One thing people unfamiliar with the
Cape might not realize is that it's 500
square miles! There's no way you're going see it all in one day—so where should
you go and what you to do? Well, I'm going to tell you All About It!
Cape Cod is an arm-shaped peninsula with over 400 miles of coastline forming the
easternmost portion of the state of
Massachusetts.
Although Cape Cod was originally
connected to the mainland, the Cape Cod
Canal transformed Cape Cod into a large
island and to get to Cape Cod you must
cross one of two bridges. Cape Cod is
actually made up of 15 distinct towns
divided into four areas. Those areas are
known as the Upper Cape, including the
towns of Sandwich, Bourne, Mashpee, and Falmouth; the Middle Cape, and we refer to
it as the Mid-Cape, which includes the
towns of Barnstable, Dennis, and Yarmouth;
the Lower Cape, including the towns of
Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, and Orleans;
and the Outer Cape, which include the
towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and
Provincetown. Each of these areas and
towns offer different experiences and
feels. Are you looking to shop on Main
Street, maybe
take in a historical spot or two, maybe
take a ferry to one of the islands for
the day? Then you might consider staying in the
Upper Cape. The towns of Sandwich, Bourne, Mashpee, and Falmouth are all on the
Upper Cape and are the first towns you
reach when you come over the bridges. The
calm waters of the protected beaches in
Bourne are a fantastic way to spend the
day. Then there's shopping on Main Street
in Falmouth and perhaps a trip out to
Woods Hole to visit Nobska Light, or to
catch a ferry to one of the Islands. The
town of Mashpee boasts a local
shopping mecca: Mashpee Commons! There are
enough stores restaurants and activities
here to keep you busy for quite some
time! And Sandwich, the oldest town on the Cape, is home to many historical sites
including the Sandwich Glass Museum, The Hoxie House, and the Old Mill. Also
found in Sandwich are a number of
beautiful bayside beaches. If you're
looking for a good mix of family fun and
activities take a look at the Mid-Cape.
The towns of Barnstable, Dennis, and
Yarmouth offer many opportunities for
fun. From an inflatable park to the bike path,
and southside beaches and bayside
beaches, there is plenty on the Mid-Cape
to keep you busy. Barnstable is home to
several villages, one of them being Hyannis,
and perhaps the most popular
village due to its Kennedy connections.
Visit the Kennedy Museum while in
Hyannis or catch a show at the Melody
Tent. There are no bad seats at this
small venue! And the Cape Cod Rail Trail,
with over 25 miles of bike trails, pass
through the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth
on their way toward the Lower Cape. There are many opportunities to get off the
path to cool off at a local beach or at
an ice cream shop. Off of Route 28 in
Yarmouth and Dennis you will find a ton
of fun for the younger generation.
There's the Whydah Pirate Museum, a few
mini-golf spots, and the inflatable park,
as well as a number of southfacing
beaches on Nantucket Sound offering
waters full of playful surf, as well as
bayside beaches with calm waters and
tidal pools left behind to explore when
the tide goes out. In Dennis you will find
a thriving cultural center as well. Be
sure to catch a show at the Cape
Playhouse and the Dennis Cinema. And
don't forget to visit the Cape Cod Art
Museum, as well. Everyone knows there's no shortage of great beaches on Cape Cod
but if you're looking to visit both the
bayside and the oceanside, head to the
Lower Cape. The towns of Brewster,
Harwich, Chatham, and Orleans are packed
with amazing beaches. The town of
Brewster has 10 bayside beaches. Make
sure to check out the flats at low tide—
the miles of beach left behind are
perfect for beachcombers. If nature is
your thing, be sure to visit the Museum
of Natural History, as well, where you can
learn about the local natural life and
take one of our favorite hikes out to
Wing Island.
Farther down Cape is the upscale, seaside town of Chatham. It is one of the spots
for great shopping. A walk down Main
Street offers the opportunity to stop in
to many art galleries, iconic restaurants,
and on Friday nights there is a band
concert—a true Cape Cod tradition.
Another town center offering a number of
great restaurants and shopping is the
town of Harwich Port. Be sure to take in
the gorgeous views of Whychmere Harbor
on your way there. You'll also find an
incredible selection of south facing
beaches in the town of Harwich. And
speaking of beaches, one of the most
popular ones on the Lower Cape is Nauset
Beach and it can be found just down the
road in the town of Orleans. This quiet
hub of the Lower Cape offers more great
shopping, art galleries, and restaurants.
And finally, if you're looking for
relaxing, but with a little bit of spice,
definitely check out the Outer Cape. The
farther out you head, the more serene and
untouched you will find the Cape to be.
Not only are there tons of beaches on
both the bayside and oceanside within
short distance of each other, there are
incredible restaurants, most which have
stood the test of time, having been
around for decades! In Eastham you will
find world-renowned Coast Guard Beach
and Nauset Light Beach. These beaches are part of the many National Seashore
beaches that line the Outer Cape's
oceanside. In Wellfleet you will find
fantastic art galleries and shopping in
the town center, as well as the Wellfleet
Bay Wildlife Sanctuary offering
extensive hiking trails. And don't miss a
starry evening taking in the movies at
the Wellfleet Drive-In. It is the only
drive-in left standing on the Cape. The
beauty and tranquility of the town of
Truro will definitely set your mind, and
soul, at ease.
The rolling hills of the Truro Vineyards,
and the gorgeous panorama seen from
Highland Light are something not to be
missed. And then, my friends, the Cape ends
at my favourite town, the delightful,
colorful town of Provincetown. The site
of the Mayflower's first landing, this
town's history is rich and diverse. Once
a booming fishing village and artist
colony, it is now considered a gay mecca
and offers many incredible restaurants,
eclectic shopping, and gorgeous beaches.
So now you know all about the different
areas of the Cape, but if you're coming
for a visit you're going need a place to
stay . . . and I know where you can find one!
If you're ready to book your trip to the
Cape and Islands and need to find the
perfect vacation rental, definitely visit
our website, WeNeedaVacation.com. From
large to small, luxurious to modest,
WeNeedaVacation.com offers many
options when it comes to vacation homes
on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and
Nantucket. The best part of all? You get
to communicate directly with the
homeowner and we don't charge booking
fees! That's right, when you book a home
through our site, we will not charge you
booking fees. Save your money for
something else, perhaps a ticket to a
show at one of the Cape's many theaters
or a seafood feast and one of its many
awesome restaurants. Sounds good to me! As
you can see the Cape has a lot going on,
but now you know All About It!
