The Guides

Practical knowledge for Cape Cod living.

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.

While you’re planning — book an experience

Beach Day

Private · Seals Guaranteed

East Orleans Private Harbor & Seal Tour

A private tour from the Meetinghouse Pond town dock through Orleans' waterways to the barrier beach, Chatham fishing fleet and seal colonies. Personal and flexible, ideal for families.

from $500See Pricing & Availability

Cape Classics

Tastings Included

Lobster Legends and Coastal Bites History Tour

A guided Cape Cod food-and-drink experience with small-group tastings. Booked on Viator.

from $105See Pricing & Availability

Beach Day

Fly Above the Water

eFoil Lessons on Cape Cod

An active Cape Cod adventure on the water and shoreline. Booked on Viator.

from $190See Pricing & Availability

Beach Day

No Guide · Just Go

Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals — Dennis

Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals — Dennis with Mocean Adventures in Dennis. Book on Cape Cod Certified.

from $106See Pricing & Availability

Beach Day

Best for Ages 4-12

Cape Cod Pirate Adventure Paddle Hunt and Battle

An active Cape Cod adventure on the water and shoreline. Booked on Viator.

from $100See Pricing & Availability

Cape Classics

Party Boat · All Welcome

Helen H Sunset & Party Cruise

Evening sunset and themed party cruises — margarita, luau and fireworks nights — from Hyannis and Barnstable Harbors aboard a large, stable vessel with full bar.

from $1200See Pricing & Availability

Filters

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Title 5 Septic System Upgrade: Complete Homeowner Guide (2026)

A plain-English guide to Title 5 septic on Cape Cod: inspections at sale, nitrogen-reducing systems, the upgrade process, and buyer/seller tips. Verify locally.

Cape Cod Home

Flood Zones & Coastal Risk: What Cape Cod Homebuyers Must Know

What Cape Cod homebuyers must check on coastal risk: flood zones, real insurance quotes, elevation certificates, erosion and renovation limits before you buy.

Visiting Cape Cod

Cape Cod in Winter Off-Season: What Open, What to Do & Why Locals Love It

Discover Cape Cod in winter — what open from October through April, the best activities (whale watching, birding, hiking the National Seashore), where to eat, and why year-rounders say the off-season is the real Cape.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Orleans Firebirds: Your Guide to Cape Cod's Outer Cape Baseball Experience

The Orleans Firebirds play at Eldredge Park, the Cape League's most scenic setting. A guide to games, the hillside amphitheater, and an Outer Cape day.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Hiking Cape Cod: Best Trails, Hidden Walks & Nature Paths

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 Pursuits

Cape Cod Golf Courses: Public Courses, Tee Times & When to Go for the Best Value

A local's guide to the best public golf courses on Cape Cod — Captains in Brewster, Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds, Dennis Pines, Sandwich Hollows, and more — with booking tips and why September is the value season.

Visiting Cape Cod

Cape Cod in Winter: What's Open, What's Different & Why Some People Prefer It

The honest guide to Cape Cod in winter — what's open, what closes, where to stay, and why the seals, light, and empty beaches make January worth the trip.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Flood Zones Explained: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

FEMA flood zones on Cape Cod explained: what VE/AE/X mean, when flood insurance is required, how zones affect renovations, and how to find your zone.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Homeowners Insurance: Wind, Flood & the Policies Every Coastal Owner Needs

How Cape Cod homeowners insurance really works: the separate wind and flood coverages every coastal owner needs, the FAIR Plan, and how to manage the cost.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Best Photography Spots on Cape Cod: Where to Shoot Every Season

Cape Cod photography spots ranked by season and light direction — from Race Point sunrise to Rock Harbor sunset, with tide tips, hidden gems, and the specific logistics locals use to plan a great shoot.

Cape Cod Home

Winterizing Your Cape Cod Vacation Home: The Complete Checklist

The complete checklist to winterize a Cape Cod vacation home: preventing frozen pipes, the plumbing shutdown, storm prep, monitoring, and avoiding disaster.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Birding on Cape Cod: Where to Go, What to See & When to Go

Cape Cod is one of the East Coast's premier birding destinations — a hooked peninsula on the Atlantic Flyway surrounded by salt marsh, tidal flat, freshwater pond, and pine barrens. Here's where to go, what to look for, and when to visit.

Cape Cod Home

How to Find and Hire a Licensed Contractor on Cape Cod

How to find and vet a licensed contractor on Cape Cod: the HIC and CSL credentials to verify, the vetting checklist, getting good bids, and red flags.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Septic vs. Town Sewer: How to Decide What's Right for Your Property

Septic, nitrogen-reducing systems, or town sewer on Cape Cod? A guide to the three paths, the trade-offs, and the two phone calls that make the decision clear.

Cape Cod Home

Retiring to Cape Cod: A Practical Guide to the Best Towns

Choosing where to retire on Cape Cod? A practical, town-by-town guide to healthcare, cost, walkability and the winter test — Falmouth to Chatham.

Cape Cod Home

The Complete Guide to Buying a Cape Cod Vacation Home

A complete guide to buying a Cape Cod vacation home: how you'll use it, the coastal costs buyers underestimate, the due-diligence checklist, and financing.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Short-Term Rental Investment Guide: What to Know Before You Buy

Thinking of buying a Cape Cod home as a short-term rental? The seasonality math, tightening town rules, taxes, and full cost stack to run before you buy.

Cape Cod Home

Best Cape Cod Towns for a Second Home: A Real Buyer's Guide

A real buyer's guide to choosing a Cape Cod town for a second home: use, rental income, drive time, off-season life, and which towns fit which buyers.

Cape Cod Home

PFAS Contamination & Well Water on Cape Cod: What Homeowners Need to Know

PFAS "forever chemicals" from Joint Base Cape Cod contaminate groundwater in some areas — here's what to know about testing and protecting your well water.

Cape Cod Home

Moving to Cape Cod Year-Round: What Nobody Tells You

An honest guide to moving to Cape Cod full-time: the housing crunch, the seasonal economy, healthcare, the off-season reality, and a practical checklist.

Cape Cod Home

Title 5 Septic Inspections on Cape Cod: What Every Homeowner Must Know

Title 5 septic inspection is required for every Cape Cod home sale — here's what it means, what it costs, and what to do if you fail.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Real Estate Market: What Buyers Need to Know Right Now

What buyers need to know about the Cape Cod real estate market: the forces that shape it, why it's many micro-markets, and a disciplined buying strategy.

Cape Cod Home

Whole-House Generator Installation on Cape Cod: Permits, Costs, and What to Know

A Cape Cod guide to standby whole-house generators: portable vs. standby, propane vs. natural gas, the permitted install, sizing, costs, and safety.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Property Taxes by Town: What Every Buyer Should Know

How Cape Cod property taxes work, why they vary by town, the second-home exemption wrinkle, and how to check the real tax bill before you buy.