If you are looking to travel to an East Coast destination this year— Cape Cod could be the perfect fit. You can stroll the long seashores, visit the locally-owned boutiques, or visit the islands. Keep reading to learn more about the sites and attractions around Cape Cod.
Key Takeaways
- The most popular time to visit Cape Cod is the summertime, due to the beaches. However, the shoulder season is also great, since the weather is still nice and there are fewer crowds.
- If visiting the Cape, you should also check out the neighboring islands, including Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. These are best to visit in the summertime (or around Christmastime for Nantucket).
- Cute downtowns to visit include Hyannis, Falmouth, and Chatham.
- Beaches that are worth checking out include Sandy Neck, Mayflower Beach, and the beach in Chatham.
When is the Best Time to Visit Cape Cod?
The best time to visit Cape Cod will generally be the summertime or shoulder season, depending on what you want to do and your tolerance for crowds.
Cape Cod is most popular in the summertime, due to its beautiful beaches. You will get the warmest ocean temperatures in July and August. If you are planning on visiting the islands (Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket), many places will also start to close after the summertime.
However, our preferred time to go is often in the shoulder season (September + October or April + May). It’s less crowded and the beaches are still nice (though it may be too cold to swim, depending on when you go). September down Cape Cod is particularly nice, since the beginning of the month is still really warm. Christmas time is also a great time to visit, particularly if you want to check out Nantucket, which does its annual Christmas stroll.
What to See in Cape Cod
1. Check out Main Street, Hyannis
Downtown Hyannis is filled with shops, bars and restaurants, which are locally-owned. It’s pedestrian-friendly and a fun place to catch up with friends, check out some cafes, explore art galleries and to do some shopping. In the summertime, there’s also plenty of outdoor seating at the restaurants and bars, so you can enjoy the beautfiul weather.
Even in the off-season and wintertime, Hyannis is a fun place to go. In the winter, the shops are decorated and almost resemble a Hallmark-style movie set.
Pro Tip: One of our favorite restaurants, Alberto’s, is right on the main strip. They have delicious Italian food. Plus, they get all decorated for Christmas, making it a really fun spot to explore.
2. Have Breakfast at Ann & Fran’s
Ann & Fran’s has been serving Cape Cod since 1975. Located in West Yartmouth, it is a very close drive to downtown Hyannis, making it the perfect stop for brunch on way.
Featuring a wide range of baked goods, breakfast, and lunch specials, this place is worth a stop. You’ll find a good range of menu items here, including classics such as omlets and pancakes. However, it’s also worth having one of their pastries or muffins, which are made fresh every day.
3. Take a Sunset Cruise
What’s better than seeing the sunset on the water with a drink in hand? Not much.
If you are looking to enjoy a beautiful day, consider booking a sunset cruise. There are a variety to choose from, which depart from various locations throughout the Cape.
4. Drink Some Mary Lou’s
Mary Lou’s is a South Shore, Massachusetts staple. SDancks worked at a South Shore location throughout high school and we still love coming here when visiting our parents or when we make a trip to Cape Cod.
Everything inside is pink and the coffee is roasted to contain flavors (without flavor shots – unless you ask of course).
Our favorites? We love the seasonal coffee flavors for iced coffee. These include Tirasmu and Pumpkin Spice. If you’re looking for something sweeter, we recommend the Mocchachino or Minty Lou.
Drinking Mary Lou’s coffee
5. Take the Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard
Martha’s Vineyard is perhaps best known for the location of the movie Jaws and for its vacation homes for celebrities.
This island is beautiful with beaches, local shops, and the famous gingerbread houses (which are all beautifully decorated). If you don’t have more than a day here, we recommend focusing on Oaks Bluff, which is easy to reach and has plenty to explore. Otherwise, you can easily take the bus to reach your final destiantion and to explore the rest of the island.
It’s easy to reach this island through either Hyannis or Falmouth and you likely won’t need to bring a car.
Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard (It was a very stormy day)
6. Watch the Sunset in Chatham in the Off-Season
This is one of our favorite beaches and there is something magical about the sunset in Chatham, especially in the off-season.
Walk by the lighthouse to get onto the beach. From here, you can witness some beautiful sunsets, which stretch along the coastline. The colors reflecting off the water are beautiful and the beaches are not crowded.
Sunset in Chatham
Lighthouse in Chatham
Please note: There can be great white sharks in Chatham. While it’s a beautiful beach, you have to be careful about swimming.
7. Eat at the Wild Goose Tavern
We love the Wild Goose Tavern, which is part of the Chatham Wayside Inn.
There is outdoor and indoor dining available, depending on the season you choose to visit the Cape. The decor is really fun, with geese located in the paintings and signs. Plus, it’s located right downtown, making it easy to explore the shops after catching a bite to eat.
Wild Goose Tavern sign
Wild Good Tavern painting
8. Go Whale Watching in Provincetown
There are several places to go whale watching in Massachusetts, and the very end of the Cape is one of them. Whale watching can include humpback, finback, and pilot whales. The captains on the boats are also experts and our guides could even tell us the individual names and histories of the whales we saw.
Outside of whale watching, P-Town is also a very cool spot to check out, with cool bars and restaurants. However, if you can’t make it all the way down, Hyannis also has whale watching tours available.
9. Walk Around Sandy Neck
Sandy Neck is on the upper part of the Cape and is a beautiful walk. You can explore the main path or the coastline. However, you are only allowed to drive if you are registered with a car that can handle off-roading, so be sure to bring good hiking shoes.
Sandy Neck Path
10 Visit Downtown Falmouth
Falmouth is another cute town on the Cape, located right near the coast. Check out the cute shops and restaurants here.
11. Visit Mayflower Beach
Mayflower Beach is beautiful, and it seems to extend for miles. Due to the limited parking, it also doesn’t get very crowded, making it a beautiful place to enjoy the sun.
Mayflower Beach
12. Bike to Cape Cod Rail Trail
The Cape Cod Rail Trail spans 25.2 miles. It connects several towns across the Cape with paths to the beaches.
13. Walk the Cape Cod Canal
The walkway of the Cape Cod Canal lines the shores of Sandwich and Plymouth, so you can choose to explore either side. It’s about seven miles of paved trail with beautiful views to enjoy.
14. Partake in the Christmas Stroll in Nantucket
Nantucket is not only popular in the summer months, but is also a big destination around the holidays. Around the first or second weekend of December, they host what is known as the Christmas stroll. Nantucket decorates the island, and the shops open back up for a short period of time. It’s a great way to celebrate the holiday season.
Christmastime in Nantucket
15. Do a Road Race
I did my first half marathon in Sandwich, Massachusetts and it was so much fun. Cape Cod has beautiful trails and scenery, which makes it a perfect destination if you are a runner. Not quite ready for 13.1 miles? If you visit Cape Cod in late August, you can do the Famlmouth Race, which spans 7 miles along the coastline.
16. Go to the Sandwhich Glass Musuem
I did this as a kid on a rainy day with my friend’s family and had so much fun. We got to see a demostration of how they create glass. The shop was also cute with tons of beautiful glass creations.
Final Thoughts
The Cape is a beautiful place, no matter the season. Any other locations you love down the Cape? Include them in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you Get from Boston to Cape Cod?
If you are planning to do both New England destinations, but are wondering how far Cape Cod is from Boston and how to get there, we got you. Cape Cod is about 1.5 hour drive (without traffic). Traffic can get pretty heavy in the summertime, so if you are traveling on the weekend, we recommend taking the train, also known as the CapeFLYER.
How Many Days do you need in Cape Cod?
Cape Cod is pretty expansive, starting in Sandwhich going to P-town. You could spend a full 5 days here, but if you’re local, a long weekend is also great!
Which is Nicer: Martha’s Vineyard or Cape Cod?
Cape Cod is bigger, so we prefer going here as our base and doing a short trip to Martha’s Vineyard. It’s very easy to get to the island from Cape Cod (with boats from Falmouth and Hyannis).
Is Cape Cod Expensive?
Cape Cod can be pretty expensive in the summer months, especially as it relates to housing and dining. However, the should season is usually much cheaper.
Relevant Posts
Visiting Cape Cod in Late August
How Far is Cape Cod from Boston?
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