Have you decided on a bus vs renting a car? I would definitely choose Ocean's Edge even though it is not right on the ocean, but that would mean you have a car. Both the Hyannis places are right across the street from the airport so you could take the bus, but the ambiance of the airport is not exactly the Cape. Sounds like you have ruled the Vineyard out.

So here is what I would do. Rent a car, and drive south on the expressway I 93 to Rt 3. Leave early and get to Plymouth where you can stop for an hour (two at the very most) and see Plymouth Rock and walk along the shops and waterfront, then get back in your car, and head back down 3 to the Cape. Stop in Hyannis and walk Main street. Maybe have lunch. You could walk down to the waterfront and look at the ferries or drive out to see the Kennedy compound if that interests you, but you can't see much, I would get back in the car and head out to Rt 6A and towards Brewster and stop in a few of the antique stores to browse. It is a nice comfortable no stress ride. If you want, you can stop along the bayside beaches like Corporation or Mayflower beach in Dennis

Check in to Ocean's edge. For dinner on Friday night, you might check out Land Ho in Orleans for some local flavor. You could catch the sunset at Rock Harbor. Then back home to crash.

On Saturday, you have a couple choices. You can head toward's P-Town or to Chatham. Chatham has a lot of boutiquey fairly pricey shops but is very nice. Stop at Chatham Bars Inn for a drink and to walk the grounds. If you like to hike Nickerson State park is nearby. You could rent bikes and ride the biketrail from Eastham, well you could go to P-Town, but . . . you could ride through the marshes and out to Coast Guard beach and the Salt Pond Visitor center in Eastham. You should stop there regarless and stroll the grounds and watch the movie about the plover or burrowing terns or whatver.

For a cholesterol full fried seafood experience, try Arnold's in Eastham. For veggie, not sure, but I would guess looking for Indian food might be your best bet. P-Town is sure to have some vegetarian places. Anyway, you will either be driving towards P-Town and stopping at beaches (Coast Guard, Nauset Light, Marconi, Truro, etc) with the ultimate aim of ending up in P-Town. Climb the tower in P-town if open and try to find some lighthouses.

I think I would make it a day in P-Town Saturday, stop in Wellfleet and Truro and beaches. You could even take a boat ride or rent bikes or even go fishing. Then on Sunday, get up, relax a bit at the hotel (or find a par three golf course that rents clubs or a touristy round of mini golf) then check out and head to Chatham (or get a sandwich at Box Lunch and take it to the beach or Nickerson State Park and have a picnic and hike a bit) and explore then work your way back Rt 28 towards Harwich, Yarmouth then back to Hyannis, then Rt 6 to the bridge (you could stop at the Canal or the Christmas Tree shop where your Mom will see lots of other 50 year olds looking for bargains). Then you will be driving back to Boston with all the other thousands of folks who you have been running into all weekend.

The key is to relax, let the agenda slow down, if you like something, linger. Eat some ice cream. Try some fried clams if you are not vegetarian. Look at the junk in the tourist shops but then ask youself "Will I really want that on my coffee table in my living room?" Then put the item back and save yourself a few dollars. Have fun.