Exploring Cape Cod

With more than 500 miles of coastline, the inlets and sandy edges of Cape Cod invite exploration like few other places in our state. The Cape is one of our favorite places for weekend getaways throughout the year — though especially during the longer days of summer.

Cross over to the Cape from mainland Massachusetts and you’ll come into Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich or Bourne — all less than 60 miles from downtown Boston. As you drive down the Cape, pass through villages like Hyannis, home to the majority of the population, ferries to both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard and the JFK Museum. Its history can pull you in … but let’s keep going!

Drive to the “elbow” of the Cape to find Nickerson State Park. Keep going to reach the Outer Cape and the National Seashore. Truly a destination for fun in the sun, the Outer Cape is home to Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown – or P-town. With that lay of the land, it’s time to explore the sights, smells and flavors that make the Cape so captivating. Keen to take a seafood tour of the region? Our favorites should make your list:

That seafood dinner…
Visit the Black Cat Harbor Shack along the harbor in Hyannis to enjoy a dish of homemade ice cream, fried clams and oysters, or the Best Giant Lobster Roll according to Yankee Magazine.

In Wellfleet, visit the Bookstore & Restaurant to enjoy the raw bar and more, with local seafood carefully prepared in a family-owned establishment that’s been serving guests for nearly half a century.

If you want to keep feeding that taste for seafood, visit the Mattakeese Wharf Waterfront Restaurant in Barnstable. With a view of the Cape’s spectacular sunsets, you can dine on traditional seafood or something new, like their very own lobster gazpacho.

Unbeatable brunch
Of course, there are many places on Cape Cod to find mouth-watering seafood topped off by perfect seaside ice cream. But some of our favorite meals have been closer to sunrise than sunset. The Cape offers some of our favorite options for vacation brunch, too. Here’s how we like to start the day:

Find sweet Portugeuse rolls, crepes and salmon eggs benedict at the aptly-named Café Heaven in Provincetown.

Visit Grumpy’s Restaurant in East Dennis for an omelet or muffins to keep you full through the afternoon.

The Country Fare Restaurant in Falmouth serves up equally hearty portions, with surprising brunch choices, like crab cakes and eggs.

However you start your day, eat up — with miles of beaches, hiking and more, a day on Cape Cod will demand all your energy!