Cape Cod, a preferred trip vacation spot in Massachusetts, is residence to many stunning locations to go to. Whereas the Cape is extra of a summer time vacation spot, a few of these points of interest are literally open year-round.
Nevertheless, the perfect climate on Cape Cod is mostly in the summertime season. For those who plan to go to any of those locations, be sure you examine working hours to ensure it’s open throughout your journey.
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11 of the Finest Locations to Go to in Cape Cod
Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore
Make no mistake. Any of the Cape Cod seashores are pretty, from the serene boardwalk at Grey’s Seashore in Yarmouth Port (with shallow water) to the favored Mayflower Seashore in Dennis. Whether or not they’re on Cape Cod Bay or alongside the Nantucket Sound, these seashores are all standard vacationer points of interest. Nevertheless, a few of the most stunning sandy seashores are a part of the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore.
The Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore is a Nationwide Park that features 40 miles of shoreline, seashores, marshes, ponds, and a customer middle. It encompasses a number of seashores, together with Coast Guard Seashore, Nauset Gentle Seashore, Herring Cove Seashore, Marconi Seashore, Race Level Seashore, and Head of the Meadow Seashore.
In the summertime months, all of those seashores might be standard. So that you’ll wish to arrive early to get a parking spot. It’s the proper place for nature lovers and the most effective issues on the Cape. Be taught extra in regards to the Cape Cod Nationwide Seashore on its web site.
Cape Cod Inflatable Park
Touring to Cape Cod with youthful kids? The Cape Cod Inflatable Park, positioned in West Yarmouth, MA, is a good place for them to get their vitality out. Along with the biggest inflatable park in the USA, there’s the Depraved Waves Water Park. Each of those parks provide a great deal of enjoyable actions and points of interest for households.
When buying tickets, you possibly can select between shopping for single-park tickets or combo tickets. Park entry after 4 p.m. is discounted. Cabana and locker rental add-ons can be found for a further charge.
The Cape Cod Household Resort is positioned adjoining to the inflatable park. It consists of two buildings, the household resort and the household Suites, and pet-friendly rooms a block away. Company who ebook their keep instantly by way of the Cape Cod Household Resort additionally obtain combo tickets to the parks. Examine their web site for particular particulars.
John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum
Cape Cod is named the summer time trip residence of the Kennedy household, together with the thirty fifth president, John F. Kennedy. Go to the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum to be taught extra in regards to the Sixties and the Kennedy household.
The museum provides quite a lot of displays, together with one on JFK’s brother, Robert F. Kennedy. Hours are seasonal, so examine their web site earlier than planning your go to. Timed and dated tickets can be found on-line.
Pilgrim Monument
Provincetown, MA, is positioned proper on the tip of Cape Cod, and is among the most stunning locations. For a beautiful view of the realm, go to the Pilgrim Monument, a monument constructed within the early 1900s commemorating the Mayflower touchdown in Provincetown. The pilgrims initially landed in Provincetown and later sailed to Plymouth, MA.
To climb the 252-foot tower, you should purchase a ticket to the monument and adjoining Provincetown Museum. Timed advance tickets should be bought and embrace each the monument and the museum. It’s an amazing place to go to, and the monument provides stunning views.
Provincetown, on the Outer Cape, is among the many finest Cape Cod cities to go to. When you are in Provincetown, be sure you go to Business Avenue.
There, you’ll discover artwork galleries, eating places, and retailers which can be enjoyable to discover. Don’t miss the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery for some scrumptious treats.
Whydah Pirate Museum
Do you have got pirate-loving youngsters in your loved ones? Make sure you cease by the Whydah Pirate Museum in West Yarmouth, MA. As an alternative of specializing in the myths and legends of pirates, this museum focuses on genuine pirate artifacts discovered on a shipwreck.
The Whydah Pirate Museum is nice for each youngsters and adults. I used to be fascinated to be taught that a few of the myths aren’t true. You’ll additionally see the one genuine pirate treasure on this planet.
In contrast to different Cape Cod points of interest, the Whydah is open year-round. Hours and days within the low season are restricted. Usually, they’re open on weekends and through college holidays throughout winter, however examine their web site prematurely.
Timed tickets can be found prematurely, and it’s a good suggestion to ensure admission at a selected time (particularly within the busy season). Keep in mind that many households wish to go to the museum on wet days on Cape Cod, so buy your tickets as early as potential.
Cape Cod Rail Path
As you drive into Cape Cod from the mainland of Massachusetts, you’ll see many automobiles carrying bikes. A technique that households like to discover Cape Cod is by bike.
Whereas there are various bike paths and trails, the Cape Cod Rail Path is the preferred. It’s a 25-mile-long path for mountaineering, biking, and working. It stretches by way of six Cape Cod cities, and you’ll select to do exactly a part of the path. There are many parking areas, together with some free heaps, within the following areas:
- South Wellfleet Trailhead (LeCount Hole Highway)
- Nationwide Seashore at Marconi Historic Website
- Salt Pond Guests Middle in Eastham (which is 1/2 mile from the Locust Highway intersection with the path)
- Rock Harbor Highway, Orleans
- Orleans Middle
- Rt 137 Brewster
- Headwaters Drive Harwich
- Rt 134 South Dennis
- Station Ave South Yarmouth (the path finish on the japanese aspect)
Not planning to journey together with your bike? You can even hire bicycles for your loved ones from varied distributors all through Cape Cod.
Whale-Watching Excursions, Fishing Journeys, and Dune Excursions
When you are on Cape Cod, it’s an amazing concept to expertise a few of the space’s pure magnificence. There are many enjoyable issues you are able to do with youngsters, together with whale watching, fishing journeys, and dune excursions.
If you wish to expertise a whaling journey, some choices depart from completely different elements of the Cape. You’ll discover some in Hyannis, Provincetown, and different Cape cities. Whereas excursions run from April to October, peak season is June by way of September.
One other enjoyable exercise is fishing. For those who don’t have your gear, you possibly can take many Cape Cod fishing journeys. In case you are renting a trip residence or reside within the space, you possibly can have your fish filleted and packaged so you possibly can take it again your trip rental to prepare dinner.
A extra distinctive exercise is touring the dunes of Provincetown in an SUV. These excursions, which run from April to November annually, will also be organized privately. You could find out extra data from Artwork’s Dune Excursions.
Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past
Discover Cape Cod’s distinctive nature with a go to to the Cape Cod Museum of Pure Historical past in Brewster. This museum provides a butterfly playhouse, a small aquarium, displays, and trails.
One of many museum’s extra distinctive actions is the sector stroll, the place you possibly can register to take a 90-minute path stroll. Throughout this stroll, a naturalist will clarify the path’s ecological options. These walks are included with admission, however you’ll wish to examine the museum’s web site to seek out dates and instances once they’re provided.
Tickets to the museum might be bought on the door; they don’t seem to be offered prematurely. Whilst you might think about visiting the museum when the Cape climate isn’t cooperating with a seashore day, the museum’s out of doors areas are finest visited on a dry day.
Heritage Museums and Gardens
The Heritage Museums and Gardens provides 100 acres of grounds in Sandwich, MA. This museum features a hydrangea backyard, an herb backyard, a pond, and a lot extra. It isn’t particularly kid-friendly, so it’s best visited with older youngsters who could also be within the gardens.
Eager about seeing particular flowers? Their web site will let you recognize what particularly is in bloom every month.
The Heritage Museum and Gardens additionally hosts a preferred hydrangea competition every July. You’ll get to see varied species of that beloved Cape Cod flower.
Tickets might be bought prematurely and are dated. The museum is open rain or shine, though I like to recommend visiting on a transparent day if potential.
Nickerson State Park
Situated in Brewster, MA, Nickerson State Park is a well-liked Cape Cod vacation spot, particularly in the summertime. This 1,900-acre state park boasts 400+ campsites, eight freshwater ponds (4 stocked with trout), a motorcycle path that connects to the Cape Cod Rail Path, mountaineering trails, and rather more. The out of doors actions provided by this park are among the many finest issues to do within the Cape.
In season, a each day parking charge is charged, with a reduction for Massachusetts residents. For those who simply wish to use the Cape Cod Rail Path, it’s finest to park at a spot with a free car parking zone.
The Cape Playhouse
The Cape Playhouse is the longest-running skilled summer time theater in the USA, positioned in Dennis, MA. Along with conventional Broadway-style productions that run all through the summer time, there’s additionally an out of doors theater with kids’s exhibits. Examine their web site for particular particulars on exhibits, dates, and instances.
Different Fashionable Issues to Do on Cape Cod
Different standard issues to do and locations to go to on Cape Cod embrace the next:
- Attend a Cape Cod Baseball League sport
- Woods Gap Oceanographic Establishment
- Nauset Lighthouse
- Sandwich Glass Museum
- Chatham Lighthouse
Staying in Cape Cod
On the lookout for a spot to remain on Cape Cod? Search the map under for all kinds of accessible choices throughout your trip.
