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Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History offers fascinating exhibits on the Cape's flora and fauna and has a wonderful boardwalk trail that tromps across a saltmarsh to a remote beach.
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Cape Cod National Seashore
Extending some 40 miles, the Cape Cod National Seashore encompasses most of the shoreline from Eastham to Provincetown. It's a treasure-trove of unspoiled beaches, dunes, salt marshes and forests. Thanks to President John F Kennedy, this vast area was set aside for preservation in the 1960s, just before a building boom hit the rest of his native Cape Cod. There's no camping in the park.
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Cape Cod Rail Trail
The mother of all Cape bicycle trails, the Cape Cod Rail Trail (Dennis), runs 22 glorious miles through forest, past cranberry bogs and along sandy ponds ideal for a dip. A six million upgrade completed in 2007 has turned this rural route, formerly used as a railroad line, into one of the finest bike trails in all of New England. The path begins in Dennis on MA 134 and continues through Nickerson State Park and the Cape Cod National Seashore all the way to South Wellfleet. There's a hefty dose of Olde Cape Cod scenery en route and you'll have opportunities to detour into the villages for lunch or sightseeing. Bicycle rentals are available from a kiosk at the trailhead in Dennis and at Nickerson State Park.
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Chatham Light Beach
At the east end of Chatham, The Cape's most genteel town, just below the historic coast guard lighthouse on Shore Rd is Chatham Light Beach, a lovely strand that invites strolling.
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Craigville Beach
Craigville Beach is the place to see and be seen for the college set.
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Dexter Grist Mill
The restored Dexter Grist Mill dates back to 1654 and has centuries-old gears that still grind cornmeal. And bring a camera, with its oak waterwheel and paddling swans this is perhaps the most photographed scene on the Cape.
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Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
Provincetown is an ideal departure point for whale-watching and the environmentally oriented Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch offers several whale tours a day.
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Heritage Museums & Gardens
Fun for kids and adults alike, the 76-acre Heritage Museums & Gardens sports a terrific vintage automobile collection, a working 1912 carousel, folk art collections and one of the finest rhododendron gardens in America.
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Herring Cove Beach
The west-facing Herring Cove Beach is an ideal spot for catching the sunset; nude bathers (though illegal) head to the left, families to the right.
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Highland House Museum
Highland House Museum is a charming little place dedicated to the area's farming and fishing past, and sits adjacent to the Highland Lighthouse.
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Highland Lighthouse
In North Truro, Highland Lighthouse sits at the Cape's highest elevation (a mere 120ft!), dates back to 1797 and casts the brightest light on the New England coastline.
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Hoxie House
Get a feel for what life was like for early settlers by touring the Hoxie House, c 1640, the oldest house on Cape Cod.
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John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum
The worthwhile John F Kennedy Hyannis Museum celebrates JFK's life through photos and exhibits on the USA's 35th president. Hyannis is best known to visitors as the summer home of the Kennedy clan.
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Kalmus Beach
Kalmus Beach is one of many crowd-pleasing beaches in the area and is popular for sunning and windsurfing.
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Kate Gould Park
If you're in town on a Friday night, don't miss the summertime band concerts under the stars at Kate Gould Park, an atmospheric throwback to an earlier era.
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Marconi Beach
Marconi Beach has a monument to Guglielmo Marconi, who sent the first wireless transmission across the Atlantic from this site, and a grand beach backed by undulating dunes. Parking costs around US$15 .
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Old Silver Beach
Falmouth has 70 miles of coastline, none finer than Old Silver Beach, a long, sandy stretch with calm waters that attracts both families and the college set. Fee parking available.
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Pilgrim Monument
Climb to the top of the world's tallest all-granite structure, the impressive 253ft-high Pilgrim Monument, for a sweeping view of town and the surrounding coast. The monument commemorates the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims and tells the story of their short stay here.
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Province Lands Visitor Center
The Province Lands Visitor Center has displays on dune ecology and an observation deck with an eye-popping 360-degree view of the outermost reaches of Cape Cod; the deck stays open to midnight.
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Provincetown Art Association & Museum
Founded in 1914 to celebrate the town's thriving art community, the excellent Provincetown Art Association & Museum displays the works of artists who have found inspiration here over the past century.
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Provincetown Public Library
Allows 30min of free Internet access and is a sight in itself - occupying a former museum, it has some cool displays.
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Race Point Beach
On the wild tip of the Cape, Race Point Beach is a beauty with crashing surf and undulating dunes extending as far as the eye can see.
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Salt Pond Visitor Center
The National Seashore's Salt Pond Visitor Center has exhibits and films on the area's ecology and can provide maps to the park's numerous trails, some which begin right at the center. Check out the daily offering of interpretive ranger walks and talks which are free, including a tour of an old sea captain's house with an awesome whale-jawbone gate.
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Sandwich Glass Museum
Colorful Sandwich glass had its heyday in the 19th century, a heritage that's artfully displayed in the Sandwich Glass Museum.
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Sandy Neck Beach
If you're ready for the beach, head to Sandy Neck Beach, a 6-mile dune-backed strand that's ideal for beachcombing and a bracing swim. Parking costs around US$15 .
