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Peninsula in Massachusetts, United States
Photo: Daniel Schwen, CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons
Cape Cod is an arm-shaped peninsula on the easternmost portion of Massachusetts. It is a well-traveled tourist and vacation area, featuring miles and miles of beaches, natural attractions, historic sites, art galleries and many four-star restaurants. The area is also very popular amongst antique enthusiasts and people who enjoy bed and breakfasts. Many opportunities exist here for golf, fishing and other outdoor activities. The town of Provincetown, at the very tip of the peninsula, is the site of the first landing of the Pilgrims.
towns nearest to the bridges that lead to Cape Cod.
the commercial center.
towns near the elbow of the peninsula.
towns at the end of the peninsula and location of most of the Cape Cod National Seashore.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
The ten-team Cape Cod Baseball League is one of the premier amateur baseball leagues in the US. It is free for the fans and played throughout the summer in ten different Cape towns. About one of every seven Major League Baseball players has played in the CCBL.
The historic English Weeping Beech tree is a must-see for the historically interested or for those that just want to see a huge Weeping Beech. This tree has been featured in Cape Cod Life magazine (July 2010) and its history is amazing! As legend and lore based on historic events have it, the tree was gifted to the town of Barnstable in 1776 by the British Governor of the area "to be planted in the center of commerce" (Hyannis) as a reward for loyalty to the Crown. It seems that the seeds of the Revolution were sown by a Barnstable patriot named James Otis - whose statue is on the grounds of the Barnstable Court House. Within a year, he was attacked by British Revenue Officers and sustained a major head wound. Whether this fear tactic worked or not is unknown, but Barnstable, in 1776, was the only town on Cape Cod that did not vote for independence from the Crown. When coming to see the Weeping Beech, visitors can relax with a cocktail in the Beech Tree Garden Court under the tree's sweeping canopy. With shops and restaurants close at hand, this is a "one-stop" destination.
Cape Cod is a golfer's paradise. While Cape Cod is home to several private country clubs (with five-figure annual membership fees and multi-year waiting lists), there are also more than twenty municipal and privately owned courses that are open to the public, ranging from world-class PGA tour stops to Scottish style links on the beach and everything in between. Greens fees are pricey and good tee-times can be a challenge to obtain if you aren't a member, but there are plenty of ways to play some great golf without spending a fortune:
By car
Since the Cape Cod Canal severs this region from the mainland, visitors arriving by car must cross one of two bridges to alight upon the Cape. Think carefully about the time of day you cross!
By boat
The majority of services here are ships plying their trades between Boston and Provincetown. These run constantly in summer, dropping in frequency during shoulder seasons.
By bus
Two bus companies serve all Cape Cod destinations. Schedules change depending on the exact day and time, but you can generally expect to find at least one departure per hour.
By plane
Cape Air is the only real player in the region, although JetBlue now flies many of the same routes. Places like Hyannis (HYA) and Provincetown (PVC) offer a few connections to Boston and New York.
By train
Your one option here is the CapeFLYER, a partnership between the MBTA and Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority. Hop aboard and avoid the traffic!
By boat
As long as you're not bringing a car, taking the boat can be surprisingly affordable! A variety of ferries to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket have evolved to serve their specific customer niches.
By bus
Over the past few years, the local bus service offered by the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority has changed focus significantly - expanding from a primarily tourist oriented seasonal system into a…
By bicycle
Cape Cod and the Islands are a fantastic place to "spin your wheels"! There's always another lovely ocean view or charming village just around the corner.
By plane
You'll certainly be on some equipment bearing a Cape Air or JetBlue logo.
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Hyannis · Regional · HYA
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Bourne is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Canal runs through it.
Sandwich is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, and includes the villages of East Sandwich and Forestdale. It is the oldest town on the Cape, settled in 1637.
Falmouth is a town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod's southwest corner. It includes the villages of Woods Hole, West Falmouth, North Falmouth, Hatchville, Silver Beach, East Falmouth, Teaticket, and Waquoit.
The village of Woods Hole administratively belongs to the town of Falmouth, in the Upper Cape area of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Woods Hole has a great natural harbor and was once a fishing and whaling center but now is known for its beautiful beaches, sport fishing, quaint shops (no chain stores here) and marine research facilities.
Mashpee is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the village of New Seabury.
Barnstable is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The Town of Barnstable includes seven villages.
Dennis is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis.
Yarmouth is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Bass River, South Yarmouth, West Yarmouth and Yarmouthport.
Harwich is a town of about 13,000 people (2020) in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Harwichport, South Harwich, and West Harwich.
Brewster is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Brewster, known as a favorite home of sea captains, is a charming bayside town.
Chatham is at the "elbow" of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and includes the villages of North Chatham, South Chatham and West Chatham. Its beautiful beaches, harbors, coastal scenes and its interesting village shops make it a popular day-trip destination as well as a top-notch vacation area.
Orleans is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and includes the villages of East Orleans and South Orleans. With the Rock Harbor sunsets and the Nauset surf, Orleans has the best of both Cape Cod waters.
Eastham is a town of 5,800 people (2020) in Massachusetts on Cape Cod, and includes the village of North Eastham. Eastham is home to some beautiful bay and ocean beaches, most notably Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Lighthouse Beach, as well as several fresh water kettle ponds.
Wellfleet is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod and includes the village of South Wellfleet. Its name is believed to be derived from "whale fleet".
Truro is a town in Massachusetts on Cape Cod and includes the village of North Truro. Truro has great unspoiled natural beauty and beaches with high sandy cliffs on the ocean side.
Provincetown is at the very tip of the Cape Cod peninsula region of Massachusetts. Perhaps due to being at the remote end of the Cape and because of its variety of beautiful scenes, Provincetown has attracted artists of all types over the years.
Gosnold is a town in Massachusetts off of Cape Cod encompassing the nine Elizabeth Islands, including Cuttyhunk Island, Naushon Island, Pasque Island, Nashawena Island and some adjacent smaller islands that stretch out from Woods Hole village of Falmouth. Gosnold has the smallest population of any Massachusetts town.
Martha's Vineyard is an island 8 miles off the Cape Cod peninsula in Massachusetts. Once a whaling center, it has become a vacation hotspot and a favorite summertime haven of many celebrities.
Nantucket is an island and town 30 mi (48 km) off the coast of Cape Cod and part of Massachusetts. The island offers quiet harbors, dramatic cliffs, sandy beaches, lighthouses, beautiful old mansions and gardens, interesting history – even a series of (sometimes bawdy) limericks about its residents.
Cape Cod National Seashore is a national seashore in the state of Massachusetts in the United States of America.
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