Real Cape Cod places, checked by us — not ranked by algorithms.
Explore what's hereThe Guides · 850+ in two libraries
Explore hundreds of locally researched guides designed to help you experience the very best of Cape Cod. From hidden beaches and family adventures to local dining, seasonal events, homeownership, and insider tips, every guide is written to help you plan with confidence.
An independent local guide to Cape Cod and the Islands. Every business we list has been visited and photographed in person.
“Certified” and “Standards” refer to Cape Cod Certified's independent private curation framework and do not imply any governmental, regulatory, or third-party certification. All products, experiences, and contractors listed are selected at our own discretion and subject to our internal review process.
© 2026 Cape Cod Certified
The Pinehills · Plymouth · Massachusetts
363 guides
Visiting Cape Cod
Planning a Boston to Cape Cod day trip? Get the honest guide: drive times, the Sagamore Bridge bottleneck, the P'town ferry option, and exactly which towns are worth the trip.
Cape Cod Pursuits
Month-by-month guide to catching stripers on Cape Cod in 2026 — Canal breaking tides, top shore spots, the slot limit, and exactly when the run peaks.
Cape Cod Celebrations
Discover the most romantic Cape Cod weekend getaways for every season.
Visiting Cape Cod
The three best ice cream spots in Orleans, MA — Smitty's, Emack & Bolio's, and The Local Scoop — plus how locals fit a scoop stop into a Cape Cod summer day.
Visiting Cape Cod
A guide to Cape Cod oysters and raw bars: Wellfleet and other local varieties, how to eat a raw oyster, what makes a great raw bar, and when to go.
Visiting Cape Cod
The three Plymouth ice cream shops worth knowing — B's Homemade (year-round, made daily), Ziggy's (a tradition since 1957), and Kilwins on the waterfront.
Visiting Cape Cod
Where to get ice cream in Chatham, MA — Buffy's hand-crafted ice cream sandwiches and Sweet Dreams candy shop in West Chatham. Local guide, no fluff.
Visiting Cape Cod
The best ice cream shops in Yarmouth, MA: Cape Cod Creamery, Lil' Caboose, and the Skipper window. A local guide to where and when to get a scoop.
Cape Cod Pursuits
Discover the best surf spots on Cape Cod — from Coast Guard Beach in Eastham to Race Point in Provincetown — plus lessons, rentals, shark safety tips, and what conditions to expect.
Cape Cod Celebrations
Cape Cod holds charity polar plunges on New Year's Day across several towns. How to find one locally, prep safely, spectate from the beach, or walk the shore instead.
Visiting Cape Cod
Falmouth's top ice cream shops: Smitty's 48 homemade flavors (cash only) and Ben & Bill's lobster ice cream on Main Street. Where locals go for a scoop.
Visiting Cape Cod
Discover the full story of the Whydah Gally — the pirate ship that sank off Wellfleet in 1717 carrying an estimated $400 million in treasure, and the West Yarmouth museum where you can see the real artifacts today.
Visiting Cape Cod
Where gray and harbor seals haul out on Cape Cod, from Chatham to the outer beaches, how seal-watch boats work, the federal distance rule, and shark safety.
Visiting Cape Cod
Two homemade ice cream shops in Harwich Port worth knowing: Sundae School and Schoolhouse Ice Cream. Here's what makes each one worth the stop.
Visiting Cape Cod · Dennis
Discover the best things to do in Dennis, Cape Cod — Cape Playhouse, Scargo Hill Tower, Corporation Beach, Bass River kayaking, and West Dennis Beach.
Cape Cod Pursuits
Discover the best hiking trails on Cape Cod — from the Great Island Trail in Wellfleet to Beech Forest in Provincetown. Kettle ponds, cedar swamps, salt marsh, and ocean bluffs await.
Cape Cod Celebrations
Memorial Day weekend is Cape Cod's official opening weekend — here's exactly what's open, how crowded the beaches get, when to arrive, and how to make the most of the long weekend on the Cape.
Visiting Cape Cod · Truro
Truro is the most sparsely populated town on Cape Cod — dramatic ocean cliffs, pristine national seashore beaches, and almost no commercial development make it unforgettable.
Visiting Cape Cod
What real New England clam chowder is, how to spot the tourist-trap version, chowder styles, and how to order like a local on Cape Cod.
Visiting Cape Cod
The definitive surf casting guide for Cape Cod — best shore fishing spots for striped bass and bluefish, licensing, tides, lures, and local tackle shops from Chatham to Provincetown.
Visiting Cape Cod · Eastham
Discover the best things to do in Eastham, Cape Cod — Coast Guard Beach, Fort Hill, the Salt Pond Visitor Center, Nauset Light, and Arnold's. Your complete local guide to the National Seashore's front door.
Visiting Cape Cod · Orleans
Orleans sits at the geographic turn of Cape Cod with Atlantic surf at Nauset Beach, Bay-side charter fishing at Rock Harbor, and sea kayaking in Pleasant Bay — here's everything you need to spend a great day in the Lower Cape's most underrated town.
Cape Cod Pursuits · Barnstable
Catch the Hyannis Harbor Hawks at McKeon Park: what the Cape Cod Baseball League is, how to attend a free game, and why it's the best cheap night on the Cape.
Cape Cod Celebrations
The Barnstable County Fair guide.
In two libraries. Explore Cape Cod covers visiting, living, seasons and wildlife, by category or region. The contractor library covers home projects by trade, a hiring guide for each trade in each town, and business guides for contractors. Search looks across both.
Yes. Every guide is free to read, and the Explore Cape Cod guides are free to listen to as podcasts. Contractor work is arranged directly with the business. Some experiences book through partners like FareHarbor, Viator or GetYourGuide, and we may earn a commission on those.
Follow our three free shows on Apple Podcasts (opens in a new tab) and Spotify (opens in a new tab): Visiting Cape Cod, Wild Cape Cod and Living on Cape Cod.
Live · Hyannis
54°
Light drizzle
Rain until about 9am, then drier.