Your next vacation rental should be in Cape Cod – here’s why:

Full of maritime charm and history, beautiful beaches, landmark lighthouses, and quaint towns, Cape Cod in Massachusetts, USA has long been a firm favourite with American vacationers and now, thanks to ample vacation rental homes (which are beautiful cottages) available, it’s becoming popular with the rest of the world too. There are many things you should spend your summer vacation in Cape Cod doing, but here are just five…

 1. Lighthouses

The typical picture of Cape Cod that comes to mind for many vacationers is of its many lighthouses. Set on a peninsula jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, Cape Cod’s coastline has dangerous features that have been catching out unwary ship captains for centuries. There are said to be over 3,000 wrecks off the coast, but lighthouses have helped to save many more. It’s this part of maritime history that attracts many visitors to the Cape. The oldest and tallest of the lighthouses, the Highland Light, was built in 1857 and is one of the main tourist attractions of Cape Cod.

2. The beaches 

The beaches of Massachusetts’ Cape Cod are another huge tourist attraction and with nearly 560 miles (900 kms) of coastline you can imagine that this peninsula isn’t short of a beach or two! In fact, there are around 60 public beaches to explore, as well as those of the Cape Cod National Seashore which has its own 40 miles (64 kms) of sandy beach.

3. Recreation 

As well as the activities you can enjoy on the beach, Cape Cod is full of other recreational opportunities too. There are many scenic places to take a walk, including on the beaches and the National Seashore. It’s a great place for boating as well; Sport anglers will tell you about the fabulous sport fishing off the Cape where you can fish for bluefish, bluefin tuna, and striped bass, and sailing is a second nature for most locals!  The Wellfleet drive-in is famous for locals and tourists alike to be transported back in time while catching a classic – so grab some extra blankets from your vacation rental and snuggle in.  Golfing on Cape Cod has really taken off too, with now 27 public courses, 15 private courses, and mini golf courses (a local favourite is Pirate’s Cove) for the whole family.

4. The towns and villages

While the natural scenery is beautiful, Cape Cod’s urban landscape is very attractive too. The village of Hyannis is considered the Capital of the Cape and has plenty to see and do. There’s Provincetown right at the northern tip of Cape Cod, known as a haven for the LGBTQ community, and then there are historic towns like Chatham with its historical landmarks.

4. Mouth-watering cuisine

While there aren’t any dishes specifically associated with Cape Cod, there’s tons of great local cuisine that’s been sourced from the Cape and the rest of Massachusetts. The fresh, incredible seafood, small-batch homemade ice cream (make sure you try Four Seas!), mom & pop fried clam shacks (Arnold’s is a classic) and local clam chowder are all must-tries while spending your summer in a vacation rental in Cape Cod.