MASSACHUSETTS

Boston

Cape Cod

Barnstable

Brewster

Chatham

Cotuit

Dennisport

Eastham

Falmouth

Harwich

Hyannis

Sandwich

Martha's Vineyard

North Shore

South Shore

Western & Central
 
CAPE COD - Massachusetts
 
The sun and sand playground of New England, with 300 miles of scenic coastline, bustling harbours and sandy inlets interspersed with wooded hills and fresh water ponds.  A 1½ hour drive down the coast from Boston will take you across either the Sagamore or the Bourne Bridge and onto 'The Cape'.
 
  • Restaurants
  • Pristine sandy beaches
  • Salt and fresh water fishing
  • Boating
  • Swimming
  • Hiking and biking trails
  • Wild life sanctuaries
  • Over 40 golf courses
  • Whale watching
  • Art galleries
  • Antiques
  • Performing arts
  • Shopping malls
  • Historical sites
  • Craft fairs
  • Cranberry bogs
NB July and August are peak holiday months on the Cape and you may experience heavy traffic on main roads and bridges.
 

SANDWICH - The oldest village on the Cape, it was first settled in 1637.  A quintessential New England village, with clapboard houses and picket fences, white steepled church, the river running into a mill pond and the restored working Dexter Gristmill.  Near to sandy beaches and the Cape Cod Canal.  Very good access to both the Cape and southern New England.

EASTHAM - Located between Orleans and Provincetown, there are golden sandy public beaches on the Atlantic - Nauset Beach - and on Cape Cod Bay - First Encounter Beach.  This was where the Pilgrim Fathers first met the Nauset Indians in 1620.  The National Seashore Visitor Center is well worth a visit and explains the formation of Cape Cod, its animals and plants, good for a pit stop if you are biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  This is a 26-mile walking and biking trail that stretches from Dennis through Eastham to Wellfleet and passes alongside salt marshes, fresh water ponds and groves of trees; bikes can be hired in Brewster.  In 1903 Marconi transmitted the world's first wireless message from nearby.

BARNSTABLE - Along Route 6A, the Old King's Highway - excellent whale watch fleet, lovely beaches and a short drive to Hyannis for the ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.  Good restaurants as well.

OSTERVILLE - Osterville must be one of the most beautiful towns on the Cape.  There is a slightly more sedate pace to life here than other places on the Cape.  Osterville offers a selection of art galleries, clothes shops, ironmongers, supermarket, restaurants, bank, needlework shop and general store.  A choice of good sandy beaches (Wianno and Centerville) with lifeguards, quiet inlets and boating.

BREWSTER - This is a delightful old sea captains' town on the coast of Cape Cod Bay, with all amenities, a choice of 8 miles of beaches on Cape Cod Bay, miles of biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail and golf at Ocean Edge Country Club.  Very good access to the National Seashore Reserve at Eastham.

HARWICH - Harwich and Harwichport overlook Nantucket Sound and adjoin Chatham to the east.

COTUIT - Located between Osterville and Mashpee this delightful old sea captains' village overlooks Cotuit Bay and Nantucket Sound.  Quiet inlets and sandy beaches.

MASHPEE - At Mashpee Commons you will find an excellent array of shops and restaurants; the area is well provided for walking trails, boat and bike hire and performing arts.  A 10 mile drive to either Falmouth or Hyannis.

HYANNIS - This is the main commercial city on the Cape, with access to both Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket by ferry and by air.  Made famous by the Kennedy family.  If you do not want to drive to the Cape you can reach Hyannis by bus from Boston and then use local buses around the Cape.  The historic part of Hyannis around the port is interesting with museums, shops and restaurants but it is surrounded by commercial sprawl.

FALMOUTH - Falmouth is a lovely seaside town with a selection of shops, restaurants and mall.  You can take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket from here.  Woods Hole, the National Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, is just minutes away.  Convenient location for day trips to Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts.

CHATHAM - Chatham is on the point of the elbow of Cape Cod, is surrounded by water on three sides and, with the town of Harwich adjoining to the west, overlooks Nantucket Sound.

DENNISPORT - Situated near the middle of the Cape, about 9 miles east of Hyannis along Route 28 towards Harwich and Chatham, this residential seaside town overlooks the warm waters of Nantucket Sound.  There is a selection of sandy beaches and salt marsh inlets, restaurants and local shops.  Access to the islands from nearby Hyannis.