BOULEVARD

According to innkeeper Tom Dott, this particular weekend was a good time to visit Cape Cod because it’s considered to be the kick off to the summer.

“Everything starts opening up and it gets very busy around here,” Dott said. “During this time, the locals start taking their boats out; all the restaurants and shops are open for business and there is a big increase in tourism.”

Dott noted that the Lamb and Lion Inn is in a prime location and should be a draw for visitors who want to have access to the different regions of the Cape.

“What sets us apart is the physicality of the inn and our guest services,” Dott said, adding that the Lamb and Lion is a few minutes away from Barnstable Village and Harbour, where whale watching tours disembark, and about ten minutes away from Main St., Hyannis, a hot spot for tourism during the summer.

“As for our guest services, I find that this area has really started to die down in the hospitality industry,” Dott said. “So, we take the time to really cater to our guests, knock them off their feet and make them feel good about their stay.”

Dott added that he and his partner Ali Pitcher have many years of experience in the industry and are inspired by the relais and chateau guest services mentality.

“Our tagline is that the Lamb and Lion has the warmth of an award-winning Cape Cod Bed and Breakfast and the spirit of a small luxury hotel,” Dott said.

The ten-room inn includes suites with an A/C, TV and DVD player, free Wi-Fi, and in-room bathrooms. Several of the rooms also include their own fireplace and the property itself features a solar heated pool, a year-round hot tub, an outdoor fireplace, a yoga studio and spa, a barbeque, a free DVD library and a home theater. Breakfast is also included and features Pitcher’s homemade bread, muffins and cakes, granola, yogurt and a selection of jams and fresh fruit. An a la carte menu is also available.

Another highlight of the Lamb and Lion is the “The Barn” which was built in 1740 and converted into a suite. It includes a kitchen; a living room and dining area; 1.5 bathrooms; two showers, one indoors and one outdoors; a private deck with a barbeque, and three sleeping areas.

Most of the room rates at the inn run from $200 to $300 per night, in-season. However, Dott said that there are many promotions throughout the year.

“For the Memorial Day weekend we offered guests two free whale watching tickets when they book a three night stay with us,” he said.

Along with accommodations and services, the Lamb and Lion also offers comprehensive self-guided driving tours that practically take visitors around the entire Cape Cod region.

“This is our secret weapon,” Dott said. “These tours let visitors explore the main attractions of Cape Cod – the historic district, the beaches, the lighthouses – but we’ve also taken the time to include some of our favorite places and some sites that not many people know about.”

Travel Citizen took part in one of the tours along the historic 6A highway. The route, which dates back to the late 1600’s, passes through the towns of Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet and Truro before reaching Commercial St. in Provincetown.

Some highlights of the tour include the Dennis Cinema, where the premier of the Wizard of Oz was shown; the award-winning Fin restaurant, which prepares meals using ingredients from local farms and sustainable fisheries; the Brewster Store, which is considered to be one of the most photographed general stores in the world; the National Seashore which includes Coast Guard Beach and the Nauset light house; and Truro Vineyards. Commercial St. in Provincetown features art and craft shops, galleries and restaurants, and here, visitors will also find the marina and the Pilgrim Monument which includes views of the Cape.

Dott, who is also a director at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, said that the chamber recently began working with Canadian tour operators, such as Authentik Canada, to draw more tourists. He also noted that the destination is usually packaged with Boston and the surrounding New England regions, offering visitors a variety of activities and attractions. In fact, a new rail link between Boston and Cape Cod debuted on Memorial Day weekend.

“The purpose of the rail link is to provide tourists with an extra transportation source,” Dott said. “Hopefully, this will bring even more visitors to the Cape.”