The Secrets of Cape Cod Thanksgiving Pies
The art of a perfectly flaky crust arrived on Cape Cod’s shores with the Pilgrims in 1620, so it should come as no surprise to you that the region that hosted the first Thanksgiving has been making epic pies ever since. You may visit Woods Hole for walks on the rippled sand flats below Nobska light, the cry of a gull floating in the southwest breeze over Nobska, or the leaf-strewn marsh views on your bicycle ride up the bike path, but if you take the time to explore our local pie scene, we are quite sure you will come back each fall to experience it’s four centuries of wonder.
So where are the best pies you can find while visiting the Woods Hole Inn? Read on!
Pies A La Mode
Bella, the new owner of this local favorite says “the taller pie rises, the better they taste.” We certainly agree. Situated in downtown Falmouth, just a mile beyond bustling Main Street, is this locally owned pie haven that bakes from scratch both sweet and savory delights. Try the chicken pot pie, with its buttery crust and melt in your mouth chunks of white meat chicken, you will understand why this is a favorite at the holidays. If sweet pie is needed, stat, we recommend the apple for height and flakey crust. This is a short drive from Woods Hole Inn, but don’t stop here there is more!
Pie In The Sky
To sound like an authentic local, say — “Let’s go to Pie!” — before you walk into the welcoming Water Street courtyard. Located next door to the Woods Hole Inn, you will be treated with the smell of freshly roasted coffee and another batch of something sweet just out of their perpetually hot ovens. Our staff plays the “what are they making now” guessing game as we can smell it all while sitting at the front desk. In the holiday season, Pie in the Sky lives up to its name by churning out thousands of hand-made sweet pies. With so much to love, how to choose? We admire the pumpkin for a delicate crust and the apple for the perfect balance of tart and sweet but don’t leave without trying the bread pudding, pretty sure the Pilgrims brought that here too. This is a short walk from Woods Hole Inn, but don’t let this be your only Cape Cod pie…
Centerville Pie Company
They started as “The Pie Ladies” then Oprah put them on the map. Now sprinkled throughout Massachusetts, we recommend their outpost in Centerville to see and hear all about this fascinating origin story. Grab a chicken pot pie while you are there, you are guaranteed flaky white chicken in every bite and you will be able to see if Oprah was right. We think she was! This is a scenic half-hour drive from Woods Hole Inn, ask the front desk for directions, and read on for more tips!
Pie Chicks
It is all in the name! This pie fortress is owned and run by women who are “rolling pins daily in an attempt to prove that pie can save the world.” Hop on the ferry across from the Woods Hole Inn and make your Martha’s Vineyard day trip all about pie. This relatively new shop is near Vineyard Haven, and it’s hard to miss, just follow your nose. The raspberry apple pie has a special flavor you must try, or go with their bestseller — epic blue blueberry. Chrissy, the owner, brings passion to each perfect sphere and she will be right there behind the counter to greet you. This is a forty-five-minute ferry ride from Woods Hole Inn, ask the front desk for ferry tickets and tips.
As a recent traveler wrote on TripAdvisor: “We just completed our tenth stay at the Woods Hole Inn and were as thrilled as always. Check-in was like returning to a friend’s house and we were as welcomed as always. Personal service and individual attention abound. We could single out staff, but would fear we’d leave someone important out. Woods Hole Inn continues to be an inn with contemporary comforts AND authentic nostalgia! The lighting and colors really do change on Cape Cod in the fall. No better place to enjoy them than Woods Hole Inn. “