A Local’s Guide on Things to Do in Cape Cod

 

Cape Cod is an astoundingly beautiful Massachusetts peninsula well known for its iconic hook shape, Martha’s Vineyard, fabulous beaches, fantastic lighthouses, delicious restaurants, historical landmarks, and quaint villages. If you’ve decided to make Cape Cod real estate your new home, you’re undoubtedly enthused about a move to this fun-filled, gorgeous location and can’t wait to get started.

But before you start listing your home for sale and get swept away at open houses for Cape Cod beach homes, you probably want to learn more about activities in the area. Kerrie Marzot will be your guide as you search for stunning Cape Cod luxury homes and try to plan your move. Read on to learn about some of the region's best activities.

 

The Cape Cod Rail Trail features over 25 miles of beautiful cycling paths, ideal for serious cyclists alongside families who love adventure. Found on a former railroad line, the trail goes through seven different towns in Cape Cod, including Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, Brewster, Harwich, Dennis, and Yarmouth.

It’s the perfect place to take both intense and relaxed bike rides, and you will pass through unique ecosystems, gorgeous waterways, and incredible national parks as you ride or walk along the beautiful rail trail. The rail trail is open from early morning until evening, and parking lots are located at multiple points on the trail. You can ski, horseback ride, rollerblade, run, and walk on the rail trail, in addition to a day of bike riding.

 

Founded in 1957, the Wellfleet Drive-In is the sole drive-in theater in the Cape Cod area. The theater initially included only a drive-in, but it’s changed over the past 65 years to feature more, including a delicious snack bar, mini golf, and restrooms. The miniature golf course was added to the property in 1961, and a market was built in 1975. Finally, the owners added an indoor movie theater to the venue in 1986. The theater now plays classic movies that you can listen to through the radio in your car and watch under the stars. You can buy tickets to this drive-in movie theater up to five days in advance.

 

The Sandwich Glass Museum is an incredible attraction in Cape Cod, including a diverse array of rare glass designs for viewing. The museum collects, preserves, and exhibits beautiful glass pieces to interpret the town of Sandwich’s history. The town of Sandwich has an incredible glass history that dates all the way to 1825 when the town’s glass factory was founded.

You can spend the day viewing the beautiful collection of gorgeous glass pieces or attending the presentations about making glass that the museum hosts each hour. During these presentations, the glassblowers create beautiful and unique forms out of the hot glass. The museum also regularly hosts special exhibits, fun family events, permanent exhibits, and daily presentations about making glass.

 

The Pilgrim Monument is another awesome landmark to visit when you’re in the area to look at Cape Cod real estate. The Pilgrim Monument was created to remember the arrival of the Mayflower pilgrims to America. The monument stands in the exact spot where the Mayflower ship stopped in Provincetown. The pilgrims lived and walked around Cape Cod for a full six weeks before moving onto Plymouth.

The Pilgrim Monument is also the exact location where the Mayflower Compact, a document outlining rules for self-governance, was created and signed. Teddy Roosevelt laid down the first stone of the monument in 1907, and William Taft dedicated the monument when it was completed in 1910. Over the past 112 years since its completion, millions of people have visited the 252-foot tall monument, which is an authentic slice of United States history.

Located on the curlicue at the southeast corner of Massachusetts, the beaches of Cape Cod National Seashore were designated as such by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, the first year of his presidency. The Outer Beach, famously walked in four days by Henry David Thoreau, comprises 40 miles of sandy shorefront, marshes, ponds, and woods. Fittingly, there are six lighthouses and six beaches in Cape Cod National Seashore. You can swim, hike, bike, take pictures, surf, walk your dogs, and go birding when the weather permits. Paved biking trails include the Nauset Bike Trail in Eastham, the Head of the Meadow Trail in Truro, and the Province Land Trails in Provincetown. More eclectic attractions include wild cranberry bogs, a whaling captain’s house, and the Highlands Center, a cliffside museum of science and arts. There’s a lot to do here, so consider planning your trip in advance.

The Cape Playhouse is a professional playhouse in the Cape Cod area that’s been operating continuously since 1927 and remains a favorite entertainment spot for those who own Cape Cod real estate today. The playhouse is considered an institution, famous amongst locals for hosting incredible performances by Humphrey Bogart. Also called America’s Most Famous Summer Theater, the Cape Playhouse has also hosted performances by Ginger Rogers, Betty White, Bernadette Peters, Julie Andrews, and other famous actors.

The mission of the playhouse is to entertain and inspire patrons through the use of extraordinary theater arts. You can attend historical tours of the playhouse when you visit. You can see shows like “Little Shop of Horrors,” “A Chorus Line,” “The Importance of Being Earnest,” and other classics for a night of entertainment and awe.

Any visit to Cape Cod would be complete by taking the ferry from Woods Hole to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Established in 1960, the Steamship Authority ferry is one of the best ways to feel the breeze and relax without worrying about navigating the Vineyard Sound yourself. Once aboard the ferry, you’re in the hands of a U.S. Coast Guard-certified crew dedicated to your comfort. While the ferry is popular, the spacious seating areas ensure the place is not crowded. All passengers have access to snack bars with alcoholic beverages plus free Wi-Fi.

Steamship Authority offers the most frequent departures to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket at the lowest cost. Operating year-round, it’s the only ferry that carries vehicles and passengers. You might meet year-round island residents, people summering on the islands, tourists, and businesspersons with commercial interests on the islands. Vehicle registration is required in advance, while passengers without vehicles can buy tickets at the terminal on the day of sailing.

Are you planning on listing your home for sale and looking for stunning Cape Cod real estate? Reach out to the trusted Cape Cod real estate agent Kerrie Marzot for guidance as you plan your move to this gorgeous area full of culture and incredible natural spaces. Backed by 30 years of real estate experience, Kerrie is well-equipped to help you find the home you’ve been searching for.