Beaches -- The small part of the shoreline not reserved for the New Seabury Resort is an under-sung sleeper: South Cape Beach, off Great Oak Road (5 miles south of the Mashpee rotary). Mashpee is set amid the 450-acre South Cape Beach State Park (tel. 508/457-0495). This lengthy stretch of beach has miles of hiking trails. Parking costs $7 per day.

Boating -- Cape Cod Kayak (tel. 508/563-9377; www.capecodkayak.com) rents kayaks (free delivery) by the day or week and offers lessons and ecotours on local waterways. Call for a schedule and more information.

If you'd rather explore on your own, you can rent a canoe in Falmouth and paddle around the Mashpee River, Popponesset Bay, and Mashpee/Wakeby Pond.

Fishing -- Mashpee/Wakeby Pond (boat landing off Rte. 130, Fisherman's Landing) is considered one of the top 10 bass-fishing lakes in the country. Saltwater fishing licenses can be obtained at Sandwich, Falmouth, or Barnstable town halls. South Cape Beach in Mashpee is a prime spot for surf-casting.

Nature Trails -- The Mashpee Conservation Commission (tel. 508/539-1400, ext. 540) sponsors free naturalist-guided nature tours throughout Mashpee from May through December. Call for a schedule. A shady peninsula jutting into the Cape's largest body of fresh water (the adjoining Wakeby/Mashpee Pond), the 135-acre Lowell Holly Reservation off South Sandwich Road in the northern corner of the township harbors some 500 holly trees and a number of magnificent centennial beeches. The stewards of this enchanted place, the Trustees of Reservations (tel. 978/921-1944), charge $6 per day for the 2-mile trail loop on summer weekends; weekday admission is free. South Cape Beach State Park also offers a network of sandy trails.

Watersports -- The town of Mashpee offers swimming lessons at Attaquin Park at Mashpee/Wakeby Pond, off Route 130, and also at South Cape Beach; call the town leisure services department (tel. 508/539-1400, ext. 519) for details.

For Kids -- The Cape Cod Children's Museum, 577 Great Neck Rd. S. (tel. 508/539-8788; www.capecodchildrensmuseum.org), has a toddler castle and a 30-foot pirate ship, among other kid-pleasers. It also sponsors many special events. The museum is open Monday through Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday noon to 5pm. Admission is $6 for ages 1 to 59, $5 for seniors.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.