Cape Cod is a hook-shaped peninsula stretching into the Atlantic from southeastern Massachusetts. Despite its modest size, the Cape packs in dune-backed beaches, saltwater marshes, cranberry bogs, and a string of towns each with their own character — from the antique shops of Sandwich to the artist colony atmosphere of Provincetown at the very tip.
The best way to experience the Cape is on Route 6A, the Old King's Highway, which winds through the historic north-side villages. Skip Route 6, the mid-Cape highway — it's fast but soulless. Along 6A you'll find weathered shingled houses, farm stands, and quiet beaches. The Cape Cod National Seashore, established by JFK in 1961, protects 40 miles of pristine coastline on the outer Cape.
The Cape is a summer destination above all, but if you can visit in September or early October you'll have the beaches largely to yourself. July and August bring serious crowds — traffic backs up for hours on Friday and Sunday evenings as weekend visitors pour on and off the peninsula.