FAQs About Cape Cod

There are a total of 15 towns on the Cape. The Cape is shaped like an outstretched arm reaching out into the Sea. If you think of the tip of the Cape as the hand, then our local nomenclature of how the towns are grouped makes sense. The upper cape has four towns, Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth and Mashpee. The mid-cape has three towns – Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis. The lower cape consists of three towns – Brewster, Harwich and Chatham. And the outer cape has five towns – Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown.

Brewster is known as one of the quietest and most traditional towns on Cape Cod. The vibe is calm, slow and beautifully preserved. It has a very residential character, including many historic sea captain’s homes along historic Route 6A (Main Street). There is no big commercial strip, no nightlife and no chain stores – a very unhurried place.

Brewster’s beaches are on Cape Cod Bay, the “Bay side of Cape Cod”, which means — warm, gentle water, soft light and huge tidal changes, and are ideal for swimming, wading, beachcombing, and sunsets – especially when low tide coincides with the setting sun!

The Brewster Flats are one of the most extraordinary natural features on the Cape.  You can access them from any one of our ten public beaches:

• At low tide, the ocean recedes miles, revealing sandbars and tidal pools
• Perfect for long walks, photography, kids exploring marine life
• Unique daily experience for visitors

Yes, and you can easily get a daily pass from the Town of Brewster’s website. They use your license plate as the permit, so no need to print anything.

Brewster is one of the most eco-rich towns on Cape Cod, with:

• Nickerson State Park (1,900+ acres, walking/biking trails, kettle ponds)
• Punkhorn Parklands
• Drummer Boy Park
• Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
• Easy access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail (CCRT)

This makes Brewster a top choice for hikers, bicyclists, kayakers, bird watchers, and those wanting a peaceful, outdoorsy vacation.

Brewster has an unusually high concentration of freshwater ponds, which are mostly spring-fed and very clean.  These are major draws for swimming, paddleboarding, fishing and quiet relaxation.  The larger ones include Sheep Pond, Long Pond, and Cliff Pond & Flax Pond in Nickerson State Park.

Brewster is ideal for guests who want quiet lodging but also want the ability to reach every part of the Cape within a reasonable drive. It is a perfect “home base” town because it is strategically placed close to Orleans, Chatham, Dennis and the National Seashore; has easy access to Bay beaches, and day trips to Provincetown and Nantucket/Martha’s Vineyard are easy.

Brewster has many one-of-a-kind historical, cultural, natural and retail sites that should not be missed! Here are a few:

Brewster Grist Mill
Crosby Mansion
Brewster General Store
Drummer Boy Park with its historical windmill, blacksmith shop and one-room house.
The Cobb House – Brewster Historical Society
The Brewster Ladies Library
The Cap Rep Theater
The Lemon Tree Shops
The Brewster Bookstore
The Handcraft House
Wysteria Antiques
Wayne’s Antique Shop
The Brewster Flats
The Punkhorn Parklands
Nickerson State Park – Cliff Pond Trail is a favorite
Wing Island Trail at low tide
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Crowe’s Pasture with its coastal access (in Dennis, but not too far from the Inn)
Ocean Edge Mansion, an historical “gilded age” home
Paines Creek Beach, especially at Sunset
Crosby Landing Beach, wonderful coastal loop trail
Art galleries, pottery shops, and a few small farms dotted along Main Street

The Cape is known for its fabulous summer theater.  Here are a few of the theaters we love, a few of which offer year-round productions:

• The Cape Rep Theater, in Brewster
• The Cape Playhouse, in Dennis
• The Academy, in Orleans
• The Chatham Drama Guild, in Chatham
• The Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater, in Wellfleet
• Eventide Theater Company, in Dennis
• Provincetown Theater, in Provincetown
• Cotuit Center for the Arts, in Cotuit

The historical town of Chatham, with a walkable Main Street, spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from the Chatham Light, the Chatham Fish Pier, the Chatham Bars Inn Beach House Grill (one of the few spots on the Cape where you can dine on the beach).

Cape Cod National Seashore, starting at the Visitor’s Center, and stopping to see various lighthouses, the stunning beaches, driving north to the tip of the Cape in Provincetown, where there is a second Visitor’s Center with an elevated deck for a beautiful view, and Racepoint Beach.

The historical fishing village of Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape, with its narrow streets and historical homes and buildings. Commercial street is where the action is – but DO NOT attempt to drive down this narrow one-way road. Park in one of the lots and walk a few blocks. Visit the Pilgrim Monument and walk up to the top for a stunning bird’s eye view of P-town and the rest of the Cape.

While there is plenty to keep you enthralled on the Cape, you may want to visit one of the Islands – Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard. They each have a different feel to them. Martha’s Vineyard is larger and closer, and has six different villages, each with their own style. You may need a car, or use the tour bus, to visit each village. Nantucket is smaller and has basically one town, where the ferry lands, and you can spend the day visiting this post-card perfect elegant historic town, and renting bicycles or mopeds to see the outer reaches of the Island.

Some of the best lighthouses to see on the Cape include:

• Highland Light (my personal favorite), which is in North Truro. It is the oldest and tallest lighthouse on the Cape.  It is open seasonally, and you can climb up into the light chamber for a fabulous view!
• Nauset Light in Eastham – probably the most recognizable with its red and white stripes (it is the one that is on the front of the Cape Cod Potato Chip bag). Close to this one are the Three Sisters lighthouses, which are tucked away and easy to walk to from the Nauset Light. 
• The Chatham Lighthouse in Chatham. This is an active working lighthouse, so is not available for tours.  But the view from the bluff looks out to the Atlantic and is a beautiful spot for photos.
• Race Point Light in Provincetown. This lighthouse is in a remote spot, so prepare for a long beach walk to find it. 
• Wood End Light and Long Point Light in Provincetown. It is probably easiest to see these historic lights by boat as you are enjoying a whale watch trip in and out of the harbor.  Otherwise it is a long walk from Commercial Street to see Wood End Lighthouse. 

The Rail Trail Bike & Kayak Rental shop is conveniently located directly on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. They rent pedal bikes, e-bikes, tandems, trikes, and kids trailers. Great choice if you want quick trail access.

There are numerous options for bicycling on the Cape – the most extensive and famous option is the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is about 25 miles of paved trail from South Yarmouth all the way into Wellfleet, with a branch heading to Chatham as well!  We have a few places to pick it up in Brewster – the closest one is the parking lot across from Underpass Road.  From there you can ride all the way up through Orleans to the Cape Cod National Seashore! 

Other fun places to ride include:

• Nickerson State Park
• Cape Cod Canal Bikeway – 14 miles of paved trails along both sides of the canal.
• Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth – 10.7 miles through marshes, bogs and near beaches.
• Province Lands Bike Trail in Provincetown – 5.5 mile loop through dunes in the Cape Cod National Seashore.
• Nauset Bike Trail in Eastham – a short 1.6 mile paved trail from the Salt Pond Visitor Center to Coast Guard Beach.

Many restaurants offer both cold and warm lobster rolls.  Our favorite spot for lobster rolls is Sesuit Harbor Café in Dennis – which often has a long line in the summer.  It is BYOB, and cash only, with an ATM on premises.  It is casual outdoor picnic-table dining on a small harbor.

Here are some other suggestions:

• The Lobster Pot – A Provincetown institution famous for its generous, fresh lobster rolls and seafood with a waterfront view. Great choice if you’re exploring the tip of the Cape.
• Scargo Cafe – A local favorite with rave reviews.
• The Knack Orleans – A beloved modern seafood stand in Orleans known for generous chunks of lobster meat in its rolls. 
• Friendly Fisherman (Outer Cape) – A popular roadside stand with fresh, simple lobster rolls if you’re headed to the beaches on Route 6. 
• Mac’s Shack / Mac’s Seafood (Eastham) – Known for very straightforward, tasty lobster rolls that highlight the lobster meat rather than frills. 
• PJ’s (Wellfleet) – A classic Cape Cod choice with generously packed lobster meat — perfect for a beach picnic. 

Brax Landing Restaurant – Harwich Port spot with a scenic setting and fresh local seafood. 

There are some great places on Cape Cod to dine with a view of the water — from relaxed seaside spots to upscale oceanfront restaurants.

Fine Dining

• The Ocean House Restaurant – Upscale dining with panoramic views of Nantucket Sound and an elegant seafood-focused menu — ideal for dinner with a sunset backdrop. The Ocean House Restaurant
• twenty-eight Atlantic – A sophisticated choice in Harwich with ocean views and refined coastal cuisine. Wequassett

Casual Waterfront & Harbor Spots

• The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort – Rooftop ocean vistas over Nantucket Sound with seasonal outdoor dining. 
• Fishermen’s View Seafood Market & Restaurant – Casual seafood with views of Sandwich Harbor. 
• Tugboats at Hyannis Marina – Marina-side restaurant with water views and classic New England fare. 
• Black Cat Tavern – A longtime Hyannis Harbor favorite with scenic views and great seafood. 
• The Marshside – In East Dennis overlooking tidal marshland — scenic and relaxed.  

Outer Cape & Beachfront Favorites

• The Beachcomber (Wellfleet) – Iconic oceanfront restaurant perched on the dunes of Cahoon Hollow Beach with lively summer vibes and beach access. 
• Sesuit Harbor Café (Dennis) – Casual dining right on the water at Sesuit Harbor with picnic-style seating and seafood favorites. 
• Mattakeese Wharf (Barnstable Harbor) – Classic harbor-side seafood dining with dock access and sunset views.  
• Beach House Grill (Chatham Harbor) – Oceanfront setting with seafood classics and sunset views (seasonal). 

In Massachusetts, the road sign “Thickly Settled” means homes are close together and there may be more pedestrians in the area. The speed limit is 30 mph, even if you don’t see a speed limit sign.