Situated on the easternmost part of Massachusetts, Cape Cod is a peninsula that has become a favorite tourist and vacation area in this region of the United States. The peninsula’s coast is filled with long stretches of beaches, art galleries, historic landmarks, charming villages, top-class restaurants and antique shops. The usual way of exploring the peninsula is by doing a driving tour, and making stops at towns that will interest and delight you.
The Cape Cod circuit is about 160 miles long (257 kilometers). When elect a driving excursion, you usually start by crossing the Sagamore Bridge, which connects Cape Cod to the mainland. By doing so, the first town you will encounter is Sagamore. The town is the home of the Pairpoint Glass Company, an old company that still utilizes the traditional way of hand blowing lead crystal to form various types of glassware. While here, you can experience the artisans in action carrying out this fascinating local tradition.
Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape, and was one of the first settlements of Puritans back in 1637. Interesting historical attractions found in Sandwich include the Sandwich Glass Museum, the 17th century Hoxie House, which is oldest saltbox house in the Cape region; Dexter Grist Mill, the Thornton W. Burgess Museum and the Heritage Museums and Gardens.
If you want to relax and marvel at the natural beauty of Cape Cod, proceed to Sandy Neck Beach, a barrier beach characterized by low sand dunes. There are other beautiful sandy beaches along the peninsula both on the bay side and ocean side such as Nauset and Skaket. Some of those facing the Atlantic waters offer excellent surfing waves.
Another natural landmark worth visiting or at least catching a glimpse of is the over 40,000 acre landscape of Cape Cod National Seashore. After this, proceed to Nickerson State Park, the largest inland preserve in the area, covering a 2,000 acre land area. While in the preserve, you have the opportunity to engage in various outdoor activities like hiking, swimming, fishing and bike riding.
Located at the tip of the peninsula, is the popular resort of Provincetown. The town plays an important part United States’ history as this is where the first Pilgrims landed in 1620. You can learn more about this historical event by visiting the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum.
The next major town after Provincetown is Chatham, known for its lovely shops, art galleries and 18th to 19th century houses. When you leave Chatcham and head west along Nantucket Sound, you will come across the Hyannis village, which houses the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum. This huge museum and gallery showcases the life of the former president while in Cape Cod.
It usually takes three to four days to satisfactorily explore the Cape Cod circuit. You can conduct the tour at any time between spring and fall as the weather is most ideal and most attractions at this time are open. Take note that the peak travel time is during summer, so you may experience traffic jams on the two bridges that connect the Cape to Boston and Providence so plan accordingly.
