OBX vs. Cape Cod

[Anonymous]

We enjoy staying on a pond in cape cod. I don’t think that is an option at OBX.

[Anonymous]

Cape Cod is so much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Cape: The vibe, more to do (the long bike path!), lobster rolls, a possible day trip to Boston or a ferry ride to Nantucket (recommended!). Water is warmer on the north (harbor) side.

No, the warmest beaches are the south-facing ones on Nantucket Sound.

[Anonymous]

There's a bunch of posts about this if you search, and it usually breaks down by snobbiness. IMO both places have their advantages and disadvantages. We usually end up in OBX when we have a large group and want our own pool, it has the most options. And it has so much beach space. But Cape Cod has much more charm.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OBX has better beaches (sort of), but no charm at all. Cape Cod all the way.

This, Cape Cod is a series of charming towns with great downtown centers with shopping and dining. OBX IMO has much better beaches, tolerable water temps, and a huge waterfront home. If you just want to chill in a beach house with extended friends or family, I would do OBX. If you want to have things other than the beach I would do Cape Cod.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to Cape Code one or two times. I guess it's too cold for us! We would also just prefer to have the shorter drive to NC. But YMMV - I suppose it's personal preference!

Same. For me it's also about where I grew up going to the beach which is NC and Rehoboth.

[Anonymous]

Avoid the Cape and the islands at all costs. Total dumps filled with snobs.

[Anonymous]

Cape Cod, purely for the improved quality of people and amenities. Being amongst the trashy MAGA masses in the OBX is no vacation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been to Cape Code one or two times. I guess it's too cold for us! We would also just prefer to have the shorter drive to NC. But YMMV - I suppose it's personal preference!

Growing up one set of grandparents had a house in Truro (cold water, but fun waves) and the other had a house in Osterville (warm water; typically calm). The stretch of ocean between the canal and the elbow on the underside of the “arm” gets the Gulf Stream and tends to be pretty warm. Parts of the Cape do have cold water (but other charms). I haven’t been to OBX so can’t compare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been to Cape Code one or two times. I guess it's too cold for us! We would also just prefer to have the shorter drive to NC. But YMMV - I suppose it's personal preference!

Growing up one set of grandparents had a house in Truro (cold water, but fun waves) and the other had a house in Osterville (warm water; typically calm). The stretch of ocean between the canal and the elbow on the underside of the “arm” gets the Gulf Stream and tends to be pretty warm. Parts of the Cape do have cold water (but other charms). I haven’t been to OBX so can’t compare.

The Gulf Stream is many miles south of the coast of Nantucket which is between 25 to 30 miles south of the coast of the Cape. The warmer water in the Nantucket Sound area is due to the fact the water is shallower there not bc the Gulf Stream flows through that water.

[Anonymous]

One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: OBX is subject to powerful rip tides, and they can be treacherous and have been deadly. Regarding Cape Cod, you hear more about sharks, so be mindful of that. Both hazards can be worked around, but take care.

[Anonymous]

OBX is much cheaper and the water is warmer. Cape Cod is more charming and old money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are very different. I wouldn’t compare OBX to cape cod, because the type of vacation and activities are very different. I would compare OBX to ocean city or Florida beaches or anywhere where the beach and beach related activities would be the main draw.

For cape cod, the beach is just a background, it’s not a central activity. You can compare cape cod to going to a lake in Michigan. The weather and activities are closer to that.

I like both and I would go to both for different purposes, but wouldn’t compare them with each other because they are very different.

I think this is spot on. Like the the PP, I don't consider them the venue for the same type of vacation. I am not a beach person, but if I wanted a beach vacation I'd never consider Cape Cod to be a good choice.

[Anonymous]

Different take on different areas of Cape Cod.
For example, much prefer Chatham to Osterville. Quainter, more usable/enjoyable shops in the town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet: OBX is subject to powerful rip tides, and they can be treacherous and have been deadly. Regarding Cape Cod, you hear more about sharks, so be mindful of that. Both hazards can be worked around, but take care.

You hear about them on the Cape but they are in the water from Florida to Maine, including the Outer Banks. There were several reports of great whites "pinging" off OBX last summer.