The Top 5 Reasons to Visit Cape Cod, Massachusetts Now
BY TRIPVEEL EDITORIAL STAFF | March 2020
Natural beauty. It’s Cape Cod’s claim to fame and it flourishes across the Cape and Islands with dune-lined beaches, historic coastal towns filled with shingled “Cape Cod-style” cottages and quaint seafood shacks. Jutting into the Atlantic Ocean, hundreds of miles of pearly white shoreline have been capturing the imagination of vacationers for generations.
Image courtesy of the Cape Cod Chamber
1. THE HIKING
There is no shortage of outdoor excursions across Cape Cod. Sandy beaches, butterfly-filled meadows, woodland trails across expansive tidal flats and farm animals combine to make Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable, Massachusetts a completely unique experience on Cape Cod. Gentle, varied trails lead to what many call a "million dollar view," with Barnstable Harbor flanked by the dunes of Sandy Neck Barrier Beach.
With a boardwalk and 2.5 miles across six trails, Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary allows you to explore the vast sanctuary of tidal flats and find horseshoe crabs, moon snails and hermit crabs, green herons, snowy egrets and kingfisher. The secluded Sanctuary Beach offers opportunities to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the spectacular views of Sandy Neck Barrier Beach.
2. THE ART
Believe it or not, artistic street murals are prevalent everywhere throughout Cape Cod. From Bourne to Hyannis and Dennis to Provincetown—there is no shortage of public art everywhere you look. These are some of our favorites.
Founded by artists, the Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis, Massachusetts preserves the work of the Cape’s finest artists and celebrates the distinctive artistic identity of the Cape and surrounding Islands.
Image courtesy of the Cape Cod Chamber
With its seven galleries and museum shop, the Cape Cod Museum of Art is a major artistic hub of the cultural life of the region and is situated within a beautiful setting surrounded by sculpture gardens.
3. THE COCKTAILS & CUISINE
Located on the picturesque shore of Wequasset Resort, Outer Bar & Grille presents the perfect seaside backdrop for lunch or evening cocktails. With panoramic views of Pleasant Bay, this is certainly one of the most dramatic dining experiences on the Cape. Indulge in carefully curated craft cocktails and delectable culinary creations with a casual, yet sophisticated approach. For your artisanal cocktail fix, we recommend trying the Strawberry Basil Breeze—concocted with Tito’s handmade vodka, strawberry purée, Aperol apéritif, basil and fresh squeezed lemon.
Outer Bar & Grille at Wequassett Resort
Amidst the passion for superlative ingredients that span every inch of the seasonal menu—favorite dishes to indulge on include the Ponzu Marinated Tuna Poke Bowl with edamame, carrots, scallions, rice and avocado or indulge in the Raw Bar with fresh king crab, jumbo shrimp and local oysters, as well as ala carte entrées such as Filet Mignon and Local Swordfish.
Outer Bar & Grille at Wequassett Resort
After an afternoon of refined table side service and views for miles, the Panna Cotta for dessert is a must, with its decadent strawberry rhubarb coulis.
4. THE GARDENS
is the largest public garden in Southern New England, Heritage Museum & Gardens offers over 100 acres of magnificent grounds and trails on the banks of Shawme Pond in Historic Sandwich, Massachusetts. Highlights include the Flume Fountain where you can travel the promenade and glimpse into the flume through the trees until arriving in the Daylily Garden. The surrounding grounds contain exquisite specimens of ornamental trees and shrubs, manicured gardens, flowers and sweeping lawns.
Open year round, spring features showy Dexter Rhododendrons and flowering trees, while summer boasts brilliant hydrangeas and dazzling daylilies. Autumn highlights blazing foliage and the fall-blooming Franklinia. Winter showcases beautiful heathers, bright berries and noble evergreen.
5. THE ARCHITECTURE
Cape Cod-style was a style of lighthouse architecture that originated on Cape Cod in Massachusetts during the 17th century. The simple symmetrical design was constructed of local materials to withstand the stormy, stark weather of Cape Cod. The famed style quickly spread across all parts of the United States. You can’t go far without seeing a Cape Cod-style home.
