After Steve met my dad, we knew we wanted our families to meet each other. It was for that purpose that my mother, sister, and grandmother joined me for a trip to Massachusetts in the summer of 2011. We of course visited one of my favorite cities – Boston – but we also took day trips to two places I had never been before, despite several previous trips – Cape Cod and Salem.

Referred to almost affectionately as ‘The Cape’, Cape Cod is made up of 15 towns. The honor of ‘first stop’ went to a place I never really thought I would find myself – a glass-blowing shop in Sandwich, MA.

The Sandwich Glass Museum has been around since Deming Jarves founded it in 1825. I’m not sure any of us knew when we stopped there that day that Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape. Now, the museum offers extensive blown glass collections and informative glass blowing demonstrations.

This stop was one my mom insisted on, and to be honest, I didn’t think I would like it. Instead, we were all pretty fascinated by the entire process.

The cooling process was too long for us to see this actual finished product, but she pointed us in the direction of a previously made vase.

By the time the presentation was over, I was wishing I could try my hand at it. Perhaps some day I will.

Our next visit was literally across the street – the Sandwich town hall and the war memorials outside it.

Our next stop was also to a memorial – the John F. Kennedy Memorial and Korean War Memorial in Hyannis.

Right next to the JFK Memorial is another park used for the Korean War Memorial. It was impossible to fight tears while walking along the stones dedicated to the fallen, and reading the plaques giving thanks for fighting for justice and freedom.

After an emotionally heavy afternoon, we decided to keep the rest of the day a bit lighter. We shopped, ate great food, and of course had a fabulous time together. Our last actual stop was one I requested; a mini golf bedecked in pirate theme (told you I have an obsession).

The most interesting part of the Pirate mini golf was that they had signs at each hole talking about actual pirates from history.

Oh, and also the little moment where I happened to run into another Jack Sparrow impersonator. I guess that’s going to be my thing – just stumbling into guys dressed as Jack Sparrow wherever I go, be it the Vegas strip or mini golf on the Cape.

After a sunset drive along the water – okay, we actually barely found the ocean, as ridiculously laughable as that is – we called it a day for Cape Cod.

Have you been to the Cape? Do you frequently encounter the same sort of experience during travel?