Rugg Road Paper Company
For custom wedding invitations, stationery, and an excellent if overwhelming selection of fine papers from across the globe, this Beacon Hill shop is unparalleled. There are more than 600 papers to choose from and a savvy, helpful staff that gives each customer special attention. Classes are offered seasonally in the arts of bookbinding, origami, and candlemaking, to name a few. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Rugg Road Paper Co.
Whether you're looking for a gift or for your own personal use, no other store is more fun to browse in for writing, wrapping, and special occasion papers. Rugg Road carries an unusual and beautiful selection— sold by the sheet or by the box— that is a nice departure from the ubiquitous Crane's stationary, and great for customized invitations. Its heavy stock writing paper is email's most valiant enemy. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA .
Rugg Road Paper Company
This charming shop offers a jaw-dropping array of card stocks and designs for every occasion, from receptions to rehearsal dinners. You'll also find photo albums, rubber stamps, and embossing tools for scrapbooking—all of which will preserve the memories of your big day beautifully. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Rugg Road Paper Company
This charming shop offers a jaw-dropping array of card stocks and designs for every occasion, from receptions to rehearsal dinners. You'll also find photo albums, rubber stamps, and embossing tools for scrapbooking—all of which will preserve the memories of your big day beautifully. 105 Charles St., Boston, MA 2114, ruggroadpaper.com.
Wicked Waves Cape Cod
Courtesy of Wicked Waves Cape Cod Exciting enough for the older ones but tame enough for the little tykes, this water park promises fun for any age. We mean grownups, too, with cabanas for rent, multiple food options, and even an adults-only swim-up bar. (Parents will also appreciate that the water is monitored and tested for cleanliness throughout the day.) Even more reason to skip the beach: This season, Wicked Waves is unveiling five new slides that promise to twirl, undulate, and discombobulate in equal measure. 518 Main St., West Yarmouth, MA 02673, wickedwavescapecod.com.
Cape Cod Potato Chips
That's the brand, not the genre. We thought Vincent's were great. Then we tasted these. Superb.
Cape Poge Lighthouse Tour
A narrow beach used to connect Chappa-quiddick to Martha's Vineyard, but the sea breached the divide in 2007, and a 300-yard channel now separates thetwo. Don't let that deter you. Take the ferry from Edgartown and spend a day exploring "Chappy," which boasts 1,000 acres of preservation land. Sign up for the Cape Poge Lighthouse Tour, and a guide will pick you up at the ferry, drive you along the beach, and take you up into the lighthouse for sweeping views of the area. thetrustees.org.
The Cape Codder Resort & Spa
The resort itself may feel a bit stuck in the '70s, but the Cape Codder's spa has surely caught up with the times. Such treatments as cranberry-enzyme facial peels and detoxifying seaweed-clay masques and massages are always perfectly performed. And after you're done being pampered, your kids can frolic in the hotel's oceanlike indoor pool, which boasts two big water slides and two-and-a-half-foot waves. 1225 Iyannough Rd. (Rte. 132), Hyannis, MA capecodderresort.com.
Cape Cod Baseball League
Excuse the pun, but the Cape Cod Baseball League hits it out of the park. Every summer for the past 100 years, the nonprofit organization has brought high-level baseball to the Cape with teams boasting the best-of-the-best collegiate athletes in the nation — many of whom go on to the major leagues, including alums like the Red Sox’s Chris Sale and the Yankee’s Aaron Judge. The free (yes, free, though donations are encouraged) games are played at 10 local fields across the Cape — so pack a few lawn chairs, park yourself right behind home plate, and let your kids watch near-pro baseball up close and personal. capecodbaseball.org.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Lindsay Buckley They say the best things in life are free, something that certainly applies to this long, winding trail that spans 27.5 miles from Yarmouth all the way to Wellfleet. With vistas of ponds, cranberry bogs, and wildlife sanctuaries — not to mention an eclectic mix of specialty stores and cafés to recharge when the going gets tough — there’s plenty to see and do along the way. Major expansions and upgrades planned for the next few years, meanwhile, mean you’ll never get bored by the scenery. 3488 Main St., Brewster, MA 02631, mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail.
Cape Cod Rail Trail
The granddaddy of rail trails, this 20-plus-mile paved pathway stretching from Yarmouth to Wellfleet offers no shortage of things to see and do en route. Zip past cranberry bogs, cool off in Seymour Pond, and reward yourself after an exhilarating ride with an ice cream cone or ice-cold beer (why not both?) right along the trail. mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail.
Crane & Company Papermakers
Pick up a $1 bill. Feel that rich, heavy texture? That's Crane & Company paper. The high-quality, 100 percent cotton construction has made Crane's paper the standard for elegant correspondence and very official documents (from legal wills to cold, hard cash) everywhere. Why should your wedding invitations be any different? This stationery can be easily customized: You choose the paper color, ink color, type style (most are classic, simple, and commanding), and whether you'd like the type engraved or thermographed. With tradition comes experience, and Crane's knowledgeable staff walks you through the entire process, from sending save-the-date cards to choosing additional embossings or designs. Prudential Center, Boston, MA crane.com.
J. Oliver's of Boston
No matter what the gift, this shop has the wrap. The racks of beautiful papers in every motif imaginable—from botanicals to gilt medieval prints—are a visual feast. What's more, the sheets are sold individually, so you don't get stuck with a half a roll of leftover paper. The card selection is terrific, too. 38 Charles Street, Boston, MA .
The Herb Lyceum at Gilson's
Micro weddings are here to stay — and no venue caters to them quite like the Herb Lyceum. Its amenity-laden package includes access to party spots such as an airy greenhouse; locally sourced cuisine prepared by catering partner Puritan & Company, which uses herbs grown on-site; and an in-house planner to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. 368 Main St., Groton, MA 01450, herblyceum.com.
Of Note Stationers
In an effort to revive the lost art of everyday note-writing, Kate Kellman and Isabel Bonenfant founded Of Note Stationers, a small paper-goods company that prints simple, minimalist cards and stationery. The duo insists no occasion is too small for purposeful writing, and with simple messages like "Glad you’re here" and "I think of you often, and I want you to know" their cards prove that taking pen to paper isn’t just for birthdays. MA ofnotestationers.com.