I’ve been wanting to visit Cape Cod for awhile now. As a matter of fact, it’s been high on my bucket list since I was younger. I’m easily influenced by movies and TV series that I love even if they’re fictional, and a lot are set on the Cape. From the wooden shingled houses, to the white picket fences, and the various colors of blooming hydrangeas, there’s something so charming about the Cape that has always caught my attention! Like I’ve shared before, I love places with a slower pace, so I felt at-home while visiting.
I’m a loyal Californian and fiercely protective of Santa Barbara, but I will admit that the beaches on the Cape are much cleaner and inviting! The sand is softer with a vibrant white color, and you never have to look too hard for a white Adirondack chair or a Mudslide.
Cape Cod is much larger than I realized! The Cape has 15 towns and is usually defined as Upper Cape, Mid-Cape, Lower Cape, and Outer Cape. We spent the majority of our time in the Upper Cape, but explored all of the various areas, as well as Nantucket. I still have a lot that I want to do, so I hope to visit again soon!
Cape Cod, Massachusetts
WHO THIS TRIP IS PERFECT FOR
This trip is perfect for someone who is looking for a beach getaway with white sand, but doesn’t necessarily want to leave the country. This trip is also great for any ice cream and lobster lover!
WHERE TO STAY
- Sea Crest Beach Hotel in Falmouth
- Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham
- The Escape Inn in Yarmouth
- ….or rent an Airbnb for a week!
WHAT TO DO
- Stroll Commercial Street and grab a lobster roll at the Lobster Pot in Provincetown.
- Try a “grilled” muffin! Life changing. You’ll never want a regular muffin ever again.
- Have a beach day! The beaches on the Cape are much cleaner than in California.
- Visit a lighthouse! There are lots of options, but I recommend the Nauset Lighthouse and the Chatham Lighthouse.
- Take a ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.
- Visit the Boat Basin and the Brant Point Lighthouse on Nantucket!
- Take a bike ride on Shining Sea Bikeway.
- Go wine tasting at Truro Vineyards.
- Heritage Museums & Gardens – Hydrangeas galore!
- John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum.
- Try a mudslide!
WHERE TO EAT/DRINK
- Breakfast at The Pickle Jar in Falmouth. Get a grilled muffin and a chai!
- Coffee at Coffee Obsession in Falmouth or Nirvana Coffee Company in Barnstable.
- Breakfast or lunch at the Lemon Press and lunch/dinner at Nantucket Tavern & Gazebo on Main Street on Nantucket.
- Lunch or dinner at Añejo Mexican Bistro in Falmouth or Hyannis.
- Lunch at Lobster Trap in Bourne (casual and always busy, but good food).
- Dinner at La Cucina Ristorante in Falmouth.
- Trading Post has good pizza.
- Dinner at The Glass Onion in Falmouth.
- Dinner at the Chart House in Cataumet.
- Dinner at Bleu in Mashpee.
- Mac’s Seafood – There are locations all over the Cape.
- New Englanders love their ice cream. so there are options everywhere you go. My favorite ice cream parlors were Jack + Charlie’s on Nantucket and Lewis Brothers Ice Cream in Provincetown.
HOT TIPS
- You’ll definitely want a rental car to drive around the Cape.
- People drive slow on the Cape, so add 10 minutes to your ETA. Time moves slower!
- Pick the towns you want to visit while planning your trip. Visiting all 15 towns on the Cape in one trip is unrealistic.
- While Provincetown is worth visiting for a day, I wouldn’t recommend staying there if you prefer a quiet and relaxing experience.
- Don’t drive if you are within walking or biking distance to the beach. The lots can fill up quickly during the summer and the parking fees can be as much as $30.
- Book ferry reservations in advance if you’re heading to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard.
