All About Cape Cod
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With its beaches, lakes, rivers and parks, Cape Cod is a haven for outdoor activity. The waters of Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay are very pleasant for swimming in July and August and are bearable in June and September. The cold-water Outer Cape beaches, on the Atlantic Ocean, attract surfers, especially when there are storm swells and are quite good for windsurfing. Paddling and fishing are popular along the beaches and in the inland rivers and ponds. Just about every town has a rental shop or two that can outfit you with a kayak, sailboard or daysailer.
Whale Watching
If you are looking for high-seas adventure, many outfits in Hyannis, Provincetown and Falmouth offer deep-sea fishing expeditions. Whale watching is very popular, with companies such as Dolphin Fleet Whalewatching and Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises offering daily tours in the summer.
Hiking
You can also explore the Cape's trails, such as the Cape Cod Rail Trail, the Provincetown Bike Trails and the trail along the Cape Cod Canal. Also, the slow pace of Cape traffic makes biking, walking and running feasible on all but the busiest roads, although the shoulder can be narrow. Bicycle rentals are easily found in most towns.
Nature
To the chagrin of real estate developers, much of the Cape is too sandy or swampy for building. Their loss is your gain. The Cape has many beautiful parks, including the Waquoit Bay National Estuarine Reserve and the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The quintessential Cape Cod experience may be a walk along the Cape Cod National Seashore, 40 stunning miles of beach and an incredible experience in any season.
Nightlife
The Cape offers plenty of entertainment after sunset, too. The Mid Cape (again, especially along Route 28) and downtown Provincetown have the greatest density of nightclubs. Mid Cape favorites include Pufferbellies, the Mill Hill Club, Christine's, Box Car Willy's and Sundancer's, which have live rock and reggae, dancing and young, fun crowds. Irish restaurants and bars, such as Liam Maguire's in Falmouth and Clancy's in Dennisport, have live music for a mellower set. Gay nightlife abounds in Provincetown: at the Atlantic House, the Boatslip Beach Club, the Pied and other clubs along Commercial Street and the surrounding area. The Beachcomber in Wellfleet is the premier venue for music on the lower Cape, and the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis books a variety of national acts every summer.
Shopping
As you cross the Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod, you are flanked by the Cape Cod Outlet Mall on your right and the discount extravaganza, The Christmas Tree Shop, on your left. This entrance sets the tone for plentiful bargain shopping, as evidenced by Cuffy's Factory Store, the Antiques Center and many shops along Route 28 in the Mid Cape. Stores selling antiques and collectibles can be found in every town. And if you enjoy a day spent strolling and shopping, the quaint shops on Main Street in Hyannis and on Commercial Street in Provincetown will leave your suitcase bulging with souvenirs.
Sports
If you're feeling competitive, the Cape has a number of well-regarded races. The Figawi is a sailboat race from Hyannis to Nantucket and back that takes place every May. The Hyannis, Chatham and Falmouth Yacht Clubs sponsor other regattas throughout the summer and in the winter, too—the aptly-named "frostbite" races. Back on shore, the Falmouth Road Race in August and the Cape Cod Marathon in October are the Cape's premier running events.
Golfing is popular, with several courses such as the Ocean Edge Golf Club in Brewster and the Hyannis Golf Club. However, it is miniature golf that might very well be Cape Cod's favorite pastime, with many imaginative and innovative courses. Pirate's Cove Mini Golf in South Yarmouth and Storyland Golf in Hyannis, with its puttable replica of the Cape, are favorites. If you're a fan of the national pastime, the Cape Cod Baseball League is the summer showcase for the top college players and your chance to watch tomorrow's major league stars for free.
Museums and Galleries
The Cape Museum of Fine Arts in Dennis and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum feature the work of local artists from the past and present. Galleries are abundant in Provincetown and Wellfleet. A year-round performing arts schedule includes the Cape Symphony Orchestra in the winter and the famous Cape Playhouse in the summer.
Many museums memorialize Cape Cod's history. The Aptucxet Trading Post Museum is located on the site where Europeans first conducted trade on the Cape. The Mayflower II, a replica of the Pilgrim's famous vessel, and Plimoth Plantation, a surprisingly scholarly recreation of their settlement, are in nearby Plymouth. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum features photos of the Kennedy clan. The Swift-Daley House and Tool Museum is one of several museums in preserved homes, offering a slice of life in the 17th, 18th and 19th Centuries.
Children's Activities
The Cape Cod Children's Museum in Mashpee is an obvious choice for indoor entertainment, although it is predictably packed on a rainy day. Kids (and adults who are not too squeamish) will love the "touch tank" at the National Marine Fisheries Service Aquarium in Woods Hole. Cineplexes are located throughout the Cape, including at the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. For a real treat, take the kids to the Wellfleet Drive-In, a 40+ year-old theater that shows a double feature almost every night from May to October.
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