Beach Sticker.

Proof of Stay

To get a Visitor’s Beach Sticker, the first thing you’ll need is a proof of stay. This is a document that proves you’ll be residing in Wellfleet. You’ll have to ask the owner of the house where you’re staying– he or she can give it to you.

Other Requirements

Besides the proof of stay, you’ll also need to provide the following:

1. Vehicle registration for each vehicle
2. Payment of about $75 for one week (you can also get 3-day, 2-week, or seasonal permits)

If your car is leased, is a company car, or has dealer plates, you’ll need to provide documentation to prove you are the owner. See the complete eligibility rules and requirements.

Bring these documents to the Wellfleet Town Pier, located at 255 Commercial Street. Your beach sticker will enable you to park at all the public beaches in Wellfleet.

Resident Beach Sticker

Residents of the town of Wellfleet can apply for a Resident Beach Sticker. You’ll need to bring vehicle registration for each vehicle plus means of payment. For more information, see the town document on rules.

More information

Town of Wellfleet Beach Administration

Town of Wellfleet Website

If you’re looking for ideas for games to play with kids while passing the time on your summer vacation, here are 8 games that children of all ages will enjoy at the pond or beach.

1. Monkey in the middle. For this classic game, all you need is a ball and 3 or more people. With 3 people, one player (the “monkey”) is in the middle and tries to intercept the ball while the other two play catch with it. If the monkey gets the ball, he becomes one of the throwers, and the last person who touched the ball becomes the new monkey. With 4 people, it works best to have two monkeys. You can play with the same rules as just described, OR you can play “Team” Monkey in the Middle: if either monkey gets the ball, both monkeys become the new throwers. This game can be played on the sand but works especially well in the water. You can play in shallow water if you only want to get your ankles wet, or you can play in deeper water so the game becomes a mix of swimming and running.

2. Diving for rings. You can buy rings or other water toys at a store that sells pool toys. If you don’t have any real diving rings, get creative. Instead of neon rings or rods, use bright-colored rocks, seashells, or other natural items that sink in water. There are different ways to play with your new diving toys:

• With slow-sinking objects, throw them all in the water at once and then try to catch them all before they touch the bottom. Or throw one far away and race to get it before it touches the sandy pond floor.
• With quick-sinking objects, throw them in and then try to find them on the bottom. The game can be played in whatever depth of water you feel comfortable with, based on the swimming skill level of the players.

3. Paddleball. At minimum, you’ll need a paddle and a ball. Different kinds of paddles, balls, and paddle/ball combinations create different levels of difficulty.  With 2 players you can cooperate in seeing how long you can keep the ball in the air. This game works great on the beach. If you get tired and your kid wants to keep playing, tell him to see how many times he can keep hitting the ball without letting it touch the ground.

4. Touch football. All you need is a football and a group of people. In two-hand touch, both hands on the player carrying the ball means he’s down. If you’re the quarterback, make sure you call a huddle before the snap to go over the play with your teammates. To keep it simple, play with four downs (no additional first downs) and no blitzes.

5. Tag. When you play this timeless game in the pond or ocean it adds a whole new element: You can hide underwater. Hold your breath and hope whoever’s “it” isn’t looking your way when you come up for air.

6. Cards or board games. Bring a deck of cards or your favorite board game to the beach and play on a towel or blanket. This is especially satisfying on a sunny day when you’re drying off from playing in the water. Play tic-tac-toe in the sand as a last resort.

7. Bodyboarding (or “boogieboarding”) works better in the ocean than the pond because there are real waves at the ocean beaches. If you’re new to boogieboarding, watch others to learn the technique. If you don’t see anyone else with a board, you may have to walk down the beach a bit. Sometimes one section of a beach is better for catching waves than the rest of the beach.

8. Building in the sand. You can make a traditional sand castle or build something more unusual. If one person will volunteer, bury him up to his neck. This will result in great photo opportunities.

There was a LOT of erosion on the ocean side beaches of Wellfleet this winter. Some, like LeCount Hollow, now have a HUGE vertical drop. Also, there’s damage to the parking lot, and a house now precariously hangs off the edge. What’s it going to be like this summer? Will some ocean beaches be closed off? If so, that might make the remaining ones more crowded. Over on the bay beaches – Mayo and Duck Harbor – I did not notice any change from last year. They still look great.

There are a plethora of ways to serve and eat oysters.  That’s why you should try a few and see which one you like best.

How to Pick Out Oysters

Selecting oysters in the store is the first step on your way to eating them. Only fresh oysters should be eaten. They shouldn’t smell bad. Oysters should be closed when you buy them; any oyster whose shell is ajar should quickly close its shell if you tap it. If you don’t plan on eating the oysters right away, don’t store them in water. They should be chilled, but remember that they’re still alive, so don’t suffocate them or do anything else that might kill them.

How to Shuck an Oyster

To shuck oysters means to open them up. Oysters should be shucked no more than 2 hours before eating them. When shucking oysters, you should use a shucking knife, sometimes called an oyster knife. (A paring knife may work, but it increases the chance of cutting yourself.) It’s also helpful to have shucking gloves, but these can be substituted with a towel wrapped around the hand that’s holding the oyster. You can get these items in grocery stores and seafood markets. Brush all the oysters with a stiff bristle brush and run them under cool water. Hold an oyster in one hand, with the flatter shell facing up. Using the other hand, slip the shucking knife between the two shells of the oyster, close to one end. Be careful because the edges of the shells can be sharp. Slide the knife along the length of the shell. This is easier said than done. You’ll need to use force, but at the same time, avoid stabbing yourself. Then, twisting your wrist, pry the oyster open. Try not to let the oyster’s juices spill out. (Most oyster-lovers prefer the oyster’s natural juices to still be available to consume.) To separate the shells, cut through the muscle that’s connecting them. Run the knife underneath the oyster to loosen it from the half shell.

Raw oysters on the half shell

On the Half Shell

Have you heard of eating “oysters on the half shell?” That’s the name for eating them raw, out of half of their shell, and it’s the most popular way to eat oysters. After the oysters are shucked, they’re traditionally laid on a bed of shaved ice prior to eating. Of course you can simply eat them as you shuck them.

Toppings

When eating raw oysters, there are many different sauces and seasonings that can be added:

• A squeeze of lemon
• Cocktail sauce
• Horseradish
• Red wine vinegar
• Tabasco sauce
• Old Bay seasoning

If you put too many seasonings on at once, the flavors may just blend together and become hard to distinguish. Try them separately to see which you like best.

Some “purists” believe the only way to eat an oyster is plain, with no sauces or flavorings. These diners find that condiments interfere with the natural oyster flavor. You be the judge.

Eating a Raw Oyster

Once you’ve garnished your raw oyster, you’re ready to eat it. It can help to have a shellfish fork. A shellfish fork is like a regular fork but smaller. You can use it to loosen the oyster from its shell before slurping it. (Alternatively, you can just stab the oyster with the fork and eat it, if you don’t want to suck the oyster meat right out of the shell.)

To eat the oyster, find the flattest side edge of the oyster’s shell. Press it to your lips, and in one motion, tip the back of the shell up and slurp. Rather than swallowing the oyster whole, chew it gently to enjoy the flavor.

Oyster Shooters

An oyster shooter, also called an oyster cocktail, is part appetizer, part drink. First, take a raw oyster, with its juices, and put it in a cocktail glass or shot glass. Squeeze juice from a wedge of lemon on top and add about a teaspoon of cocktail sauce and a little hot sauce. Pour some cold vodka on top (optional). Instead of cocktail sauce and hot sauce, you can substitute tomato juice, horseradish, and pepper.

Mignonette

Mignonette is a popular garnish for oysters. The exact ingredients vary, but the basic formula is vinegar, minced shallots, and black pepper. You can also add salt or sugar. For the vinegar, you might try sherry vinegar or Champagne vinegar. The mignonette can be poured over raw or cooked oysters.

Deep Fried Oysters

Oysters can be deep-fried, just as with other shellfish. First, drain them of liquid. Dip them in eggs and bread crumbs with spices to taste, and fry them in hot oil. In some restaurants these may appear on the menu as “oyster poppers.”

Po’ Boys

Oyster po’ boys are a version of the Louisiana sub, using oysters. If you like deep-fried oysters and you like sandwiches, you’ll want to give this a try. Take your deep-friend oysters and sandwich them in French bread. Include lettuce, tomato, mayo, and pickles (if you like them).

Oyster Stew

Oysters can be used to make a stew. Combine them with cream or milk and butter, green onions, and spices.

Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters Rockefeller get their name because the sauce is supposed to be as “rich” as John D. Rockefeller. The oysters are covered with a sauce of butter, bread crumbs, and minced greens, and then broiled in the oven. The dish was first served in 1899 in New Orleans. The original recipe is a closely guarded secret, but you can find one version of the recipe here.

As a vacation rental property owner, you already know about the benefit of being listed on a vacation rental website.  And chances are good you’ve already joined one.  If you have, I have a recommendation for you. I’m going to suggest you join another. If you’re an owner of a vacation rental property, it’s worth the money to be listed in at least two directories.

Online vaction rental directories

But first, if you’re not already listed on one of the national or international vacation rental directories, here are the top 3 reasons why you should be:

1.  Number of inquiries. The big directories, which charge between $200 and $500 per year to list your property, spend big bucks on advertising.  The advertising gets the attention of Mrs. Prospective Vacationer, at just the right time– when she is formulating the summer vacation plans. Personally, as an owner, it’s worth the money for me to have my property listed on five different vacation rental sites.  From some I get 5 inquiries in a good week, and from some I might get one inquiry a week – it’s still worth the cost.

2. Quality of inquiries.  Theoretically, the ‘list your property for free’ sites should give you the same quality of inquiry as the pay-sites, but they don’t– not in my experience on Cape Cod. From the free sites, scam inquiries actually used to be rare.  Now, scam inquiries are a regular occurence.  Is “free” really free when you have to spend your valuable time screening prospects because something about their inquiry sounds ‘fishy,’ but you’re not really sure?

3.  Pics and videos.  At some point in the future (and maybe by the time you’ve finished reading this!),  you will need to have at least 20 good quality photos and a couple of videos of your property to compete with other owners that do, and to ‘close the sale’ with a vacationer online.  Make sure to list your property on a website that allows for this.

Benefits of listing in multiple directories

Now I’ll talk about how to choose a second vacation rental directory.

The big national and international directories promise to deliver lots of inquiries, and they do.  But no single directory gets EVERY vacationer inquiry, or even a majority of them. If you’re only listed in 1 directory, you’re missing out on LOTS of prospective vacationers.

Do you get a rental from every prospect?  Neither do I.  Not by a long shot. For my Wellfleet Cape Cod rental,  I need to get between 5 and 15 inquiries before I  get a deposit.  It depends on the week.  Shoulder season weeks – that’s the spring and fall in Cape Cod – are harder and need more internet exposure.  Summer weeks are easier to rent and need less exposure, so fewer inquiries are needed.  But the summer weeks are so valuable.  I’m more confident about raising prices when I’m getting more inquiries.  More inquiries can get you more income.

In evaluating whether it’s worth it to list your property on more than one rental directory, consider the possibility that an additional directory listing could result in one additional week or weekend rental. What’s your lowest priced week?  If it’s $600 or more, then you can see how it’s worth it.

Another reason to join an additional vacation rental directory even if you’re already listed in one is specialty.  Some directories specialize in a certain geographic area. For example, First Vacation Rental specializes in Wellfleet and Cape Cod and has a “Things to Do” section on their site.  Directories like this can enhance and emphasize the desirability of a specific location. This may add value to your individual vacation rental.

Lastly, another reason to join a second (or third or fourth) vacation rental directory: Customer Support.  Was it a hassle to list your property in your current directory?  I know what that’s like.  I’ve listed my vacation rental in about 12 different sites over the years.  What a pain.  But some of the new sites make it extremely easy.  Some will walk you through the process over the phone, use the pictures you already have, even come to your house and take high quality shots.  (High quality pics are VERY important, but that’s another topic.)  Look for a vacation rental directory that has a “Whatever it takes to earn your business” attitude.

Online vacation rental directories are a great tool to rent available weeks and to increase the inquiries you get for your popular weeks, giving you the confidence to raise prices. Because each directory has different strengths, you can often benefit by listing in two or more directories. Vacationers use one directory at a time, and if you’re not listed there then they won’t find your property. And a vacationer who becomes interested in your property could be a life-long customer.

Wellfleet OysterFest is this weekend: Oct. 15-17th, 2010. If you’re any kind of oyster aficionado, this is a must-do event. Wellfleet oysters are world famous. This year at OysterFest there will be a shucking contest, arts & crafts, demonstrations of how to shuck oysters and other cooking lessons, historical exhibits, a boat tour, an auction, bluegrass music, tasting oysters from different parts of Wellfleet, children’s entertainment, a spelling bee with prizes, a nature walk over Uncle Tim’s bridge, and more. Enter the oyster shuck-off  and you can win the $1,000 cash prize.

About Wellfleet OysterFest

A Band Playing on Stage at OysterFest in Wellfleet

The Wellfleet Oyster Festival, usually called OysterFest, is a celebration of the oysters that help make Wellfleet famous. Entry is free. It always takes place in October, the weekend after Columbus Day. It lasts for two days: Saturday and Sunday. The tradition started in 2001 and goes on even if it rains.

Visitors head to the town center. The streets are alive with activities, food, live music, and merchants. There are plenty of things for kids to do, such as pumpkin decorating, jewelry making, and arts and crafts. Be warned– it can get pretty crowded!

In addition to the oyster-shucking race, there are other competitions, such as a running race. OysterFest often features educational speakers at the Town Library. Each year is a little different. The OysterFest schedule of events is online.

Wellfleet is a great place to enjoy not only oysters, but also clams and other shellfish.

Read about how to eat oysters.

Accomodations

Visitors can rent a vacation home for just OysterFest weekend. Wellfleet has a large number of homes available for rent. These homes are usually rented for weeks at a time in the summer, but the owners will usually offer them for weekends in the off-season. However, keep in mind when searching and inquiring about homes that OysterFest is a high-demand weekend in Wellfleet.

About Wellfleet

Wellfleet is situated near the tip of Cape Cod, next to Provincetown. It’s 100 miles from Boston. Wellfleet is an old fishing and whaling village with authentic charm. It has a cute town center with small shops and at least a dozen art galleries.  It also has live theater.

There’s nothing worse than showing up to the vacation rental home you rented for the week, throwing your suitcase on the bed, and realizing that something about the house is not as you expected. Maybe the house has no TV or no washing machine, or isn’t near the beach. That’s why it’s important to pay close attention to information in the listing description. Here are 5 important things to look for:

Vacation Home in Chatham, MA on Cape Cod

1. Proximity to water. This is especially important to beach junkies. Is the home literally on the water or is it a short walk? Do you have to drive? It can sometimes help to become familiar with the area you’re looking to stay in. In towns such as Wellfleet (on Cape Cod), every vacation rental is reasonably close to a beach. This is a function of Wellfleet being a small town on the Outer Cape.    

2. Internet access. A good vacation rental directory will tell you whether the house in question has internet access. The owner may even specify the nature of the internet access, be it broadband, dial-up, or wireless. If the home doesn’t have internet access, it might be a good idea to look for nearby spots that have internet access, such as libraries or cafes, if not another house.
3. Pets. Many vacation home owners don’t allow pets. There’s usually a section on the listing that says whether or not pets such as dogs are allowed. If not, you can ask.
4. Appliances. Were you planning on grinding your own coffee beans in the morning? You’ll be disappointed if you find out that the home you chose doesn’t have a coffee grinder. Vacation rental directories give homeowners checkboxes to communicate which appliances are sitting in their kitchen.
5. Accessibility. If you need handicap access, you should confirm that the house has it right off the bat. Do you have an elderly member of the group who might have a hard time getting up and down long flights of stairs? If the information isn’t posted on the listing, you can inquire with the owner.

These are some of things to look for as you search for your perfect summer vacation rental. The internet has made things much easier, and finding a cottage to stay in is now just a few clicks away. If you find that the home you were interested in has no more available weeks this summer, try asking about off-season weeks or weekends. You may find that the homeowner will rent off-season weeks or days at a reduced rate.

When marketing First Vacation Rental subscriptions, we advertise that our site, along with each owner’s listing, will be optimized for search so that vacationers can easily find rentals.  One of the most frequently asked questions is “How do you optimize your site?” and “What does that mean?”  Both are good questions that deserve thoughtful answers.

We are noticing that vacationers renting homes from online directories are often originating from Google through its search engine.  Many of our pages are designed to be placed in the top search results for certain search terms.  This helps attract vacationers  to our website who are searching for Wellfleet or Cape Cod information through Google.

There are two ways we use Google to get these searchers onto our rental listing pages.  The first is by buying advertising space for popular searches that vacationers make.  When searching for “Wellfleet vacation rentals,” “Cape Cod cottages,” or “Marconi Beach rental,” our ad will often appear in a section of the page right above the search results.  Our ad is displayed for over 100 different Wellfleet-specific search terms. Our ad is also displayed during some more general Cape Cod seach queries such as “Cape Cod summer vacation.”

This is one of our Wellfleet ads. Most of our ads are specifically targeted to Wellfleet.

The second way we optimize with Google is by building pages on our website that will naturally find themselves among the top search results over time.  For example, if you search for “Indian Neck Beach Wellfleet” our page about Indian Neck is on the first page.  Once searchers end up on this page about Indian Neck Beach they can see nearby vacation rentals.  There aren’t a huge number of people searching for Indian Neck Beach in Google; in fact, we only get about one hit a day from that search.  Although that may seem small at first, it adds up quickly because we have over 100 pages about Cape Cod beaches, restaurants, and other Wellfleet activities.  Factoring in all of our pages, the hits start to add up.

First Vacation Rental is the first result when searching Google for Indian Neck Beach in Wellfleet.

About 70% of our Google visitors find our site by searching for specific terms like Indian Neck Beach.  The other 30% come from clicking our advertisements.

We make sure to get all of our Wellfleet vacation rentals into Google’s database.  We do this by making sure that each one of our rental pages complies with the search engine’s guidelines.  Also, we provide Google with the information it needs to best index the listings into the search results.  Here are some tips for vacation home owners to help drive traffic to listings pages.

Our software provides all of the necessary tools and methods for attracting vacation searchers from Google.  Of course, until you list your rental on the internet, Google won’t know about it.  Once you’ve listed your rental, there are a few things you can do to help vacationers find it. For more information on this subject, check our our articles on:

Naming Your Vacation Rental

How To Drive Traffic To Your Vacation Rental

If you’re looking for places to take kids in Wellfleet, you’re in luck. In fact, Cape Cod is overall a very accessible place for children. It’s a very popular summer vacation destination, where families rent vacation houses in week-long increments and play at the beach together.

Beaches and Ponds

You should definitely spend a day at one of Wellfleet’s ocean beaches. The water will be cold, but kids will have fun braving it. Bringing a boogey board is a definitely good idea, but not absolutely necessary. Sand castle anyone? Don’t forget the beach chairs, towels, and sunscreen. (Check out all the Wellfleet beaches.) Wellfleet’s ponds don’t have waves but are better places to go for a traditional swim. Long Pond has a raft that kids can swim out to, climb onto, and jump off of. In recent years the raft has drifted a little. Gull Pond is large and has docks and a roped-in area.

Trails and Sports

There are a bunch of walking trails and bike trails in this part of Cape Cod. One of the best places for children is Great Island. On Great Island you’ll find interesting surroundings, including tiny Fiddler crabs that scamper in and out of holes in the sand.

If you have a basketball, there are public courts by the Wellfleet Pier. Tennis courts are nearby.

Ice Cream

Also situated at the pier is a small building that sells food and ice cream, including banana splits and brownie sundaes. You can walk along the beach to get there. Kids love to walk when it’s to get ice cream!

Dancing at Wellfleet Pier

Square Dancing

The town puts on square dancing at Wellfleet Harbor one night a week in the summer. (In 2009 it was Wednesdays during July and August from 7 – 9:30pm.) The square dancing takes place in the Mayo Beach parking lot, right next to the Wellfleet Pier.

Mini Golf

The mini golf in Wellfleet is right off Route 6 (map). There are 18 holes.

Drive-in Movie

Right next to the mini golf course is a parking lot for the flea market and drive-in movie theater. The drive-in plays back-to-back feature films at night. It’s usually a thrill for kids. The first film of the night is always geared toward a younger audience. Read more about the Wellfleet drive-in.

Rainy Day

If it rains, there are still a handful of indoor activities in Wellfleet. Additionally, you can take the kids to the Wellfleet Library.