Cape Cod MA
If you liked our post about Nantucket, you will love Cape Cod.
Cape Cod, often referred to as simply the Cape, is a peninsula in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States. The Cape’s small-town character and large beachfront attract heavy tourism during the summer months.
Cape Cod was formed as the terminal moraine of a glacier, resulting in a peninsula in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1914, the Cape Cod Canal was cut through the base or isthmus of the peninsula.
For most of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries Cape Cod was known to consist of three sections:
* The Upper Cape was and remains the section of Cape Cod closest to the mainland and this portion of the Cape includes the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee. Falmouth is the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and several other research organizations, and is also the most-used ferry connection to Martha’s Vineyard. Falmouth is composed of several separate villages, including East Falmouth, Falmouth Village, Hatchville, North Falmouth, Teaticket, Waquoit, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole, as well as several smaller hamlets that are incorporated into their larger neighbors (e.g., Davisville, Falmouth Heights, Quissett, Sippewissett, and others).
* The Mid-Cape includes the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis. The Mid-Cape area features many beautiful beaches, including warm-water beaches along Nantucket Sound, e.g. Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, which gets its name from one of the inventors of Technicolor, Herbert Kalmus. This popular windsurfing destination was bequeathed to the town of Barnstable by Dr. Kalmus on condition that it not be developed, possibly one of the first instances of open-space preservation in the US. The Mid-Cape is also the commercial and industrial center of the region. There are seven villages in Barnstable, including Barnstable Village, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, and West Barnstable, as well as several smaller hamlets that are incorporated into their larger neighbors (e.g., Craigville, Cummaquid, Hyannisport, Santuit, Wianno, and others). There are three villages in Yarmouth: South Yarmouth, West Yarmouth and Yarmouthport. There are five villages in Dennis including, Dennis Village(North Dennis), East Dennis, West Dennis, South Dennis and Dennisport.
* The Lower Cape traditionally included all of the rest of the Cape,or the towns of Harwich, Brewster, Chatham,Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. This area includes the Cape Cod National Seashore, a national park comprising much of the outer Cape, including the entire east-facing coast, and is home to some of the most popular beaches in America, such as Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach in Eastham. Stephen Leatherman aka “Dr. Beach” named Coast Guard Beach the 5th best beach in America for 2007.
Cape Cod MA Sand Dunes
Cape Cod forms a continuous archipelagic region with a thin line of islands stretching toward New York, historically known by naturalists as the Outer Lands.
Cape Cod has a temperate marine climate. Although Cape Cod’s weather is typically more moderate than inland locations, there have been occasions where Cape Cod has dealt with the brunt of extreme weather situations (such as the Blizzard of 1954 and Hurricane of 1938). Because of the influence of the Atlantic Ocean, temperatures are typically a few degrees cooler in the summer and a few degrees warmer in the winter.
The Cape’s climate is also notorious for a delayed spring season, being surrounded by an ocean which is still cold from the winter; however, it is also known for an exceptionally mild fall season (Indian summer), thanks to the ocean remaining warm from the summer. The highest temperature ever recorded on Cape Cod was 104 °F (40 °C) in Provincetown, and the lowest temperature ever was -12 °F (-24 °C) in Barnstable.
The water surrounding Cape Cod moderates winter temperatures enough to extend the USDA hardiness zone 7a to its northernmost limit in eastern North America. Consequently, many plant species typically found in more southerly latitudes grow there, including Camellias, Ilex opaca, and Albizia julibrissin.
Precipitation on Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket is the lowest in the New England region, averaging slightly less than 40 inches (1,000 mm) a year (most parts of New England average 42-46 inches). This is due to storm systems which move across western areas, building up in mountainous regions, and dissipating before reaching the coast where the land has leveled out. The region does not experience a greater number of sunny days however, as the number of cloudy days is the same as inland locales, in addition to increased fog.
Although Cape Cod has a year-round population of about 230,000, it experiences a tourist season each summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as the New England cold gives way to a brief but comfortable summer. Many businesses are specifically targeted to summer visitors, and close during the 8 to 9 months of the “off season”.
Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod, also berths several whale watching fleets who patrol the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Most fleets guarantee a whale sighting (mostly humpback whale, fin whale, minke whale, sei whale, and critically endangered, the North Atlantic Right Whale), and one is the only federally certified operation qualified to rescue whales. Provincetown has also long been known as an art colony, attracting writers and artists.
Cape Cod is a popular destination for beachgoers from all over. With 559.6 miles (900.6 km) of coastline, beaches, both public and private, are easily accessible. The Cape has upwards of sixty public beaches, many of which offer parking for non-residents for a daily fee (in summer). The Cape Cod National Seashore has 40 miles (64 km) of sandy beach and many walking paths.
Cape Cod is also popular for its outdoor activities like beach walking, biking, boating, fishing, go-karts, golfing, kayaking, miniature golf, and unique shopping. There are 27 public, daily-fee golf courses and 15 private courses on Cape Cod. Bed and breakfasts or vacation houses are often used for lodging. See accommodations below.
Due to its constantly moving and dangerous shoals, since very early in its history Cape Cod’s shores have featured beacons which warn ships of the danger. There are numerous working lighthouses on Cape Cod and the Islands, including Highland Light, Nauset Light, Chatham Light, Race Point Light, and Nobska Light, operated by the U.S. Coast Guard, which are frequently photographed symbols of Cape Cod. Others include:
Cape Cod Map
This Cape Cod Street Map is perfect to help you locate all of the locations on your itinerary that you plan on visiting.
INNSEASON RESORT – Walk to the harbor or beach from any one of Innseason Resort’s three delightful waterfront properties in Falmouth—all offer indoor and outdoor pools, standard hotel rooms, studios and one- and two-bedroom suites equipped with kitchens.
CHATEAU PROVINCETOWN – Situated on 10 lush acres with views in every direction, Chateau Provincetown offers a peaceful setting convenient to the lively activities of historic Provincetown.
CAPE COD RESTAURANT, INC. – offers a quartet of fine dining restaurants and wedding/special event hosting on beautiful Cape Cod.
AQUA GRILLE – A cool little bistro tucked out of the way.
KAYAKING – Adventure Kayaking: Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard : Includes Cape Cod National Seashore
WALKS -Walks and Rambles on Cape Cod and the Islands: A Naturalist’s Hiking Guide and/or Fifty Hikes in Massachusetts: Hikes and Walks from the Top of the Berkshires to the Tip of Cape Cod
FLYER’S BOATYARD – Located on beautiful Provincetown Harbor, Flyer’s Boat Rentals has been helping visitors and locals enjoy the harbor for more than 63 years, offering powerboats, sailboats, kayaks, pontoon boats and sailing lessons.
DOLPHIN FLEET WHALE WATCH – No two trips are alike aboard one of the three Dolphin Fleet vessels. Ships depart from Provincetown Harbor and cruise to the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.
MARTHA’S VINeYARD – Cape Cod Marthas Vineyard & Nantucket
ISLAND QUEEN – Sails regularly from Falmouth Harbor to Oak Bluffs from late May through mid-October.
HY-LINE – Providing ferry service to Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard from Hyannis.
To read our post about Nantucket click here.
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