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Which One is Greatest for You?


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If you happen to’re on the lookout for a seaside trip you’ll always remember, the cities of Cape Cod are among the most good coastal villages you’ll discover in the US. And Cape regulars know this. When you’ve visited, this place tends to name you again time and again.

However which Cape Cod cities are good locations to say? That’s the arduous half, as a result of it’s completely different for each traveler!

First off, the Cape is far greater than most individuals suppose. It takes 90 minutes to drive from Falmouth to Provincetown — and that’s earlier than you consider summer season visitors.

For that reason, most vacationers have a tendency to stay to their part of the Cape, taking an occasional day journey in the event that they wish to go to someplace additional afield, so it’s all of the extra necessary to discover a city you vibe with.

Let’s check out the map to get your bearings:

The world closest to the mainland is the Higher Cape (Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, Mashpee) adopted by the Mid-Cape (Hyannis, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis), the Decrease Cape (Brewster, Harwich, Chatham) and the Outer Cape (Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown).

However past the geography, the Cape is a various place. You’ve bought busy cities, quiet cities, seaside cities, and typically two very completely different cities are subsequent door to one another. The Cape’s most rollicking social gathering metropolis, Provincetown, is subsequent to one of many quietest cities, Truro.

Begin by asking your self, “What sort of journey do I wish to have?” Would you like your Cape Cod journey to be quiet and filled with solitude? Would you like a giant seaside and many actions on your youngsters? Do you get antsy after an hour on the seaside and need plenty of attention-grabbing issues to do? Are good eating places and nightlife a precedence for you?

After which check out the part that feels like an excellent match.

I’ve divided the checklist of Cape Cod cities into 4 sections:

  1. Enjoyable Cape Cod Cities with Heaps to Do (Chatham, Provincetown, Hyannis, Chatham)
  2. Charming, Fairly Cape Cod Cities (Sandwich, Wellfleet, Brewster, Harwich, Yarmouth, Barnstable)
  3. Cape Cod Cities which can be All In regards to the Seashore (Dennis, Mashpee, Bourne)
  4. Quiet Cape Cod Cities for Getting Away From It All (Truro, Eastham, Orleans)
A path leading to a tall white lighthouse attached to a small house, underneath a bright blue sky.
The Cape is filled with beautiful lighthouses. Through Shutterstock.

Greatest Cities in Cape Cod FAQ

What are good cities on Cape Cod for teenagers and households?

Nearly the entire Cape is family-friendly, however I’d particularly suggest Dennis (West Dennis/Dennisport), Falmouth, Hyannis, or the villages of Bourne for excellent seashores and many kid-approved actions.

What are the very best Cape Cod cities when you don’t have a automobile?

If you happen to don’t have a automobile, I’d suggest Provincetown as your most suitable option, adopted by Hyannis or Falmouth.

What are some good, quiet seaside cities on Cape Cod?

If you’d like quiet, head for the Outer Cape (P-City excluded). Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham and Orleans are nice selections.

What are probably the most stunning cities on Cape Cod?

Robust query! Will depend on your private style, however among the really standout beauties are Chatham, Sandwich, and Orleans.

Each city on Cape Cod has a unique persona, and it’s necessary to search out out which one is finest for you. Let’s check out the very best cities of Cape Cod!

A man and woman with two toddlers walking down the street past Chatham Candy Manor and two galleries.
Chatham is filled with cute retailers and galleries, by way of James Kirkikis on Shutterstock.

Enjoyable Cape Cod Cities with Heaps to Do

I singled out these cities as a result of they’ve plenty of actions, eating choices, buying, and nightlife. If these are priorities on your journey — or when you have restricted entry to a automobile and need walkability — any of those 4 cities of Cape Cod would make an awesome selection for you.

Chatham

Chatham is quintessential Cape Cod, and when you have solely a brief period of time to discover the Cape, you received’t remorse spending your time right here. Based greater than 300 years in the past, this beautiful seaside city brimming with historical past is upscale allure at its finest! 

Situated on the southeast elbow of the Decrease Cape, you’ll get superb water views of each Nantucket Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. As probably the greatest and most central Cape Cod cities, Chatham might make an awesome house base for exploring your entire outer Cape, as there are a number of nice accommodations and resorts on this space. 

Biking is a improbable exercise and an effective way to see Chatham. Leisurely experience the Outdated Colony Rail Path, or pedal down the Scenic Bike Path to Oyster Pond Seashore. Seal recognizing is one other favourite pastime at Chatham Pier. When the fisherman return with their every day catch, it’s enjoyable to observe the seals beg for his or her lunch!

Chatham Lighthouse is an iconic fixture alongside the water’s edge and is open to the general public each Wednesday afternoon in July and August, and on choose days all year long. In a city that’s in no way cheap, their free excursions are nice for teenagers and adults alike. 

Due to its location, Chatham has many seashores to select from, however for a calmer seaside, the southern shore is the place to go. 

Important Road Chatham is a vacation spot unto itself. You don’t want a automobile on this city; merely spend the day strolling round to discover the retailers, eating places, and parks. By strolling Chatham’s loop you too can discover Lighthouse Seashore and Atwood Home Museum, ending up at Oyster Pond. 

The place to Keep in Chatham: The Captain’s Home Inn is a superb upscale selection with fireplaces and stylish beds. See extra locations to remain in Chatham right here.

People riding bikes down a pedestrianized street in Provincetown surrounded by white clapboard houses.
Provincetown is a queer capital with one thing for everybody! Through Shutterstock.

Provincetown 

Provincetown is arguably probably the greatest cities in Cape Cod, positioned within the far northeastern a part of the Cape. With its numerous inhabitants, vibrant LBGTQ+ scene, and an infinite array of issues to do for all ages, it’s no surprise P-town will get a lot love.

If whale watching is in your must-do checklist, you “must-come” to Provincetown. The official whale-watching season begins April 1st and usually runs by way of October. Happening a Dolphin Fleet whale watch is a convention for a lot of. You’ll get the chance to see fins, humpbacks, and seals, with beautiful views of Lands’ Finish as a backdrop.

Business Road is in some ways the respiratory coronary heart and soul of Provincetown. It’s three miles lengthy, so you could wish to tempo your self. Begin within the east finish, which is house to the Provincetown Museum of Artwork, with a collection of artwork galleries following shut behind. 

It simply will get higher from there as you head west, with tons of retailers, eating places, and candy treats alongside the way in which. Remember to attempt the Portuguese dishes that fill the native eating places. Even higher, you’ll be able to depart your automobile behind, as Business Road is by and enormous a pedestrian road. After darkish, this space comes alive with reside music and an lively bar scene.

The wharf is all the time abuzz with exercise with ferries to Boston and fishing charters; it’s the very best place for sundown cruises. As you wander the wharf, browse outside retailers for distinctive presents, with distributors promoting their locally-made arts and crafts.

With 45 miles of seashores in P-town, Racepoint is one in every of Cape Cod’s finest seashores. Managed by the Nationwide Park Service (NPS), the seaside doesn’t sit immediately on the Atlantic Ocean so doesn’t expertise the total power of the ocean waves. Herring Cove Seashore, one of many bigger seashores within the space, is nice for catching that killer sundown.

The place to Keep in Provincetown: If you wish to be near the motion, you’ll love Pilgrim Home, trendy, cozy, and central. See extra locations to remain in Provincetown right here.

Learn Extra: 22 Fabulous Issues to Do in Provincetown, MA

A pink sunset scene by the water in Hyannis, fishing boats parked in the harbor and people walking down the street.
Hyannis at sundown, one of the crucial taking place cities on the Cape, by way of Shutterstock.

Hyannis

Hyannis is positioned within the mid-Cape close to Lewis Bay alongside the southern aspect. Whereas Hyannis is technically a village within the city of Barnstable, I’m together with it on the checklist as a result of it seems like a standalone metropolis. It’s the Cape’s transportation hub with a tiny airport, together with a bus, practice, and ferry terminal. If you wish to take a day journey to Nantucket, it’s simple to do from Hyannis – simply hop on the ferry. 

In Hyannis, you’ll discover a hospital, clinics, buying malls, a number of resort chains, wonderful eating places, and boutique retailers galore. Important Road is brimming with eating places overlooking the Harbor. In the course of the summer season months this part of city comes alive with music, farmers’ markets, road performers, seasonal festivals, and extra. 

If you happen to like Mexican meals, Añejo Mexico Bistro is a must-stop, with outside seating beneath a stunning gigantic tree. 

One of many main attracts of Hyannis is its seashores! Remember to try Kalmus Seashore with its large stretches of sand dunes and calm waters, good for small youngsters to splash round in. You’ll additionally discover plenty of windsurfers and kite flying fanatics right here, because of the prevailing breezes. 

Veterans Seashore is among the prettier seashores in Hyannis with a small park, shade-filled timber, and luxurious garden areas. It’s also stuffed with seashells, so convey your sand buckets and go shell looking! Lifeguards, restrooms with showers, and a snack bar make this a improbable seaside throughout. 

Hyannis offers many nods to the Kennedy household and Veterans Seashore has a JFK monument, together with a Korean Conflict monument. The truth is, Hyannis has plenty of Kennedy-related sights, together with the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum the place you’ll be able to study all about his life in Hyannisport. The Cape Cod Maritime Museum can also be right here.

The place to Keep in Hyannis: The SeaCoast Inn is a superb mid-range choice, near each the city and the seaside. See extra locations to remain in Hyannis right here.

A busy dock with lots of boats and cottages in the background.
Falmouth’s many villages are hopping at evening — like Woods Gap. Through DepositPhotos

Falmouth 

Situated alongside Route 28 on the nook of Cape Cod’s southwestern shores, the city of Falmouth has eight villages, all with their very own distinctive character. It’s bought a really walkable Important Road, and for many who would like to go to within the low season, an awesome number of retailers, eating places, and lodging keep open year-round.

If you happen to’re visiting Martha’s Winery, Woods Gap in Falmouth is your jumping-off level, because the ferry to the island is right here. 

A preferred spot is the historic Falmouth Village with its retailers, museums, and nice eating places that may hold you busy all day. Loosen up from exploring with a leisurely lunch, then have a night cocktail at a classy pub or bistro. 

The easiest way to discover the pure fantastic thing about Falmouth is on two wheels! Alongside the Shining Sea Bikeway, experience alongside the ten.7-mile paved path that traverses 4 of the villages, from North Falmouth to Woods Gap. You’ll go by salt marshes, farms, and cranberry bogs with loads of spots to take a break and have a picnic lunch. 

Remember to go to the Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment (WHOI), then catch seal-feeding time on the nation’s oldest aquarium. With a number of seashores to select from, Silver Seashore has spectacular sunsets, whereas Chapoquoit Seashore is quieter and extra secluded. 

The Nobska Level Lighthouse is right here, too, and has stood overlooking Winery Sound for greater than 100 years. Right here you’ll be able to take a tour, discuss with volunteer lighthouse keepers about its colourful historical past, and snap some images. 

The place to Keep in Falmouth: There’s a improbable glamping choice at Autocamp Cape Cod, the place you’ll be able to keep in an Airstream trailer or different kinds of Instagrammable digs! See extra locations to remain in Falmouth right here.

A Victorian house with a wraparound porch, painted shades of green, yellow, and blue. There is a well-manicured flower garden in front.
If you happen to love Victorian structure, Sandwich is the Cape Cod city for you! Through DepositPhotos.

Charming Small Cities in Cape Cod

Are you coming to the Cape to take pleasure in picture-perfect cottages, hydrangea gardens, tiny ice cream retailers and pleasant museums? Check out these charming small cities. Any of those makes an particularly good choice when you’re coming from outdoors New England and excited to expertise this area culturally for the primary time.

Sandwich 

Alongside Outdated Kings Freeway, in any other case often known as Route 6A on the northern shoreline of the Cape west of Barnstable is Sandwich. It’d be robust to beat the allure of this village, the place you’ll see nary a lick of commercialism. Right here small B&B’s exchange sterile chain accommodations, exuberating genuine Cape Code quaintness.

The truth is, Sandwich is the Cape’s oldest city, so that you may be positive it’s brimming with historical past. Stately Victorian houses have been lovingly preserved by way of the centuries. The city lies on the jap a part of the Cape Cod Canal alongside Cape Cod Bay and is a simple drive from Boston. 

Whereas the village is tiny, there’s a lot to do. Lose your self in a day visiting Heritage Museum & Gardens. A set of three completely different museums, it has over 100 acres of gorgeous gardens, a treetop journey park, and an indoor carousel for the youngsters. 

The Sandwich Glass Museum homes beautiful glassware and showcases Sandwich’s illustrious place in historical past as a pacesetter on the planet’s glass manufacturing. Sure, you’ll be able to even watch a glass blowing demonstration. 

The Boardwalk in Sandwich is a tremendous ending to the day or very first thing within the morning because the solar rises over the Cape. Right here you will get an excellent style of Cape Cod Bay as you cross marshlands with considerable wildlife, ending with a big expanse of seaside. For much more nature, the Shawne-Crowell State Forest boasts greater than 15 miles of climbing and horseback using trails.

The place to Keep in Sandwich: The Dan’l Webster Inn and Spa is as elegant and delightful because the city itself and undoubtedly the place to remain for a particular getaway. See extra locations to remain in Sandwich right here.

A wooden footbridge leading through a marsh area on the Cape.
Uncle Tim’s Bridge in Wellfleet, one of the crucial charming Cape Cod cities, by way of DepositPhotos.

Wellfleet

Driving up the jap arm of the Outer Cape, nature lovers will admire the ambiance of Wellfleet, a real gem alongside the New England shoreline. Right here, bike paths and nation roads finish with inviting kettle ponds and dramatic seaside surroundings. Right here, discovering solitude is straightforward. 

Massive cliffs dominate the seashores right here alongside the Atlantic and the waters are surprisingly calm. The sunsets are spectacular and whale sightings will not be uncommon. Marconi Seashore is booming, whereas Whitecrest Seashore presents a quieter respite.

For many who love buying, eating, and gallery-hopping, Wellfleet is your city. Simply keep in mind to go to the harbor for probably the greatest locations for just-caught seafood within the space. Oysters, anybody?

A haven for artists, foodies, and nature lovers alike, issues right here run at a slower tempo, and it’s considerably distant. Stroll round most any a part of city and also you’ll probably hear bells ringing at odd hours of the day. That’s as a result of the City Clock, located above the First Congregational Church, is the one one on the planet that also chimes on “ship’s time.”

Right here on the Outer Cape, the Beachcomber is THE spot for an awesome meal, a cocktail, and an evening of leisure, with a killer view to match. Not up for nightlife? How about an old style drive-in movie show? One of many few left within the U.S., the Wellfleet Drive-In is nostalgia at its absolute best, exhibiting first-run double options on a 100-foot display.

If you happen to had been questioning the place the character is available in, the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary is it. Over 900 acres characteristic nature trails the place you’ll be able to spot uncommon birds and different wildlife. Sea excursions are supplied all through the season.

The place to Keep in Wellfleet: Try the Even’tide Resort Motel & Cottages, the place you have got comfortable well-decorated rooms and the property has an indoor pool for wet days. See extra locations to remain in Wellfleet right here.

A white store with a sign reading The Brewster Store, people sitting on a bench on its porch, hydrangea bushes in front.
Don’t miss the Brewster Retailer, a Cape Cod mainstay! Through Arthur Villator on Shutterstock.

Brewster 

One other nice city with that previous Cape Cod ambiance, Brewster lies alongside Outdated King’s Freeway 6A close to the “criminal of the elbow” of the Decrease Cape. Bordering the saltwater shoreline of Cape Cod Bay, it is usually often known as “Sea Captains City.” You’ll discover shaded nation lanes, fairly residential neighborhoods, and quiet seashores. Suppose historic allure with a contemporary aptitude.

This can be a quiet city, however that’s not for an absence of issues to do! Lively individuals will take pleasure in biking, golf, mini-golf, fishing, tennis, horseback using, kayaking, and shellfishing. These with extra subdued needs will discover historic websites, reside theater, museums, vintage buying, galleries, and the Brewster Retailer, in all probability the very best basic retailer you’ll ever end up in.

The Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past is a giant draw, with plenty of hands-on reveals celebrating nature. Whether or not or not you have got youngsters, the “Mudflat Mania” seaside exploration program is to not be missed. 

Nickerson State Park is a beautiful spectacle of two,000 acres filled with woodlands, kettle ponds, climbing and biking trails, serene tenting spots — all alongside the water. Consumers will take pleasure in Important Road with its bookstore, vintage store, and HandCraft Home. The Lemon Tree Village Retailers have galleries and artisan items.

Brewster additionally has among the most extremely rated B&Bs on the Cape, making for a really romantic house base to discover your entire space. However whether or not you’re with a pal or by yourself, make sure you seize a motorbike and discover the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail Path, which runs by way of Brewster and several other different cities. 

The place to Keep in Brewster: Probably the greatest properties on the town is the Outdated Manse Inn, a very elegant mattress and breakfast the place they spoil you splendidly. See extra locations to remain in Brewster right here.

A garden area with red and purple flowers in front af a harbor full of small speedboats and sailboats.
A fairly backyard with a view in beautiful Harwich, by way of Shutterstock.

Harwich

Situated on the southeastern shoreline of Cape Cod, Harwich is a captivating city; upscale but unpretentious, and made up of seven distinctive villages. It’s also summer season competition central right here on the Cape. A few notables are the Brooks Park Arts & Crafts Pageant in August and Cranberry Arts & Music Pageant in September.  

Right here the seashores are divine, similar to Crimson River Seashore and Nice Highway Seashore. With three harbors and freshwater ponds, you’ll be able to guess that boating and freshwater fishing are fairly large right here. 

With many cranberry bogs, taking a tour is a should! The mighty cranberry has an illustrious historical past with roots firmly planted proper right here in Harwich. Truckloads of cranberries are harvested each autumn, and the Cape Farm & Cranberry Firm presents guided excursions from spring by way of fall.

June and July is lavender season, and the Cape Cod Lavender Farm is a very nice place to wander the footpaths of a lavender area and browse great lavender-centric merchandise. The Cape Cod Rail Path additionally runs by way of Harwich from Dennis to Wellfleet for some exploration on two wheels. 

Wine lovers will probably be happy to know that First Crush Vineyard has tastings to supply or to only hand around in their tasting room and have a full glass (or three). Shows of winemaking instruments all through the many years present an attention-grabbing backdrop to your expertise.

Harwich’s location means it’s additionally an awesome house base for day journeys to different components of the Cape. No matter your lodging type, there are upscale resorts in addition to extra down-to-earth cozy B&Bs and trip leases. 

The place to Keep in Harwich: I like the Winstead Inn, the place the rooms are adorned in a contemporary Victorian type (wallpaper aplenty!), the grounds have stunning gardens, and there’s a free shuttle to the seaside. See extra locations to remain in Harwich right here.

It looks like an ocean beach, but you can see one quadrant is solid red because it's covered with cranberries.
Cranberries being harvested in South Yarmouth, Massachusetts on a sunny blue sky day in Cape Cod.

Yarmouth

There are undoubtedly two sides to the central Cape Cod city of Yarmouth — each equally interesting for the Cape Cod vacationer. Alongside Cape Cod Bay lies the village of Yarmouth Port, with its cute-as-a-button allure and peaceable setting. Go a bit south and issues get extra lively.

Bass Gap Boardwalk is a superb place to take pleasure in a little bit of scenic nature because it stretches out over the salt marshes of Cape Cod Bay for a tremendous sundown. As you’re happening Route 6A by way of city, flip at Heart Road to Grey’s Seashore and also you’re there.

Attempt your hand at crabbing at Crab Creek, often known as probably the greatest spots for blue crabbing on The Cape. Gear leases can be found close by so you’ll be able to catch a bucket filled with dinner. At Bass River Kayaks you’ll be able to hire a paddleboard or kayak if you wish to get out on the water on the Bass River.

If you happen to love mini golf, Pirates Cove has a spectacular 18-hole mini course filled with enjoyable additions similar to waterfalls, a full-size pirate schooner, and extra to make it entertaining and difficult. There’s additionally Cranium Island Journey Golf and Sports activities World, in addition to the Whydah Pirate Museum

Beachgoers ought to undoubtedly hit up Seagull Seashore, Smuggler’s Seashore, and Grey’s Seashore. For these already partaking the Cape Cod Rail Path, it passes proper by way of Yarmouth connecting it to close by cities. 

The place to Keep in Yarmouth: I like the Village Inn in Yarmouth Port, set in an previous captain’s home with plenty of area for having fun with the grounds. See extra locations to remain in Yarmouth right here.

A gray clapboard house in a beach next to a white lighthouse.
The Sandy Neck Lighthouse in West Barnstable, Cape Cod, by way of Shutterstock.

Barnstable

Town of Barnstable is to not be confused with the county of Barnstable, which encompasses the entire of Cape Cod. Because the Cape’s largest city, Hyannis, West Barnstable, Centerville, Osterville, Cotuit, and Marstons Mills villages are all inside its metropolis limits. 

Since we’ve already mentioned the superior issues to do in Hyannis, we’ll discuss in regards to the large attracts within the different villages in Barnstable. Most notable is Craigville Seashore, its smooth white sand and crystal blue waters. Then while you want a candy deal with, head to 4 Seas Ice Cream and a go to to 1856 Nation Retailer. 

The quiet village of Cotuit is bordered on three sides by water, so it ought to come as no shock that kayaking, fishing, and boating are large right here. Artwork fanatics could admire the Cahoon Museum of American Artwork. Close by, the village of Marstons Mills is the one landlocked village in Barnstable. Right here you’ll be able to go to the Cape Cod Airfield.

In Osterville, stroll the primary a part of the village with its nice focus of boutique retailers, eating places, artwork galleries, and beautiful seashores. In West Barnstable, make sure you go to Sandy Neck Seashore with its giant swath of dunes and wetlands. 

In Barnstable Village, simply off Important Road, you’ll discover a seaside, a fish market, a restaurant, and most notably the Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises.  

However when you actually wish to savor one of many many Cape flavors, have a Goat Expertise at Triple H Farm. It’s the quintessential Cape Cod farm expertise, with chickens, and most of all…goats! Company can feed, milk, brush, and hang around with the goats as your host talks in regards to the farm and every day life right here. 

You’ll stroll below mature cedar, oak, and maple timber, peppered with vibrant rhododendrons and hydrangeas. There’s additionally an illustration of how goat milk cleaning soap is made and also you’ll get to take a pattern house.

The place to Keep in Barnstable: If you wish to convey your pet down the Cape, you’ll be able to’t do higher than Lion and Lamb, a basic Cape Cod inn that welcomes animals and but seems like a small luxurious resort. See extra locations to remain in Barnstable right here.

A wooden staircase and footbridge leading over the sand dunes to a beach as the sun sets, the sky colors fiery orange, pink, and purple.
Company Seashore in Dennis at sundown, by way of Shutterstock.

Cape Cod Cities Which might be All In regards to the Seashore

If you happen to’re seeking to spend your days on the seaside, these cities have among the finest seashores on the Cape. Every of those cities is enormously family-friendly, making them an awesome choice when you’re visiting Cape Cod along with your youngsters.

Dennis 

A quaint city that’s filled with historical past, Dennis lies alongside Outdated Kings Freeway 6A alongside the Cape’s mid-northern shores. The city had the necessary distinction of being an “All-American City” a number of years again. 

Very like Yarmouth, Dennis has two distinct faces – West Dennis and Dennisport seems like a busy resort, whereas Dennis Village and East Dennis are extra relaxed and rural. Each provide fabulous lodging and quite a lot of actions. 

If seashores are your factor, Dennis is the place to go, with shoreline on each Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay. On the Cape Cod Bay aspect of issues, Mayflower Seashore presents calm waters and expansive shore, tailored for stress-free within the sand all day. Equally, Company Seashore has great tidepools and placid waters. 

Alternatively, West Dennis Seashore lies on Nantucket Sound and is surrounded by a number of different seashores. With loads of trip leases on this space, West Dennis makes for an awesome house base for exploring a lot of your entire Cape. 

Get your nostalgia repair and step again in time a number of years circa the Thirties and catch a basic cinema present at Cape Cinema. The beautiful decor of the theater options plush seating and fancy velvet drapes overlaying the display till showtime. The Cape Playhouse, the place Humphrey Bogart as soon as carried out, has been operating since 1927.

Nice views are available at Scargo Tower, the best level within the Cape. Don’t neglect your digital camera! You’ll wish to seize the 360-degree views. 

The place to Keep in Dennis: Sesuit Harbor Home in East Dennis is a stunning inn set again from the insanity, only a 15-minute stroll from the seaside. See extra locations to remain in Dennis right here.

A calm green-blue harbor, a long skinny sand island stretching across and penning it in.
Thacher Island and Popponesett Bay in Mashpee, a enjoyable seaside city in Cape Cod, by way of Shutterstock.

Mashpee

With wealthy Indigenous heritage, the Higher Cape city of Mashpee is a really completely different city than when the Wampanoag tribe first inhabited Cape Cod. Thankfully, many Wampanoag of us nonetheless reside shut by Mashpee, which makes the expertise of visiting this city all of the richer.

Consisting of a number of villages, Mashpee is a superb place to probe for a day. Your complete Mashpee Frequent is a buying mecca and is definitely walkable, the place upscale chain shops are met with distinctive locally-owned boutique retailers. 

Nice eating places and locations to get a candy deal with are simply ready to be sampled. For probably the greatest lobster rolls on the Cape, head to the Uncooked Bar at Popponesset. Naukabout Brewery is my decide for grabbing an awesome craft beer and a few epic pub meals. Naukabout interprets to “doing what you like to do while you’re completed doing what you must do.”

Remember to cease by the Wampanoag Tribal Museum for a style of what life was like earlier than the English settlers got here. This tribe has lived within the Cape for 1000’s of years, from the Stone Age to the current day, and this museum has been thoughtfully curated with a beautiful vary of reveals. 

In Mashpee, many scenic seashores await, a few of that are open solely to residents. Remember to try South Cape City Seashore and the South Cape Seashore State Park.

The place to Keep in Mashpee: One good spot is The Membership at Seabury, the place they’ve one- and two-bedroom condos obtainable in a beachfront complicated. See extra locations to remain in Mashpee right here.

Waves cascading on a wide sandy beach.
Scusset Seashore in Bourne, north of the Sagamore Bridge in Cape Cod, by way of Shutterstock.

Bourne

Bourne is the primary city you’ll hit after touring throughout the Sagamore Bridge, spanning each side of the Cape Cod Canal. What’s attention-grabbing about Bourne is that it has two faces: the northern half is busier and consists of the villages of Bournedale and Buzzards Bay. This space is among the Cape’s finest stored secrets and techniques as you don’t must cope with the visitors on the bridge. 

The southern half is rural and quiet — the right place for a relaxed day journey — and encompasses the villages of Monument Seashore, Grey Gables, Pocasset, and Cataumet. Bourne sees shoreline not solely alongside Cape Cod Bay however alongside the canal which separates the Cape from the mainland. This canal may be regarded as the centerpiece of city and is a hub of exercise. 

Biking, strolling, and in-line skating are in style pastimes on the canal. For an distinctive path, don’t miss the Bourne Sisters Woodland, Crimson Brook Pond Conservation Space, and Little Bay & Monks Park. 

Alongside this 7-mile stretch, entry spots to the water and epic viewing areas may be had, so convey your digital camera. Alongside your entire width of the canal spans the Railroad Bridge — the second longest vertical elevate bridge on the planet! 

Remember to hit the Nationwide Marine Life Heart, which consists of an training heart in addition to an animal hospital. And the Aptucxet Buying and selling Put up is a enjoyable cease and is the positioning of the first-known buying and selling spot between the indigenous Wampanoags and newly arrived Dutch settlers again within the 1600s.

The place to Keep in Bourne: It could be a series resort, however the Hampton Inn at Cape Cod Canal in Buzzards Bay comes extremely really helpful by households. See extra locations to remain in Bourne right here.

A small gray cottage with a white picket fence next to a white lighthouse.
The Highland Mild in Truro, one in every of Cape Cod’s most well-known lighthouses, by way of DepositPhotos.

Quiet Cape Cod Cities for Getting Away from It All

Generally you simply have to get away from all of it. Sitting on a chair, studying a guide, basking within the quietude and unplugging out of your busy life! If that’s what you’re on the lookout for in a Cape Cod trip, these are the very best cities for you.

Truro

For a quiet respite near the bustle of Provincetown, head simply south to Truro. Nature lovers will swoon over the sand dunes blanketing the coastlines on each the Cape Cod Bay and Atlantic sides. It’s an space that’s positive to impress with among the many most beautiful surroundings in the entire Cape communities.

Pay a go to to Highland Mild, the Cape’s oldest and tallest lighthouse (circa 1797), standing 66 toes excessive. From April by way of October, guests can climb this lighthouse to the highest for wonderful views. Golfers will admire the Cape’s oldest (and most scenic) golf programs proper subsequent door, referred to as Highland Hyperlinks.

For a little bit of historic context, the primary English settlers initially got here to what’s Provincetown at the moment, then moved south to Truro. Consequently, there’s a ton of historical past to be discovered alongside each shores and is among the many options that make this space quintessential Cape Cod. 

The truth is, over half of Truro’s land space is a part of the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore, with mile after mile of unspoiled sandy seashores. 

Wine lovers will admire Truro Vineyards for a day of wine tasting, positioned simply subsequent to the Nationwide Seashore. Take pleasure in wine tasting on their spacious pavilion and take a free guided tour of the winery and state-of-the-art barrel room. Be taught in regards to the maritime artwork of grape rising, producing the wine’s intense flavors. 

The attractive seashores of Truro provide a number of slices of salty-air heaven. Sandy paths line the dunes of Ryder and Corn Hill Seashore on the bay aspect, with calm waters and expansive views. On the ocean aspect, infinite miles of pure seashores are protected by the Nationwide Seashore. Ballston Seashore, Head of the Meadow Seashore, and Look Nook Seashore are all favorites. 

The place to Keep in Truro: One hidden gem is Sandbars Inn in North Truro, with stunning studios with kitchen amenities and an awesome location proper on the seaside. See extra locations to remain in Truro right here.

Large beach houses perched precariously on a sand dune hill, leading down to the ocean. It looks like one storm would end up knocking the houses down.
Thumpertown Seashore in Eastham, Cape Cod, with its beachside cottages.

Eastham

If quiet is what you search, Eastham is the place for you, with mild waters as well. Situated on Cape Cod’s outer arm, right here you’ll discover Three Sisters of Nauset Lighthouse, a historic construction simply across the nook from Nauset Mild. It’s also house to one of many final standing windmills on Cape Cod, simply off of Route 6.

The historic significance right here is nice, as it’s the place the Mayflower Pilgrims first met Native People. Eastham has a number of particular nooks and crannies to discover, similar to Hemmingway Touchdown and Fort Hill, with spectacular views. 

The Cape Cod Rail Path runs by way of Eastham and about one third of the city is a part of the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore.

Hit up the Crimson Barn for excellent pizza and one of the crucial reasonably priced mini golf spots on the Cape. A lot of Eastham has not modified a lot in any respect for the reason that 60s, the place many people will nonetheless smile and say whats up as you go them on the road. 

A seaside city to the core, Eastham has shorelines on each the bay and ocean aspect. Some of the in style seashores within the U.S. is right here, the Atlantic’s Coast Guard Seashore. First Encounter Seashore is an alternative choice — a bay aspect seaside that gives a quiet respite from the previous, with calm water and expansive views. 

The place to Keep in Eastham: Rugosa Visitor Home is a gem in Eastham, with beautiful rooms and an awesome location handy for exploring the world. See extra locations to remain in Eastham right here.

A small garden area with purple hydrangea bushes right along the coastline.
Orleans blends nice seashores and delightful nature in one of the simplest ways, by way of Shutterstock.

Orleans

Orleans is among the most stunning cities of Cape Cod, set within the criminal of the arm of Cape Cod. Seashore lovers ought to to go to Orleans’ Nauset Seashore – constantly acknowledged as one of many Cape’s finest. In the course of the summer season months, that is the place to flee the bustle of vacationers, and the low season is much more peaceable!

Orleans has a pleasant mixture of pleasant, small-town tradition and nature actions. Bike trails, stunning seashores, and parks are balanced properly with t-shirt retailers, ice cream stands, museums, mini golf, and playgrounds for the youngsters. S

Tradition abounds right here and Orleans has been designated a Cultural District within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Stroll the primary road and also you’ll discover a veritable buffet of artwork galleries such because the Artisan Cottages, Tree’s Place, and Addison Artwork Gallery, to call however a number of. The Orleans Historic Society presents reveals, strolling excursions, and lectures. 

Fishing is a giant exercise right here, and when you fancy a fishing constitution, there’s loads of alternatives to moist a line and catch your dinner at Rock Harbor. The truth is, each Rock Harbor and Skaket Seashore are the right spots to catch the sundown.

The meals scene is fairly eclectic as nicely, with funky spots just like the Jailhouse Tavern. True to its identify, this was the positioning of a former jail! The Hog Island Beer Co and The Barley Neck are two different joints to take a look at. 

With a whole lot of trip leases, fairly a number of B&Bs, inns, accommodations, and motels, Orleans makes for an awesome base for exploring the Cape. 

The place to Keep in Orleans: If you wish to be strolling distance to locations to eat, the Cove Motel is well-situated with well-designed rooms. See extra locations to remain in Orleans right here.

Extra on Massachusetts:

Better of Boston:

Have you ever been to Cape Cod? What are your favourite cities? Share away!

The 16 Towns of Cape Cod: Which One is Best for You?

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