Cape Cod National Seashore/Beaches
Whether you're looking for a placid beach with a toddler in tow, or seeking five-foot waves and scenic vistas, Cape Cod offers swimmers, surfers, strollers, and sunbathers many choices.  The wild and cooler Atlantic beaches call to some, while the placid, warmer waters of Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound appeal to families.  Nationally famous beaches are mere minutes by car from Anchorage on the Cove.  In total, over 40,000 acres and almost 30 miles of shoreline are federally protected, from Chatham to Provincetown.  Eastham is home to Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center, official gateway to Cape Cod National Seashore (don't forget to get a permit for a magical evening at the beach with your own bonfire, a unique experience not to be missed).  Eastham's ocean beaches include the spectacular Coast Guard Beach -- according to 50 criteria, voted in the top 10 North American beaches by Dr. Beach in both 2009 and 2010. Its constant waves make it a must-do for surfers. The town of Eastham and Coast Guard Beach are featured in National Geographic Traveler's July/August 2010 issue. Next beach down is the famous Nauset Light Beach, home to the famed Nauset Lighthouse -- see why it has been rated as one of the top 20 beaches in North America.  Eastham's calmer, bayside beaches include First Encounter Beach, the site of the Pilgrims' first meeting in 1620 with Native Americans.  Hiking and biking trails are plentiful. 

Nauset Light Beach is a family-friendly ocean beach that has free concerts in July and August.  Purchase beach stickers at the Natural Resources Facility at 555 Old Orchard Road or visit www.easthamchamber.com.

Nearby Orleans offers Nauset Beach, nine miles of perfect white sand and wild waves. Or the calm and picturesque Rock Harbor Beach.

Fort Hill
If you like to walk a beautiful Cape Cod trail, you'll enjoy Eastham's Fort Hill with its fabulous views of Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic Ocean.  Don't forget to visit the Captain Penniman House, a restored whaling captain's mansion whose entrance is framed by whale jawbones. 5 minutes away by car.

Rock Harbor
This popular local town harbor is the place to go to rent charter boats.  Go sport fishing for blues, bass, cod and even tuna.  It's a must-see if you rent a bike and want to watch the fishing fleet come in.  It's also the only local launching area for boat trailers on Cape Cod Bay.  Not to mention a great spot to watch sunsets. 10 minutes away by car.

Wellfleet Drive-In Theater/Flea Market
One of the last old drive-ins.  Relive your youth, or try a new experience.  This makes for a great evening outing with family.  In the summer, visit the daily flea market on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. 10-15 minutes away by car.

Cape Cod Potato Chip Co.
This Hyannis factory processes 28 million pounds of potatoes a year. Peer through glass windows to seemachines that wash, peel, and slice the potatoes before they're slowly fried in small batches. Then the golden-brown chips are processed to remove any excess oil. After being salted and flavored, the chips are hand-packed into bags. Open Mon.- Fri.; free admission. Good for a rainy day!

Provincetown
Ready for a daytrip?  At the upper tip of the Cape lies Provincetown, an artist's colony and shopper's paradise where alternative lifestyles are celebrated.  Once a quaint old fishing town, P'town's one-way Commercial Street is now a mecca for local crafts and people watching. Just park your car at the municipal parking lot, and walk your way through the "P'town experience."  Whale-watching trips run from MacMillan Pier in the old port.  For a fabulous view, visit the wraparound deck at the Pilgrim Monument, built to commemorate the Pilgrims' first landing. Also try the beaches, surf fishing, and wonderful restaurants. Sample the Portuguese bakeries and food.

Chatham
More conservative than Provincetown, but equally charming, is Chatham.  A beautiful, quaint village, it is home to great shops and restaurants.

Orleans
Only 1/3 mile away, this town has shopping, shopping and more shopping, not to mention good restaurants and art galleries.

Bird watching
If bird watching is your thing, come to Audubon's world-famous Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, 27,000 acres of protected habitat in Wellfleet, including five miles of hiking trails and guided walks and trips.  Nauset Marsh on the ocean side is also well-known, 10 minutes away by car.  Visit Coast Guard Beach in Eastham, part of the Cape Cod National Seashore.  Its large salt marshes are home to great blue herons, sandpipers, osprey, plovers, and terns. The marsh and the barrier paths are also a great place to see seals.

Fishing/Shell fishing
Dig clams right in our own Town Cove waters (you can get your permit down the road at the Natural Resources Facility, 555 Old Orchard Road in Eastham).  Try your hand at the saltwater flats fishing right off our dock (that striped bass and bluefish would taste mighty good, along with your freshly dug clams).  Permits are not required for recreational saltwater angling on Cape Cod. For bait and tackle, go to nearby Goose Hummock on Route 6A in Orleans, or Blackbeard's on Brackett Road in Eastham. Go to Rock Harbor (see above) to rent a boat for sport fishing.

Museums
Cape Cod is chockablock with museums for adults and children alike. The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History on picturesque Route 6A in Brewster offers nature programs, guided walks of trails by the bay through wildflower gardens, woodlans and salt marsh, and has natural history day programs for children ages 3 to grade 7. It also has an aquarium/tidal pool and numerous exhibits on everything from whales and dolphins to beehives, birds, and coastal change.

Cape Cod Children's Museum's slogan is "Where Children Play to Learn and Adults Learn to Play!" Located in Mashpee, the museum features interactive exhibits, role play, drop-in programs, birthday parties, and educational classes. In 2009, it had classes on the traditions of the Wampanoag tribe, storytelling, "Show and Tail with the MSPCA," planetarium showss, campfire singalong and a puppet show.

Heritage Plantation in Sandwich is devoted to the preservation of Americana. It maintains grounds that feature more than a a thousand types of trees, shrubs and flowers.

The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum features a multimedia exhibit focusing on JFK's times on Cape Cod, with a large photo collection, a video, and audio recollections by his friends.

The Provincetown Museum features exhibits on the Pilgrims, maritime history, whaling, and the early days of American theater, including Eugene O'Neill and the Provincetwon Players.

Theater
The Cape is known for its summer regional theater. The Cape Playhouse in Dennis calls itself "America's Most Famous Professional Summer Theatre." Or there is the Provincetown Players. The nearby Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater has been called by the Boston Globe "a jewel in Massachusetts' crown." It holds "WHATforKids," special events such as poetry readings, art openings, opening night parties, and "PlayMaker Talkbacks," a chance to talk with the actors, director and design team.

Whale watching
Cape Cod is known for its whale watching. Take a Dolphin Fleet boat out of MacMillan Pier in Provincetown.  Watch these inspiring creatures and learn about them as you enjoy an exhilarating few hours out on the water visiting the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, a federally protected feeding ground for migrating whales.  You won't just see whales such as the humpback, minke, right, and finback; you may also see dolphins and sea birds.  Whale sightings can be expected May through October.  Bring your sunscreen, camera, extra layers and rubber-soled shoes.

Golf
Experience fine private and public golf courses located within easy reach of Anchorage on the Cove.

Cape Cod Bay
The site of many placid Eastham beaches, the Bay provides great low-tide walks on sand flats and super surf casting at high tide.  Historic First Encounter Beach is a good bay beach.

Dining Out
If you like to sample all kinds of foods, from family-style to fresh-caught local lobster and fish, to fine dining, we are the place for you!  We're surrounded by great eating spots, and provide you a great list of restaurants.  Eat in what used to be the Orleans town jail, now a beautifully restored pub with restaurant.  Or try Middle Eastern/Thai fusion.  We'll send you to the local "watering hole" to see locals talking about their day and enjoying great, reasonably priced food. Or there's the local seafood/sushi combo restaurant. . . not to mention outdoor seafood shacks.  The list goes on. . .

Eastham
Our town is the oldest incorporated township in the U.S. and is home to Fort Hill, Cape Cod National Seashore's Visitors Center, Coast Guard Beach, Nauset Light Beach, First Encounter Beach, and some great restaurants.  Eastham's windmill, located on the town green, was built in 1680; take a tour!  Windmill Weekend in September offers fun, food, entertainment, an art and crafts fair, a parade, and activities for all.

Hyannisport
Another interesting side trip can be made to this site of the home of the Kennedy family.  Go whale watching, shop the quaint village, sightsee or take one of the many boat tours to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard for a day's visit.  Enjoy a scenic ride on the Cape Rail Road.  Dine in the old Pullman dining car as you pass small villages and water views at sunset.  Relive an earlier era.

Nantucket & Martha's Vineyard
Want to spend a day at one of these charming, nearby islands while you're on the Cape? It's as easy as booking with Hy-Line Cruises out of Hyannis.  Kids ride free on the traditional ferries, and there's also high-speed ferry service.

Kayaking/Canoeing/Boating
We've been told we're a "kayaker's paradise"!  We're minutes away from the easily accessed Nauset marshes.  Yours to borrow are complimentary kayaks, canoes, or a rowboat-- or bring your own!  (Life jackets mandatory!) You can set off from our own short path a few feet to water's edge.

A number of boat ramps in Eastham are found nearby. Practically nextdoor and only a minute away, are two boat ramps at Collins Landing on Town Cove. Five minutes away is Rock Harbor, and there is Hemenway Road (all 1/2 of usable tide). In Orleans and five minutes away, you'll find Goose Hummock Shop (all tides). Goose Hummock also provides guided kayak tours of the local marshes and bays.

Arts and Crafts
Outdoor shows are held throughout the summer, with prominent ones conducted in Orleans, Harwich and Falmouth Village.

Tennis
Nearby Nauset High School (past the Baskin Robbins!) on Cable Road has five courts.

Baseball
Experience true, traditional baseball-with-a wood-bat by seeing the Cape Cod Baseball League.  It's America's oldest amateur league, known for feeding college players to the pros.  In fact one of every 7 major leaguers has played in it.  Nearby, the Orleans Firebirds play in Eldredge Park, undergoing major renovations in Spring, 2010.  The field has been called by Baseball America magazine "the top collegiate summer ballpark in the United States." Come see true Americana.  Admission is free.

Biking
Grab your picnic makings and head out.  Catch the Cape Cod Rail Trail, 30 miles long, at the rotary, 1/3 mile from Anchorage on the Cove.  Or pick it up at the Visitors Center at Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham.  Bring the family or just get away from the crowd.

Mountain Biking
It's not just flat and sandy, and it's not just the Rail Trail.  Think forests of scrub oaks, pines, roots, and rocks.  For single track, head to the 20-mile network of trails at Nickerson State Park in Brewster; or the 20-mile Trail of Tears in W. Barnstable (its North Ridge defies most experts); or for classic X-country and free ride, try the Bourne/Falmouth area.

Hidden Hiking Trail
Here is one secret hiking trail that hasn’t made it into the tourist brochures.  Snail Road in nearby Truro is reached by Rte.6, heading toward Provincetown.  At the intersection, you’ll see a sign saying “To Route 6A, Provincetown.”  Park in the parking lot on the right, and begin your trek along the unmarked Snail Road.  Scenic and about 1½ miles long, it offers beautiful vistas – worth the exertion through the sand.  At the summit, you’ll see the Atlantic, Cape Cod Bay and the peak of Race Point Light, Provincetown’s Pilgrim Monument, and vistas of rolling dunes.  A beach and solitude await at the end of the trail.

Or try Nauset Marsh Trail in Eastham, an easy, 1-mile stroll across wood bridges and among kettle ponds formed by the glaciers.

Pilgrim Spring Trail in North Truro is a half-hour ramble with fabulous vistas, with pines in the foreground and the distant sight of sand dunes and the Atlantic. A plaque memorializes the first fresh-water source found by the Pilgrims in 1620.

For Pet Lovers

Want to bring your best friend with you?  Yes, we have two cottages and one apartment that are pet-friendly.  We even have our own dog play areas.  There's no reason that Fido or Fifi can't enjoy "the good life" along with you.  We'll even let you in on the nearby dog-friendly beach!  If you want doggie daycare one day when you want to leave the Cape, try nearby Nauset Kennels, a lucky pup's home away from home.  The Woof Waggin’ and the Bark Bus are available for pick-up and delivery of your cat or dog.