This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s summer editorial intern Dylan Fraize. Find him on Instagram at @fraize.jpg. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
Cape Cod, the iconic North East peninsula is a popular Summer destination for travelers. With about 550 miles of coastline, there are endless beaches to explore. According to the Cape Cod Times, Cape Cod sees 5.5 million tourists annually mostly during the Summer months. This seasonal explosion of tourism creates brutal traffic, long lines, and more time waiting than vacationing; so how can you beat the crowd and find unique things to do on Cape Cod?
First, and most importantly when should you go? While Cape Cod’s busiest months are during the Summer try picking “shoulder months”. The shoulder months are June and September. The advantages of booking your vacation then are immense. Not only do you miss the peak travel time you get to experience cheaper lodging fees and transportation passes. As soon as the weather gets nicer of course Cape Cod will liven up but getting there before July and August is best.
Now that you’ve figured out when you are going next you must plan where. Cape Cod is broken into four parts upper cape, mid-cape, lower cape, and outer cape. Towns in Upper Cape consist of the first few once you cross the bridge like Bourne or Sandwich. The outer cape towns are the inverse and take the longest to get to in a vehicle. Outer cape towns are Provincetown and Wellfleet among others. Each part of the Cape has its advantages and disadvantages. For the average traveler looking to experience each part of the Cape the best area is mid-cape. Mid-cape is made up of Yarmouth, Dennis, and Barnstable. These towns offer you the most flexibility in travel. They are also home to some of Cape Cod’s most beautiful beaches. Hyannis is an extremely popular part of Barnstable that has the best connection to public transportation. You can take a ferry to either Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket from Hyannis. You can also hop on the Cape Cod bus which brings you from Boston to Hyannis.
Regarding transportation, getting to Cape Cod anytime during the heat is a hassle. Only two bridges connect Cape Cod to the rest of Massachusetts the Bourne and the Sagamore. Cape Cod’s highway is only a double lane leaving it extremely susceptible to pile-ups in traffic and roadblocks. A simple 30-minute drive can turn into an hour and a half. Make sure to plan when you are leaving with the expectation of traffic, but if you want to avoid the traffic together take a ride with the Cape Flyer. The Cape Flyer is the rail service from Boston’s South Station to Hyannis. A round-trip ticket costs $35-$40 making it a reliable option to beat the traffic. The ride is about 2 hours, but considering the uncertainty of the Cape Cod highway it’s a useful way to kick off your Cape Cod vacation.
How long should you stay on Cape Cod? While this is totally up to your preference Cape Cod has plenty to offer. A weekend trip isn’t enough time to fully explore all that Cape Cod is. Although a 5-day trip is just right, you’ll have enough time to explore the different parts of Cape. Enough time to settle at your accommodation, have a beach day, make a trip to Outer Cape, and even a ferry ride to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket.
What Makes Cape Cod So Special?
So, why Cape Cod? There are so many unique things to do on Cape Cod. From beaches, nightlife, restaurants, historical sites, and wildlife, to shopping Cape Cod has it all. It makes sense why celebrities choose to Summer in Cape Cod. It has a rustic old-school New England charm. A part of Massachusetts built off of the whaling industry has grown to become a Summer getaway.
Many different beaches make up the never-ending coast line of Cape Cod. Among these beaches, a stand out is Race Point Beach in Provincetown (outer cape). Race Point Beach has an average amount of parking space but what it lacks in parking space it makes up for with views. Race Point Beach has these beautiful cascading dunes. At the very tip of Cape Cod, you get an unobstructed view of the ocean. Sunsets at Race Point Beach are truly spectacular. If you’re interested in mid-cape beaches Mayflower Beach is a great option. Located in South Dennis Mayflower Beach brings in a huge number of visitors but the further you go down the much more calm. Mayflower Beach is great for anyone to enjoy a large group of people but still offers some privacy further East. Mayflower Beach has extremely soft sand turning your beach towel into a Tempurpedic. If you happen to plan a day trip to Martha’s Vineyard a great beach is Oak Bluffs. Oak Bluffs is very accommodating for people traveling on day trips because of its proximity to the ferry.
Now let’s break through the obvious. Cape Cod is known for its sharks and it’s true; they are very prevalent around Cape Cod. Tips for avoiding an encounter are to avoid swimming at dusk and dawn as well as if you see any seals. The sharks follow seals near shore which means you could be caught in the crosshairs as well. Staying close to land is very important to make sure if you do see a shark or a seal you’ll have enough time to make it on land. While sharks are extremely dangerous if you know the warning signs you’ll be able to make the right decision.
While on Cape Cod it’s almost a sin not to get any seafood. Cape Cod is home to some of the most fresh seafood imaginable. Spots like The Pearl in Wellfleet (outer cape) or Mac’s Chatham Fish & Lobster in Chatham (lower cape). For anyone who loves shellfish, Cape Cod is a great place for your taste buds to explore. Although the Cape is home to some of the most fresh seafood they also do diners the classical New England way. Good Friends Cafe in West Dennis (mid-cape) is the epitome of a classic diner. You go in, there are pictures of locals on the walls, you sit at a little wooden table with paper menus, you get the perfect portion size to start your day, and best of all the staff makes you feel like family.
The Cape has two major spots for nightlife Provincetown and Hyannis. Both have long strips of different bars and clubs on a single street. Hyannis’s Main Street is the spot to be after dark. Bars like Torinos, Anejo, and Embargo invite all to crack on throughout the night. Good music and multi-level clubs are what make Main Street in Hyannis a destination for nightlife. In Provincetown people flock to Commercial Street. Different from Hyannis Commercial Street is directly on the water meaning great views as the night unwinds. With so many little bars tucked away just take a walk down the strip and pick what speaks to you.
Cape Cod is often represented by one former U.S. President: JFK. He’s got beaches, roads, and stores named after him. Located in Hyannis, John F. Kennedy’s compound is made up of three buildings. Anyone interested is welcome to tour the compound or even check out the historical museum in downtown Hyannis. Other historical landmarks include the various lighthouses spanning the coastline. Take for example the Highland Light in Truro (outer cape), it is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on Cape Cod.
With your trip all planned out now what will you do? Have you ever been to Cape Cod, if so what did you think? What are your favorite parts of Cape Cod? What unique things have you done on Cape Cod? Let us know in the comments below!
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