5 issues to do when visiting Chatham


Journey

Hit the seashore, benefit from the arts, discover a historic windmill, and extra.

The Chatham Lighthouse in Chatham. Dina Rudick/Globe Workers

Metropolis and city clerks throughout Massachusetts are sharing their favourite locations to go for tradition, nature, and rest within the communities they know so nicely. Do you wish to see your favourite metropolis or city featured? Tell us within the survey under or e-mail [email protected]

Julie Smith, a lifelong resident of Chatham and city clerk for 22 years, stated her city’s waterfront is exclusive.

“We’re surrounded by water on three sides,” stated Smith. “We’re as shut as you may get to an island with out being an island.”

Chatham has 66 miles of shoreline, which she stated “is sort of a bit for a small city.”

Nevertheless, the city’s choices go far past its stunning waterfronts, Smith stated, with 1,000 acres of conservation land and wealthy alternatives within the arts. Chatham was not too long ago named among the many 15 finest small cities to go to in 2022 by Smithsonian journal.

“Now we have a tremendous downtown space, a very walkable Predominant Avenue with tons of outlets and eating places,” Smith stated.

Forward, Smith gives her picks for what to see and do in Chatham.

Stage Harbor Lighthouse at sundown. flickr/Ted Kerwin – flickr/Ted Kerwin

Smith’s favourite seashore on the town is Harding’s Seaside, which she referred to as one of the family-friendly seashores on the Cape because of its ample parking, restrooms, lifeguard stations, meals vans, and heat, calm water on Nantucket Sound.

“It additionally has stunning sunsets,” stated Smith. “I’ll go down with my digicam, and I’m not alone. There’s fairly a couple of individuals there taking photos of that lovely sundown.”

The seashore gives an excellent view of Stage Harbor Lighthouse, additionally referred to as Harding’s Seaside Lighthouse. In-built 1880 and billed because the youngest lighthouse on the Cape, it’s a privately-owned lighthouse and never accessible for excursions.

One other standard spot is Chatham Lighthouse Seaside, the most important seashore on the town, the place company can view the scenic Chatham Lighthouse, the city’s iconic landmark. The lighthouse is sometimes open for excursions through the summer time months.

Chatham Fish Pier Market. flickr/Mattia Panciroli

Guests can watch fishermen carry within the day’s catch from an statement deck on the historic Chatham Fish Pier, Smith stated. It’s her favourite family-friendly exercise on the town.

“Individuals take pleasure in seeing that,” she stated. “It’s not one thing they’ll see at house.”

Boats arrive day by day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and hungry guests can watch whereas consuming lobster rolls, fish & chips, and steamed clams from the Chatham Pier Fish Market, open day by day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

“You may have a seat on the picnic desk and have a recent seafood meal,” she stated.

Right here is the market’s menu.

Artwork lovers will discover lots to do on the busy Inventive Arts Heart, a nonprofit group established in 1969 that provides portray, drawing, pottery, and jewellery courses, Smith stated.

“It’s a very improbable facility,” she stated.

The middle additionally sponsors workshops by nationally recognized artists.

The Pageant of the Arts, a juried tremendous arts and crafts competition with greater than 120 artisans nationwide, is held each August at Chase Park in Chatham. This yr’s 51st Pageant of the Arts will happen Aug. 19-21.

Smith additionally loves assembly associates for a film on the Chatham Orpheum Theater, which initially opened in 1916.

“It runs main movement photos, artwork home movies, documentaries, just about every thing,” she stated.

The Godfrey Windmill at Chase Park in Chatham. Julie Smith

Chase Park, which includes a historic windmill, labyrinth, bowling inexperienced, and picnic tables, is a good place for a day stroll or picnic, Smith stated.

“It’s only a actually historic, stunning space,” she stated. “It was restored in 2012 so it’s in beautiful situation.”

Visitors can take free excursions of the Godfrey Windmill, inbuilt 1797. The windmill, which is on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations, is open for excursions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between July 1 and Sept. 2 from 11 a.m. to three p.m.

“They’ve guides who reveal the workings of the grist mill,” Smith stated.

The Chatham Labyrinth is a reproduction of the labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral in France and a present by the clergy of the native church buildings in honor of the city’s three hundredth anniversary.

A path on the Monomoy Nationwide Wildlife Refuge in Chatham. – Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce

5. Reader suggestions

“Its a gorgeous place!!” wrote @aledealfaro. “Find it irresistible… I’m from Guatemala and been there two instances… lighthouse, procuring, consuming scrumptious meals, strolling round.”

“It’s completely positioned to get to both a part of the Cape and I like the lighthouse,” wrote @katken5585.

For food and drinks:

Bluefins Sushi & Sake Bar — @travellikealocalma

Buffys Ice Cream — @lovealwayslaura.ks

Chatham Sweet Manor — @travellikealocalma, @cmbonde31, @kathleentayman, @aclillie, @melissa.schirmer, @amacattack12, @barbaramcgovern

Chatham Cookware Cafe — @astpierre157

Chatham Penny Sweet —@elizabeth.falvey15, @aenigmati

Chatham Pier Fish Market — @tsimm4, @travellikealocalma, @ali.aassi, @debahl, @a.ross813, @katefinii, @townenarrator, @crmarchetti

Chatham Squire — @cmbonde31, @travellikealocalma, @debahl, @mettagiese, @elizabeth.falvey15

Chatham Village Cafe & Bakery — @cmbonde31

Del Mar Chatham Bar & Bistro — @aclillie

Impudent Oyster — @travellikealocalma, @chathamcandymanor, @c_hawkinson

Marion’s Pie Store — @capecodder.ma

Pink Nun Bar & Grill — @markwisnes, @kcol77

Quick ‘n’ Candy — @yuliamurray

Snowy Owl Espresso Roasters — @travellikealocalma

Viera on Predominant — @theeastcoastguidetoliving

For actions:

Cape Shark — @jassalynpickering, @amacattack12

Chatham Anglers — @travellikealocalma, @nickkondek

Chatham Band Live performance — @susanjyoung5, @marisa.parrotta

Chatham Bars Inn — @cmbonde31, @travellikealocalma, @aclillie, @sarahkoessel, @a.ross813, @kellyjean_austin

Chatham Clothes Bar — @chathamcandymanor

Chatham Lighthouse Seaside — @marioboston1972, @travellikealocalma

Chatham Orpheum Theater — @chathamcandymanor, @debahl

Chatham Wayside Inn — @travellikealocalma

Geese within the Window — @stasya_eremina

Fisherman’s Daughter — @travellikealocalma

Harding’s Seaside — @cmbonde31

Mahi Gold — @yuliamurray

Monomoy Nationwide Wildlife Refuge — @capecodder.ma, @seaglassgirl32

Oyster Pond — @a.ross813

The Chatham Residence — @travellikealocalma

The Mayflower Store — @travellikealocalma

Purchasing — @tsimm4, @amacattack12, @a.ross813