Cape Cod
Discover Cape Cod
Cape Cod is an arm-shaped peninsula on the easternmost portion of Massachusetts. It is a well-traveled tourist and vacation area, featuring miles and miles of beaches, natural attractions, historic sites, art galleries and many four-star restaurants. The area is also very popular amongst antique enthusiasts and people who enjoy bed and breakfasts. Many opportunities exist here for golf, fishing and other outdoor activities. The town of Provincetown, at the very tip of the peninsula, is the site of the first landing of the Pilgrims. The towns closest to the mainland offer everything from great antiquing to dining out at some of Cape Cod's finest traditional restaurants.
What to Experience in Cape Cod
Taste of Cape Cod...
As is commonplace for a New England area, seafood restaurants are a regular sight. There is no shortage of restaurants in the entire region, both seafood and not. Wellfleet is well known for its shellfish, particularly oysters. At one time oysters were actually shipped there and put in the harbor to get the "distinct flavor." Cape Cod is home to many different types of places to grab a drink. There are all sorts of bars, pubs, restaurants with bars and so on. Nearly all are open in season (typically June–August), many are open for extended periods (April–October, for example) and fewer are open year-round. In the off-season it would be wise to call ahead or check the Google or Facebook profile of the establishments you are hoping to visit before making the trip. Like the rest of the country, the drinking age is 21; generally patrons who look under 40 will be asked to show ID. If your only photo ID is an out-of-state driver's license, you may encounter some difficulties purchasing adult beverages. State law is very specific in allowing only the following forms of ID as legal proof of age for alcohol sales: (1) a Massachusetts drivers license or non-driver ID card; (2) a US passport book or card; (3) a foreign passport; or (4) a US military ID.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsWhile there are a bevy of transit choices available to the arriving traveller, only one option is likely to make sense for you and your plans. Driving is of course the most popular, but the freedom it provides is balanced out by the specter of snarling traffic. It's possible to avoid the worst jams by driving off-peak hours. If you're headed to the islands, cars aren't ruled out entirely, but there will certainly be a pricy ferry or plane ride in your future. Finally, there are great public transit connections to both Provincetown and Hyannis. You won't be able to explore much further afield, but either spot makes a fantastic weekend getaway. Since the Cape Cod Canal severs this region from the mainland, visitors arriving by car must cross one of two bridges to alight upon the Cape. Think carefully about the time of day you cross! From Boston take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge....
Regions
Explore AreasCape Cod can be further sub-divided into the following regions: Cape Cod and The Islands are made up of a diverse array of cities, towns and villages. The towns closest to the mainland offer everythin…...
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
There are three main East-West routes around Cape Cod. Route 6, sometimes referred to as the Mid-Cape Highway roughly bisects the entire peninsula. Route 6 is a four-lane limited-access highway west of Dennis, drops down to two lanes from Harwich to Orleans, and is a two lane surface road from Eastham to Provincetown. Route 6A, is a scenic road along the Cape Cod Bay (north) shore. Loaded with antique and artisan shops. And finally Route 28, a busy mostly two-lane road through the southern part of Cape Cod. The main routes are linked by several busy North-South roads. The Canal Access Road connects the Sagamore Bridge Plaza at Exit 1 and the Bourne Bridge Rotary. This is the most direct route to Falmouth and Woods Hole from Sandwich and the Upper Cape. MA Route 130 (Forestdale Road), connects Exit 2 in Sandwich to Route 28 in Mashpee. MA Route 132 (Iyannough Road) is a major thoroughfare running from Exit 6 to the Central Business District in Downtown Hyannis.
Where to Stay
Cape Cod has a very large number of accommodations ranging from basic motels to plush spa resorts. Resort areas include Chatham, Hyannis and Provincetown. Many hotels are only open seasonally (April through October) and that prices can increase dramatically during the summer high season and during festivals. Cape Cod is also home to several campgrounds. One of those is the Bourne Scenic Park. The Bourne Scenic Park is a campground under the Bourne Bridge on the canal. It is a popular site that permits tent camping and trailers. It is also right next to the canal with easy access to the bike trail. The area along Route 6A in North Truro, just south of the Provincetown line is, for connoisseurs, the real Cape. This is "roughing it indoors" - the accommodations are not fancy - usually just one room, perhaps no kitchen or no drywall wall surfaces, and not very modern. For some, this is the real Cape—all the stuff south of the "elbow" is civilization.
Safety Information
Glimpses of Cape Cod
View of the grass by a beach on Cape Cod
a path to the beach leading to the ocean
Cape Cod sand dunes on a cloudy day
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Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
body of water near city buildings during daytime
a beach with houses and trees
white and gray wooden house near green trees under white clouds during daytime
Chatham Coast Guard Lighthouse
photography of whale
View of the grass by a beach on Cape Cod
a path to the beach leading to the ocean
Cape Cod sand dunes on a cloudy day