Well Well Well- It’s the Wellfleet Drive In Movie Theater

"Go to the Drive In Movies" is probably on the Summer-Fun-Things-To-Do-List of a lot of folks, (I know my list isn't complete without it) and what better time to cross that off said list then when vacationing on charming old Cape Cod?

The Wellfleet Drive In has been operating on the forearm of The Cape since 1957, and does the "Movies at Night"- first run double features- and "Flea Market during the Day"- SatSunWedThur - thing from late April until mid-September.

You can spend an entire Retro Roadmap evening at the Wellfleet, so get there early for a good movie viewing parking space, as it can sell out on sultry summer nights (happened to us!) Once you park you need to decide whether you want to use your car FM radio for movie sound, or want to go for the full back-in-the-day effect and use one of the speakers on stands.

Now that you're all prepped for later, why not stretch your legs until it gets dark enough to show the movie, and see all that the Wellfleet has to offer!

Snack bar- I won't regale you with the "this is where the cinemas make their money" speech, but well, maybe I just did. There are a couple of lines to get into for fast service, and if you want a memento of your visit or perhaps just take the chill off, they have tees and sweatshirts for sale.

Playground- Open before the movie and during intermission, let your little Retro Roadkids work off that snack bar sugar high here. Maybe one of them wants to pretend to be Danny Zuko lamenting after Sandy? Find out!

Mini-Golf- Another vintage gem to add to the Retro Roadmap notebook, this 18 hole course is still the original obstacle course that opened in 1961. Nicely maintained and charmingly old school, a good way to pass the time as you wait for dusk to fall.

Dairy Bar & Grill- Want heartier fare than what is offered at the snack bar, or perhaps an adult libation? The Dairy Bar & Grill serves burgers, pizza, seafood and more in their air conditioned insides or outside on the patio. Don't forget the hard and soft serve ice cream! And c'mon who doesn't love the words Dairy Bar? or Bar & Grill?

(cool Formica in the ladies room!)

I had a surprisingly swell time at my first visit to the Flea Market and would recommend it if you like to spend time looking at randomness. Of course you've got your tube socks and shamwalla folks, but I also found some fun stuff- old post cards, a $2 apron,  colored glass boat float thingies (c'mon I was on vacation!) and a cool Good Egg necklace. Bring an umbrella for the sun and if someone in your party gets grumpy, send them off to the playground or the beer garden in front of the snackbar (!) for an attitude adjustment. (I asked so you don't have to, the bar is only open during the flea, not during the movies!)

So there you have it -That's what you do before the movies. Once the film begin...the fun is up to you!