Explore Cape Cod A Perfect Day in Barnstable
Pain D'Avignon for breakfast, Fancy's sandwiches on the boat, and cookie monster ice cream at Gone Chocolate to finish. Megan & James' #1 tip: come in September — perfect weather, no crowds, and the village is all yours.
Explore Barnstable
with Megan & James Cote of Osterville Hardware and Osterville Mercantile
From the pages of the 2026 Love Local Field Guide
Start your day at:
Grab coffee and breakfast at Pain D'Avignon, then walk to Armstrong Kelley Park for a hike and climbing structure. Also worth a stop: Osterville Village Library and Joshua's Pond. For a sit-down breakfast, try Fig Tree Cafe in Marstons Mills.
Spend your morning:
The Osterville Historical Museum hosts the Osterville Farmers Market every Friday in the summer, and it's always worth a visit. If we want to bring our dog out, a visit to Eagle Pond in Cotuit is a great morning activity. My kids also love a visit to the ever charming Cotuit Library.
Grab lunch at:
My kids love to have lunch atCrisp in Osterville. If we're heading out for a boat ride, we'll grab sandwiches fromFancy's Market to bring with us.
Spend your afternoon:
We love Dowses Beach in Osterville and Sandy Neck for rock collecting. For shopping, Osterville Village delivers -- Osterville Hardware, Osterville Mercantile, home decor, and clothing. And a drive along 6A through historic Barnstable Village is always worthwhile; stop into the Cape Cod Art Center along the way.
Indulge in a treat at:
For a treat, my kids love to go to Gone Chocolate for cookie monster ice cream. Also check out Candyville, which is new to Osterville. Jimmies Ice Cream in Marstons Mills is also a great choice.
End your day at:
When the weather is nice, our favorite evening activity is to bring our dinner to the beach. When James feels like cooking fish, he heads over to Osterville Fish.
Bonus -- Hidden Gem or Insider Tip:
Visit Osterville Village -- great shopping, restaurants, wellness, and outdoor activities, with easy access to other Barnstable villages. Come in September for perfect weather and no crowds. Grab a beach chair from Osterville Hardware, a book from the Mercantile, and enjoy.
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