Want to take a cranberry bog tour on Cape Cod? Here are some sweet options

Eric Williams, Cape Cod Times
·2 min read

We are rolling into the heart of cranberry harvest season on Cape Cod and are soon to be happily awash in sauce, relish and quick breads. But wouldn't it be great to get out to a bog to see where the miraculous red orbs come from?

Well, you're in the right place. "Massachusetts ranks second in the nation in cranberry production with more than 14,000 acres in production," according to the University of Massachusetts Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Folks on Cape Cod have been farming cranberries since the mid 1800s!

And cranberry bog tours are in full swing, both on and off Cape Cod. It's a great chance to learn more about the festive and tasty berry, just in time for Thanksgiving. Depending on the day of the tour, you may not see harvest action, but cranberry bogs are beautiful no matter what.

Here are some options for cranberry bog tours on and beyond Cape Cod:

Bog crews tighten the circle of berries as they move them toward a chute sending them to be washed before loading into a transport truck on this six-acre Sandwich bog. FILE PHOTO.
Bog crews tighten the circle of berries as they move them toward a chute sending them to be washed before loading into a transport truck on this six-acre Sandwich bog. FILE PHOTO.

Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours

Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours offers tours at bogs in Chatham, Barnstable and East Sandwich. Tours cost $20 per person, with a minimum of four people in the group. Smaller groups can be accommodated for a higher cost per person, and large groups can be accommodated by making advance arrangements. Contact them at least 24 hours in advance to make reservations and find out about tour availability at 508-237-5478 or by email at info@capecodcranberrybogtours.com. More information is available at their website: capecodcranberrybogtours.com.

Cranberry farm tours in Harwich

Cranberry bog tours are offered by Leo and Andrea Cakounes at their bog in Harwich. You can also see farm animals and visit their farmstand and gift shop. Bog tours cost $20 and credit cards are not accepted. Reservations are required and may be made by calling 508-432-0790. More information is available at their website: cranberrybogtours.com.

Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen

Green Briar Nature Center & Jam Kitchen in East Sandwich is offering tours of bogs in their area on Oct. 14. as part of their annual Cape Cod Cranberry Day celebration. Tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., and space is likely to fill quickly. There is a $10 fee. Tickets can be purchased on their website, thorntonburgess.org. More info available at 508-888-6870.

Massachusetts Cranberries bog bus tours

Massachusetts Cranberries, represented by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers’ Association, offers a cornucopia of tour options, including large group coach tours, school-age education tours and tours for the general public. These tours take place just off-Cape, in and around the Wareham/Carver area. The best way to sort through the offerings is to visit their website at cranberries.org/cranberry-bog-bus-tours. Email the organization at bogtours@cranberries.org for more information about schedules and tickets.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @capecast.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. 

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod cranberry bog tours: How to plan a fun trip