When I was a child, my family often vacationed on Cape Cod. The beachside towns tend to be quaint in their own unique ways, and there are many things to do and explore once you’re on the peninsula. In between exploring and adventuring, you’ll find that the Cape is a great place to just kick back and relax. You can enjoy the pristine natural surroundings and just lounge around with a good book. Here are some things to check out if you have decided to visit Cape Cod this summer:
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Music Festivals Throughout the summer, various music festivals take place in different parts of the Cape. If you like jazz, perhaps the Provincetown Jazz Festival, taking place August 17 and 19, will appeal to you. Tickets are $25 per concert. If free music is more your style, consider the free summer concert series taking place throughout the month of July and sponsored by TD Bank. The bands are always from the Cape towns, and they will be playing in Chatham, Falmouth, Harwich, Barnstable, Mashpea, Orleans, Hyannis and Yarmouth.
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Whalewatches A favorite of adults and kids alike, whalewatches give you the opportunity to set sail on the Atlantic Ocean, looking for a variety of marine life. Species commonly seen include minke whales, finback whales, humpback whales, gray seals and white-sided dolphins. Be sure to pack sunscreen, because being on the boats on the open water can net you a severe sunburn, even if it’s overcast or chilly on the day that you go. Depending on the boat, refreshments may be available on board.
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Enjoy the Beach A trip to Cape Cod wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t spend some time on one of the 115 beaches on the peninsula, taking up over 500 miles of unspoiled coastline! Some of the beaches are rocky and some are smooth, so be sure to stop by several in order to take advantage of all of the different types of coastline available. If you aren’t sure where you want to go, follow Rt. 6 or Rt. 28, or just ask some of the locals!
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Free Things to Do There are some activities sprinkled all around the Cape that are free. For example, you can participate in a free wine-tasting at the Cape Cod Winery in East Falmouth. Summer hours are Thursdays through Sundays, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. Learn about the history of the area during World War I at the French Cable Station Museum in Orleans, which is open during the summer only, form 1:00 to 4:00, Fridays through Sundays. Take a stroll down Harborside Commercial Street in Provincetown to browse the many shops along the way. You can also watch a free game played by the Cape Cod Baseball League, a non-profit organization that does not charge admission, but might ask for voluntary donations at some games.
If you have been to Cape Cod recently, is there something that would make a trip to the area complete? If so, share it with our readers in the comments section below!
