| If you are considering vacationing at Cape Cod, there | | | | first place you could still refer to the saltbox design. |
| are several things should know and be aware of. We | | | | The home of John Adams had a saltbox addition to it. |
| speak from experience.If you are coming to Cape | | | | The house of the left has a saltbox addition on its right |
| Cod by air, rail, or bus, then you need to consider | | | | side. The firewood structure in the right image is the |
| renting a car once you arrive in Massachusetts. Cape | | | | basic saltbox "look", so anytime you see that basic |
| Cod is a long, long sand bar. There are many places to | | | | look on a home, you are seeing a saltbox house.I don't |
| go, but to be flexible you need reliable | | | | know if the bridge on the left is the Bass River Bridge, |
| transportation.We flew into Boston's Logal Airport on | | | | but it should be. We watched a fly fisherman there as |
| an earlier flight than expected. We had a Buick Lucern | | | | he made cast after cast. Peg asked him if he had |
| reserved at Alamo. Alamo tried their darnedest to | | | | caught anything and he said, "Yes. I got five stripahs." |
| accommodate us. They offered us several choices. | | | | The translation for that comment is that he had caught |
| We decided on a Buick LaCrosse. Nothing against | | | | five "stripers" or rather five striped bass. He then |
| Alamo, but we were not happy with the LaCrosse and | | | | landed one for us. It measured 21 inches. Seven below |
| we love Buicks. The ride wasn't a Buick ride, the trunk | | | | the minimum. A striped bass needs to be 28 inches to |
| was smaller than we are used to, and the tires or | | | | be legal. The fisherman released the bass back to the |
| power steering made strange noises every time we | | | | river. The New England and Boston accents make you |
| turned left. Still, however the LaCrosse got us where | | | | listen more attentatively. Like some of the local names, |
| we wanted to go with enough power and comfort.The | | | | they may seem quaint to visitors, but the locals just |
| roads on Cape Cod are generally in good condition, but | | | | speak that way.Arts and crafts florish on Cape Cod. |
| there is a lot of construction always going on. By state | | | | There are artists that paint, weave, draw, sculpt, blow |
| law any construction site must have a police officer | | | | glass and more. A favorite of friend Al is Michael |
| and car with blinking lights onsite. Also, the problem with | | | | Magyar. Michael's Glass Studio On Cape Cod is a |
| the freeway system on the Cape is that you really | | | | great place to observe the creative spirit at work. The |
| have very few landmarks to go by for directions. | | | | town of Sandwich, Massachusetts, has been famous |
| Scrub pines flank both sides of the highway. Usually | | | | for over one hundred years for its "Sandwich glass". |
| you can't see beyond them, so this means you can | | | | Michael's studio is located in East Sandwich. He |
| only see down the road and gives you the feeling that | | | | creates new glass objects every day. When we shot |
| you are driving down a trough. Direction is also a | | | | the photo on the left, Michael was creating a clear |
| problem. For example, you may be on a freeway | | | | version of the glasses in the photograph to the |
| system that calls for you to be driving south, but you | | | | right.Glass artist Michael Magyar has many beautiful |
| may be going west and then possibly even north. In | | | | glass art objects available for purchase in his gift shop |
| addition, each town is usually broken down into East, | | | | above his hot shop studio. Michael is friendly and his |
| West, North, South, and Port. For example you might | | | | wife runs the gift shop. Michael learned from the |
| have West Dennis and Dennisport, East and West | | | | masters and has worked with Dale Chihuly. He |
| Sandwich, Hyannis and Hyannisport . . . the names like | | | | received his Masters in Fine Arts from Tulane |
| that go on and on.Cape Cod cottages usually have | | | | University. He has many glass art pieces hanging and |
| names. We stayed with Al Burrage (friend and guide), | | | | setting around his yard. Michael brings a wealth of both |
| who has a home in West Seattle. He owns The | | | | practical and academic experience to his work. He |
| Mainstay, which he rents out during the season. Also, | | | | welcomes visitors and is open year round.Price and |
| cute names abound throughout Cape Cod and | | | | fancy surroundings are not always an indicator of |
| Massachusetts in general. The quainter, the better. You | | | | great seafood. We found a small, fast-food looking |
| will see The Jolly Captain, Cranberry Real Estate, | | | | establishment called Jerry's Seafood. The prices were |
| Ketch of the Day, Shiver Me Timbers, Sea Shell | | | | very, very reasonable and the food tasted great. You |
| Gardens, Breezy Knoll.Many cottages have updated | | | | ordered at the counter from Jerry. Jerry served you |
| fronts, but not neccesarily sides and backs. This is | | | | and you ate at the plain Jane tables in Jerry's dining |
| partially an attempt to preserve original shakes and | | | | room.I liked the signs in Jerry's windows. One read |
| boards, while presenting attractive fronts to visitors | | | | "Caution/Steamers" and the other read "Danger |
| from the streets. So, you might see sides and backs | | | | Lobsta" amusing us greatly for both the humor and the |
| needing lots of work, and at the same time you might | | | | accent. I don't know about dinner, but I would certainly |
| see excellent sides and backs quite different from the | | | | eat lunch at Jerry's again.I ordered the lobster roll for |
| front. For example, you might see clapboard siding on | | | | lunch. It was served hot. It was the best I had while I |
| the front painted yellow, and cedar shakes on the | | | | was in Massachusetts . . . and the lowest priced. Peg |
| sides with only natural preservative. It's just a local | | | | had the smelt. Peg is a great cook and she had |
| convention. Also, you are going to see a lot of shutters, | | | | cooked smelt only a couple of week before eating at |
| but they are just like most places. They are for | | | | Jerry's. His smelt was as good as her smelt . . . maybe |
| decoration only. They aren't really functional.Local news | | | | better. The six to eight inch fish of the trout family |
| as well as information on local attractions can be | | | | were golden brown and not overly crisp or |
| found in the Cape Cod Times, which is available at | | | | overcooked. The white flesh was tender and tasted |
| most grocery stores and convenience stores. There | | | | like . . . more. Great food at great prices. We enjoyed |
| are also two great coupon books: The Cape Cod and | | | | every bite.You will find beautiful views of small harbors, |
| The Original Cape Cod Fun Book. Both are FREE and | | | | bogs, inlets, and estuaries. Enjoy them and tell others |
| can be found all over the cape.You will hear the term | | | | about Cape Cod . . . We will.Don Doman is a published |
| saltbox house quite often. This confuses people | | | | author, video producer, and corporate trainer. He owns |
| because the house really has nothing to do with the | | | | the business training site Ideas and Training ( which he |
| term. The term saltbox is derived from the antique | | | | says is the home of the no-hassle "free preview" for |
| saltboxes that used to hang on kitchen walls. The term | | | | business training videos. Don and his wife Peg also |
| really refers to an addition built onto an existing house, | | | | travel in the Pacific Northwest writing of their fun and |
| but of course if the house is designed that way in the | | | | adventures. |