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.

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.

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.

With all the outdoor beauty of Cape Cod, some may wonder why they should look for indoor activities. Keep in mind that even if it’s sunny today, rain in New England can always be around the corner. It’s good to have a few ideas for things to do on a rainy day. If you’re renting a home during the off-season (for example, in October or November), it may be too chilly to spend the day outside. Or maybe it’s summer and you just need a break from the blazing sun. Whatever the case may be, you have plenty of stuff to choose from.

Visit an art gallery

David Arsenault's "Just Passing By" is a painting from the Blue Heron Gallery.

Wellfleet is famous for its art galleries, such as the Blue Heron Gallery. (The Blue Heron Gallery is open from early May to October and closes in the off-season, like many other Cape Cod galleries.) Some artists display their work with a group of other artists, and some show it solo. Most of the art consists of paintings, encompassing a range of styles. A common theme is the natural surroundings of Cape Cod and the islands. Artists are inspired by the beauty of the sea.

Watch a movie

Feel like catching a flick? Wellfleet Cinemas shows recently released films just like any other movie theater. The parking lot next door hosts an old-fashioned drive-in movie experience during the summer. You might feel like picking up a video rental and taking it back to your house. Most Cape Cod vacation rental homes have DVD players, but be sure to check first.

See live music

A few venues in Wellfleet have live music, but you should check in advance because they don’t have performances every night. A few you can check out are the Beachcomber, The Juice, and Duck Creeke Tavern.

Play a board game

A rainy day could be the perfect time to challenge your friends or family to a game of Monopoly or Pictionary. If there are no games in your house, the widest selection can be found at Puzzle Me This in Provincetown, but there’s also a game store in Wellfleet center.

Plan your next outing

Now might be the time to check out pics and videos of all Wellfleet has to offer, and start planning your next adventure. There’s always tomorrow!