Cape Cod

The shapely crescent of Cape Cod arcs into the Atlantic Ocean southeast of Boston, with 90 miles of gorgeous beaches, picturesque lighthouses, and fiercely contested (but friendly) claims as to which of its quaint seaside villages is the best. The area offers something for everyone, with day trips right around the hook-shaped sandy peninsula.

FRESH CATCH

There’s no excuse not to have the finest, freshest local seafood on Cape Cod. At the southeast “elbow” of the Cape, historic Chatham is home to the Impudent Oyster, which has a vast selection. The raw bar menu features fresh oysters (of course) plus littleneck clams, shrimp cocktail, and chilled lobster tail. The care taken with classic dishes is among the reasons so many people sing the restaurant’s praises: Oysters Rockefeller, composed of fresh local oysters baked with fresh lobster and a Sambuca, spinach, and cheese béchamel sauce; or the native sole fillets sautéed in a traditional egg and Parmesan batter, topped with Maryland lump crabmeat. theimpudentoyster.com

LOCAL FAVORITES

Also in seaside Chatham, the buzzy Del Mar Bar & Bistro is a lively spot to enjoy wood-fired pizzas. The blackboard menu of daily specials is often as long as the regular menu and uses seasonal produce. Creative cocktails, such as the Drift Wood, with Glenfiddich, Carparno Antica, and Lillet, round out the menu. Ice cream is another competitive field on Cape Cod and Chatham’s Brick Block Ice Cream and Crepes delivers a wonderfully creative range of flavors, along with crave-able crepes. Every town has its share of ice cream shops, so set yourself the delicious challenge to stop in at as many as you can handle to find your favorite. delmarbistro.com

FRENCH TWIST

Twenty miles north in Wellfleet, PB Boulangerie is an outstanding French bakery. In the morning, the line is out the door for freshly baked croissants, pain au chocolats, and pretty fruit Danish pastries. Rivaling any Parisian bakery, the quality of baguettes, batards, and boules, not to mention cream puffs, macaroons, and meringues, makes fans of every visitor. Prepared menu items, such as pâté and beef bourguignon are also available to go. pbboulangeriebistro.com

MAIN STREET SHOPPING

You’ll find plenty to explore on Chatham’s classic main street, chock-a-block with boutiques, galleries, independent shops, and restaurants. It’s easily walkable and boasts unique locally made Cape Cod souvenirs, artwork, jewelry, and other specialties, including stoneware from Chatham Pottery. The Mayflower, a local gem, is an upscale general store with everything from candles and toys to local art. And just try to get out of the Chatham Candy Manor, in business for almost 70 years, without some of its excellent chocolate in hand! Bookstores, coffee shops, and cafés offer welcome respite when tired shoppers need a break. Simply window shopping in this charming town, with its historic architecture, is a treat by itself.

ART OF GLASS

Over on the western side of Cape Cod Bay, in the Cape’s oldest town, Sandwich Glass Museum offers fascinating insights into the art of glass-blowing, which fired the economy here back in the 19th century. Hourly demonstrations see experts handling molten glass and turning it into exquisite shapes and forms. For those who want to try their hand at the craft, a one-hour hands-on class is also offered. In the museum shop, local artists’ wares range from glass perfume bottles to jewelry. sandwichglassmuseum.org

STROLL P-TOWN

Arriving in Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod, everyone quickly ditches their car and makes their way around this compact, historically LGBTQIA+- friendly town on foot. Much of the action is centered on and around Commercial Street, which is packed with galleries, shops, bars, and restaurants. With a longstanding history as a hub for artists, the quantity and variety of artist-owned shops is staggering. From marine-life wooden sculptures to fine-art paintings to abstract works and everything in-between, there is an artist sure to be creating and selling it here. The Cortile Gallery offers an excellent collection of original contemporary local and national artwork from more than 30 artists in a wide range of media. ptowntourism.com

SEE WHAT INSPIRES

For more than 100 years, Cape Cod has held a siren call to artists of all stripes, leading to the founding of America’s first artists’ colony in 1899 in Provincetown. At Cape Cod Museum of Art in the town of Dennis, the collection features seven galleries of works by notable artists associated with the region. See the peninsula through their eyes and what captivated them. Look for works by sculptor Alexander Calder; plein-air painter John Joseph Enneking; and painter Hans Hofmann, said to be the Father of Abstract Expressionism. In Provincetown, make time to visit the Berta Walker Gallery, which has been highlighting the town’s rich cultural heritage for a quarter of a century. ccmoa.org

TRAVERSE A TRAIL

The Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 25-mile paved trail on a former railroad right-of-way, allows cyclists, walkers, runners, and even horseback riders the chance to meander through six towns, nearby beaches, and visit other attractions, such as lighthouses and historic sites. The track dates back to 1848, when the Old Colony Railroad Company ran between Boston and Sandwich. Today, the trail runs through the central section of the Cape – via Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet – with multiple access points. There are several places to rent bikes near the trail. mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail

SAVOR THE SUNSET

Art’s Dune Tours, a beloved tour operator in Provincetown, has been taking people through the stunning, surreal dunes in the Cape Cod National Seashore for decades. A one-hour tour by SUV offers views of Pilgrim Lake and the famous artists’ historic dune shacks, where figures such as Eugene O’Neill and Jack Kerouac found inspiration – but it’s worth making time for the longer sunset tour, which includes dinner and a beach bonfire for a truly magical evening on the dunes. artsdunetours.com

Cape Cod easily evokes memories of years gone by for many visitors, with its classic clam shacks, roadside ice cream stands, and village vibes. Lean in to the nostalgia at the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre, which has been screening flicks since 1957. It’s a definite throwback to another era and loads of fun. In addition to its massive movie screen, the site is home to the Cape’s biggest flea market by day, where some 150 vendors sell their wares. There’s also a playground, a vintage 18-hole miniature golf course, and an outdoor bar. wellfleetcinemas.com