Best of Cape Cod: 15 Favorite Moments

Summertime is what Cape Cod and Islands are really all about. Sunbathing on the pristine beaches, discovering inlets by kayak, and biking some of New England's best trails are just some of the pleasures to be found here.

The hardest choice for visitors may be deciding which town to stay in. Fortunately, most come with charming Main Streets lined with one-of-a-kind shops. Here are 15 top things to do and see in these parts.

Great Point Lighthouse in Nantucket. Photo courtesy of Christopher Seufert

joeshlabotnik

Beaching it From the Bays to the Ocean

The options range from Old Silver Beach on Buzzards Bay to Sandy Neck on Cape Cod Bay to Craigville Beach on Nantucket Sound and Race Point on the Atlantic Ocean, all with different temperatures, wave action, and social scenes. If you're going to pick just one, make it magnificent Nauset Beach in Orleans, an Atlantic Ocean-facing beach that has the most activities and amenities of any beach on the Cape.

Photo Caption: Nauset Beach in Orleans, Massachusetts.

L. Richard Martin, Jr.

Biking the Shining Sea Bikeway from North Falmouth to Woods Hole

With the expanded 12-mile (19.3km) Shining Sea Bike Trail in Falmouth, bike enthusiasts just got another favorite trail to go along with the 7-mile (11.3km) Cape Cod Canal trail, the 35-mile (56.3km) Rail Trail, and the 9-mile (14.5km) Provincelands trail through the dunes at the Cape's tip.

Photo Caption: Shining Sea Bikeway in Falmouth to Woods Hole, Cape Cod.

mvjantzen

Strolling Main Street

Main Streets don't get much more colorful than on Cape Cod, where you'll find unique shops offering one-of-a-kind wares all within strolling distance of beaches. My favorites are Falmouth, Hyannis, Chatham, Provincetown, and Nantucket. If I have to pick just one, Chatham wins hands down, because you can walk all the way to the end and gaze out to see the Atlantic Ocean just beyond the barrier beach.

Photo Caption: People strolling down Commercial Street, the main street of Provincetown, Massachusetts.

abennett96

Attending Fourth of July Parades

Which parade to choose? In the town of Barnstable, there are seven colorful parades throughout the town's villages and you could conceivably hit three in one day! But at the end of the day, there's only one place to be - Falmouth Heights - to see the biggest fireworks display this side of Boston.

Photo Caption: Fourth of July fireworks in Falmouth Heights, Massachusetts.

brendankeegan

Digging into a Meal of Fried Clams

A real Cape Codder goes belly-up at the thought of fried clams. We love 'em piled high with fries and onion rings. If you can only indulge once, head to Moby Dick's in Wellfleet where they have mastered the art of fresh fish fast.

Photo Caption: Enjoying fried clams in Wellfleet, Massachusetts.

foodthinkers

Dining on Haute Cuisine on Nantucket

If upscale dining is your thing, you'll want to head to the island of Nantucket, where chefs at two dozen upscale eateries compete for bragging rights for best fine-dining on the island.

Photo Caption: The American Seasons restaurant in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

stjenna

Riding the Country's Oldest Carousel on Martha's Vineyard

It's an old-fashioned thrill, riding the Flying Horses Carousel in Oak Bluffs, reaching out to capture the brass ring. You'll find riders from 9 months to 90 years taking a spin on the colorful steeds.

Photo Caption: The Flying Horses Carousel In Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

savannahgrandfather

Strolling the Heritage Gardens in Spring When the Rhododendrons are in Bloom

In late May and June, there's no more sensational view than the thousands of rhododendrons in bloom at the Heritage Gardens in Sandwich. The complex -- 76 acres (30.8 hectares) in all -- offers three museum buildings in addition to gently sloping walking trails to view a premiere collection of flowering plants.

Photo Caption: Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts.

taedc

Watching the Carnival Parade in P-town in August

Provincetown is a complete hoot. The town's famous carnival parade in August is a can't-miss attraction where outrageousness is definitely a competition.

Photo Caption: The carnival parade in Provincetown, Massachusetts.

phugger

Digging the Nightlife Crawl in Oak Bluffs

For a fun nightlife scene, head to Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. Begin with a late dinner at one of the restaurants on the harbor. Next, it's on to the Ritz Café, a classic dive bar with local bands. And no night crawl would be complete without a trip to Back Door Donuts, the late night bakery that feeds the partying crowd in an alley off Circuit Avenue.

Photo Caption: Illumination Night in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts.

billrice

Going on a Whale-Watch to Stellwagen Bank

It's a Cape Cod essential to take a whale-watching boat to the waters off Provincetown to watch the whales cavorting in the waves. Expect flipper slaps and fluke displays.

Photo Caption: Whale watching in Stellwagen Bank in the waters off Provincetown, Massachusetts.

Vince DeWitt

Kayaking the Inlets and Estuaries

Of the many beautiful harbors and estuaries you can explore by kayak off the coast of the Cape and Islands, Barnstable Harbor near Sandy Neck is certainly one of the most scenic. Hardy kayakers can make it all the way to the tip of Sandy Neck where a rustic cottage colony and lighthouse stand sentinel.

Photo Caption: Kayaking in Barnstable Harbor.

dougtone

Exploring the Old King's Highway, Route 6A, from Bourne to Orleans

Take a leisurely drive from one end of the Cape to the other on the Old King's Highway, where you'll see a veritable history of Early American architecture and all the gift and antiques shops you could wish for.

Photo Caption: Driving on Old King's Highway, Route 6A, in Massachusetts.

navegantsolitari

Taking a Gallery Stroll in Wellfleet