Looking to have some family-friendly fun on the Cape? We've got you covered.

It’s that time of the year again ― summer vacation!

Taking some time off with kids can be a great time, but it can also be a headache trying to figure out how to keep them entertained. Luckily, the Cape is a pretty kid-friendly place, full of ice cream parlors, mini golf courses, beaches, sea creature boat tours, and even a few pirate attractions knocking around.

Whether you’re catering to little ones or big kids, there’s a variety of family-friendly fun to be found up and down Cape Cod. Here are some fun things we recommend doing with kids on the Cape.

Take a trip to the sea

Going to the beach is a classic summer activity, but what if you could work in some education too? At the Cape Cod National Seashore, kids can become Junior Rangers by completing a free activity booklet. The booklet is full of requirements to fulfill during a visit to the park, including a trip to look for seals with a Ranger, taking a walk on a trail and observing the wildlife, and listening to some campfire stories.

If Ranger programs aren’t available on the day you visit the park or you want something a bit less time consuming, scavenger hunts are also up for grabs at any of the visitor stations.

Outside of becoming a Junior Ranger, there are boat tours and charters, including whale watching, seal watching and fishing trips. Check out Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching in Provincetown, Monomoy Island Excursion’s seal cruise in Harwich, Cap’n Kids Fishing Adventures in Harwich Port, or Kids Fishing in Hyannis.

Tickets for Dolphin Fleet Whale Watching are $50 for children aged five to 12, $75 for adults, and children four and under ride free. For the Monomoy seal cruise, tickets are $40 per child aged four to 12, $45 per adult, and $20 per infant. Tickets for a trip with Cap’n Kids Fishing Adventures are $50 per person. Tickets for Kids Fishing in Hyannis are $35 per person.

Have some action-packed fun

An adrenalin-filled day in the sun is a good way to tire out the kids and have some downtime too. Whether it’s a trip to the waterpark, an inflatable park, or to the go-kart track, it’s always a good idea to have a thrill-seeking day.

At the Cape Cod Inflatable Park in West Yarmouth, kids can bounce around on different inflatables and even have a hand at some inflatable action courses and sports. In the same complex lies the Wicked Waves Waterpark. At Wicked Waves, there’s fun for kids of all ages and even parents too. While your kids run around the various attractions, including the tipping buckets and lazy river, swim up to a seat at the Aqua Bar.

For some track-action fun, visit Cartwheels in South Dennis and Cartland in Wareham.

Admission for the Cape Cod Inflatable Park is $30 for adults and children, $20 for toddlers. Admission for Wicked Waves is $45 for adults and children, $30 for toddlers. Tickets can be purchased for admission into both parks for $60 for adults and children and $40 for toddlers.

Go-karting at Cartwheels is $10 a ticket or four rides for $28. At Cartland, rides are $8 a ticket or $40 for an unlimited ride pass.

Go mini golfing

Mini golfing. It’s an easy way to please the kids and have some competitive family fun. With over a dozen courses, each with a different theme, there’s surely a course perfect for you and your kids. For some quick recommendations, check out Pirates Cove Adventure Golf in South Yarmouth, Arnold’s Adventure Mini Golf in Eastham, or Sandwich Mini Golf in Sandwich.

Prices: 18-holes at Pirates Cove is $12.50 for an adult, $11.50 for kids, but kids 3 and under play free. At Arnold’s everyone plays for $9 each. At Sandwich Mini Golf, 18-hole rounds are $10 for adults and $8 for kids. 36-hole rounds are $15 for adults and $13 for kids.

Hit the museums and aquariums

A bit of indoor fun never hurt anyone. Rainy days don’t stay away because the kids are out to play, so if the weather isn’t looking great, museums and aquariums are a fantastic alternative to some outdoor fun.

For the sea lover, take a trip to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium in Falmouth or the Shark Center in Chatham or Provincetown. Or, for the pirate enthusiast, visit the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth for the chance to see some real pirate booty! Of course, the Cape Cod Children’s Museum in Mashpee is always a safe bet for some kid-friendly fun.

The Woods Hole Science Aquarium is free to visit Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Shark Center in Chatham is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. seven days a week and tickets are $10 per person. The Shark Center in Provincetown is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week — closed on Wednesdays — and tickets are $12 per person. The Whydah Pirate Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., except on Friday and Saturday when hours are extended to 7 p.m. Tickets are $13 for children, $17 for adults and children four and under get in for free. The Cape Cod Children’s Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets are $15 per person.

Visit a play place

Indoor play spaces give kids the chance to socialize and parents a chance to relax. Mostly targeted towards infants and younger children, these spaces help facilitate social skills in a safe environment. On the Cape, the Little Milestones Play and Learn Center in Falmouth and the Cape Cod Toy Library in Barnstable offer these experiences.

Parents can also rent out toys from the toy library by purchasing a “Play Passport” subscription. Subscriptions range from $90 to $360.

Little Milestones play-and-learn is only open to play for children aged six months to seven years old.

The Toy Library’s playroom and play annex are at First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable and its outdoor play space — located behind the Hyannis Library — are free to the public. The toy library is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Daily admission to Little Milestones is $15 for children and adults and $5 for babies. It is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: 15 things to do with kids on Cape Cod in the summer - plus a few more