Cape businesses report brisk business over the holiday weekend; traffic is heavy over the Sagamore Bridge

By Peter Schworm and Amanda Cedrone, Globe Staff and Globe Correspondent

HYANNIS -- As Memorial Day weekend wound toward a close and travelers began to head home, restaurants, hotels and shops reported generally strong sales amid nice weather and improved consumer confidence.

“It was a sellout weekend,” said Skip Simpson, owner of the Anchor In on Hyannis Harbor. “It hasn’t always been that way.”

Simpson said the inn’s 42 rooms were booked about a week ago, a positive sign for the season ahead

“All indicators are good so far,” he said.

Around 3 p.m., traffic leaving Cape Cod was heavy, and police said drivers should expect substantial delays. There had been no major accidents, state police said.

Across town, rooms were booked for the long weekend, the unofficial start to summer and a closely watched barometer for tourism.

“There wasn’t anybody in Hyannis that wasn’t full,” said Terri Noyes co-owner of the SeaCoast Inn.

In Provincetown, a swell of visitors was a welcome sight to the town’s shops and restaurants.

“It’s a great start for the summer,” said Candice Collins-Boden, who directs the town’s chamber of commerce. “The ferries and the streets were full.”

Peter Schworm can be reached at pschworm@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globepete. Amanda Cedrone can be reached at acedrone@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @ancedrone.