Nestled throughout Cape Cod’s growing and popular Mid-Cape region, Red Jacket Resorts is a collection of five boutique seaside resorts that are perfect for any upcoming Cape adventure. Each property seemed full of fantastic vacation amenities and activities, so when the opportunity came our way to stay at one of Red Jacket’s properties, we jumped at the chance! We visited the Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts, and our expectations, on both the amenities and the activities fronts, were exceeded.
Located a little under 2 hours away from Boston by car, staying at the Red Jacket Beach Resort felt like the equivalent of taking a deep breath in and out; getting out of the busy city, and spending a weekend on the beach (even in the fall!) was so great during this busy season of life. Read about our stay below, and get excited about your next trip to Cape Cod too!
Lodging First Impressions
When we arrived for our 4 pm check-in time, we were pleasantly surprised to be able to find parking easily in the lot right in front of the main resort building, despite it being a busy weekend for the hotel. Check-in was well-staffed, and the front desk staff was extremely friendly and made clear that if we had any questions, they were available! The resort was throwing a “Girls Weekend” themed program throughout the days we were there (more on that later), but despite the high traffic, it didn’t seem chaotic at all. In fact, we were blown away at how well-organized things were and how little it impacted non-Girls Weekend visitors.
We headed to our river-view double room, a spacious and tidy room with two (very soft) queen beds and one of the best views you can get while staying on Cape Cod. The river runs along the side of the resort’s property, and from these west-facing rooms, you have a splendid view of small boats going in and out of the inlet, some quintessentially New England sand dunes, and if you’re lucky, you’ll be treated to a spectacular sunset. Our room had direct access via a private patio to the riverside, which meant it was really easy to take a post-dinner stroll watching the sunset.
The interior of the room was so comfortable, and there was ample space for us and our luggage (some of us on this trip are not known for packing light). Outfitted with a Keurig and a fridge, it was a nice touch to be able to store our leftovers or have a post-dinner/pre-breakfast coffee right in our room. The other highlight of the room configuration was the vanity sink located right outside the bathroom. Especially if you’re traveling with a companion, this floor plan is nice to have so multiple people can be getting ready at the same time, especially if you have Girls Weekend plans to make it to!
Besides the river-view rooms, Red Jacket Beach Resorts also have oceanfront rooms, rooms with easy access to their pools, family rooms/suites, and larger-format cottages. Rooms at the hotel range between $120-$150 per night during fall (anticipate price changes depending on the season), while the cottages clock in at the $350-$450 range, also during the fall.
Red Jacket Beach Resort Amenities
The most-appreciated thing about resorts like the Red Jacket Beach Resort is how it exists in its own little world where everything you’d want is on the walkable property. From food to leisure activities, there’s something for everyone at this hotel.
Dining
Red Jacket Beach Resort has several dining options to choose from. During the “off-season” (non-summer months), the Clipper Ship Dining Room offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner beginning at 7:30 am and going until 8:00 pm. For all of you early birds, the Barista Station is open an hour earlier, starting at 6:30 am, if you’re looking for a caffeine hit that’s stronger than what Madame Keurig has to offer. Asa Eldridge Pub is another option for dining (and drinks!), open from 11:30 am-9 pm, and the last call for food there at 8:00 pm. During the summer season, you can also opt to dine outdoors at either the Poolside Grille or Oceanfront Pavilion Bar, so you don’t have to miss even a second of soaking up that Cape Cod sun. Since we were there during Girls Weekend, we were able to partake in a delicious buffet option for our meals (we do not regret our multiple helpings of clam chowder), which was so nicely organized and ran very smoothly.
Here is where we confronted a common theme throughout our weekend at Red Jacket Beach Resort–every single staff member was so nice and friendly, by far some of the most service-oriented and hardworking resort staff we’ve encountered on the Cape (maybe in the state of Massachusetts). In the dining area, if you’re lucky enough to be served by Tom at the bar or Karen in the dining room, you’re in for a true treat. Oh, also, try the lava cake. You won’t regret the lava cake.
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
Chocolate Lava Cake at Asa Elridge Pub, Red Jacket Beach Resort
Pools, Beaches, And Massages, Oh My!
If you’re of an active sort and enjoy working out during your vacations, then Red Jacket Beach Resort will not disappoint you. You have your pick of either indoor or outdoor pools (they’re both heated) if you want to swim laps–or, you know, just splash around, which was more of our pace. Or if you prefer other varieties of gym equipment, you can make your way to the second floor of the indoor pool house to use the treadmill or the elliptical, all with a stunning view of the resort’s private beach.
Did we say private beach? Yes, we did! The resort is home to an expansive private beach that is equipped with an abundance of chairs and umbrellas for guests to use. Though Cape Cod is home to highly-rated beaches, it is so nice not to have to fight for parking or fight large crowds in order to get access to the beach. Instead, it’s the most perfect, peaceful place to lounge, go seashell hunting, or go for a stroll on the jetty, all within a stone’s throw from the resort itself. You can even do yoga on the beach during summer morning workouts organized by the resort too! During the warmer months, you also can get your food delivered to you on the beach, so again, you can take every opportunity to enjoy the Cape Cod sun and salty sea breeze.
Private Beach at the Red Jacket Beach Resort
To top it all off, the resort has a spa with a variety of massage and facial treatments to choose from. Prices are reasonable and range from $25 for a casual chair massage to $300 for a full-body pampering; there are many treatments that run the gamut of your relaxation needs.
Activities At Red Jacket Beach Resort
Throughout the year, Red Jacket Beach Resort organizes all sorts of fun activities for its guests to participate in. Everything from calligraphy courses to mobile gaming pop-ups to magic shows, Red Jacket Beach Resort and its sister properties make sure that there’s always something exciting for guests to engage with on top of its usual resort amenities. The properties also practice resort reciprocity, meaning, as a guest of one, you can enjoy the amenities of all!
We happened to visit during Girls Weekend, which was a fantastic way to see how the resort’s event and marketing team made the magic happen…and we had the best time! Throughout the weekend, there was a jam-packed itinerary of shows, dance parties, ice cream socials, and cocktail hours that kept us totally entertained. The highlight of our Girls Weekend fun was a 1980s-themed dance party; guests leaned hard into the theme, which made the event all the more delightful (a party-goer in a fully inflatable 1980s dinosaur costume with a blow-up boom box stole the show). While we spent the weekend thoroughly entertained, the events team led by Michelle seamlessly put on event after event without a hitch, a true testament to the quality of events at Red Jacket Resort.
Final Thoughts
As we checked out from our weekend of seaside bliss, we came away with a true appreciation for the hard-working, friendly staff of Red Jacket Beach Resort. The amenities, of course, are fantastic, but truly the staff made the experience a memorable one. Next time you’re heading to the Cape, don’t hesitate to try out this resort–there’s really something for everyone to enjoy, you’ll be highly entertained your entire stay, and all of your needs are within a quick walk across the property. Until next time, Red Jacket Beach Resort, we’ll be practicing our dance moves!