Easing into vacation aboard the Boston-to-Cape Cod train

BOSTON (AP) —

Boston’s buttoned-up South Station doesn’t typically conjure images of fold-up beach chairs, straw hats and rolling Yeti coolers. But on weekend mornings during the summer, that is what you’ll see.

Instead of frenzied passengers running to catch a train to another East Coast city, today's throng of delighted vacationers awaited the CapeFlyer, a weekend passenger train to Cape Cod. It runs during the 15 weekends of summer — up until Labor Day — from Boston to Hyannis with a handful of stops in between.

I recently dragged my two young children on a CapeFlyer adventure. It happened to be the week of history-making heat waves around the world. That Sunday, Boston broke a record.

Tourists like Ken McKeel, 56, from Goldsboro, North Carolina, had the same idea. He was there with his family, looking to beat the heat and see the Cape's world-renowned beaches. The reason they took the train: cost.

On Sundays, you can get a same-day, round-trip ticket for half price, or $20.

My kids have grown up going to Cape beaches, and never turn down a chance to play in the Atlantic or eat at one of the many seafood shacks. Plus, getting out of metro Boston’s hot and steamy atmosphere wasn’t a hard sell, despite the early departure time of 7:45 a.m. I also promised them ice cream, one of the Cape Cod food groups.

When we arrived at South Station terminal, situated smack in downtown Boston, the scene was akin to an airport in Cancun or any other tropical beach destination: folks eagerly awaiting sun, surf or maybe a frozen cocktail with a view.

Taking a train to Cape Cod makes sense. If you’ve ever gone there by car on a summer weekend, you know the biggest drawback is traffic.

The only two ways to drive to the hook-shaped peninsula are the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Both...