Cape Cod Travel Guide: 5 Things to Do on the Cape

Cape Cod is the ultimate summer getaway spot on the East Coast. Just an hour away from Boston, MA, it offers beautiful beaches, fun outdoor activities, picturesque lighthouses, and great restaurants. We spent a wonderful weekend on the Cape and sharing here’s a little Cape Cod travel guide with some tips and recommendations.

READ HERE ABOUT 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO ON CAPE COD THIS FALL

WHERE TO STAY

We stayed at the wonderful Chatham Bars Inn, located within walking distance of downtown Chatham. This central location on the “elbow” of the Cape is very convenient, especially if you plan to explore both the upper and lower Cape. The hotel has its own private beach and many ocean-facing cottages. It has the classic New England look and feel, however, all rooms have been recently renovated and offer modern amenities. Our room was a spa suite that featured a jacuzzi and sauna, and also offered access to the spa center, where you can book treatments or just relax by an adult-only pool.

There are four restaurants on the property – The Veranda, STARS, The Beach House, and The Sacred Cod and all of them offer a great dining experience. I had breakfast at STARS and really enjoyed it. You can choose either the buffet breakfast or order something from the menu – there are so many options to choose from!

CAPE COD TRAVEL GUIDE: THINGS TO DO

CHECK OUT THE LIGHTHOUSES

Cape Cod has several gorgeous lighthouses. If you want to go inside one of them or all of them there are tours available, so make sure to check out the schedule before you go. Here’s a list of the beautiful lighthouses that I recommend visiting:

Nobska Lighthouse
Highland Lighthouse
Chatham Lighthouse
Nauset Lighthouse

GO SEAL WATCHING

Seal watching is certainly an unforgettable experience and one you can enjoy on Cape Cod! And it was definitely the highlight of our trip. Our cruise with Monomoy Island Excursions lasted about 90-minutes and took us to Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge where we spotted a whole colony of adorable seals and learned all about them.

DRIVE THROUGH THE SAND DUNES

Take a tour of the sandy dunes with Art’s Dune Tours. You’ll drive through the beautiful sandy landscape, get to know the history of Cape Cod. And you’ll see the shacks where many famous artists and writers have stayed to work on their creations.

EXPLORE THE SMALL TOWNS

There are so many cute towns on Cape Cod, and each one of them is unique and attractive in its own way. My personal favorite is Chatham. It’s a beautiful, charming little town located on the elbow of the Cape, close to all the attractions. The town is very walkable, with lots of classic New-England style houses and a lovely main street that has good restaurants and lots of boutique shops to pop into.

FIND YOUR FAVORITE BEACH

Cape Cod is known for its beautiful beaches and picturesque shorelines. Whether it’s the Cape Cod National Seashore that stretches for 40 miles with some of the best beaches on the peninsula, including Nauset Beach and Marconi Beach with large dunes and sizable waves, or Cape Cod Bay beaches with tidal pools and sunsets that’ll take your breath away, all of them are amazing! Go grab some sunscreen, pack up your picnic basket, and venture out to find your favorite beach on the Cape.