Visiting Cape Cod
Cape Cod Vacation Rentals vs. Hotels: What's Right for Your Trip
Vacation rental or hotel for Cape Cod? A practical breakdown of costs, flexibility, and experience — with certified options for both.
The Guides · 850+ in two libraries
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.
Guides for visitors
161 guides
Visiting Cape Cod
Breweries & Bars Near the Cape Cod Rail Trail: Where to Stop for a Drink Mid-Ride or After
Plan your drink stops on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Best breweries and bars in Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet — with detour distances, seasonal hours, and mid-ride tips.
Visiting Cape Cod
Dog-Friendly Cape Cod: Beaches, Trails, and Where Your Dog Is Actually Welcome
Most Cape Cod town beaches ban dogs May 15–Sept 15. Here's exactly where dogs ARE welcome — trails, beaches, and the workarounds locals know.
Visiting Cape Cod
Wildlife Photography on Cape Cod: Where to Go, What to Bring & the Species Worth Shooting
Find the best spots for wildlife photography on Cape Cod — seals at Chatham, shorebirds at Wellfleet Bay, owls at Race Point, and exactly when to go.
Cape Cod Day Trips with Kids
Free Cape Cod Family Day: Splash Pad to Tidal Creek Paddle
A full free family day on Cape Cod: Sandy Pond splash pad in West Yarmouth, a local lunch, then a tidal creek paddle for ages 3–12. Real times, costs, and local tips.
Cape Cod Celebrations
Kid-Friendly Fall Activities Cape Cod
Discover the best kid-friendly fall activities on Cape Cod.
Living on Cape Cod · Eastham
The Outer Cape as Locals Experience It: An Eastham Insider's Guide
Skip the tourist version of Eastham. Year-round residents share the real Outer Cape — Fort Hill in November, tidal flats at First Encounter, and why no downtown is the whole point.
Wild Cape Cod
Shark Alley: Exactly Where (and When) to See Great White Sharks Off Cape Cod
The real Cape Cod shark hot spots, peak viewing times for 2026, tour costs, and which beaches consistently log great white activity. Local insider guide.
Living on Cape Cod
What It Actually Costs to Own a Cape Cod Second Home (The Off-Season Budget Nobody Shows You)
The real off-season cost of owning a Cape Cod second home in 2026 — taxes, insurance, heat, caretaker, plowing. Town-by-town numbers nobody else publishes.
Wild Cape Cod
Cape Cod Wildlife Spotting Guide: Seals, Sharks, Whales, Horseshoe Crabs & Piping Plovers
Cape Cod wildlife guide: where and when to see gray seals, Great White Sharks, humpback whales, horseshoe crabs, piping plovers, and ospreys — from Chatham to Provincetown.
Visiting Cape Cod
Cape Cod Rail Trail Safety Tips & What to Bring: Everything First-Timers Need to Know
First time on the Cape Cod Rail Trail? Road crossings, heat and water, gear and repairs, riding with kids, ticks, and a first-timer's packing checklist.
Visiting Cape Cod
Paddleboarding on Cape Cod: Best Spots, Rentals & Conditions
Discover the best paddleboarding spots on Cape Cod — from calm bay beaches and tidal creeks to advanced Nauset Inlet. Includes rentals, guided tours, tide tips, and safety advice.
Cape Cod Celebrations
Wellfleet OysterFest: The Complete Guide to Cape Cod's Biggest Oyster Festival
Your complete planning guide to the Wellfleet OysterFest — how to get tickets before they sell out, where to park, shuttle logistics, the best oyster farms to seek out, where to stay, and everything else you need for Cape Cod's finest fall tradition.
Living on Cape Cod
How to Open Your Cape Cod House in Spring: The De-Winterization Checklist
Open your Cape Cod house the right way: a March–April de-winterization checklist with 2026 contractor pricing, well/septic steps, and tick warnings.
Visiting Cape Cod
Best Seafood Restaurants on Cape Cod: A Local's Eating Guide
A local's guide to the best seafood restaurants on Cape Cod — lobster rolls, raw bars, fried clam shacks, and fish markets from Falmouth to Provincetown.
Visiting Cape Cod
Kayaking on Cape Cod: Best Routes, Rentals & Hidden Waterways
Discover the best kayaking routes on Cape Cod — from the Nauset Estuary and Pleasant Bay to Waquoit Bay and Hatches Harbor. Rentals, guided tours, tidal tips, and safety advice included.
Visiting Cape Cod
How Many Days Do You Need on Cape Cod? Sample 3-, 5-, and 7-Day Itineraries
How many days do you need on Cape Cod? Sample 3, 5, and 7-day itineraries with drive times, base recommendations, and 2026 prices from locals.
Wild Cape Cod
The Cape Cod Birding Calendar: What to Look For Every Month (and Exactly Where)
A month-by-month Cape Cod birding guide: target species, the best hotspots, tide timing, and responsible viewing—from spring warblers to winter sea ducks.
Cape Cod Day Trips with Kids
Cape Cod for Teens: 20 Things That Won't Bore a 13–17 Year Old (Locals' Real List)
The honest locals' guide to things to do Cape Cod teenagers will actually enjoy — surfing, whale watches, the Wellfleet Drive-In, Provincetown, and more.
Visiting Cape Cod · Eastham
A Perfect Day in Eastham, Cape Cod: Fort Hill, Coast Guard Beach & the Outer Cape
Spend a perfect day in Eastham, MA — Fort Hill's marsh views, Coast Guard Beach, First Encounter's tidal flats, and the best of Cape Cod National Seashore.
Visiting Cape Cod
Birding on Cape Cod: The Best Spots, What You'll See by Season & How to Plan a Birding Trip
Plan a birding trip to Cape Cod with expert guides to Monomoy, Wellfleet Bay, Fort Hill, and Beech Forest — what species to find, when to go, and practical tips.
Visiting Cape Cod
Cape Cod for Food Lovers: The Essential Eating Guide from Wellfleet Oysters to Portuguese Bread
The local Cape Cod food guide — Wellfleet oysters, New England clam chowder, lobster rolls, Portuguese malasadas in Provincetown, fresh fish off the Chatham pier, and whole-belly fried clams at the roadside stands that define the Cape's food identity.
Cape Cod Day Trips with Kids
Cape Cod with Kids Beyond the Beach: 15 Hands-On, Educational & Memorable Family Activities
15 hands-on, educational and memorable Cape Cod family activities beyond the beach — whale watches, museums, mini golf, baseball, the drive-in and more.
Cape Cod Pursuits
Kayaking & Paddleboarding on Cape Cod: Best Spots, Rental Shops & What Conditions to Expect
The best kayaking and paddleboarding spots on Cape Cod — bay beaches, Nauset Marsh, freshwater ponds, rental shops, and conditions to know before you launch.
Common questions about our guides
How are the guides organized?
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.
Are the guides free?
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.
Where can I listen?
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.