Cape Cod has plenty of famous attractions, but the real pleasure is how easily you can combine them with the coast. A day might include a lighthouse in the morning, seafood for lunch, a bike ride in the afternoon and sunset on the beach.
The Cape Cod National Seashore is an obvious starting point. Its protected Atlantic coastline includes beaches, dunes, walking trails and historic sites across the Outer Cape. Even in the busiest summer months, the landscape can feel remarkably wild once you move away from the main roads.
Beaches, boats and whales
Beach time is almost unavoidable here, but every shoreline is different. Cape Cod Bay tends to offer a different experience from the exposed Atlantic coast, while Nantucket Sound has its own popular beaches.
Whale-watching trips are another classic Cape experience, particularly from Provincetown and Barnstable-area harbours. Boat excursions, fishing and sailing provide plenty of other reasons to get onto the water.
Explore the towns
Do not spend the entire trip driving from beach to beach. Towns such as Chatham, Sandwich, Hyannis, Wellfleet and Provincetown deserve time of their own. Look for historic streets, galleries, harbours and local museums.
Cycling is also excellent, with routes including the Cape Cod Rail Trail making it possible to experience the peninsula at a slower pace.
My advice is to choose one section of the Cape each day. Trying to race from Sandwich to Provincetown and back may technically be possible, but it misses the reason people return here year after year.