Family Trip in August-Beach? Kid Stuff? Shopping?

I%26#39;ve seen many recommendations for food, but nothing yet on the beaches in Falmouth. Can someone reommend the best? We are staying on Great Pond.

We will have a range of kids on the trip, from 2 to teen, and need some good ideas for them.

Finally, where to shop for the moms when they can get the dads to take the little ones?? Is there a Main Street where we can park and walk around?

Thanks so much!!

Family Trip in August-Beach? Kid Stuff? Shopping?

Beaches: There%26#39;s about a half dozen beaches in Falmouth, but the two that come to mind are Surf Drive Beach and Old Silver Beach. Both offer warm, calm waters and both are full service beaches. Surf isn%26#39;t far at all from Great Pond and is on Vineyard Sound. Old Silver is more popular and is a short drive away in North Falmouth. Old Silver is on Buzzards Bay and is very popular with the teen crowd. This beach fills up early, so plan accordingly.

There will be plenty of activitites to keep the whole family happy. Band concerts at Marina Park(Thurs. night) or Noonan Park (Fri. night), Shining Sea Bike Path (bikes or rollerblades), Leary Family Amusements, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute has the very popular Ocean Quest as well as a cool exhibit center for kids, Cape Cod Baseball League (Falmouth Commodores, free), Mini Golf, Ice Cream, Movies, Harbor Cruises on a Schooner, horseback rides at Havland Stables, Ferries to Martha%26#39;s Vineyard for a daytrip are all in Falmouth.

Shopping galore in Falmouth. From Wal-mart , Christmas Tree Shop (love that place) to all sorts of shops along Main St. It%26#39;s certainly busy on Main Street in August, so parking is tough. You may have to bite the bullet and pay $5-10 to park in a private lot. I hope this gives you some ideas to get started. Have a nice vacation.

Family Trip in August-Beach? Kid Stuff? Shopping?

Thanks for the ideas!

Great Pond is very close to a few nice beaches. Falmouth Heights Beach is popular with teens and two year old as well. They do have a resident sticker parking requirement but you can luck out at the parking meters too. (Or be dropped of and have the driver bike to the beach after--you are pretty close. The only thing that Will007 forgot to mention about Main ST was the free family flicks on Wednesday nights. Lots of great shops, restaurants, and a fabulous playground within walking distance of the free public parking just off of main st!! Have fun!!

Also, before you go, find out what will be on stage at Harwich Junior Theatre in West Harwich (www.hjtcapecod.org). It%26#39;s a fun evening activity (or go to a matinee on a rainy day). Great productions!