🐚The Bay Cottage on Thumpertown Beach

Welcome to Bay Cottage, brought to you by The Heart of Cape Cod. Just a short stroll from Thumpertown Beach, this cozy fall retreat captures the beauty of Cape Cod’s quieter season. Enjoy peaceful walks on the flats beneath golden skies, evenings by the grill or bocce court, and crisp mornings with coffee in the hammock. With its classic charm, thoughtful amenities, and unforgettable sunsets, this bayside escape is the perfect place to experience the magic of a Cape Cod autumn.

Communication with guests is important to us. Please be sure you have app notifications turned on for your phone as this will be our means of communicating with you before, during, and after your stay. Our digital guidebooks contain directions, instructions, and access information. It is your responsibility to review this information prior to arrival. I respect the autonomy of my guests and can easily be reached by facetime, email, text, carrier pigeon, smoke signal, or yodeling.

Thumpertown is a bayside beach. Also close to freshwater kettle ponds, close to Cape Cod Rail Trail (bike trail), Arnolds, Coast Guard and Nauset Light beach, Salt Pond Visitors Center, Eastham Windmill, and First Encounter beach.

Welcome to Thumpertown Beach, where the spirit of fall meets the soul of Cape Cod. September and October bring what the locals call our “second summer”—warm bay waters, quiet beaches, and a softer rhythm that invites you to slow down and savor the Cape as it was meant to be.

As the crowds fade, the beach becomes your private retreat. Watch the sun melt into the bay in a blaze of amber and rose, then wander for miles along the flats in peaceful solitude. Back at the cottage, laughter drifts across the deck as bocce and badminton matches unfold under the autumn sky. Slip into the hammock, breathe in the briny air, and let the sound of the tide smooth out whatever stress followed you here.

Inside, this two-bedroom cottage offers all the comfort of home. The main bedroom has a full bed, while the second features a bunk with two twins, plus a sunroom with a trundle—ideal for kids or smaller guests. The full kitchen is stocked for easy meals, though local favorites nearby may tempt you out for chowder and cranberry cocktails instead.

With the Cape Cod Rail Trail just minutes away and the National Seashore and kettle ponds within reach, adventure and tranquility live side by side here. Thumpertown’s charm lies in its simplicity—warm light, salt air, and the promise of another perfect sunset.

Highlights:
• An award-winning, custom, digital house manual with local fall recommendations included with each stay (no apps or downloads required)
• 1 Full bed, 4 Twins (1 Bunk / 1 Trundle)
• 1 full bathroom with shower, plus a large outdoor shower
• Luxurious linens, duvets, Turkish towel sets, and bath towels provided for a cozy, restful stay
• Eco-friendly toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, and body wash free from sulfates, phosphates, and microbeads
• Full kitchen with everything you need for hearty fall meals or easy dinners after a beach walk
• Coffee bar with drip coffee maker, French press, hot water kettle, regular and decaf coffee, and assorted teas
• Bocce court, Kan Jam, Cornhole, and Badminton provided
• Gas grill and charcoal grill for the purists, plus picnic tables for outdoor dining
• Hammock and patio seating for relaxed afternoons and stargazing nights
• Strong WiFi and streaming TV
• Heat and ceiling fans throughout for comfort in every season
• Thumpertown Beach at the end of the road (less than a 4-minute walk) for unforgettable sunsets
• Family-friendly home with baby and toddler gear available for rent, including Pack-n-Plays, high chairs, strollers, and more (details provided after booking)
• Pet-free property (strictly no pets allowed)
• Professionally cleaned by a VRMA award-winning company using detailed checklists and EPA-approved sanitization products

Because plans can change like the tides, we always recommend travel insurance for peace of mind during your Cape Cod getaway.

For Airbnb: A quick note on who you are paying for what, because lately everyone asks some version of who am I paying for what and to who. We set two things. One. The nightly rate for the home itself which we keep as fair as possible for this area. Two. The cleaning fee matches what our professional cleaning company charges to clean and reset a home this size. Those are the only amounts we control. Airbnb collects its own platform service fee for using the Airbnb site and support. Airbnb may include that platform fee in the total price you see here instead of showing it as a separate line which can make it look like it is part of what we charge. It is not. That amount goes to Airbnb. You will also see taxes as a separate line. Those taxes are required by state and local rules for this area. We do not set the tax rates, and we do not keep those funds. Airbnb calls this “fee transparency”.