What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Cape Cod?  The beach, of course!   And no wonder; the Cape boasts over 500 miles of stunning coastline, and that means many days worth of fun to be had in and around the water. The Cape Cod National Seashore stretches a sandy 40 miles along the Outer Cape.
If your priority is swimming and sunbathing, you’ll have a surplus of options. Those who prefer a quieter sunbath will enjoy Chapaquoit Beach, or Little Island, both in Falmouth.  For people-watching, Craigville Beach, in Centerville, is a must, popular both for its length and its warm, easy surf.  For more lively waves, check out Nauset Beach, further down Cape in East Orleans.
While the Cape is no Hawaii, surfing has been growing steadily in popularity here, especially in recent years.  The best surfing is at the Outer Cape Atlantic beaches, among them the southern tip of Nauset Beach, Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, and Head of the Meadow in Truro.
Even more popular is windsurfing. The best places to catch some wind are Old Silver Beach in Falmouth, Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, and West Dennis Beach.  Novices seeking instruction and/or equipment rentals can call Cape Cod Sail And Surf in Falmouth, or Sailworld Cape Cod in Buzzards Bay.
With over 60 various kayaking routes across the Cape, if you’d rather explore the water with a paddle, you’ll have ample opportunity. You can explore the rivers, bays, and peaceful harbors or wrestle the more challenging waters of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds.  Providers of rentals and tours abound, from Cape Cod Kayak in Cataumet, all the way out to Flyer’s Boat Rentals in Provincetown.
Those with a penchant for fishing can set after the Cape’s cod, or even more popular striped bass on a fishing charter.  Sschedule a day of trailing your favorite prey, whether it be bluefish, tuna, or even sharks.
Fishing boats aren’t the only option, the Cape hosts numerous boat rentals, from pedal boats, to sailboats, to power boats.  A favorite is the Ship Shops Marina, in South Yarmouth, whose boats include everything from safety gear to GPS navigation, and whose prime location on the Bass River allows convenient access to Nantucket Sound. Those without experience can charter a sailboat, from places like Cape Cod Sailing Adventures in East Falmouth, where the skipper will take you for anything from a half-day trip to an overnighter, visiting such popular destinations as the Vineyard and Nantucket, or going as far as Block Island, or Newport.

An even bigger Cape Cod boating experience, and one particularly unique and thrilling, is the whale watch.  While there are no guarantees it’s worth the wait to catch a glimpse, or more, of these magnificent creatures. Humpback, finback, and minke whales summer off the coast of the Cape, and watches are also an opportunity to catch sight of other sea creatures, including  dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea birds, and sharks. Daily cruises that leave Province-town, Barnstable, and Plymouth Harbors. If you’re
lucky, you’ll get to see one breach, or slap the water with its enormous flippers. Also popular are cruises specializing in seal sightings, especially near Monomoy Island off Chatham.
Cape Cod offers hundreds of biking and nature trails. Pedestrian treks on the Lower Cape include both Nickerson State Park and Spruce Hill Conservation Area in Brewster. The former provides almost 2,000 acres of trails that take hikers along eight freshwater kettle ponds. You can stop to swim, picnic, or do a little fishing. Spruce Hill’s trail leads to a 600-foot private beach overlooking  Cape Cod Bay.  Further up-Cape, in Barnstable, you’ll find the Sandy Neck Great Salt Marsh Conservation Area, the east coast's largest salt marsh, blueberry bushes, and dunes rising up to 100-feet.  On the Upper Cape, East Falmouth is home to the Ashumet Holly and Wildlife Sanctuary, run by Massachusetts Audubon Society, with eight self-guided nature walks, where hikers can admire more than 130 species of birds.
Looking to cover a little more ground in a little less time?  Explore the Cape’s many bike trails. Though there are a great many options, arguably the most impressive is the Cape Cod Bike Trail, whose 20-mile route begins in Dennis ending in Eastham.There you can pick up the Cape Cod National Seashore trails..  For a beautiful ride, try the Shining Sea Bike Path in Falmouth, which takes cyclers 3.6 miles along the shore, with views of Vineyard Sound, Martha's Vineyard, and Naushon Island at every turn.
Many individual lighthouses also offer visiting hours during which tours are given. Some of our favorites are Race Point Lighthouse, in Provincetown; Highland Light (Cape Cod Light), in Truro, which boasts a small adjacent museum; Nobska Lighthouse, in Falmouth’s Woods Hole; and the Gay Head Lighthouse, on Martha’s Vineyard.  Take the Island Queen ferry from Falmouth, and enjoy a day of Vineyard shopping before you head off on one of the sunset tours they offer on weekends.

by Melissa Febos