This summer I spent a week in Cape Cod and was blown away by the amount of fun things to do in the area. I did not know much about Cape Cod before visiting, so here is a quick breakdown of this popular vacation spot:

Cape Cod is a hook shaped peninsula located 70 miles south of Boston.
It is very big! It takes about 90 minutes to drive from the “Upper Cape” furthest inland to the “Outer Cape” at the tip of the peninsula.
Cape Cod has a huge shoreline, including bay-side beaches facing Cape Cod Bay, and ocean beaches facing the Atlantic. I enjoyed both equally!
The nearby islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are technically not part of Cape Cod, but are easily accessible by ferry.

There are so many fun things to do in Cape Cod, I could have easily spent a month there rather than just one week. Below I have compiled a list of my favorite 10 things to do in Cape Cod.

Where To Stay in Cape Cod

Luxury: Wequassett Resort and Gold Club

Mid-Range: Kingfisher Oceanside

Budget-Friendly: The Escape Inn

10 Things To Do in Cape Cod

Table of Contents

Go beach hopping

There are many beautiful beaches in Cape Cod, all of them with unique features that make them special. I recommend visiting several beaches during your stay for a variety of experiences. A few of my favorite beaches were Marconi Beach, Nauset Beach and Crosby Landing Beach. Some beaches are for residents only, so be sure to secure a resident sticker from your vacation rental or call ahead to inquire about day passes for non-residents. Beach parking lots can fill up quickly even if you have a parking sticker, so arrive early!

Take a ferry to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket

I really enjoyed exploring Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Each island is located approximately one hour away from Cape Cod by ferry. If you are in Cape Cod for an extended period of time I would recommend doing a day trip to each island, but if you are short on time, choosing just one island to visit would be sufficient. I preferred Martha’s Vineyard over Nantucket due to it’s more affordable ferry, cute gingerbread houses, and gorgeous beaches. The ferry ride was very fun as well, with outdoor seating and drinks available for purchase.

Explore Provincetown

Provincetown (or P-Town) is the most unique town in Cape Cod. The downtown area is adorable, with a plethora of cute cafes, galleries, and restaurants. It is a popular LGBTQ+ destination, with rainbow flags filling the streets and a history of acceptance and open-mindedness. I recommend getting lunch with waterfront views at “The Club” and then visiting Curaleaf Dispensary. If your schedule allows, stay later into the evening for some nightlife and cabaret.

Sip wine at a vineyard

Two popular vineyards in Cape Cod are Truro Vineyards and Cape Cod Winery. Be warned- there are no vineyards on the island of Martha’s Vineyard (go figure!), so plan your vineyard day for when you are on Cape Cod. On your way to and from Cape Cod, you can also swing by Plymouth Bay Vineyard for Wine and Jelly tasting.

Go whale watching

Cape Cod has a plethora of wildlife including seals, whales and sharks (there are shark warning signs posted at many of the beaches which is a bit alarming, but luckily there were no shark sightings while I was visiting!). To see the wildlife up close, I recommend doing a whale watching tour. This would be a very fun thing to do in Cape Cod whether you are traveling with friends or family.

Go kayaking or paddleboarding

There are multiple companies that offer group kayak or paddleboard tours, as well as options to rent a kayak or paddleboard for a solo expedition. One tour that seemed particularly impressive is the Sunset Paddleboard Tour with Rideaway Kaya k.

Enjoy the sunset on a boat cruise

Cape Cod has some spectacular sunsets, with many different vantage points depending if you are viewing from the bay side or from the ocean side. A great way to enjoy the sunset is by doing a boat cruise. Bay Spirit Tours offers a variety of affordable sunset cruises.

Do yoga with goats

Cape Cod has a variety of farms and animal/wildlife sanctuaries. I had a fantastic day visiting Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary and spending time with their rescued farm animals. This would be a really fun thing to do in Cape Cod with kids. Another fun option would be to try one of the available Goat Yoga classes available at Cape Cod Goat Yoga or Native Earth Teaching Farm on Martha’s Vineyard.

Indulge in seafood and ice cream

Cape Cod is well known for its seafood. My friends enjoyed the seafood available at Lobsterville in Martha’s Vineyard and The Original Seafood Restaurant in Dennis Port. If you are vegan like me, do not worry, there are some fantastic restaurants in Cape Cod with vegan options as well. A few of my favorites were Tween The Tides in Provincetown, Earthly Delights in Osterville and vegan ice cream at Nauti Cow in Martha’s Vineyard.

Go for a bike ride

Cape Cod is a bike friendly area. My vrbo had bikes available for guests and was located a short ten minute bike ride from the beach. There are also several bike paths available throughout Cape Cod which is a great way to explore the area as well as get some exercise. You can find a map of bike trails here.

Have you been to Cape Cod before? Leave a comment if you have tried any of the above activities or if you have any recommendations for fun things to do in Cape Cod!

Looking for more travel ideas?

Check out: