Any of these attractions not worth the cost of admission?

Here are some attractions that I hope to do with my family this June on the Cape. (I%26#39;m a bit of an over planner). Are there any local coupons to be found for any of these places? If so, where can I get them?

Also, are any of these places not worth the cost of admission? Here%26#39;s my list and the approx. cost of admission for my family of 5.

1. Plimoth Plantation: $30 (teacher appreciation discount)

2.Pirate Cruise, Hyannis: $100 (any discounts available for this one?)

3.Pirate%26#39;s Cove Mini Golf: $30 (any discounts?)

4. Martha’s Vineyard ferry: $53 (parking and tix from Wood%26#39;s Hole)

5. Cape Cod Children’s Museum $30 (discounts? Worth it?)

6. Pilgrim Hall $16 (discount? Worth it?)

7. Whale watching out of Provincetown $90 (PortuguesePrincess family discount)

8.JFK Museum $10

9. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art$25 (Done on the day we head back home)

10. Basket Ball Hall of Fame $60(Done of the day we head back home) So pricey! Worth it? Coupons?

Any of these attractions not worth the cost of admission?

Definitely go to Plimoth Plantation, Pilgrim Hall %26amp; whale watching.

Any of these attractions not worth the cost of admission?

I agree. How many kids will you have going whalewatching? You might find the Dolphin fleet less expensive with kids under 12 tickets at $22 each and an additional $3.00 discount per ticket if you book on-line or stay at an inn with discount coupons. whalewatch.com/dolphinfleet/tickets/whalewat…

Keep in mind that the natural environment is the main attraction on Cape Cod so you may not need the museums. Just take the kids to the beach or go to some of the free activities offered by the National Seashore park rangers. www.nps.gov/caco

May I suggest going on the pirate cruise right outta Plymouth, especially if you visit Plimoth Plantation.

http://www.lobstertalesinc.com/pirate.html

$16 per person

We did that a few years ago with our boys, lots of fun! :-)

Naomi

Ditto to yellowbird%26#39;s comments, although if you%26#39;re interested in museums, I%26#39;d also recommend the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, which is not on your list.

Great suggestions.

The ages of my kids are 4, 6 and 6. I%26#39;ve found that the Portuguese Princess doesn%26#39;t charge for 4 year olds and the others do so that with the family discount makes it cheaper for us.

I do enjoy museums but I don%26#39;t want to go to them just because they%26#39;re there. If they%26#39;re especially good or unusual then they%26#39;re worth the trip.

Do you think the Museum of Natural History in Cape Cod is worth it? What about the Children%26#39;s Museum? We were at the Children%26#39;s Museum in Boston right before they closed for remodeling and I was%26#39;t that impressed although the kids did enjoy themselves.

Taking the Pirate Cruise out of Plymouth will save us $20! :)

Great, $20 here %26amp; $20 there adds up :-)

You%26#39;re going to have a great time, that%26#39;s for sure!

Naomi

Woods Hole Science Aquarium (FREE, donations welcome)

http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/nefsc/aquarium/

I know nothing about the Children%26#39;s Museum , but I would concentrate on things that are unique to the Cape, which is why I recommended the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. They have a touch tank of marine animals and lots of information about the flora and fauna of the Cape. I think the kids would love it.

Regarding the whale watches:

The Dolphin Fleet is attached to a non-profit agency that studies whales over a long period. After sighting a whale and studying it%26#39;s fluke patten the students and scientists on board will be able to identify that particular whale and it%26#39;s family. Knowing a history of the whales you%26#39;re looking at (that this one was caught in a net last year or that one lost a calf the year before or what have you) makes the whale watch feel personal and you leave feeling like you know these animals. My dad used to take me on one of these watches every year when I was a kid and it was always a trip highlight.

Up until a few years ago I had only ever been on the Dolphin Fleet but one of those Portuguese Princess discounts lured me in. Never again. Portuguese Princess is a sighting cruise. Your guide will be able to talk about the basics that you might read in an encyclopedia. You%26#39;ll know you%26#39;re looking a humpback whale but that%26#39;s all you%26#39;ll know.

If the Dolphin Fleet costs more it%26#39;s well worth the price - and I%26#39;d highly suggest it over anything else on your list. The Portuguese Princess was just a sightseeing tour and, in my opinion, not worth the price they charge.

I enthusiastically endorse the previous recommendations for Pllmoth Plantation, whale watching (and yep, I too think the Dolphin Fleet is better), the Cape Cod Natural History Museum -- and last, but far from least -- activities/family-friendly programs led by the National Park Service Rangers at the CC Seashore Park (e.g., evening storytelling around a fire on the beach); in my experience, anything the NPS does is fabulous!

Not having been on a Pirate Cruise, I can%26#39;t comment on that, but I think (and forgive me if that sounds heretical) that the JFK Museum is a bit of yawn for adults, so unless they%26#39;ve improved markedly in recent years, I certainly wouldn%26#39;t suggest it for kids of that age, nor do I think you all would find Pilgrim Hall especially noteworthy. And much as I love the Vineyard, I wouldn%26#39;t bother making a day trip there with young ones (and when they%26#39;re older, I%26#39;d suggest Nantucket makes a better day trip than the Vineyard -- more to see/do within easy access of the docks).

Here are some other ideas for you which may or may not be convenient depending on where you%26#39;ll be staying:

** the ';trampoline park'; and/or GoKart track (located next to each other) in Harwich -- followed by a frosty mug of root beer at the A%26amp;W down the road

** watching the commercial fishing boats unload their cargo at the Fish Pier in Chatham

** lunch at Chatham%26#39;s little municipal airport where you can watch private planes take off %26amp; land while you eat

** the not-to-be-missed, drive-in movie theatre in Wellfleet -- they%26#39;re such a rarity nowadays that your kids will long remember an evening there!

And while I generally share your enthusiasm for pre-planning %26amp; taking in local sights/attractions, please do allow time for just beaching it, playing board/card games at night and some nuthin%26#39;. Years later, it%26#39;s the simplest pleasures... like exploring tidal pools, romping in the waves, walking on the beach at night... that my son remembers most fondly about his childhood Cape vacations :-)