I’m usually a planner. I get a bit anxious when I don’t have plans for the day. I even like to plan our free time. So it was an enjoyable surprise last Saturday when we ended up on the Cape, unplanned.

After my son’s soccer practice, we packed into the car and (EEK!) said, “What next?” It was a gorgeous day, so we thought the Cape would be fun.

During lunch, we looked at a map and decided to shoot for Hyannis, having never been there. We got a little restless along the way, and I started seeing signs for Sandwich. I suggested we stop. I’d heard it was a cute place, so we could check it out and keep moving toward our destination.

We started with a yard sale. It was supposed to be HUGE. I guess that term can be ambiguous. Like it was huge- if you were an ant. Not a waste, however, as the owner of the home told us about the grist mill in town and a glass-blowing gallery that gave demonstrations.

Dexter’s Grist Mill, right in the center of town, is a working grist mill that was open for its last weekend of the season. Being the only tourists, Max got to start the water wheel and inside we went to watch the corn being ground into flour. We were provided with a history of the place, as well as a display of many of the early colonial tools. We received a copy of corn flour recipes and bought a bag of the just-ground organic flour.

After that, it was time to check out the glass blowing demonstration. The Glass Studio on Cape Cod is part of the home of Michael Magyar and his wife. Located on the right side of the gallery, you can watch Micheal expertly melt and design incredible pieces of glass. The day we were there, he was making drinking glasses. Each one was finished within minutes and looked truly like works of art.

While at the gallery, Michael told us it was worth the drive down the road to check out the Giving Tree Jewelry gallery. We did, and he was right. The gallery is located on nearly an acre of land, most of which is open to the public. The grounds are filled with detailed sculptures with Zen-like qualities, all made from recycled and natural materials. There is a suspended bridge that crosses through a bamboo grove, which Max liked the best. Even with a 4-year old in tow, the grounds were peaceful and transformative. Inside the gallery were unique treasures crafted by local artists.

Afterward, it was time to backtrack and hit a spot I’d been wanting to check out for some time. The Green Briar Nature Center was another hit, with a maze of little trails and an old-fashioned jam kitchen that offers classes to adults and children. Just beyond the kitchen is a great little gift shop with shelves lined with homemade jams and jellies, books, and other unique gifts.

We were a little hungry by this time, so it was a good time to stop at Paul’s Bean & Bagel, further down Rte. 6A. Max and my husband took an ice cream break, while I delighted in the warmth of a soy hot chocolate on that crisp, fall day.

We ended our day trip with a jaunt to the local boardwalk. A quarter mile walk on this dedicated boardwalk that traverses the estuaries is every little kid’s dream. Who wouldn’t enjoy walking a plank this long?

The sun was setting as Max maneuvered his toy truck through the sand on the beach, and scrambled over the rocks in the jetties. The October hunter’s moon was nearly full and hanging over the horizon.

I decided right then that we need more unplanned days.