The summer season has officially kicked off, and as nice as summer is down by The Hudson, there are countless places to explore seaside. Cape Cod has been our vacation destination every summer since I was a little girl. We’ve stayed in a number of towns and experienced some of the best that The Cape has to offer. Below you’ll find your guide to some of our favorite towns to help you on your next trip to the New England Coast.
Provincetown:
At the very tip of The Cape is P-town! We usually start our trips here while we wait for our rental house to become available. Known as a haven for the LGBTQ community, this place has something to offer everyone whether it’s a stunning art gallery, tasty new restaurant, a specialty shop or nightclub Provincetown has you covered.
Walk Commercial Street and discover a new shop and while you’re there grab a hot lobster roll from The Canteen.
Climb the historical Pilgrim Monument commemorating the first landfall of the pilgrims and The Mayflower Compact.
Chatham:
The charming town of Chatham is the best destination if you’re a big shopper. Although we’ve never stayed in this town, It’s been a must see for us every year because of their famous bakery and cute shops.
1. Grab a Jelly Donut from Chatham Village and Bakery Cafe
2. Grab a seaside themed gift from a local shop
3. Looking for a place to eat? Try The Chatham Squire
Orleans:
We’ve spent most of our vacations staying in Orleans, located just past Chatham and just before Wellfleet. It saddens me to stay that one of our favorite staples, Liams on Nauset Beach was just demolished this year as it did not withstand the coastal flooding and storms this past season. However, Nauset Beach is still there so I do still highly recommend stopping by one of the most famous beaches on The Cape.
Spend a day at Nauset Beach (Liams will hopefully be opening up a new location soon!)
Just a few miles up the road, stop by Nauset Farms for a breakfast sandwich and freshly brewed coffee
Wellfleet:
It wasn’t until just three years ago we finally rented a house over in Wellfleet. Now don’t get me wrong we were familiar with the town of Wellfleet, but we didn’t really get a chance to explore until we stayed on the Wellfleet Harbor. If it’s your first time visiting the town be sure to prioritize your time in the area and definitely check out these hotspots listed below:
1. Catch a double feature showing at The Wellfleet Drive-In Movie Theater
2. Jump on The Funk Bus and head over to The Beachcomber for the best fried food in The Cape. Located on Cahoon Hollow Beach, you can easily spend a full day here catching some rays, eating your way through their menu and dancing the night away when it turns into a party scene.
Walk Uncle Tim's Bridge to the Wellfleet Harbour and Marina. There are a number of restaurants and shopping areas over here. If you’re up for an adventure, there are also fishing trips you can take out of the Marina.
Grab a bite at PB Boulangerie Bistro in South Welfleet. They have some of the best pastries in the area.
These recommendations just touch the surface of all that Cape Cod has to offer its visitors. There are a number of other destinations to explore in New England's prime vacation destination. Have any other recommendations on Cape Cod travel? I’d love to hear from you.