19 Best Things to Do on Cape Cod — From Whale Watching to Wine Tasting (2024)

Cape Cod is the ultimate New England summer destination. It's where the local uniform consists of salty hair and sun-kissed skin all season, a spot where everyone finds their version of relaxation — be it on the beach or on the golf course. Despite its laid-back reputation, action and adventure can also be found on this Massachusetts peninsula. Provincetown Carnival, for example, which typically takes place in August, is one of the country's most robust and beloved LGTBQ+ celebrations.

If you need help curating an itinerary of fun, relaxing, or unique summer activities, here are 19 of the best things to do on Cape Cod.

Soak in the nostalgia of the Wellfleet Drive-In.

The Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre delivers some of the Cape's most nostalgic vacation moments. The outdoor cinema is the area's only surviving drive-in and offers its annual first-run double features on a 100-foot screen every night from Memorial Day through just after Labor Day. During the summer, the theater also hosts the Wellfleet Flea Market, an emporium for bargain handmade and vintage goods (read: do your souvenir shopping here!). The flea market is open every Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to about 3 p.m., weather permitting.

Cycle (or walk) the Rail Trail.

Take in the best of Cape Cod's natural sights and sounds with a day of biking down the Cape Cod Rail Trail. The 25-mile path connects six towns from Dennis to Wellfleet, offering epic views of beaches, forests, and charming New England neighborhoods along the way. Not a seasoned cyclist? That's OK. You're welcome to strap on rollerblades, walk, run, or even bring your horse down the trail for a scenic trot.

Admire glass art in Sandwich.

Squeeze a little culture into your Cape Cod vacation by acquainting yourself with a local-favorite art form: glassblowing. The Sandwich Glass Museum features stunning glasswork by local artisans, some dating back to the early 19th century, and even hosts hourly glassmaking presentations that help tell the story of this handicraft in the region. Its permanent collection includes the Color and Chemistry Collection and the Levine Lighting Gallery, where glass lamps are illuminated in an automated display.

Learn about the Nauset Lighthouse.

Odds are you have at least a passive interest in New England landmarks, and on Cape Cod, many of those landmarks are lighthouses. (There are 14, to be precise.) One of the most celebrated is Eastham's Nauset Lighthouse, which still serves as a warning to passing boats. Seasonal tours and interpretive signage tell the story of the 19th-century structure, which was relocated from Chatham and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Stop and smell the roses at Heritage Museums & Gardens.

In 1921, Charles Dexter purchased a plot of land on the Cape so he could tinker with his rhododendron blooms. To this day, visitors get to come and experience all the fruits of his labor with the spectacular spring and summer floral displays at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Not only are the botanical gardens brimming with plants for the anthophiles, but the 100-acre site, which is open seasonally from late April to mid-October, is also home to a vintage car museum, an antique 1908 Looff Carousel, and an ever-changing list of short-stay exhibitions.

Get scientific at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Find out more about the waters surrounding Cape Cod by checking out the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), one of the world's largest nonprofit oceanographic research organizations. The researchers invite visitors to learn about their work via WHOI's Ocean Science Discovery Center, open seasonally from around mid-April through October. The center features an interactive exhibit on the Titanic, provides opportunities to explore submarines, and more. It's the ideal rainy-day activity for families.

Sample local seafood at the Beachcomber.

Cape Cod is a bona fide seafood destination, and some of the best can be found at the Beachcomber. The Cape Cod institution sits inside a former lifesaving station that was built in the late 19th century. In 1953, the station was converted into a small inn, and later to a restaurant, which now serves delicious raw bar items plucked straight from the sea alongside fish tacos, lobster rolls, surf and turf platters, and more.

Sip and savor in Truro.

Unwind with a glass of local wine at Truro Vineyards, which specializes in maritime grapes. The vineyard offers tasting flights of five ever-changing wines for just $15 and tours of the winemaking facilities, including the barrel room. Between sips of wine, guests can grab a bite from the on-site food truck, Blackfish Restaurant’s Crushpad, and take in the pastoral sights of Truro, one of the best Cape Cod towns to visit in the summer.

Hunt for old-timey treasures at the Sandwich Antiques Center.

New England is already known for being an antiques paradise, but Cape Cod really takes things up a notch — especially at the Sandwich Antiques Center. The space holds 5,000 square feet of old-fashioned goodies such as light fixtures, furniture, nautical objects, artwork, and other unique finds. It's fun to browse the treasures here even if you don't have room to spare in your suitcase.

Root for the home team at a Cape Cod Baseball League game.

Come for the game; stay for the hotdogs and Cracker Jacks. Indulge in a little Americana by cheering on the home team at a Cape Cod Baseball League game. The collegiate summer baseball team's tagline is "where the stars of tomorrow shine tonight," which couldn't be truer considering more than 1,600 of its former players have made it to the major leagues.

Play a round at The Captains Golf Course.

Want to get in some sporting action of your own? Book a tee time at The Captains Golf Course. The par-72 Port Course and par-72 Starboard Course combine for 36 holes of challenging fun. The Port Course, designed by Geoffrey S. Cornish and Brian M. Silva, also features more than 6,000 yards of golf from the longest tees, making it one you'll most certainly want to rent a cart for.

Dig your toes into the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Experience the breathtaking coastline at the Cape Cod National Seashore. The protected area, which was created by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, encompasses more than 43,600 acres of land, including woodland areas, ponds, and six beaches providing plenty of waterfront real estate on which to plop. Visit to hike, cycle, take a ranger-led tour, or just relax on the sand.

Mingle with nonhuman locals at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge.

Maximize time spent outdoors at the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge, a protected stretch of coast home to migratory birds, horseshoe crabs, tiger beetles, gray seals, and other native fauna. Visitors are welcome to hike, bird-watch, and snap as many photos of the animals as they'd like. The refuge is a part of the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network and a designated Important Bird Area, so you can bet on logging some new sightings on your birdwatching app.

See a show at The Cape Playhouse.

In the evenings, tourists and locals alike funnel into The Cape Playhouse for a hit musical or a new drama. This isn't any old playhouse, despite its small-town location. It's the longest-running professional summer theater in the country, and one with serious pedigree. The past roster of actors includes greats like Julie Andrews, Henry Fonda, Bernadette Peters, and Betty White.

Search for whales and dolphins on a cruise.

You can't leave the Cape without hitting the water for a bit of whale watching. Sorry, that's just the rule. (You won't get fined if you don't, but you will most certainly miss out on the fun.) There are a number of great whale-watching vessels you can board, but for an extra special ride, book with Whale Watch Dolphin Fleet, which runs trips out of Provincetown throughout the prime season, from April to October. The cruise line also offers sunset excursions so you can potentially spot some flukes while enjoying the golden hour, too.

Peruse the Cape Cod Museum of Art.

The Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis showcases works inspired by and produced in the region, including prints and paintings, sculptures, and multimedia pieces. In addition to the galleries, the museum holds outdoor concerts in the summer, paint nights, free film screenings, and workshops like jewelry making where tourists are welcome to mingle with the local crafters. Check the calendar to see what's on during your visit.

Tour Cape Cod's largest cranberry bog.

The local Cakounes family claims to operate "the largest organic cranberry bog on Cape Cod" in Harwich. Those keen to peek inside a year-round cranberry farm can take a tour, offered daily in the summer. You'll learn about the equipment used and visit with the resident animals but don't expect to see the cranberries floating. That happens only during harvest, and for only 24 hours. The opportunity to stock up on fresh cranberries and cranberry products — honey, soaps, cookbooks, etc. — from the farm stand makes the visit worthwhile nonetheless.

Visit the Cape's LGBTQ+ capital.

Provincetown is the beating heart of the peninsula's LGBTQ+ scene. One of the most liberal communities in the U.S., P-Town, as it's affectionately known, is famous for its annual Carnival event, which attracts some 80,000 revelers every August, but the community keeps the rainbow flags flying year-round. Pride is always flowing at Atlantic House ("A-House"), often called the oldest gay bar in America, and at the Boatslip Resort's Tea Dance, which takes place daily during the summer from 4 to 7 p.m.

Take the ferry to Martha's Vineyard.

First-time visitors will understandably feel an urge to skip over to the idyllic island of Martha's Vineyard just off the coast of Cape Cod. Luckily, a 45-minute ferry from Woods Hole makes the journey a breeze. Plan a day trip to see the photogenic Gay Head Light overlooking the ancient Aquinnah Cliffs. Go for a spin on the oldest operating platform carousel in America, the Flying Horses Carousel; stretch out on sleepy beaches; or visit the Martha's Vineyard Museum to learn about the island's whaling heritage, Indigenous Wampanoag people, and more.