Highfield Hall & Gardens

Cape Cod


Saved from the wrecking ball in the 1990s and lovingly restored by the community, Highfield Hall dates from 1878 and was one of the early summer mansions to grace Cape Cod. It's now open to the public as a museum and cultural center; check the website for events and activities (art exhibitions, concerts on the lawn etc). Beebe Woods, the lovely surrounding gardens and trails, is open to visitors year-round.

In addition to its regular hours, the hall is open for free from 4 pm to 7pm on Fridays in July and August. There is also a short holiday schedule from roughly Thanksgiving to the first week of December (check website to confirm dates).


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Cape Cod attractions

1. Falmouth Museums on the Green

0.49 MILES

Falmouth's quaint village green has an air of history about it – it's where members of the Colonial militia practiced in the 1700s and 19th-century sea…

2. Surf Drive Beach

1.16 MILES

Surf Drive Beach, on Surf Dr within walking distance of Main St, has full facilities and a straight-on view of Martha's Vineyard. Parking costs $15 in…

3. WHOI Ocean Science Exhibit Center

3.06 MILES

You'll gain insights into the work of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution at this museum, where interactive exhibits include a full-size model of the…

4. Woods Hole Science Aquarium

3.21 MILES

The small Woods Hole Science Aquarium has little flash and dazzle, but it does have unusual sea-life specimens, local fish and the Homarus americanus (aka…

5. Menauhant Beach

3.73 MILES

For a great beach on Falmouth's sound side, head to Menauhant Beach, off Central Ave from MA 28. It's Falmouth's longest beach, divided into an east side…

6. Old Silver Beach

4.72 MILES

Of all Falmouth's beaches, none is finer than Old Silver Beach. This long, sandy stretch of beach attracts scores of college students, families and day…

7. Ashumet Holly Wildlife Sanctuary

6.53 MILES

This 49-acre Mass Audubon sanctuary offers good bird-watching (with lots of resident barn swallows) along 1.5 miles of nature trails through the woods and…

8. Martha's Vineyard Museum

7.6 MILES

This well-done museum has a fascinating collection of whaling paraphernalia and scrimshaw, and puts the history of Martha's Vineyard into context. Don't…