Cape Cod Travel Guide
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is one of the East Coast’s most popular summer vacation spots. If you are looking for a quintessential fun beach vacation with charming towns, delicious, fresh seafood, ice cream every night, family mini-golf games, and beach days, you will want to consider vacationing in Cape Cod. Cape Cod is an arm-shaped island that extends 65 miles into the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts. The unique shape makes many decorations in the homes of those who live here.
The sun, the sea, the sand, and the Cape Cod resorts are the recipe for a perfect vacation. Indeed, traveling to Cape Cod is refreshingly easy, but it helps to know a few tips to help you plan. Remember these tips and get the most out of your vacation to Cape Cod. From avoiding the traffic to surviving the sharks, here are a few things you need to know before you go to Cape Cod.
Best Time to Visit Cape Cod
The best time to visit Cape Cod will depend on several things. Weather, budget, sights you want to see, activities you want to do, the size of crowds you want to endure, and even the type of food you want to eat. The best time to visit Cape Cod is during the autumn or spring shoulder seasons. Or the Memorial Day weekend to the end of June,. Or any time after Labor Day to the end of October. Skip over July and August altogether. Those are the months that everyone visits Cape Cod. I know it is the ideal time for beach days and everything, but it is just too crowded!
Choose Your Destination Carefully
Cape Cod stretches over 65 miles out into the Atlantic Ocean. It has 15 towns; Barnstable, the biggest town, consists of seven villages. While there are similarities between these villages and towns, there are also significant distinctions. Some of the towns close down seasonally, while others are open year-round. Some towns exhibit a lazy, beachy atmosphere, while others exude the bustle of suburbia. Some towns are about wildlife and pristine nature, while others tout water parks and mini-golf.
And, of course, the local beaches might face Buzzards Bay, Nantucket Sound, Cape Cod Bay, or the wild Atlantic, all of which offer different beach experiences. So, knowing what you want and researching before choosing where to stay on Cape Cod is essential.
Pack for Weather Fluctuations
Cape Cod is about 10 degrees cooler during the summer than on the mainland, thanks to the ocean breezes. Days are warm, with temperatures reaching all-time highs in the 70s on most days in July and August. Temperatures drop when the sun goes down, so you want to pack a sweatshirt or jacket. Also, rain is possible year-round, but especially in May and June.
Time Your Commute Wisely
Two ways to drive from the mainland to Cape Cod are across the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge. No matter which bridge you take, it will be a slow, frustrating crawl across the bridge if you try to cross when everyone else is trying to cross. This is easy enough to avoid if you plan your travel carefully.
If you are driving to the Cape in July or August, avoid the bridges on Friday afternoons and evenings (approximately noon to 8 pm) and mid-day Saturday (about 9 am to 3 pm). For your departure from Cape Cod, avoid leaving on Saturday morning (8 am to noon) or Sunday afternoon (noon to 6 pm).
Leaving your car at home is another way to avoid Cape Cod traffic. The Cape Cod Flyer is a train traveling from Boston to Hyannis on summer weekends, while you can catch ferries every day to Provincetown from Boston and Plymouth. Bring your bike; it will help ease your movement. Apart from the high season, traffic is less of a problem at other times of the year. It pays to plan your travel to and from Cape Cod.
Make Restaurant Reservations
The good news is that you do not need reservations to feast on tasty clam chowder, fried clams, and lobster rolls at your local seafood shack (which exists in every town in Cape Cod). The other good news is that there are many other compelling dining options, offering a diverse array of international and “new” American cuisine and featuring plenty of seafood. It is advisable to make reservations at these midrange and upscale restaurants in July and August. Try to book a weekend dinner for a week or two ahead of time, especially in Falmouth, Hyannis, or Provincetown.
Heed the Shark Warnings
You have probably heard that shark sightings have become more frequent in recent years, especially at the ocean beaches on the Outer Cape (including all Cape Cod National Seashore beaches). This does not mean that you will not swim in the ocean, but it means you should take some simple precautions:
- Do not swim alone
- Do not swim where fish are schooling or seals are present
- Pay attention to lifeguard flags and warnings on all beaches
Cape Cod Travel Guide: Shark sightings have become more frequent in recent years, especially at the ocean beaches on the Outer Cape. Photo by Thomas Kelley on Unsplash
Mind Your Smoking and Toking
In Massachusetts, it is legal for adults to buy and possess both marijuana and tobacco, but there are lots of restrictions on their consumption. Tobacco products are prohibited in any “workplace,” including restaurants, bars, hotels, public transportation, and taxis. Also, smoking is not allowed on most Cape Cod beaches. Any form of marijuana consumption is against the law in all public places, including beaches, parks, streets, and sidewalks.
You will not find any social consumption sites, for example., cannabis cafes, in Cape Cod, or anywhere in Massachusetts. Your options are limited if you hope to get high in Cape Cod. It is worth noting that smoking pot is prohibited anywhere tobacco is not permitted, including your hotel room. In short, legally, the only place to partake in Massachusetts is a private home.
Wrap Up
Remember, when visiting a new place, it is best to gather as much information as possible. I hope the above tips give you a run-down of the essential things you need to know about vacationing in Cape Cod so that you are prepared when visiting as a first-timer. With many other tips like the ones above, you will get as many surprises as you would if you did not know these tips. We hope you use this guide on your next Cape Cod vacation.
Related Reading: Dighton Rock and its Petroglyphs in Berkley, Massachusetts
