See the Best of Cape Cod in 6 Days
Diving into the unique attractions that the coast and its islands have to offer is easy with just a little basic planning; many of the region’s gems are found together in accessible clusters. It’s not exactly easy to get around Cape Cod using only public transportation. A car allows you the freedom to take leisurely drives and explore the many sights along the way at your own pace.
Day 1
Begin your journey in Sandwich and head east along Route 6A toward Brewster (50 minutes), stopping at Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich (10 minutes), Sandy Neck (15 minutes), Millway Beach in Barnstable (20 minutes), or the Edward Gorey House in Yarmouthport (30 minutes), and at whatever antiques shops or art galleries strike your fancy. Watch the sun set over Cape Cod Bay from the Bass Hole Boardwalk (35 minutes) in Yarmouthport, or from one of the town’s lovely bay-side beaches. Stay in Brewster, near the east end of the Old King’s Highway, where a number of historic sea captain’s mansions have been converted into B&Bs, any one of which will make a good base for these first three nights.
Day 2
Spend a few hours cycling the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The route is most varied to the south, with ponds, cranberry bogs, and deeply wooded stretches. This being Massachusetts, there’s even a nifty little bike rotary where the main rail trail intersects with the Old Colony spur to Chatham. In the afternoon, visit Brewster’s Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, before an early seafood dinner at Brewster Fish House.
Day 3
Head north to the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham (20 minutes) and Wellfleet (25 minutes). Spend time at Coast Guard Beach (20 minutes), a favorite of the state’s corps of wet-suited surfers, beneath the red-flashing beacon of Nauset Light. Continue to Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary (10 minutes), occupying the extensive salt marshes and wooded shore on the calm western side of the Outer Cape. Explore the galleries and shops of Wellfleet (10 minutes), perhaps the Cape’s least touristy town. If you’ve never experienced a drive-in movie, you’ll have your chance tonight after sundown at the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre (15 minutes).
Day 4
Bid adieu to your Brewster B&B hosts and proceed to Provincetown (50 minutes), the Cape’s answer to Key West. Spend today visiting the galleries and shops of Commercial Street. While strolling around, don’t miss stepping into the public library for excellent aerial views from the Pilgrim Monument. In the afternoon, go on a dune tour. You owe it to yourself to go whale-watching, so if you won’t be here for Day 5, do this now. If you time it right, you can catch a burlesque/drag show at the Crown & Anchor before heading home.
Day 5
P-town redux: Go whale-watching in the morning, and then rent a bike and spend the afternoon riding the National Seashore’s Province Lands trails (5 minutes from MacMillan Wharf). Time your ride so that you end up at Herring Cove Beach for the best show in town: sunset. Then fill up on a plate of succulent fried scallops at John’s Foot Long.
Day 6
Pack up the car and head south to Chatham (60 minutes) to the Monomey National Wildlife Refuge. Take a wildlife-watching cruise with Monomoy Island Excursions, or make a full day trip of it with a naturalist-guided walking tour, including a visit to the historic lighthouse at its tip. You may want to pack a picnic (there are supermarkets and convenience stores) for lunch, but for dinner, hit the “Ho” (Land Ho! restaurant) in Orleans, for great food and a fun local’s-pub-type finish to the day.
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