Wequassett Resort & Golf Club: 5-Star Luxury, Cape Cod Charm

Thoughts of Cape Cod evoke images of windswept dunes and rustic beach cottages. Yet nestled in the crook of the Cape’s elbow, Wequassett Resort & Golf Club brings top-of-the-line luxury to the area. It isn’t just the property and amenities that have earned the Wequassett a 5-star rating from Forbes — from the minute guests are greeted by name at check-in, the resort’s top-notch service makes everyone feel special, especially the kids.

At the Wequassett, families are welcomed with spacious, interconnecting suites and kids are catered to with special activities, a dedicated Children’s Center and a fun pirate ship playground and splash pad. We arrived at our suite to find a note addressed to our daughter, with a special invitation to join the captain of the Wequassett’s private boat on a tour around Pleasant Bay to search for seals.

Wequassett Resort & Golf Club Family-Friendly Review

Accommodations

The Wequassett Resort & Golf Club is tucked away on 27 beautifully landscaped waterfront acres overlooking Pleasant Bay, with both a pristine beach and boat shuttle service out to the nearby section of the National Seashore. The Wequassett stays true to Cape-inspired architecture and decor, with 120 guest rooms and suites spread out throughout the property, yet all with easy access to the resort’s main features.

Each gray and white cedar shake-sided building creates the impression that guests have their very own beach cottages, bursting with pink, purple and blue hydrangeas and flanked with lush English-style gardens. There are four accommodation styles to welcome families: the Signature Collection with connecting rooms and wraparound water views; the luxurious Round Cove Suite with one-, two- and three-bedroom options; Cape Cod Cottages for families, offering two-, three- and four- bedroom styles complete with patios and porches; and Traditional Villa rooms with a king or two queen beds.

The interiors look ripped from the pages of a Coastal Living photo spread, with tasteful ocean palettes and beach cottage touches. Even the Molton Brown bathroom amenities smell like the spring flowers lining the walkways. Each suite utilizes in-room technology to adjust lights, music, temperature and even the fireplace from a single control panel. While the resort is only open from April to November, the chairs cozied up to the fireplace still make a delightful way to warm up from chilly summer evenings or brisk spring and fall days.

The bathroom area is separated from the rest of the room by a door and a sliding partition over the tub for those who want to soak with a view. The bathroom itself is very spacious, with a self-cleaning Jacuzzi tub, a large walk-in shower, a vanity and a separate water closet. Every detail has been painstakingly chosen, from the selection of books and the items decorating the built-in bookshelves, to the snacks and drinks available in the mini-bar (with no expensive markup!). Turndown service sets the tone for a relaxed bedtime, with slippers and robes, soft music playing, lights dimmed and the prerequisite chocolates on the pillows, ready to welcome you into the soft and cozy beds.

TIP: Inquire whether or not there is a wedding or social event being hosted at the resort when you are visiting. If you have kids with early bedtimes, request a room away from the festivities.

Dining

There are up to four dining options at Wequassett, depending on the time and season. Serving breakfast and dinner, plus lunch in the spring and fall, twenty-eight Atlantic is the resort’s fine dining restaurant. The focus here is on locally sourced seafood and produce, and the decor pairs nautical touches with gorgeous views of Pleasant Bay through floor-to-ceiling windows.

Breakfast may be served off the menu or from a lavish weekend buffet, including an omelette station, waffles, fresh fruit, pastries and other hot entrees such as eggs Benedict. At dinnertime, the dining room fills up quickly, so reservations are recommended. With a focus on fresh seafood, including oysters, butter-poached lobster and fresh fish, it may not be the best place for picky eaters. However, the staff is so incredibly attentive and personable that it’s clear they do their best to make all diners happy.

Other dining options include Thoreau’s, a club-like bar that offers cocktails and appetizers with a tavern-type feel; LiBAYtion, a poolside bar; and the Outer Bar and Grille, which serves casual summertime cuisine with an open-air dining room and seaside deck. The Wequassett also hosts special events like clambakes and family BBQs throughout the summer and is a perfect spot for the Fourth of July.

Amenities

There is no shortage of things to do at Wequassett. To stay active, head to the fitness center or the four-lighted Har-Tru tennis courts, with an in-house tennis pro available for lessons. Adults have access to the Olympic-style lap pool, while everyone is welcome at the family pool and beach. The pool would fit in on South Beach but maintains its Cape Cod charm. Families looking for privacy and shade can rent cabanas. Scattered throughout the property, you will also find outdoor fire pits and comfortable conversation areas with views of the pool and bay.

The fun shouldn’t stop at the pool: Wequassett takes full advantage of its location on the protected Pleasant Bay with power and sailboat rentals in season, as well as a boat shuttle out to the Cape Cod National Seashore and seasonal seal-watching tours. Guests also have exclusive access to the Cape Cod National Golf Club, a par-72, 18-hole course designed by Brian Silva.

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The crown jewel for families is the newly designed Children’s Center with programming for
children ages 2 to 12. The center is equipped with flat-screen TVs and gaming systems, but also features a nautical-themed playground with pirate ships and treasure chests, connected by slides, ramps, and ropes. In addition, there is an aquatic playground with fountains and sprays, an amphitheater, and an outdoor dining area. Parents are also welcome to bring their children to enjoy these facilities when a program isn’t in session.

The resort can provide babysitting but also offers kid-friendly evening events such as dive-in movies, family fun nights and teen gaming nights.

Local Area

Wequassett is equidistant from Boston and Providence, near the popular town of Chatham, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The resort offers free shuttle service into town so guests don’t need to worry about finding parking, but can enjoy the shops and restaurants of this quaint enclave. Nearby are Lighthouse Beach and the famous Chatham Lighthouse, seen in the recent Disney movie The Finest Hours. You can also bike along the 36-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail, take a day trip to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, or visit Provincetown to go whale-watching or take a dunes tour.

Relevant Links:

Browse all family-friendly accommodations and things to do in Massachusetts on Ciao Bambino

Cape Cod: Finding the perfect spot

10 favorite East Coast family beach vacation destinations

Must-do activities in Boston with children

Editor’s Note: Tamara and her family were hosted by the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in order to review the property for families. As always, all opinions are our own on Ciao Bambino. Photos by Tamara Gruber.

Wequassett Resort and Golf Club