Cap Cod Guide
Cape Cod is one of New England's best-known vacation destinations, and
famous for its diverse and beautiful bed and breakfast inn
selection. Cape Cod (or simply "the Cape" to most New Englanders)
is an arm-shaped peninsula forming the easternmost portion
of
Massachusetts.
The Cape's small town character and beautiful beaches brings
heavy tourism during the summer months.
Although the Cape was originally connected to the mainland,
the Cape Cod Canal technically transformed Cape Cod into a
large island. Three bridges span the canal from the Massachusetts
mainland to the Cape. Vehicles can cross onto the Cape via
the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge, while a vertical-lift
railroad bridge also connects to the peninsula. Because of
the limited number of access points to Cape Cod, traffic backups
can be a problem in the tourist season. Commercial air service
to Cape Cod operates out of Barnstable Municipal Airport and
Provincetown Municipal Airport.
Cape Cod comprises almost all of Barnstable County. Two of
the county's fifteen towns (Bourne and Sandwich) include land
on the mainland, or the "off-Cape" side of the canal. "Cape
Codders," or people who live "on Cape," generally refer to
all land on the mainland side of the canal as "off-Cape."
Cape Cod consists of four portions:
The
Upper Cape is the section of Cape Cod closest to the mainland. This portion of the Cape includes the towns of Bourne,
Sandwich,
Falmouth, and
Mashpee. Falmouth is the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and several other research organizations, and is also the most-used ferry connection to
Martha's Vineyard. Falmouth is composed of several separate villages, and hosts the world-famous Falmouth road race, which is held on the 3rd Saturday in August. It draws more than 10,000 runners and showcases the finest runners in the world.
The
Mid-Cape includes the towns of
Barnstable, Yarmouth, and
Dennis. The Mid-Cape area features many beautiful beaches, including warm-water beaches along Nantucket Sound. Kalmus Beach in
Hyannis is a popular windsurfing destination and one of the first instances of open-space preservation in the United States. The Mid-Cape is also the commercial and industrial center of the region.
The
Lower Cape is the narrower portion of the cape, where it bends sharply to the north. This section includes the towns of
Harwich,
Brewster,
Chatham, and
Orleans.
The
Outer Cape is the outermost part, containing
the towns of
Eastham,
Wellfleet, Truro, and
Provincetown.
This area includes the Cape Cod National Seashore and is home
to some of the most popular beaches in America, such as Coast
Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. Provincetown
berths several whale watching fleets which patrol the Stellwagen
Bank National Marine Sanctuary. The city has also long been
known as an art colony, attracting writers and artists. Many
hotels and resorts are friendly to or cater to gay and lesbian
tourists and it is known as a gay mecca in the summer.
Cape Cod Lighthouses
Due to its constantly moving and dangerous shoals, Cape Cod's shores have long featured beacons which warn ships of the danger. There are numerous working lighthouses on Cape Cod and the Islands, including Highland Light, Nauset Light, Chatham Light, Race Point Light, and Nobska Light, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, which are frequently photographed symbols of Cape Cod. For more information about lighthouse visits and scenic boat tours, visit
here.
Cape Cod Golfing
Cape Cod is popular for its outdoor activities like beach walking, biking, boating, fishing, go-karts, golfing, kayaking, miniature golf, and unique shopping. There are 27 public, daily-fee golf courses and 15 private courses on the peninsula. For more information about these activities please visit
here.
