Cape Cod
A name that’s synonymous with long, sandy beaches and
rolling dunes, Cape Cod also offers biking, kayaking, summer
theater, art galleries, and challenging golf courses -- all this in
a peninsula known for its distinctive gable-roofed, gray-shingled
houses.
CHECK IT OUT
The Heritage Museums and Gardens features Americana,
antique cars, and the exhibits "Going Places" and "A Bird in the
hand ." In the port of Woods Hole, the mysteries of ocean life are
on display at the NOAA Aquarium and the Oceanographic
Institution. The seaside resort of Hyannis is the summer home
of the Kennedy family and the John F. Kennedy
Memorial and Museum. On the tip of the Cape is Provincetown, a
haven for artists, fishermen, and summer visitors. Whale watch
trips leave from here and Barnstable Harbor. Take a day trip over
to Martha's Vineyard on the M/V Island Queen. For a nostalgic
evening of fun, bundle everyone in the car and head to the
Wellfleet Drive-In for first-run double features. Hungry? Crack
open a lobster or order up a plate piled high with fried
clams.
Find great golf info about Cape Cod
GET ACTIVE!
Hike through the 27,000-acre Cape Cod National
Seashore, pedal the 25-mile Cape Cod Rail
Trail, or take your clubs to one of the Cape’s 27
public-access golf courses.
LOCAL LINGO
Asking for travel directions? Here’s what you need to
know. The “Upper Cape” refers to the towns and villages
just across the two bridges: Bourne, Sandwich, Mashpee, and
Falmouth. “Mid Cape” refers to Barnstable (including
the village of Hyannis), Yarmouth, and Dennis. The “Lower
Cape” refers to everything else: Orleans, Wellfleet, Chatham,
Brewster, Provincetown (often referred to as P Town), Truro,
Eastham, and Harwich.
WHAT'S NEW?
Arts & Artisans Trails of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket is a comprehensive guide to more than 200
artists, artisans’ studios and galleries on and off the
beaten path.
During the summer, try out the new Lower/Outer Cape Flex
Bus Route.
Cape
Cod Chamber of Commerce
DRIVING TIPS
Best times to drive to the Cape:
- Sunday through Thursday
- Fridays before 2 PM or after 9 PM
- Saturdays before 8 am or after 2 pm
Best times to leave the Cape (if you must)
- Monday – Friday (except Monday holidays between 2 – 9
PM)
- Saturdays after 2 PM
- Sundays before 1 PM or after 9 PM
Travel times to avoid:
Arriving: Fridays 2-9 PM. Saturdays 8 am – 2 PM
Departing: Sundays or Monday holidays 1 – 9 PM
Tips from people who live here:
Approach Cape Cod by the Bourne Bridge (Routes 195 and 495) instead
of the Sagamore Bridge (Route 3) especially as major construction
around the bridge resumes next spring. Some 25 percent fewer cars
use the Bourne Bridge in a year’s time. Saturday mornings and
afternoons are very busy on Cape Cod roads as guests check out and
arrive, and residents run errands. To save time on the road, travel
to the beach or go shopping early or late in the day.
On cloudy summer days, route 28 between Yarmouth and Falmouth gets
busy – so consider a bus ride on the Regional Transit
Authority.
Web cameras are installed at the bridge, along the scenic highway
(Route 6) by the canal and by exit 2 (outbound.)
