Cape Cod is a peninsula in the state of Massachusetts that has become a popular tourist destination thanks to it’s beautiful scenery, unique culture, and excellent seafood. There’s plenty to do and see while visiting the iconic peninsula, and we’ll be taking a look at some of the best Cape Cod activities in this video! From visiting the gorgeous coastal town of Chatham to experiencing the exquisiteness of Martha’s Vineyard, join ViewCation as we take a look at the best things to do in Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Visit the Gorgeous Coastal Town of Chatham
The peninsula of Cape Cod is filled to the brim with charming little locations, and the gorgeous coastal town of Chatham is amongst the best of the best of them. Among the many popular tourist destinations located along the peninsula, the coastal town of Chatham has some of the most historical significance. Chatham has been in existences for centuries, and some of it’s historical landmarks date as far back as the early 18th century. The oldest notable landmark found within the town is generally thought to be the Godfrey Windmill, though the Chatham Lighthouse is a bit more popular. The Chatham Lighthouse, however, is far from being the only notable lighthouse that can be visited on Cape Cod.
Besides the Chatham Lighthouse and the Godfrey Windmill, there’s plenty more for historically minded tourists to enjoy while visiting the quaint coastal town of Chatham. There’s also the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center, as well as the Chatham Railroad Museum. The Chatham Marconi Maritime Center is a museum dedicated to the history of a notable short-wave radio stations that operated out of the town of Chatham for many years. Meanwhile, the Chatham Railroad Museum is a museum located within a former railroad station. Known as Chatham station, the location was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the late 1970s.
Check Out the Quaint Seaside Town of Provincetown
Another quaint and gorgeous seaside town that those that have found themselves on the peninsula of Cape Cod might want to check out is Provincetown. Provincetown sits on the very end of the peninsula, and is among the more picturesque locations that can be found along it. Stepping into Provincetown will make tourists feel as if they’ve stepped into another time and place entirely, and there’s plenty to explore while walking amongst it’s charming, little streets. Some of the most popular landmarks that can be found with the seaside location of Provincetown include the Provincetown Museum and the Pilgrim Monument.
The Pilgrim Monument is a massive structure that was built in the early 20th century to celebrate the original landing of the Pilgrims. Tourists can climb to the top of the massive structure, where they’ll be treated to once of the most encompassing views of Cape Cod that the area has to offer. Meanwhile, the Provincetown Museum is yet another notable museum showcasing interesting aspects of Cape Cod’s history. Specifically, the Provincetown Museum has an emphasis on the aforementioned landing of the Pilgrims, and the way that they changed the culture of the region.
Visit the Town of Falmouth
Another beautiful coastal location that tourists visiting Cape Cod will want to check out is the town of Falmouth. The town is located just across from Martha’s Vineyard, which is an island location that we’ll certainly be talking about later in this video. Although Falmouth is no Martha’s Vineyard, there’s plenty to do and enjoy within the coastal town. Some of the most notable landmarks that can be found within the town of Falmouth include Nobska Lighthouse, which is another amongst the many historical lighthouses that can be found on the peninsula of Cape Cod. Another notable landmark within the town of Falmouth is Falmouth Beach.
Check Out the Wilderness of Nickerson State Park
The majority of popular tourist locations that can be found along the peninsula of Cape Cod revolve around the region’s quaint culture. However, the area also has plenty of beautiful wilderness areas to appreciate. Many of the most notable of these can be found within the boundaries of Nickerson State Park. Whether you’re intending to camp for a couple of nights or just stay for the day, there’s an incredible amount of nature-lovers to enjoy within Nickerson State Park.
One of the most beautiful sights to see within the boundaries of Nickerson State Park is Cliff Pond, which is a beautiful little pond that feels relatively secluded compared to other areas of the Cape Cod peninsula. Adventurous visitors may want to take a walk around the Cliff Pond Loop Trail, which will give them the opportunity to see all of the beautiful bits of scenery that can be found around the peaceful location.
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Check Out the Village of Hyannis
There are numerous little villages located along the peninsula of Cape Cod, and one of the most notable is the quaint little village of Hyannis. Compared to the aforementioned towns, there’s quite a bit less going on within the village of Hyannis. However, that’s part of the reason that Hyannis stands out amongst Cape Cod’s numerous other popular tourist locations. Visiting the village of Hyannis is liable to offer tourists quite the reprieve. There a few culturally significant locations that can be visited within the village of Hyannis, and these include the Cape Cod Museum of Art and the John F. Kennedy Memorial. The John F. Kennedy Memorial is a monument that was created in honor of the assassinated president shortly after his death, while the Cape Cod Museum of Art is, as it’s name should suggest, an museum showcasing a plethora of fine art.
The village of Hyannis also houses a quaint, little beach by the name of Kalmus Beach. There are many, many beaches that can be found on the peninsula of Cape Cod, and Kalmus Beach is one of the more secluded. While this means that there are fewer attractions to be found along the beach compared to some of Cape Cod’s other beaches, it also means that it’s one of the better beaches along the peninsula to get some much-needed peace and quiet.
Finally, the quaint and secluded nature of the village of Hyannis makes it one of the best locations along the peninsula of Cape Cod to grab some authentic local cuisine. There are numerous restaurants that can be found within the village offering local seafood. While this is true of pretty much any populated area that can be found along Cape Cod, the restaurants in the village of Hyannis are something special. The most popular eatery that can be found within the village is inarguably Spanky’s Clam Shack and Seaside Saloon. However, there are plenty of less crowded locations.
Visit the Uniquely Named Town of Sandwich
We’ve already taken a look at plenty of the quaint, little towns that have become popular with tourists visiting the peninsula of Cape Cod. However, we haven’t yet broached the topic of the uniquely named town of Sandwich! The town of Sandwich sits at the based o the peninsula and faces the beautiful Cape Cod Bay. The quaint town is made up of a variety of different clusters, with some of those clusters being more or less populated than the others. The most attractive part of Sandwich is it’s general quaint charm, but there are also some notable landmarks to visit within it’s boundaries.
Some of the notable landmarks that can be found within the town of Sandwich include Heritage Museums & Gardens, as well as the Sandwich Glass Museum. Heritage Museums & Gardens features 100 acres of beautiful natural sights, while the Sandwich Glass Museum showcases a plethora of beautiful glassworks. The Sandwich Glass Museum showcases a variety of modern glass pieces, but it also showcases pieces of glasswork that date back to the 1800s.
Go for a Bike Ride Along the Cape Cod Rail Trail
If you’re getting sick of being boxed up in the car on your Cape Cod trip, you may want to rent a bicycle and take a ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail! The Cape Cod Rail Trail is one of many notable trails that can be found along the peninsula of Cape Cod, but it’s become one of the most popular thanks to the fact that it’s entirely paved. The trail is over 20 miles long, and biking it is quite the experience!
Experience the Exquisiteness of Martha’s Vineyard
While Martha’s Vineyard is technically a part of the peninsula of Cape Cod, it’s often lumped in with Cape Cod due to it’s location just south of it. Located just across the water from the aforementioned town of Falmouth, Martha’s Vineyard is undeniably one of the most popular tourist destinations in not only the area of Cape Cod, but also the entirety of the state of Massachusetts. In fact, Martha’s Vineyard ranks amongst the most popular tourist locations on the entire east coast!
It’s common for people to visit Falmouth and Martha’s Vineyard in one fell swoop given that two locations’ close proximity to one another. However, Martha’s Vineyard is certainly the location to focus on if you can only visit one of the other. Martha’s Vineyard offers some of the most stunning scenery that can be found in the region, and it also has a great deal of quaint, coastal culture to experience.
Some of the notable landmarks that can be found on the island of Martha’s Vineyard include the Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook, Joseph Sylvia State Beach, the Flying Horses Carousel, and Gay Head Lighthouse. Aquinnah Cliffs Overlook offers a chance to check out some of the island’s natural scenery, and Joseph Sylvia State Beach inarguably stands as one of the island’s most beautiful beaches. Meanwhile, the Flying Horses Carousel has been standing since the 1800s and is considered to be the oldest working carousel in the entirety of the United States. Finally, the Gay Head Lighthouse is yet another of the many historical lighthouses that can be visited around Cape Cod.
If quaint, little coastal towns are your things, there’s plenty to check out while visiting the Massachusetts peninsula of Cape Cod. Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that there are multiple historical lighthouses located along the peninsula of Cape Cod, and that nearby Martha’s Vineyard houses the oldest working carousel in the entirety of the United States? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more globetrotting ViewCation videos are on their way!