Nantucket Annual Christmas Stroll Weekend

Last week I wrote about the different Christmas activities on the Cape. One of the most famous Christmas strolls which attracts thousands of visitors from around the world is the "Nantucket Noel and Christmas Stroll". It started 34 years ago as a small island festival down Nantucket's cobblestone Main Street and has blossomed into an island wide, month long celebration. In the words of Lawrel Strauch of the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce, "It's all about warm, cozy fireplaces, caroling under the stars, warm cider and all of the holiday traditions that many folks really enjoy". Sounds like a perfect way to get away from the shopping frenzy and commercialism of Christmas for a feel of a small town Christmas.

Streets are lined with over 144 lit Christmas trees, and in addition to the traditional carolers, local musicians also perform, including a cappella groups and a blues band or two. While this tradition is now a month long, the "Annual Nantucket Christmas Stroll Weekend" is this weekend from November 30th to December 2nd. If you'd prefer to avoid the crowds you can visit Nantucket midweek.

The Tidewater is only 5 minutes to the ferry for Nantucket. Our heated pool and hot tub are a welcome relief after a day of festivities and our 50's style diner is open on Saturdays and Sundays for an hearty breakfast. We are offering a special rate of $59.99 for the weekend. By the way, today is sunny and a balmy 60 degrees! Hope to see you this weekend.

Voula

A Favorite Recipe from the Tidewater

With Thanksgiving Day nearly upon us, (and eagerly awaited!) we thought we would share one of our favorite recipes with you and your family. It is harvest time here on Cape Cod and cranberries are freshly off the bog. This bounty leads us to …..

Helen’s Cranberry Nut Bread

Ingredients

2 cups flour (sifted)
1 cup sugar
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 egg (beaten)


Juice from 1 orange
Grated rind from 1 orange
2 tablespoons butter

½ cup finely chopped walnuts
1 cup cranberries (uncooked & sliced)

Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt together in a large mixing bowl. Next, mix in the already beaten egg. Place the orange juice, grated rind, and butter into a measuring cup and then add boiling water to make ¾ of a cup. Pour into the flour mixture and blend all the ingredients well. For the last step, add the cranberries and chopped nuts and blend until they are evenly mixed into the batter.

Bake in a greased loaf pan for one hour at 350 degrees.

Cape Cod Specials and Packages

Hi, my name is Lisa and I am the Front Office Manager at the Tidewater Inn. I just wanted to take this time to let you know about a few specials we have for the holiday season.

First let me tell you about our Lunch with Santa Package which is great for families with young children. The package includes accommodations for 2 adults and 2 children and tickets to the Cape Cod Railroad Lunch with Santa train. Join in the Christmas spirit with music, caroling, candy canes and a special visit with Santa. Enjoy a leisurely Holiday lunch prepared by a renowned chef while you join in the festivities with Santa and his elves. The two hour journey with Santa departs from the Hyannis station. The cost of this package is $200.00 for a one night stay or save even more by staying 2 nights for only $235.00. This package is only available on weekends. If your family is larger or smaller we can adjust the rate for you.

Our second Package is Dinner and a Movie. This package is based on 2 people and includes accommodations, a $25.00 allowance at The Yarmouth House, and 2 movie tickets to Regal Cinema 12 at the Cape Cod Mall to see the movie of your choice, you will also receive a $10.00 voucher toward popcorn or candy.

If you just want to get away and relax, we can offer you the special rate of $45.99 on weekdays or $55.99 on weekends. Helen's breakfast diner is open on Saturday and Sunday mornings, if you would like, you can make you reservation a Bed and Breakfast Package by adding $10.00 to the rate to receive a $14.00 voucher to the Diner.

These specials are only available until December 30th, so act now call 800-338-6322 to book any of these great offers. I look forward to seeing you at our hotel during this holiday season.

Lisa

Get Into the Holiday Spirit

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, the Cape is not just for summer and beaches. The holiday season is a perfect time to visit the Cape and get the feel of an old fashioned Christmas. Come to the Cape and enjoy the wonder of small town Christmas traditions. Listed below is a limited list of activities and strolls on the Cape for the holidays. For complete details visit the Cod Cod Chamber website, capecodchamber.org.

Annual Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument: 11/21, Provincetown
Orleans Candlelight Christmas Stroll: 11/23, Santa arrives at 10am by boat
Spectacle of Lights: 4:30-8:30PM Fri - Sun, Heritage Museums and Gardens Sandwich
Thanksgiving open house: 11/24, 10-4pm, Cape Cod Maritime Museum, Hyannis
Lunch with Santa, Weekends 11/24-12/6, Cape Cod Central Railroad(lunch, caroling, elves, & more
Famouth Holidays by the Sea Week End, 11/30 -12/2
Christmas in Sandwich, 11/30-12/9
Christmas in the Harwiches, 11/30
Harwich Port Christmas Stroll, 11/30, 6 - 9PM
Nantucket's famous Annual Christmas Stroll Weekend, 11/30/12/2, Old Fashioned Holiday Celebration
Harwich Center Christmas Stroll, 12/1, 10AM - 6PM, East Harwich, 1 - 4PM
"A Sea of Lights" Brewster, 12/1 - 12/2
Cape Cod Symphony Concert, 12/1 & 12/2, 8:00 PM, "Holiday Pops"
Yarmouth Port Christmas Stroll, 12/2, 1 - 4PM
Chatham Christmas Stroll, 12/7, 12/8
Hyannis Village Christmas Stroll, 12/7 - 12/8 Main Street
Harbor Lighting and Parade of Boats, 12/8

As if that's not enough to keep you busy and in the spirit, there's shopping at the Cape Cod Mall, Christmas Tree Shops, Mashpee Commons, Outlets, and of course,for uniques gifts, the local gift shops. So come stay at the Tidewater and get into the holiday spirit. After a full day, relax in our heated pool and hot tub.

Voula

Renovation Updates

For the last year we have been very busy updating the Tidewater, our family run hotel on Cape Cod. In the summer we focused on exterior improvements. We have several perrenial gardens that giv, gre the property curb appeal near the office and outside of the diner and pool area. My sister Helen, a retired Math teacher, spends endless hours improving and increasing the flower beds. In my spare time (!) I also try to help for we are both avid gardners. Many gardening guests have left with a cutting or small root of a favorite perrenial. Of course gardners love to share.

We also painted the doors and shutters of the buildings a beautiful seafoam green. Regular customers have noticed and enjoy the brighter, younger looking buildings. This is an ongoing process and we have many exterior projects left before winter sets in.

The South building, which overlooks Mill Pond, has 48 rooms with interior corridors and houses both Helen's Diner, the pool, and hot tub. This building is a favorite of many guests since it sits off the road, has a lovely picnic and playground area overlooking Mill Pond, and some rooms with sliders leading out to the playground, or with beautiful waterviews. It is the most recently updated building. This spring we painted the rooms a creamy yellow to match the bedspreads that were replaced last year. In addition we installed granite countertops, new faucets and mirrors in the vanity area. This winter we plan on continuing the renovations into our family rooms and jacuzzi rooms. Stay tuned!

Dining Out on the Cape

The Cape has much to offer besides beautiful beaches. One of my favorite activities during the off season is dining out. After the tourists leave many restaurants offer specials for their year round customers. One of my favorites which I recently discovered is the Ocean House on Depot street in Dennisport. The restaurants offers a spectacular view overlooking Nantucket Sound and creative cuisine using fresh local seafood and ingredients. This time of year from Wednesday to Sunday (not valid Saturdays or holidays) they have a special three course prixe fixe meal for $25 per person. Make sure to reserve (508-394--0700) for I went with my husband and sister midweek and had trouble getting a table.

Abbicci on route 6A in Yarmouthport also offers a $25 special for a three course meal. It has a wonderful Mediterranean tapas menu in addition to their regular menu. The restaurant was renovated last year and has several small cozy room. Most importantly, the food is supurb! Other restaurant in the area that I have enjoyed are the Yarmouth House, Paddock, Dolphin, Alberto's, 501 Main, and the Roadhouse. The Cape has some of the best restaurants I've been too and with prices much lower than the metropolitan areas. Why not plan a dining weekend? And, of course, we would love to have you stay at our hotel, the Tidewater, where our staff will is ready to give exceptial service.

A perfect way to sample many restaurants in one visit is to attend the Restaurant & Food Holiday Festival called the "Taste of Cape Cod". This festival is on Sunday, November 18th, from 1PM to 8PM. For details visit the website, www.TASTEOFCAPECOD.com. Enjoy a swing band, jazz, strolling singers, meet the Chefs and sample taste their signature foods for only $25 per person. Bon appetite!

Voula

Henry's Gone

I've put off writing about Henry's departure, thinking that he would return as he did last time, but I've finally accepted that he's probably not returning this time. The last time anyone saw him was on Halloween morning. I had gone to Williamstown the day before and returned on Halloween ev ening. I checked his temporary home (box) and he wasn't there. The next morning I set out bird seed and water as usual and only the sparrows came. I searched the property and called Henry, but no Henry. During the past week he had become a bit more irritable and combatative. With the colder weather arriving on the Cape, his nature was probably telling him to fly south. He was probably cold for everytime someone came in the front door, he would walk in behind them, much to the dismay of Lisa, my front office manager. Hopefully, he is warm and comfortable in warmer climates and with luck he might return next year.

I never thought I would miss him so. I still put seed and water out every morning for the sparrows that joined him every morning. Maybe one morning in the spring Henry will join his buddies at the feeding station.

Voula