Whether you’re visiting for the day, a weekend, or spending every week’s trip, listed here are our picks for the most effective issues to do in Cape Cod for first-time guests.
Living in Rhode Island for the final 20+ years, we now have taken numerous journeys to Cape Cod, from day journeys to go to associates, to weekend getaways within the off-season, to a weeklong household trip. Like any vacation spot that you simply revisit, over time you come to your favourite spots time and again.
So if you’re planning your first go to to Cape, I wished to share our picks for the most effective issues to do in Cape Cod. But first, in case 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 is formed like an arm of somebody flexing their muscular tissues, with the “bicep” within the west, nearer to the mainland and the “hand” within the east, furthest out alongside the Cape.
Locals consult with the “bicep” because the Upper Cape, the “elbow” because the Mid-Cape, and the “hand” because the Lower Cape. Cape Cod is related to the mainland by two bridges: the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge. The Lower Cape contains cities like Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown, whereas the Upper Cape refers to cities resembling Falmouth, Bourne, and Sandwich.
The additional out you get in direction of the Lower Cape, the narrower the peninsula will get and the quieter the cities are, at the least till you attain Provincetown, which is a really vibrant vacationer city with a robust LGBTQ group. When you’re selecting the place to remain, you want to take into account the fashion of city you need, accessibility to retailers and eating places, and the seaside expertise you favor.
The seashores on the northern facet of the Cape, which face Cape Cod Bay, are typically calmer and hotter than the seashores on the Atlantic-facing facet. Some well-liked bay-side seashores embrace Mayflower Beach in Dennis and Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable. The water on the bay facet can also be comparatively shallow and, when the tide is out, the seashores are wonderful for tide pooling, making it an awesome choice for households with young children.
On the Atlantic-facing facet of Cape Cod, the seashores are typically extra rugged and the water cooler. Some well-liked Atlantic-facing seashores embrace Nauset Beach in Orleans and Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. However, you need to be conscious that nice white sharks are generally noticed within the waters off Cape Cod, significantly on the Atlantic-facing facet. It is vital to comply with seaside security pointers, preserve a watch out for any flags, and heed all warnings or closures.
Best Things to do in Cape Cod
Here are a few of our favourite locations and actions on Cape Cod. And, in case you want a spot to remain, take a look at these suggestions for Cape Cod lodging by the seaside.
Watch the Sunset at Skaket Beach
Skaket Beach in Orleans, MA presents top-of-the-line locations to look at the sundown on the Cape. Since parking is restricted, it’s good to reach late within the day however just a little earlier than sundown. Bring some seaside chairs and simply sit and watch Mother Nature’s present or convey a shovel and bucket and go exploring. When the tide is out you’ll be able to stroll out fairly far and seek for creatures within the shallow water and sand.
Another great place to see a sundown on the Upper Cape is at Old Silver Beach in Falmouth. Because of its place, it is usually west-facing, giving a fantastic sundown view.
Seal watching in Chatham
There is a cause why you hear experiences about nice white sharks being sighted off the coast of Chatham, MA each summer season. They come due to the seals.
Cape Cod is understood for its inhabitants of gray seals, and there are a number of locations the place you’ll be able to spot seals of their pure habitat. One of the most effective locations is on Monomoy Island, which is dwelling to 1000’s 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 knowledgeable guides offering details about the seals and their habits.
Another well-liked spot that gained’t value you something is the Chatham Fish Pier, the place seals typically congregate to feed on scraps from the fishing boats. It can also be enjoyable to look at the fishing boats are available and unload their catch. The parking zone is small so go at off hours and decide up some fish when you are there to prepare dinner again at your seaside home rental.
Go Shopping in Chatham
There aren’t a variety of cities with a cute downtown and Main Street with retailers and eating places on Cape Cod however Chatham is likely one of the finest, and Hyannis is one other. Located on the southeastern tip of Cape Cod, the city is dwelling to many historic landmarks, together with the Chatham Lighthouse, which dates again to 1808, and the Atwood House & Museum, which showcases the city’s early historical past.
Chatham can also be a well-liked vacation spot for beachgoers, with a number of scenic seashores resembling Lighthouse Beach and Harding Beach, identified for his or her comfortable sand and clear water.
I really like the colourful downtown space, which is lined with retailers, artwork galleries, and eating places serving recent seafood and different native specialties. Just remember the fact 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 Club, chances are you’ll wish to benefit from the resort shuttle providers.
Enjoy the Cape Cod National Seashore
The Cape Cod National Seashore is really 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 great thing about the world and is dwelling to sandy seashores, dunes created by a steep glacial scarp, salt marshes, and forests.
The waves are rougher right here in elements, however of the a number of seashores inside the National Seashore, Coast Guard Beach was named one of many high ten seashores within the United States by Dr. Beach in 2020. In addition to swimming and sunbathing, you’ll be able to hike or bike on a number of scenic trails, resembling the favored 1.6-mile Nauset Marsh Trail and the 6-mile Head of the Meadow Trail.
The park’s customer facilities educate guests in regards to the historical past and tradition of Cape Cod, together with Highland Light and the Old Harbor Life-Saving Station, with ranger-led applications and academic alternatives for guests of all ages. To go to the Cape Cod National Seashore, you’ll be able to park at one of many many designated tons alongside the shoreline or benefit from the park’s shuttle service, which runs from late June to early September.
See a Baseball Game
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a summer season collegiate baseball league that options high school gamers from across the United States. The custom goes again to 1885 and has a wealthy historical past of creating high expertise, with over 1,600 former gamers occurring to play within the Major 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 an effective way to expertise a basic American past-time, full with ballpark meals and family-friendly leisure. You can discover stadiums in cities resembling Chatham, Hyannis, and Orleans.
Search for Sand Dollars at Chapin’s Beach
If you go to Chapin’s Beach in Dennis, MA, you want to go early for just a few causes. First, the parking zone is small and fills up by 10am on a busy summer season day. Next, if you’re there early, you would possibly even discover a sand greenback (we nonetheless haven’t had a luck.)
Finally, 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. But when the tide is available in, little or no seaside is left, so you actually need to concentrate as a result of the tide is available in shortly and you 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. Some of probably the most iconic lighthouses on Cape Cod embrace the Nauset Light in Eastham, the Chatham Light in Chatham, and the Highland Light in Truro. Many of those lighthouses have been in operation for over a century and are thought of historic landmarks.
One of my favorites is Nobska Light in Woods Hole. It is positioned on a bluff overlooking Vineyard Sound and whereas it isn’t open to the general public, you’ll be able to nonetheless take pleasure in views of the lighthouse from the close by seaside and many individuals will convey folding chairs and sit alongside the bluff to look at the sundown.
If you’re actually into lighthouses, comply with the Cape Cod Lighthouse Trail, which consists of 15 lighthouses, and alongside the way in which, you’ll be able to take pleasure in scenic views of the shoreline and be taught in regards to the maritime historical past of Cape Cod.
Search the Tide Pools at Mayflower Beach
Mayflower Beach 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 facet, the water is calm and hotter, and is a well-liked spot for kayaking and paddle boarding. The seaside can also be identified for its tide swimming pools, that are dwelling to crabs, starfish, and snails.
The parking zone at Mayflower Beach is comparatively giant, with over 200 parking areas, however in the course of the peak summer season season, the lot can replenish shortly so it pays to get there early. While there’s a small price 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 depart from each Provincetown and Hyannis. However, I’d advocate leaving from Provincetown as you’ll get to the whale watching grounds quicker. The mostly sighted whales embrace humpback, fin, and minke whales, though sightings of different species, such because the endangered North Atlantic proper whale, are additionally doable.
My phrase of recommendation — don’t go on a whale watch on a day after a rainstorm. You will most likely see extra folks vomiting than you’ll whales. And, all the time convey a heat sweatshirt even on the warmest days as a result of it’s all the time colder on the water.
Walk Around Provincetown
Provincetown is a historic city positioned on the tip of Cape Cod, with a wealthy historical past relationship 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 robust inventive scene, mirrored in its many galleries, theaters, and festivals. This is likely one of the few cities on the Cape the place there may be loads to do for a a protracted weekend getaway (past the seaside), together with its historic landmarks, such because the Pilgrim Monument and the Provincetown Museum.
Other well-liked actions embrace whale watching, fishing, and strolling alongside Commercial Street, 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) annually and we love going out to go to along with her for the day and all the time discover nice new eating places to strive.
Take a Dunes Tour in Provincetown
As you method the city of Provincetown, you will notice the arm of the Cape getting narrower and narrower and enormous sand dunes rising up throughout. These dunes are protected and the one method to get out and discover them by automobile is with a licensed dunes tour.
We took a tour with Art’s Dunes Tours and cherished studying in regards to 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 exterior of Hyannis on a small non-public seaside the place we may watch the approaching and goings of the ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. We had enjoyable kayaking across the harbor however there are numerous locations on Cape Cod the place you’ll be able to lease kayaks and discover the harbors or salt marshes.
One well-liked kayaking vacation spot is Nauset Marsh, positioned inside the Cape Cod National Seashore. This space presents serene waters, lush greenery, and loads of wildlife, together with ospreys, egrets, and horseshoe crabs. Another choice is the Bass River, which flows by way of Yarmouth and presents a peaceable journey by way of salt marshes, tidal flats, and slender channels.
Bike the Shining Sea Bikeway
When 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 Hole, following the outdated New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad route, passing by way of salt marshes, cranberry bogs, and wooded areas. The path additionally presents beautiful views of the ocean, with a number of factors the place you’ll be able to cease to soak up the surroundings or stroll on the seaside.
If you’re staying on the Lower Cape, you can even bike alongside the Cape Cod Rail Trail as an alternative.
Visit Woods Hole
Many folks solely go to Woods Hole when they’re catching the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket, however it’s best to actually take a while to take pleasure in this charming little city. Located on the southwestern tip of Cape Cod, Woods Hole is legendary for its world-renowned marine analysis establishments, together with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and the Marine Biological Laboratory.
The village has a wealthy historical past relationship again to the 1600s when it was a fishing and whaling group. Today, you’ll be able to stroll by way of the quaint streets lined with charming retailers, galleries, and eating places. Families will benefit from the small Woods Hole Science Aquarium, which homes varied marine animals and presents interactive displays. There are additionally many eating places to take pleasure in recent seafood with beautiful water views.
Take a Day Trip to the Islands
If you’re staying on Cape Cod for every week or extra, chances are you’ll wish to take into account taking a day journey by ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard, two of the extra well-known islands off of Cape Cod’s southern coast. Ferries usually depart from Woods Hole or Hyannis, offering quick access to each locations.
Once on the islands, you’ll be able to discover charming cities, well-known landmarks, museums, and picturesque seashores. In Martha’s Vineyard, 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 Beach.
On Nantucket, wander the cobblestone streets of the island’s charming city, stroll to the historic Brant Point Lighthouse, go to the Nantucket Whaling Museum, or lease bikes to discover the island.