Welcome to your one-stop guide for Cape Cod activities. Cape Cod is famous for its stunning beaches, relaxed atmosphere, and its seafood, primarily its lobster!
We wish you a relaxing and exciting vacation. Enjoy your reading!
1. Local beaches
President John F. Kennedy once said, “I always come back to the Cape and walk on the beach when I have a tough decision to make.” “The Cape is the one place I can think and be alone. - Cape Cod beaches are this iconic.
The truth is that going to the beach will be enjoyable regardless of what you do there. You're getting away from real life for a while, and you're hoping to enjoy a scenic travel destination—or, at the very least, get away from home and visit your town's local beach. It's just nice to know that there's more to do than sunbathe and swim while you're there!
Here, we have compiled a fun list of great things to do in Cape Cod beaches, which are as follows -
1. Look for seals and little critters - Many beaches around the world provide the opportunity to see seals right from the shore—if you know what to look for and when to look. Don't forget to bring your camera! Don't forget to pay attention to the small creatures, such as crabs, birds, and jellyfish. Spend the day counting the number of different animals you can find. Make it a goal and take pictures of each one so you can keep track of your discoveries.
2. Have a Picnic- There are always a lot of food vendors near popular beaches, but sometimes it's nice to pack yourself a picnic with fancy cheeses and fresh fruits and go indulge at the beach. If you're going with a big group, make it a fun (and delicious) potluck where everyone can contribute an easy dish—a variety of foods makes for a great beach picnic.
3. Play games (frisbee, volleyball) and meet people/make friends - Frisbee is a classic beach game that people never get tired of enjoying together. There's only one prop needed, and it's very easy (and cheap) to get. You can even play with your dogs (if you're on a pet-friendly beach). There are also more advanced versions like Frisbee golf, Ultimate Frisbee, and Aerobie, but the basic version will do just fine. Beaches are filled with people, so there's no reason that you can't make new friends. Games on the sand—like volleyball—make this easy, but there are lots of ways to meet people at the beach. Look online to see if there are any upcoming social gatherings or meet-ups at the beach.
4. Play on the Boardwalk- A lot of beaches also have accompanying boardwalks where you can play arcade games, ride rollercoasters, eat delicious and unhealthy amusement park food, just walk around, and even enjoy free summer concerts on the sand.
5. Read Magazines or write poetry- Bring a notebook with you and get carried away with your words and creativity. The beach has been inspiring poems and songs for centuries now, so you might as well join the tribe of people who like to write when they're by the water. Other creative writing options include starting that novel you've always wanted to write or simply keeping a diary of your trip. A beach vacation is supposed to be completely relaxing. Park yourself under a shady umbrella, enjoy the warm breeze, and read some magazines or indulge in a cheap novel. There may never be enough time during your regular schedule to flip through a magazine, so take advantage of the opportunity you have at the beach.
6. Go Surfing- Surfing is a great water sport. Get out on the water and have an adventure instead of just being lazy. You can also dedicate an hour or two to take a surf lesson and then lounge for the rest of your time on the beach. You could also try any other kind of water sport, such as kayaking, jet-ski racing, waterskiing, or kitesurfing.
7. Hula Hoop- Make your way to the wind by dancing. Or you could play catch. Or you could jump rope. Or you could fly a kite. Engage in some child-like play, using inexpensive toys from a nearby store. This will rekindle your childhood memories of going to the beach. It's also a lot of fun and a fantastic stress reliever.
8. Have a Bonfire Party- Bonfires are a ton of fun. Make sure that your specific beach allows for fires, though. Many of them don't. For the ones that do, it's a lot of fun to have a nice fire going on a cool night. You can hold a gathering where friends and family come together to play music, have good conversation, dance, roast marshmallows, and just have a great time.
9. Write Messages in the Sand - You can write them big or small. Say anything you want and then take a picture that will last forever. These pictures can be made into unique postcards to send to the folks back home.
10. Look for Seashells/ sea glass and other beach treasures - You can troll the beach looking for seashells and colored glass. Take photos of the best shells so that you can research them when you get home, or make some shell art on the sand and take a photo to remember it by. Please keep in mind that in some places, it's illegal to take shells from the beach, and it's often highly discouraged in places where it's still technically legal.
11. Take Photographs- The beach is a great place for taking some beautiful photos. On top of that, those photos will be great memories to take home after the trip. Wander along with your digital camera, see what there is to see, and snap away.
12. Daydream -You're sitting around at the beach with no commitments for the time being (at least, that's how it ideally should be) and nothing demanding your attention. That's a great time to just hang out and daydream a little bit. Envision what you want your life to look like in five or ten years, where you wish you could travel, or what you would do if you won the lottery. Let your mind and fantasies carry you away in the best way possible.
13. Relax - You don't have to daydream or take pictures or do anything really. You can just sit there and relax. Breathe, meditate, and take a nap. Just be and relax. You're on vacation, after all!
14. Build a Sandcastle -This is a classic beach activity for kids and adults alike. From the simplest design to the most elaborate, sandcastles help you pass the time at the beach while doing something really creative and fun. Try Googling sandcastles for some inspiring ideas! When the water recedes from the shore, chase it. Then turn around and run back when the waves return.
15. Bring out your inner free spirit. - Kick, jump, stomp and splash in the water. Make a friend into a sand mermaid by covering their legs with a sand tail. Don't forget to bury things and try to guess where they are.
16. Watch the Sunset - You could also watch the sunrise if you get there early enough. This activity is a favorite for many at the beach, as it should be, because it's such a breathtaking sight to see—you'll never tire of it. Take in the day (or morning) and reflect on what you've accomplished.
17. Go Hiking/Trailing/ or simply walking- Many beaches offer nearby trails where you can hike to or from the water. This offers great exercise, and the water is good for cooling down after the hike. On top of that, you get to catch some beautiful views while being immersed in nature.
18. Keep an eye on the Historic Sites - Many beaches are located near places of historic importance, which are marked with monuments or signs. You can find these in the most unexpected of places. Keep an eye out for military batteries on the water, historic lighthouses, and old battlegrounds. This is another great opportunity for your camera as well.
19. Celebrate a Holiday or Special Occasion - People often go to the beach to watch Fourth of July fireworks or to celebrate a honeymoon. There's nothing like the crashing waves and the sand between your toes to ring on a special occasion.
Cape Cod beaches list
Now that you've determined what to do on the beaches, the next step is to locate the beach where you'd like to carry out your chosen activities. This article by US News has comprehensively covered all of the Cape cod beaches information.
2. Golfing
PS: Make a reservation before attending the course.
There's a reason Cape Cod is the place to go for a memorable golf experience. According to the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce, Cape Cod has produced some of the world's best golfers. Former PGA Tour players Jason Caron, Jim Hallet, and Jeff Lewis are on the list, as are former LPGA Tour players Sally Quinlan and Carri Wood. Former PGA Tour pro Paul Harney loved Cape Cod so much that he moved his family here in the late 1960s and built his own golf course, the Paul Harney Golf Course, in Falmouth. There are also world-class golf schools located throughout the region.
A golf vacation is an easy sell for a golfer. To say the least, the idea of traveling to a beautiful location to play new golf courses – while taking time away from work – is appealing. Even if you are not a golfer, trying something new is always a good idea, and you never know, you might take a new hobby or passion back home with you.
Where to Golf in Cape Cod?
The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce has compiled an exhaustive list of a dozen golf courses on Cape Cod, so there is no shortage of opportunities to tee it up. Cape Cod Golf Courses is your one stop shop for golf courses in Cape Cod.
3. Amazing walking trails /Hiking/walking the canal
When it comes to what most people want from a hike, it frequently involves strolling through an appealing location with an exciting highlight. For example, a waterfall or a scenic lookout point. You discover nature like you've never seen it before. You get to go places you would never go otherwise.
In All Trails words - Are you ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 27 easy hiking trails in Cape Cod National Seashore that are great for the whole family. The list is comprehensively covered by Cape Cod hike/trail here. 5 to 105 meters in elevation, whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Cape Cod National Seashore in the list.
4. Eat at local restaurants and shop at local stores
Whether you’re shopping, taking a tour, or eating at a restaurant, you get a more authentic experience when you buy local. Going where the locals go gives you a feel for the character of a city.
Any vacation is incomplete unless you sample the local cuisine. After a calorie-burning hike, we feel less guilty having a dessert or two! Cape Cod has long been known for its local seafood, and you won't find a restaurant anywhere in the region without seafood on the menu. Fried fish, especially fried clams, are considered the ultimate Cape Cod meal. Another favorite is lobster, broiled with butter sauce. But for more sophisticated fare, look for grilled fish specials, such as striped bass, in midsummer.
Where to eat in Cape Cod?
Well, these comprehensive lists from Candleberry and Hotels.com got you covered. https://candleberryinn.com/best-cape-cod-restaurants/
Buy local for more authenticity. When you talk to locals that aren’t representing a corporate brand, you really get the chance to find out what daily life looks like in their hometown. You can go deeper than the surface when you shop at a small, locally-owned business. Not only does it give people viable job opportunities when you buy local, but it also encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.
Where to shop in Cape Cod?
Here are some articles to help you find places to shop locally on Cape Cod.
5. John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum
John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation preserves and promotes President John F. Kennedy's legacy, as well as his family's deep connection to Cape Cod. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum is a multimedia exhibit that opens a window into JFK's days on Cape Cod; days relaxing with family, days as President of the United States when the Cape provided a time to relax and be reinvigorated, and days spent sailing on the ocean to which he was constantly drawn. The exhibits at the Museum include videos and photographs from 1934 to 1963 that are organized thematically to reflect John F. Kennedy, his family, his friends, and the Cape Cod he so adored. A video narrated by Walter Cronkite depicts the president's experiences on the Cape, in addition to photographs. Several themed areas feature emotionally charged oral histories of JFK's friends.