I live on Cape Cod and every summer our population increases by 5 or 6 times. Local residents, our governments, chamber of commerces, and individual business try very hard to accomodate tourists, usually we succeed and everyone has a great time.

But there are a few things that you should think about before you leave home that will make your stay on Cape Cod more enjoyable and that will also keep you safe.

Cape Cod is a man-made island with two ways to get on and off it - the Sagamore and Bourne Bridges. Most people who come seem to arrive Friday night or Saturday morning. And most want to leave Sunday. If it's raining traffic can start to build up by 10 or 11 am on Sunday. If it's a sunny day, folks grab some beach time and leave around 3 or 4 Sunday afternoon. I live 3.6 miles from the Sagamore Bridge off Route 6A. And I know not to make any plans on Sunday. I never schedule parties or events for Sunday that include people outside my neighborhood - because no one will come. So see locals have to deal with traffic too!

If you are one of these people, who have to come at peak times. First of all, I'm really sorry that you're going to sit in so much traffic. Despite what some people think, locals do not take pleasure in watching the traffic build up. But also understand that the access roads are limited access highways. There are almost no public restrooms on the routes leading to and from the Cape. Just something to consider.

So the first thing you might think about is scheduling your vacation arrivals and departures during the mid-week. But even if you do do this, all it takes is one car breakdown or accident in the wrong spot to back up traffic for miles.

The only way not to have traffic on Cape Cod during the summer months would be to pave paradise (to use a Joni Mitchell song title). And if we did that, would you still want to come?

But some roads are worse than others. Traffc in Route 28 on the south side of Cape Cod is legendary. There's lots of cars and congestion. But that's probably because there's lots to do and see, and places to stay.

If I do have to run errands there, And some times I do, I go very early in the morning or I go later in the evening. The only Wal-Mart on Cape Cod is on Route 28 in Falmouth. I admit I stock up on bathroom essentials in early May and try not to go again until September. But sometimes I run out of stuff.

Route 6A on the norhern side of the Cape is more scenic and less congested. However, because it's more scenic people drive about 20 miles an hour. I live 13.2 miles from the Cape Cod, and it can take me an hour to get there on a rainy day. So I don't go on rainy days.

Also remember that alot of people live here and commute to work. So there's actually a little bit of a rush hour during commute times. Nothing like big cities or heavily developed suburbs but there is an increase in congestion at these times.

My suggestion here is to first get a good Cape Cod Atlas and map and learn some alternative routes. Although on a rain day or Sunday afternoon, everything backs up. Plan to travel around early in the morning. And lastly just be patient. You'll get there eventually! GPS systems somtimes don't work because we are a rapidly growing area with lots of new roads. So a map backup is a good idea.

A really bad sunburn can do more than increase your chances for skin cancer, it can really ruin a few days of your vacation. I guess everyone wants to go home with a little color as bragging rights for a Cape Cod vacation. And I sort of get that. Although I often hear the comment, "You live here and you're so pale."

If you stay out between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm and smear yourself with baby oil. Yes people still do that. You could very well end up in the emergency room (Falmouth Hospital or Cape Cod Hospital - more about this later) with a severe sun burn. I've watch people get the chills, get fevers, and have to stay in the house for days.

You can get a sunburn on a sunny day in as little as 20 minutes or even faster depending on your skin. So it's a good idea to apply a sunscreen with at least an SPF of 15 all over at least a half hour before setting out. I just put it on first thing in the morning and then if I'm outside in the garden, sailing, or walking, I reapply about every two hours.

I've also got quite a collection of wide-brimmed hats.

People come to Cape Cod to enjoy the outdoors. So they go hiking and birdwatching. And that's great. But before you pick flowers and greenery. Or even sit down, take a good look around. And know what your sitting in. And if you're, how should I put this delicately, in the mood for some outdoor romantic frolicking, be really careful. You could be at the emergency room, explaining some embarrassing details of how you got that rash - OMG where!

But for less severe rashing some over the coutner cortisone cream seams to work really well.

Some people feel this isn't cool and they don't wear life jackets - they just keep them nearby - in case. Well in many critical situations - nearby isn't good enough! Or they just have the kids wear them. What is your small child going to do, if you drown!

So if you are in a small boat, your life jacket should be on your body at all times. It doesn't matter if you are in a small pond or in the ocean - Or if you are a good swimmer. If you fall out of the boat and hit your head on a pier or the boat itself and are unconscious, your swimming ability will be of no help. The life jacket gives rescuers a lot more time to get to you.

If you are fishing on a pier, wear your life jacket. at least one that inflates if you pull a cord. I know that you're careful. But we had an actual situation in Falmouth last year where a grandfather and his son were fishing on a pier and some irresponsible teenagers threw him in the ocean. (They were arrested and charged, I can't remember what happened to them!) Anyways, this point shows even though you are as careful as can be, others around you may not be!

We always wear our life jackets when we are in our canoe and boat, and we wear them as we are preparing to get on the boat or canoe, as soon as we are near the water or on the pier. And we have several extras for both our adult guests and child guests.

Your height, weight, and age doesn't matter. We have collected a variety of life jackets over the years and we use them. Every fall, summer people have these yard sales before they go home. We always scoop up life jackets, flotation devices and equipment at great prices!