The Cape Cod peninsula stretches out into the Atlantic southeast of Boston, bending northward to partially enclose Cape Cod Bay. Small farms have always thrived in the gently sloping topography, and many of them still specialize in farming cranberries today. Cape Cod is a popular summer vacation destination for residents of Boston and New York because of its lovely sandy beaches and laid-back lifestyle.
Even while the beaches and tourist sites are busier in July and August, there are still uncrowded, serene spots to be found, particularly along Route 6-A and the long beaches of Cape Cod Bay on the quieter north side. The lovely islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard may be reached by ferries from Cape Cod's southern shore.
Come here to soak up the sun and join the photographers and artists who have captured the region's lighthouses, windmills, white-sand beaches, sea captains' residences, dunes, waves, and old shingle cottages with their cameras.
Let’s check out the finest spots of Cape Cod.
Table of Contents
Denis Port
Brewster
Orleans
Cape Cod Rail Trail
Cape Cod Lavender Farm
Hyannis
Whale Watching on Cape Cod
Pizza Barbone
Island Queen
1. Denis Port
Dennis Port, which bills itself as the ‘Cultural Center of Cape Cod,' is a beautiful area to visit with a variety of creative attractions. It's located in the south-central part of Cape Cod's gorgeous coastline and is known for its warm-water beaches, which are ideal for swimming and windsurfing.
The Cape Cod Museum of Art and the Cape Playhouse Center for the Arts, among its many attractions, obviously get the most visitors due to their impressive artworks and activities. The town, on the other hand, has a plethora of smaller galleries, as well as craft shops and cafes.
While many visitors come for the vibrant arts and culture scene, Dennis Port's natural beauty should not be overlooked. Its beaches are lined with picture-perfect homes, and the area offers excellent cycling opportunities, as well as some terrific sportfishing offshore.
2. Brewster
Brewster, located on the coast of Cape Cod Bay, is a charming town ideal for quiet retreats. Because it is located close to Nickerson State Park, there is plenty of beautiful natural beauty to be discovered, as well as hiking trails, biking paths, and campgrounds.
The village is full with superb restaurants, antique shops, and art galleries, and is dotted with beautiful fishermen's huts. Its most notable attraction is the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. Visitors can explore one of Brewster's surrounding beaches after viewing the town's extensive art collections.
Whereas the state park draws a large number of visitors, many others utilize the town as a base to ride along the scenic Cape Cod Rail Trail or walk through Sweetwater Forest.
3. Orleans
Featuring beaches overlooking both the Atlantic and Cape Cod Bay, Orleans has something for everyone, including warm and cool ocean beaches as well as picture-perfect dawn and sunset vistas. Historic pictures, paintings, porcelain, clothing, and toys are on display at the Meeting House and Museum, which is housed in a Greek-Revival-style edifice.
Some of the original equipment used to lay the transatlantic cable, which permitted telegraph communication between North America and Europe, is on display at the French Cable Station Museum. General Pershing communicated from France using this cable station during World War I, and the information that Charles Lindbergh had landed in Paris reached the United States through this station in 1927.
4. Cape Cod Rail Trail
The multi-use Cape Cod Rail Trail runs from Yarmouth to Wellfleet, following what was once a train route. Because of the breathtaking scenery, attractive beaches, and charming towns and villages that line the road, it is particularly popular to hike or cycle along.
Built to connect Yarmouth and Orleans between 1861 and 1868, it was turned as a recreation route in the 1970s and has since been utilized by generations of locals and tourists. While hikers, runners, and cyclists are by far the most regular users, the occasional horse rider or even cross-country skier can be seen from time to time.
5. Cape Cod Lavender Farm
Cape Cod Lavender Farm is one of the largest lavender farms on the East Coast, with approximately 14,000 lavender plants on 20 acres overlooking Island Pond near Harwich. The farm, which is run by Cynthia and Matthew Sutphin, offers a variety of lavender-based products such as home décor, culinary items, and mind-body-spirit products.
More than 10,000 people visit the farm each year, not just to help with the harvest (late June to early July), but also to see the gorgeous landscapes. Over 60 acres of lush trees surround the property, with numerous walking trails. Visitors can stock up on lavender goods such as bath salts, body butter, essential oils, soaps, and lavender lemonade after a relaxing stroll through the aromatic fields.
6. Hyannis
Hyannis, dubbed the ‘Capital of the Cape’, is not only the region's commercial and transportation hub, but also a popular tourist destination. It is a major Cape Cod tourist attraction. Many guests arrive by plane from all around the United States and go recreational boating or take ferries to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.
While it lacks the charm and ambiance of many of Cape Cod's other towns and villages, its revitalized waterfront is now a wonderful site to visit. Visitors can eat at one of the waterfront restaurants or visit some of the Cape's only shopping malls in addition to staring out over the fishing boat-filled waters.
There's also a John F. Kennedy museum and memorial to visit – the President used to have a summer vacation home in Hyannis.
7. Whale Watching on Cape Cod
It would be a pity to leave Cape Cod without taking a boat ride to see whales and other sea life—or simply to enjoy the scenery from the water. This is one of the primary and lucrative Cape Cod’s tourist places. Various harbors offer different boat tours. From mid-April through mid-October, boats depart frequently from the MacMillan Wharf in Provincetown for whale viewing excursions to the Stellwagen Bank Marine Sanctuary.
On trips lasting two and a half to four hours, trained naturalists will assist customers in observing finback, humpback, and minke whales. Similar whale-watching cruises depart from the harbors of Hyannis and Barnstable.
8. Pizza Barbone
Pizza Barbone started small, with entrepreneur Jason O'Toole selling exquisite wood-fired pizzas from a mobile pizza oven at farmers markets and festivals. Although Pizza Barbone has established itself in Hyannis, Jason and his wife Ali continue to travel with their mobile pizza oven to special occasions. The custom-built Stefano Ferrara wood-fired oven, constructed from rock and ash from Mt. Vesuvius in Naples, takes center stage at the Italian pizza.
The menu at Pizza Barbone includes a selection of genuine Italian dishes prepared with love and flair using seasonal ingredients sourced locally whenever feasible. Barbone uses high-quality Caputo 00 (double-zero) flour in its pizza dough, which produces the exceptional super-thin crust that is synonymous with Italian pizza.
9. Island Queen
A pleasant boat ride on the Island Queen allows visitors to cruise in comfort. The Island Queen sails daily from Falmouth to Martha's Vineyard, crossing the Vineyard Sound in about 35 minutes, and is the only cruise ship that sails between Falmouth Harbor and Oak Bluffs on a regular basis.
The Island Queen sails from late May to mid-October and is fully outfitted with comfortable seating, plenty of room to move around, and cutting-edge safety technology. Travelers will find ample parking near the boarding point in Falmouth, and they can bring their bikes with them to tour Martha's Vineyard on two wheels.
These were the popular Cape Cod sightseeing attractions. When you land here make sure to visit these places with your family and loved ones. You are guaranteed to have a memorable time here