Nostalgic Carousel Rides Form New Family Memories

There are so many fun filled family vacation activities to take advantage of on a Cape Cod summer vacation that it would literally take you a life time of vacations to experience them all. From historic tours to exquisite beaches to scenic hikes to great fishing, a summer vacation on Cape Cod holds no shortage of opportunities for family oriented fun and excitement.

Speaking of family fun, one of my favorite family activities on the Cape would have to be a carousel ride. Kids and adults alike have been enjoying carousel rides for several hundred years. Once a means of training cavalry soldiers, carousels have since become a much beloved part of history and there are few people who don’t have cherished memories of spinning around on those brightly colored horses as a child.

Cape Cod has a number of carousels to choose from. From the painted ponies at the Cape Cod Carousel and Funhouse Arcade to the whirling fun of the Island Carousel at Cape Cod mall, there are a several carousel sites to choose from, some with lots of other arcade and ride attractions available.

My pick for the best carousel on the Cape, though, would have to be the Flying Horse Carousel in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. Built in 1876 by Charles Dare the flying horse carousel is the oldest Carousel in the U.S. and a National Historic Landmark. Rides are only a $1.50 and the experience is something kids will remember for a lifetime.

The hand carved carousel at Heritage Museum and Gardens is another historic carousel. It was crafted in 1912 by Charles Looff and rides are free with museum admission.

This summer, while on your Cape Cod family vacation, be sure to visit one of the local carousels and let your kids experience those old fashioned carousel rides we all have such fond memories of. Carousels may get old, but carousel rides never do.