Whether or not you might be visiting for the day, a weekend, or spending per week’s trip, listed below are our picks for the most effective issues to do in Cape Cod for first-time guests.
Residing in Rhode Island for the final 20+ years, we now have taken numerous journeys to Cape Cod, from day journeys to go to buddies, to weekend getaways within the low season, to a weeklong household trip. Like several vacation spot that you just revisit, over time you come to your favourite spots many times.
So if you’re planning your first go to to Cape, I needed to share our picks for the most effective issues to do in Cape Cod. However first, when you have by no means visited Cape Cod and you aren’t from New England, it helps to get a deal with on the vernacular and a lay of the land earlier than you go.
Cape Cod Overview
Cape Cod is a peninsula positioned in southeastern Massachusetts, which extends out into the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland. It’s formed like an arm of somebody flexing their muscle tissues, with the “bicep” within the west, nearer to the mainland and the “hand” within the east, furthest out alongside the Cape.
Locals confer with the “bicep” because the Higher Cape, the “elbow” because the Mid-Cape, and the “hand” because the Decrease Cape. Cape Cod is linked to the mainland by two bridges: the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge. The Decrease Cape consists of cities like Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, whereas the Higher Cape refers to cities similar to Falmouth, Bourne, and Sandwich.
The additional out you get in the direction of the Decrease Cape, the narrower the peninsula will get and the quieter the cities are, at the very least till you attain Provincetown, which is a really vibrant vacationer city with a powerful LGBTQ group. If you find yourself selecting the place to remain, you’ll want to take into account the fashion of city you need, accessibility to retailers and eating places, and the seaside expertise you like.
The seashores on the northern aspect of the Cape, which face Cape Cod Bay, are typically calmer and hotter than the seashores on the Atlantic-facing aspect. Some fashionable bay-side seashores embrace Mayflower Seaside in Dennis and Sandy Neck Seaside in Barnstable. The water on the bay aspect can be comparatively shallow and, when the tide is out, the seashores are glorious for tide pooling, making it an important choice for households with young children.
On the Atlantic-facing aspect of Cape Cod, the seashores are usually extra rugged and the water cooler. Some fashionable Atlantic-facing seashores embrace Nauset Seaside in Orleans and Coast Guard Seaside in Eastham. Nevertheless, you have to be conscious that nice white sharks are generally noticed within the waters off Cape Cod, significantly on the Atlantic-facing aspect. It is very important observe seaside security pointers, preserve an eye fixed out for any flags, and heed all warnings or closures.
Greatest Issues to do in Cape Cod
Listed here are a few of our favourite locations and actions on Cape Cod. And, should you want a spot to remain, take a look at these suggestions for Cape Cod lodging by the seaside.
Watch the Sundown at Skaket Seaside
Skaket Seaside in Orleans, MA gives the most effective locations to observe the sundown on the Cape. Since parking is proscribed, it’s good to reach late within the day however just a little earlier than sundown. Carry some seaside chairs and simply sit and watch Mom Nature’s present or carry a shovel and bucket and go exploring. When the tide is out you possibly can stroll out fairly far and seek for creatures within the shallow water and sand.
One other great place to see a sundown on the Higher Cape is at Previous Silver Seaside in Falmouth. Due to its place, additionally it is west-facing, giving a gorgeous sundown view.
Seal watching in Chatham
There’s a cause why you hear experiences about nice white sharks being sighted off the coast of Chatham, MA each summer time. They arrive due to the seals.
Cape Cod is thought for its inhabitants of gray seals, and there are a number of locations the place you possibly can spot seals of their pure habitat. The most effective locations is on Monomoy Island, which is residence to hundreds of seals. The Seal Cruise from Harwich Port with Monomoy Island Excursions is a well-liked seal watching tour that takes you previous Monomoy Island and different seal hotspots, with skilled guides offering details about the seals and their conduct.
One other fashionable spot that received’t value you something is the Chatham Fish Pier, the place seals typically congregate to feed on scraps from the fishing boats. It is usually enjoyable to observe the fishing boats are available in and unload their catch. The car parking zone is small so go at off hours and choose up some fish when you are there to cook dinner again at your seaside home rental.
Go Buying in Chatham
There aren’t lots of cities with a cute downtown and Important Avenue with retailers and eating places on Cape Cod however Chatham is without doubt one of the greatest, and Hyannis is one other. Situated on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, the city is residence to many historic landmarks, together with the Chatham Lighthouse, which dates again to 1808, and the Atwood Home & Museum, which showcases the city’s early historical past.
Chatham can be a well-liked vacation spot for beachgoers, with a number of scenic seashores similar to Lighthouse Seaside and Harding Seaside, identified for his or her smooth sand and clear water.
I really like the colourful downtown space, which is lined with retailers, artwork galleries, and eating places serving contemporary seafood and different native specialties. Simply remember that city can get very busy in the summertime and discovering parking could be a problem. If you’re staying close by on the Chatham Bars Inn or Wequassett Resort & Golf Membership, you might need to reap the benefits of the resort shuttle providers.
Benefit from the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore
The Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore is actually a nationwide treasure. This protected space encompasses over 40 miles of pristine shoreline on the outer Cape. It was established in 1961 to protect the pure fantastic thing about the realm and is residence to sandy seashores, dunes created by a steep glacial scarp, salt marshes, and forests.
The waves are rougher right here in components, however of the a number of seashores inside the Nationwide Seashore, Coast Guard Seaside was named one of many high ten seashores in america by Dr. Seaside in 2020. Along with swimming and sunbathing, you possibly can hike or bike on a number of scenic trails, similar to the favored 1.6-mile Nauset Marsh Path and the 6-mile Head of the Meadow Path.
The park’s customer facilities educate guests concerning the historical past and tradition of Cape Cod, together with Highland Gentle and the Previous Harbor Life-Saving Station, with ranger-led packages and academic alternatives for guests of all ages. To go to the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore, you possibly can park at one of many many designated heaps alongside the shoreline or reap the benefits of the park’s shuttle service, which runs from late June to early September.
See a Baseball Recreation
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a summer time collegiate baseball league that options high faculty gamers from round america. The custom goes again to 1885 and has a wealthy historical past of growing high expertise, with over 1,600 former gamers occurring to play within the Main Leagues. The league consists of 10 groups, every with its personal stadium, and video games are performed all through Cape Cod from mid-June to early August.
Attending a Cape Cod Baseball League recreation is a good way to expertise a basic American past-time, full with ballpark meals and family-friendly leisure. You will discover stadiums in cities similar to Chatham, Hyannis, and Orleans.
Seek for Sand {Dollars} at Chapin’s Seaside
For those who go to Chapin’s Seaside in Dennis, MA, you’ll want to go early for a couple of causes. First, the car parking zone is small and fills up by 10am on a busy summer time day. Subsequent, if you’re there early, you may even discover a sand greenback (we nonetheless haven’t had a luck.)
Lastly, the seaside is immense when the tide is out and you may stroll very far out on the tidal flats and play within the shallow water. However when the tide is available in, little or no seaside is left, so you really want to concentrate as a result of the tide is available in rapidly and you’ll want to transfer your belongings additional up the seaside or danger them floating away.
Go on a Lighthouse Hunt
There are over a dozen lighthouses on Cape Cod, every with its personal distinctive historical past and character. A number of the most iconic lighthouses on Cape Cod embrace the Nauset Gentle in Eastham, the Chatham Gentle in Chatham, and the Highland Gentle in Truro. Many of those lighthouses have been in operation for over a century and are thought of historic landmarks.
One among my favorites is Nobska Gentle in Woods Gap. It’s positioned on a bluff overlooking Winery Sound and whereas it isn’t open to the general public, you possibly can nonetheless take pleasure in views of the lighthouse from the close by seaside and many individuals will carry folding chairs and sit alongside the bluff to observe the sundown.
If you’re actually into lighthouses, observe the Cape Cod Lighthouse Path, which consists of 15 lighthouses, and alongside the way in which, you possibly can take pleasure in scenic views of the shoreline and study concerning the maritime historical past of Cape Cod.
Search the Tide Swimming pools at Mayflower Seaside
Mayflower Seaside is a well-liked seaside positioned within the city of Dennis and it’s identified for its pristine white sand and clear blue waters. Since it’s positioned on the bay aspect, the water is calm and hotter, and is a well-liked spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. The seaside can be identified for its tide swimming pools, that are residence to crabs, starfish, and snails.
The car parking zone at Mayflower Seaside is comparatively massive, with over 200 parking areas, however in the course of the peak summer time season, the lot can replenish rapidly so it pays to get there early. Whereas there’s a small payment for parking, the seaside itself is free and open to the general public.
Go Whale watching
Whale watching is a well-liked factor to do on Cape Cod and excursions go away from each Provincetown and Hyannis. Nevertheless, I’d suggest leaving from Provincetown as you’re going to get to the whale watching grounds quicker. Probably the most generally sighted whales embrace humpback, fin, and minke whales, though sightings of different species, such because the endangered North Atlantic proper whale, are additionally potential.
My phrase of recommendation — don’t go on a whale watch on a day after a rainstorm. You’ll most likely see extra folks vomiting than you’ll whales. And, at all times carry a heat sweatshirt even on the warmest days as a result of it’s at all times colder on the water.
Stroll Round Provincetown
Provincetown is a historic city positioned on the tip of Cape Cod, with a wealthy historical past courting again to the 1600s when it was a busy fishing village. It later turned a bustling artwork colony within the early twentieth century and you may nonetheless see artists’ huts scattered out on the dunes.
The city has a vibrant and inclusive tradition, with a big LGBTQ+ group and a powerful inventive scene, mirrored in its many galleries, theaters, and festivals. This is without doubt one of the few cities on the Cape the place there’s a lot to do for a an extended weekend getaway (past the seaside), together with its historic landmarks, such because the Pilgrim Monument and the Provincetown Museum.
Different fashionable actions embrace whale watching, fishing, and strolling alongside Business Avenue, identified for its eclectic retailers, eating places, and nightlife. I’ve a buddy that spends two weeks in Provincetown (or “P-town” as most name it) every year and we love going out to go to along with her for the day and at all times discover nice new eating places to attempt.
Take a Dunes Tour in Provincetown
As you strategy the city of Provincetown, you will notice the arm of the Cape getting narrower and narrower and huge sand dunes rising up throughout. These dunes are protected and the one method to get out and discover them by automotive is with a licensed dunes tour.
We took a tour with Artwork’s Dunes Excursions and liked studying concerning the historical past and ecology of the area. Plus we did get an opportunity to get out and clamber about on the dunes for a bit.
Go Kayaking
We rented a home proper outdoors of Hyannis on a small personal seaside the place we may watch the approaching and goings of the ferries to Martha’s Winery and Nantucket. We had enjoyable kayaking across the harbor however there are numerous locations on Cape Cod the place you possibly can lease kayaks and discover the harbors or salt marshes.
One fashionable kayaking vacation spot is Nauset Marsh, positioned inside the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore. This space gives serene waters, lush greenery, and loads of wildlife, together with ospreys, egrets, and horseshoe crabs. An alternative choice is the Bass River, which flows by way of Yarmouth and gives a peaceable journey by way of salt marshes, tidal flats, and slim channels.
Bike the Shining Sea Bikeway
Once I stayed in a retro Airstream at Autocamp Cape Cod, the campground was positioned proper on the Shining Sea Bikeway. This 10.7-mile scenic bike path runs from Falmouth to Woods Gap, following the previous New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad route, passing by way of salt marshes, cranberry bogs, and wooded areas. The path additionally gives gorgeous views of the ocean, with a number of factors the place you possibly can cease to absorb the surroundings or stroll on the seaside.
If you’re staying on the Decrease Cape, it’s also possible to bike alongside the Cape Cod Rail Path as a substitute.
Go to Woods Gap
Many individuals solely go to Woods Gap when they’re catching the ferry to Martha’s Winery or Nantucket, however it is best to actually take a while to take pleasure in this charming little city. Situated on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod, Woods Gap is legendary for its world-renowned marine analysis establishments, together with the Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment and the Marine Organic Laboratory.
The village has a wealthy historical past courting again to the 1600s when it was a fishing and whaling group. Immediately, you possibly can stroll by way of the quaint streets lined with charming retailers, galleries, and eating places. Households will benefit from the small Woods Gap Science Aquarium, which homes numerous marine animals and gives interactive displays. There are additionally many eating places to take pleasure in contemporary seafood with attractive water views.
Take a Day Journey to the Islands
If you’re staying on Cape Cod for per week or extra, you might need to take into account taking a day journey by ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Winery, two of the extra well-known islands off of Cape Cod’s southern coast. Ferries usually depart from Woods Gap or Hyannis, offering quick access to each locations.
As soon as on the islands, you possibly can discover charming cities, well-known landmarks, museums, and picturesque seashores. In Martha’s Winery, take a look at the historic whaling village of Edgartown, the colourful cliffs of Aquinnah, and the inventive group of Oak Bluffs, ending with sundown on Menemsha Seaside.
On Nantucket, wander the cobblestone streets of the island’s charming city, stroll to the historic Brant Level Lighthouse, go to the Nantucket Whaling Museum, or lease bikes to discover the island.
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