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

Visiting Cape Cod

Route 6A, Cape Cod: The Old King's Highway & Why It's the Most Beautiful Drive on the Cape

Route 6A on Cape Cod — the Old King's Highway — is a National Scenic Byway lined with sea captain's houses, colonial village centers, and antique shops. Here's how to drive it well.

Visiting Cape Cod

Cape Cod in September: What's Open, What's Closed & Why Locals Say It's the Best Month

Cape Cod in September: what closes after Labor Day, what stays open, and why locals say it's the best time to visit. A real local's complete guide.

Cape Cod Home

Heat Pump and Mini Split Installation on Cape Cod: Coastal Homeowner's Guide

A Cape Cod homeowner's guide to heat pumps and ductless mini-splits: types, coastal considerations, Mass Save incentives, and hiring the install.

Visiting Cape Cod

What Closes After Labor Day on Cape Cod: A Town-by-Town Guide to Navigating the Shoulder Season

Find out what's open on Cape Cod after Labor Day — beaches, restaurants, whale watches, and shops by town. Your practical fall shoulder-season planning guide.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Clamming & Quahogging on Cape Cod: How to Get a License and Where to Dig

Everything you need to know about clamming and quahogging on Cape Cod — shellfish licenses by town, the best flats for quahogs and steamers, tide timing, gear, and what to cook when you get home.

Cape Cod Pursuits

The 12 Best Public Golf Courses on Cape Cod (2026), with Green Fees and Who They're For

A local's ranked guide to Cape Cod's best public golf courses, with approximate green fees, who each is for, and the smartest times to play for value.

Visiting Cape Cod

Haunted Cape Cod: Ghost Tours, Shipwrecks & Dark History

Explore haunted Cape Cod's ghost tours, famous shipwrecks like the Whydah Gally, eerie lighthouses, and dark history from Provincetown to Barnstable — best experienced in fall.

Cape Cod Home

Best Roofing Materials for Cape Cod Homes: Salt Air, Wind, and Coastal Conditions

The best roofing materials for Cape Cod's salt air, wind and storms: asphalt, cedar, metal and synthetic compared, plus why installation quality matters most.

Cape Cod Home

Old Kings Highway Historic District: Cape Cod Homeowner's Renovation Guide

Renovating in Cape Cod's Old King's Highway Historic District: what needs committee approval, the Certificate of Appropriateness process, and how to do it right.

Cape Cod Pursuits

Cape Cod Breweries & Wineries: The Complete Tasting Guide

Your complete guide to Cape Cod breweries and wineries — from Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis to Truro Vineyards, with a brewery-run itinerary, what to order, and seasonal tips for visiting year-round.

Cape Cod Home

Cape Cod Building Permits: Town-by-Town Guide for Homeowners (All 15 Towns)

When you need a building permit on Cape Cod, how each town's process works, the historic-district layer on Route 6A, and why never to skip a permit.

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.

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

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.

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

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.