Years Visited: 2023 & 2024

Time of Year: May & September

When I decided to write this post, I did not realize how many things to do on Cape Cod there are…!

Cape Cod is a pretty big place, and I suggest trying to explore one part of it and really enjoy your time there (as opposed to traversing the entire cape in one day trying to see as much as possible…).

I have a whole guide jam packed with information to help you get the most out of your trip to Cape Cod. This article will just focus specifically on all the fun things to do (but be aware there are MORE!).

• If you have any other suggestions of things to do on Cape Cod, be sure to share them in the comments below!

---

Things to Do on Cape Cod

Cape Cod is known for its beaches, seafood, and wildlife, but there is even more to do here than most people realize!

It’s an ideal destination for a relaxing week-long vacation. I’m talking slow mornings drinking coffee in local shops, and laid-back afternoons wandering around small downtowns. However, if you only have a weekend, or even a day to explore Cape Cod, it is certainly a worthwhile destination.

Map of things to do on Cape Cod:

• Green: Things to do
• Orange: Lighthouses
• Brown: Beaches

Explore P-Town

Provincetown (or as the locals refer to it, P-town) is probably the most well-known town on Cape Cod. It is at the very tip of the cape, and is an easy ferry ride from Boston. There are plenty of shops and restaurants to see on Commercial Street, plus it’s an ideal spot for a whaling or seal spotting cruise.

That being said, Provincetown isn’t for everyone. It is super crowded and touristy, with a very different vibe than the rest of Cape Cod.

• Good to Know: You will have to pay to park in Provincetown. We parked in the Provincetown Public Parking Lot off of Bradford St.
• There are several public bathrooms available along the beach.
• Fun Fact: The Pilgrims landed at Provincetown first, before making their way to Plymouth.

Climb Pilgrim Monument

Before settling in at Plymouth, the Pilgrims landed at the tip of Cape Cod! There is a plaque at Pilgrim’s First Landing Park commemorating the spot.

The 252 ft. Pilgrim Monument tower can be seen from all around P-town and the surrounding water. There is a museum here that teaches about the history of the Pilgrims landing here, and their relationship with the local Wampanoag tribe.

If you climb all the way to the top of the tower, you can get incredible views out over Cape Cod!

• Cost is: $20 for adults
• Hours: 10 am-5 pm, with the last tickets sold at 4. Open seasonally.
• Good to Know: Sometimes the tower will shut down for private events. When we visited, we could not go in because of a wedding.

Hit the Beach

There are a TON of beaches on Cape Cod. It’s kind of what Cape Cod’s known for…

So basically, one of the best things to do on Cape Cod is go to the beach. Wherever you’re staying on the cape, you’re probably near a beach.

The area on the northern, inside coast of Cape Cod is Cape Cod Bay. On the southern coasts are: Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound. On the eastern outer coast is the Atlantic Ocean.

Cape Cod National Seashore

The beaches on the Outer Cape Cod region are designated as part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. This land has been protected by the federal government since JFK declared it part of our National Park system in 1961. There are over 40,000 acres of land, including 6 public beaches that are part of the National Seashore.

• Learn how to help support National Parks from being understaffed and underfunded!

Cape Cod Beaches

Yeah… I was going to list out all of the beaches on Cape Cod, but there are just too many! So here is a list of some of the highest rated beaches (based on Tripadvisor).

Keep in mind that each beach has its own rules as far as parking passes and beach passes. Usually these are in effect from Memorial Day-Labor Day. When we visited Nauset Beach in September, it was free to park. But make sure to look up the details for whichever beach you plan on visiting.

• Old Silver Beach
• Craigville Beach
• Seagull Beach
• Mayflower Beach
• Corporation Beach
• Harding Beach
• Chatham Lighthouse Beach
• Nauset Beach
• First Encounter Beach
• Coast Guard Beach
• Marconi Beach
• Ballston Beach
• Head of the Meadow Beach
• Race Point Beach
• Herring Cove Beach

Are there sharks on Cape Cod?

In recent years, the seal population around Cape Cod has surged (due to environmental protections). But with the resurgence of the seals, comes the resurgence of their predators, the Great White Shark. Their population has also increased in recent years, especially around the eastern shoreline (bordering the Atlantic).

The Sharktivity app helps track sightings. The official Cape Cod website has shark and beach safety tips.

Go Lighthouse Chasing

Just like beaches, there are a TON of lighthouses on Cape Cod:

• Wings Neck Lighthouse
• Nobska Lighthouse
• Hyannis Harbor Lighthouse
• Sandy Neck Lighthouse
• West Dennis Lighthouse
• Stage Harbor Lighthouse
• Monomoy Lighthouse
• Chatham Lighthouse
• Three Sisters Lighthouses
• Nauset Lighthouse
• Highland Lighthouse
• Long Point Light Station
• Race Point Lighthouse
• Wood End Lighthouse

Some of these lighthouses are more easily accessible than others. This article has helpful information on how to get to each lighthouse.

We visited Nauset Lighthouse, one of the most famous (and easily accessible) lighthouses on Cape Cod. The 3 Sisters Lighthouses were also right nearby, so you can visit two (well, actually 4) lighthouses at once!

• Good to Know: Do not follow the GPS to Nauset Lighthouse. It takes you down a private road (with signs from annoyed locals). Just park at the beach parking lot.
• Fun Fact: The lighthouse on the Cape Cod Chips bag is Nauset Lighthouse. You used to be able to tour their small factory, but it has been closed for tours since Covid.

Bike (or walk) the Cape Cod Rail Trail

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is 25 miles of paved trail that runs through the middle of Cape Cod, along an old railroad route. You can pick it up at many different points along the trail, though it officially starts in South Dennis. There is free and (seasonal) paid parking available at trailheads.

• See a map of the bike trail.
• There are several companies that offer bike rentals on Cape Cod.

Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge

For some of the best wildlife viewing on Cape Cod, visit the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge on Morris Island. You can drive to the visitor center and walk the trails, which is just past Chatham Lighthouse.

There is another island further out from here, where the official wildlife refuge is. This is more difficult to access, as you need a ferry or boat. You can contact them for information about visiting the island.

National Marine Life Center

The National Marine Life Center on Cape Cod rescues seals and sea turtles in their animal hospital. While you can’t visit the hospital, you can visit their Discovery Center to see other turtles, learn about their efforts, and support the local wildlife. They also do events throughout the year, and if you’re lucky, you might get to see some turtle hatchlings!

Go on a Whaling (or Seal) Cruise

Definitely a popular attraction for Cape Cod are the whale watching or seal sighting cruises. Many of them leave from Provincetown, but you can find them all over the cape.

Here are a couple of options:

• Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
• Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
• Monomoy Seal Cruise

The best time of year for whale watching is mid-April through October, with peak season being between June and September.

Tour the Museums

If you need some indoor activities on Cape Cod, there are plenty of museums about a variety of subjects!

Here are just some of the museums available to explore on Cape Cod:

• Whydah Pirate Museum
• John F. Kennedy Museum
• Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
• Cape Cod Maritime Museum
• Sandwich Glass Museum

Mini Golfing

As a lazy, relaxing vacation destination, Cape Cod has plenty of mini golf courses to amuse you (and also real golf courses, if you’re into that too). Most of them are themed, with decorations and waterfalls to make them even more fun!

My cousins suggested the pirate themed mini golf course, which is close to the pirate museum (you can also take pirate themed boat cruises, so you could just have a whole piratey day!).

Unfortunately we didn’t have time to go mini golfing and get ice cream, so naturally we got ice cream.

Here are a few of the best Cape Cod mini golf courses (but there are MORE!!):

• Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
• Sandwich Mini Golf
• Skull Island Adventure Golf
• Cape Escape Adventure Golf

Try an Escape Room

Speaking of my cousins…

They own Upside Down Escape Games, a super fun escape room in the Mashpee Commons. This little area is a cute touristy spot, with great food (I suggest the donuts), mini golf (another one!), fun events, and one of the best escape rooms we’ve ever played! And I’m not just saying that because I know the people who designed it!

Cape Cod Central Railroad

The Cape Cod Central Railroad is a fun way to see the beauty of the cape while also learning fun facts like how to harvest cranberries, or enjoying a sunset with dinner. They have all sorts of different themed rides to choose from.

Cape Cod Lavender Farm

If you’re looking for the perfect spot to take vacation photos (or just buy some lavender), look no further than Cape Cod Lavender Farm in Harwich! Did you know it’s not just cranberries that grow on Cape Cod?! Stop by for a wander through the lavender fields or a visit to their local shop.

The farm is open March-December, and is free to visit! Peak lavender season is late June to mid July.

Go Hiking

Cape Cod is for getting outdoors and exploring! There are lots of trails and nature walks on the cape. You can find lots of options near wherever you are staying. Here is a list of all of the Cape Cod hiking trails.

Go Kayaking

Another great way to get out and enjoy Cape Cod’s natural beauty is to go kayaking. Rideaway Adventures has lots of options for renting kayaks with pick up locations around the cape.

Tour a Cranberry Bog

We really wanted to tour a cranberry bog on our last visit to Cape Cod, but as it turns out, one of the tours I tried was booked up a month in advance, and the other tour only booked the day of, based on weather.

So the good news is, you have two different options based on your travel style (mine is definitely the book well in advance type)!

• Cranberry Bog Tours-Leads daily tours of their bog in Harwich. Be sure to call a couple months ahead of time to book, and bring cash for the tour.
• Cape Cod Cranberry Bog Tours-Has several different farms where they can go for tours, based on weather and where they are working that day. You need a group of 4 or more to book a tour, but it will probably just be your small group, and you can get a more in depth tour. However, they do not book more than a couple days ahead of time.

Eat Cranberry Everything

Everyone knows that one of the things to do on vacation is to eat ALL the food! So I will now delve into a list of foods you have to eat while on Cape Cod.

Starting with… cranberries! Because, duh. Cranberries are a staple of Massachusetts. I had cranberry stuffed French toast from a little cafe, and also a chocolate covered cranberry ice cream on Nantucket that was DELICIOUS!

Eat Lobster

Anything with lobster in it is another Cape Cod must. I wanted to get a famous lobster roll, but we ended up getting gourmet grilled cheese instead (#sorrynotsorry). I think a lobster grilled cheese sandwich still counts.

Eat Clam Chowder

Another New England staple is clam chowder. Which… I have never tried. Because I think it sounds gross… But it probably isn’t! Especially if you like seafood (which I don’t particularly…).

So definitely get some clam chowder… er, chowda while you’re in New England.

Eat Ice Cream!

Now, ice cream I can get really excited about! Of course you have to get ice cream while you are on Cape Cod! There are so many ice cream places to choose from that you won’t have to work too hard to find a good one nearby (like beaches and mini golf courses).

We went to Sundae School ice cream, which I’ve read is one of the best places on Cape Cod.

• Good to Know: Sundae School is cash only. They do have an ATM available.

Eat Donuts!!

I am literally always looking for the best donuts. So when I read an article about the best donuts on Cape Cod, and found out that one of the suggestions (Duke’s) was literally RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET from my cousin’s escape room, I immediately messaged him and told him we had to get some!!!

To which he replied, “Yeah. They’re mad good.”

---

Day Trips from Cape Cod

One of the best things to do on Cape Cod is to take a day trip from Cape Cod! There are so many really great places to visit in Massachusetts.

Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are the best places to day trip to from Cape Cod, because you can get a ferry from the cape over to them. But you can also day trip to Boston (or day trip to Cape Cod from Boston), or do a whole road trip throughout the area.

These are the absolute best places to visit if you are vacationing on Cape Cod:

Martha’s Vineyard

Martha’s Vineyard is a quick ferry ride from Cape Cod (or New Bedford). It is known for its gingerbread cottages and beautiful beaches.

It is also known as the filming location of Jaws! So there’s that too…

• This special edition coffee table book tells locals’ stories of filming Jaws 50 years ago!

Nantucket

I chose Nantucket over Martha’s Vineyard on my last trip, because it seemed the easier of the two to see on a day trip (and I absolutely loved it!). Maybe next time I go to visit my cousins, we’ll hit up the vineyard!

Nantucket is a very small island you can reach by ferry (or plane, but more likely ferry) from Cape Cod or New Bedford. It’s about an hour on the fast ferry from Hyannis.

There is a whaling museum, lots of shops and restaurants, lighthouses, beaches, and other museums to see.

New Bedford

We stopped in New Bedford to take the ferry to Nantucket. While I was reading Moby Dick, I learned that New Bedford was also a big whaling port, and they also have a worthwhile whaling museum. Plus there are other historical buildings, like the Seamen’s Bethel, not to mention fun escape rooms and restaurants.

Plymouth

Plymouth, as I’m sure you well know, is the spot the Pilgrims eventually settled, after their brief stint in Provincetown. You can come see Plymouth Pebble Rock (my local uncle refers to it as Plymouth Pebble…), tour a Mayflower replica, eat fresh seafood, or, best of all, tour Plimoth Plantation (which my uncle calls “something really special”).

Boston

Boston is one of my favorite cities in the entire world! As one of the oldest cities in the US, it is full of history and charming buildings, while also having modern big city amenities. Not to mention the beautiful Boston Commons Park, and Boston Cream Pie!

---

For more information on visiting Cape Cod, check out my complete guide! It’s packed with information on how to get around, where to visit, and tips from locals.

Any more questions?

If you have any questions about visiting, or maybe some more suggestions of things to do on Cape Cod, feel free to email me or comment below!

Looking for things to do on Cape Cod?

Save one of the pins below for future trip planning:

You might also like:

• The Ultimate Cape Cod Travel Guide
• How to Day Trip to Nantucket
• The Ultimate Travel Food Bucket List
• The Best Things to Do in Connecticut
• Things No One Tells You About Stowe, VT

---