Massachusetts
Cape Cod - Massachusetts
There is only one Cape Cod in all the world.
Cape Cod. Warm Sea breezes, 559.6 miles of unspoiled coastline, and breathtaking scenic vistas. Generations of families return year after year to reclaim memories of sandcastles, flip flops, and fried clams. Others come for the world’s finest beaches or to explore one of the nation’s top 25 arts destinations. Enjoy 15 distinctive towns, quaint shops, fine dining, superior accommodations, New England’s best golf, and an endless array of land & sea activities.
Location & History
Cape Cod is situated in Southern New England, at the southeast corner of Massachusetts, stretching approximately 70 miles from the Cape Cod Canal to Provincetown’s Race Point. The Cape is 20 miles at its widest point and completely surrounded by water: Cape Cod Bay on the north, Buzzards Bay on the west, Vineyard and Nantucket Sounds on the south, and Atlantic on the east. Countless historic sites and landmarks tell the proud role that Cape Cod has played in American History, beginning with the indigenous Wampanoag people through the landfall of the Mayflower in Provincetown in 1620. The homes of long-ago sea captains dot the historic Old King’s Highway, the largest contiguous historic district in the United States. Historic lighthouses have lined the Cape shorelines for centuries, guiding ships to safety through dangerous sandbars and treacherous shoals. The John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis celebrates the life and times of President Kennedy and his family on Cape Cod. And, at the tip of the Cape, Provincetown proclaims its living history as an artist’s colony and fishing village.
Cape Cod by the Numbers
- 115 public beaches
- 83 museums and 475 galleries
- 2,400+ places to shop
- 106 miles of bike paths
- Over 1,000 dining experiences, from upscale eateries and elegant oceanfront restaurants to old-fashioned Cape Cod cooking and seafood shanties
- 19,000 guest rooms
- 250 B&Bs and Inns
About Cape Cod
Cape Cod comprises 15 towns, each with a constellation of villages. There are four regions – Upper, Mid, Lower, and Outer Cape. Upper Cape Town comprises Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee; Mid-Cape towns comprise Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Dennis; Lower Cape Town comprises Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, and Orleans; Outer Cape towns comprise Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown.
Population
Cape Cod is home to about 215,000 year-round residents. That number nearly triples in the summer months of July and August.
Climate
Cape Cod’s maritime climate is changeable from day-to-day. It is more temperate than the surrounding areas (cooler in summer, warmer in winter). Always bring a sweater or jacket for our cool evenings in summer!
Activities
Cape Cod offers a wide range of things to do. The first oceanfront National Park in America, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers over 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds, and uplands supporting diverse species. http://www.nps.gov/caco/index.htm Surrounded by water and dotted with lakes, Cape Cod offers swimming, boating, surfing, kayaking, and fishing excursions. Rent bicycles and ride the many cycling trails through the region or find seaside and wooded walking paths to explore. Adults and children will find many ways to enjoy their visit by relaxing or staying active with all there is to do.
Golf
There are few areas in the world that can rival Cape Cod when it comes to golf. Cape Cod has four of the Top-10 courses in Massachusetts (according to Golf Digest) and one of the Top-four Par-3 layouts in the country. Some of the most widely renowned golf course architects in the world have had a hand in sculpting Cape Cod’s most scenic golf vistas.
Lighthouses
Lighthouses are as much a part of Cape Cod as the sea. There are eight working lighthouses on the Cape, mile-for-mile one of the largest concentrations of working lighthouses in the world. For centuries, our lighthouses have guided mariners to safety through treacherous shoals. Sweeping far out into the ocean, the Cape is a substantial obstacle to navigation. In the last 300 years, there have been more than 3,000 documented shipwrecks along Cape shores.
Arts & Culture
Cape Cod has been recognized as one of the 25 top arts destinations in the country by AmericanStyle magazine. Throughout the Cape, visitors will find an array of arts & cultural pursuits – everything from symphony concerts, galleries, and fine art museums to historical sites and America’s oldest summer theater. Explore the arts and culture of Cape Cod with the ArtsApp Cape Cod. Create your own Arts Trail and find great Cape Cod artists, craftspeople, galleries, museums, art centers, theaters, concerts, and more! Download to your mobile device to find what’s near you while you wander the Cape - www.capecodchamber.org/artsapp.
Plan visits to studios of artists inspired by the Cape’s natural beauty, galleries highlighting award-winning artists, and museums and performing arts venues that reflect the unique arts community of Cape Cod. You’ll find well-known places and hidden gems, displaying art and performing work from the cutting edge to family-friendly. Artists creating one-of-a-kind, high-quality, locally made items welcome you into their studios. You’ll meet people who love what they do and love sharing their work with you.
Take classes and workshops with local artists. See a performance that might include a celebrity alongside local talent in a venue you’ve never been to. Visit our historic museums for a friendly and inspiring look at the rich history of Cape Cod. Find events that will create special memories that will last a lifetime.
The Kennedy Connection
The Kennedy family has been connected to Hyannisport on Cape Cod since the 1920s when family patriarch Joseph Kennedy bought a summer home here. The 1960 presidential election, during which John F. Kennedy was elected the 35th US President, helped land Hyannisport on the world map. The Kennedy name is still a major tourist draw today, and the JFK Museum www.jfkhyannismuseum.org and JFK Memorial in Hyannis remain among the most popular Cape Cod attractions.
Travel & Tourism Information
Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Administrative Office: 5 Patti Page Way, Centerville, MA 02632
1-888-33 Cape Cod ( 888-332-2732 )
508-362-3225 x 510
Find us on Facebook and Twitter at Visit Cape Cod!
Please refer Cape Cod Press Inquiries to:
Bill DeSousa, President, DeMa Public Relations
508-790-0566
Or
Paul Niedzwiecki, CEO, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
508-362-3225
We are always happy to help the media by suggesting story ideas, arranging press trips to the region, and sharing images from our expansive online library of stunning Cape Cod photography.