Boating on Wellfleet Harbor
Getting out on the water is a quintessential part of any visit to the Cape. At least it should be. When it comes to boating on Cape Cod, there are endless options ranging from whale watches to Sunfish sailboat rentals.
For trips aboard larger crafts with a captain at the helm, you are not limited to whale watches (which are fantastic!). In Provincetown, departing from MacMillan Pier, is the Bay Lady II, a 73-foot schooner operated by Sail Cape Cod. Sail Cape Cod offers two-hour afternoon and sunset sails.
There are several options for boating on Wellfleet Harbor including Cape Cod Catamaran’s Discovery. “Captain Keith” takes the helm as his sailboat cuts through the water out to Jeremy Point and beyond. With room for just six people, this private charter is a far more intimate option than the Bay Lady II.
New on our radar are boat rentals from Wellfleet Marine Corporation. Renting a boat on the Cape is nothing new, but what is different about this operation is their pricing. The rental companies we’ve tried in the past require a minimum of a half-day rental. A half-day can be a bit too much of a time commitment if you're only on the Cape for two or three days, or if you’re traveling with young children. Wellfleet Marine Corporation will let you rent a sailboat for as little as two hours and a power boat for just an hour. We took out a 16-foot bowrider and had a grand old time zipping around the harbor for a couple of hours. The boat definitely had some miles on it, but it was super clean and the staff couldn't have been more helpful. The rates are ridiculously inexpensive compared to other rental companies. Our 16-footer rents for $105 for the first hour and $49 for each additional hour. A full-day rental rate of $350 is an absolute steal.
If you decide to go for the full day, it’s likely you’ll be looking for food and adult beverages when you come ashore. There are a couple of casual choices within walking distance which will allow you to leave your car in the town lot, and where you won’t feel out of place with wind-blown hair.
Mac’s on the Pier is the sand-in-toes Cape Cod clam shack that started what is now a seafood restaurant juggernaut stretching from Chatham to Provincetown. The Asian-inspired cuisine is, well, inspired; love, love, LOVE the tuna poke bowl, and the blackened fish sandwich. Gluten-free fried seafood is a specialty. Queue up at the window to place your order, then retire to a picnic table that is literally sitting in the sand and prepare to be wowed.
Offering a great location with epic views of the harbor, a lengthy menu that mixes Cape Cod classics with slightly more cutting-edge cuisine, and a ludicrously fun happy hour is Pearl. The happy hour, daily from 3:00 – 5:00 pm through September, and Wednesday – Sunday until OysterFest, mixes live local music with discounted Wellfleet oysters for a rollicking good time. Add a lobster roll and a local beer and you’ll be in heaven.